UMTS/WCDMA Technical Overview 80-W1447-1 Rev A

Section 3: WCDMA Protocol Layers and Channels

UMTS /WCDMA
Layer 1 – Physical Layer Technical Overview
Section 3-14

Physical Layer (PHY or L1)

• Multiplexing and channel coding
• Spreading and scrambling
• Modulation
• Handover
• Compressed Mode
• Power control
• Measurements

MAY CONTAIN U.S. EXPORT CONTROLLED INFORMATION

Layer 1 – Physical Layer

Layer 1 is also referred to as the Physical Layer or Level 1 (L1). Functions of the Physical Layer
include RF processing, chip rate processing, and symbol rate processing, as well as transport
channel combination.
In the transmit direction, the Physical Layer takes blocks of data from the MAC layer contained in
transport channels and multiplexes them onto a physical channel.
In the receive direction, the Physical Layer receives and then processes the multiplexed data from
the physical channels and delivers it to the MAC Layer.

© 2007 QUALCOMM Incorporated MAY CONTAIN U.S. EXPORT CONTROLLED INFORMATION 3-14
UMTS/WCDMA Technical Overview 80-W1447-1 Rev A
Section 3: WCDMA Protocol Layers and Channels

UMTS /WCDMA
Significant Channels Technical Overview
Section 3-15

Important R99 Channels:

– Logical Channels
– Transport Channels
– Physical Channels

MAY CONTAIN U.S. EXPORT CONTROLLED INFORMATION

Notes

© 2007 QUALCOMM Incorporated MAY CONTAIN U.S. EXPORT CONTROLLED INFORMATION 3-15
UMTS/WCDMA Technical Overview 80-W1447-1 Rev A
Section 3: WCDMA Protocol Layers and Channels

UMTS /WCDMA
UMTS Channel Terminology Technical Overview
Section 3-16

Common Channel User A, User B, User C, …

Dedicated Channel User A only

MAY CONTAIN U.S. EXPORT CONTROLLED INFORMATION

Some Common UMTS Channel Terminology

• Downlink – transmitted by UTRAN, received by UE.
• Uplink – transmitted by UE, received by UTRAN.
• Common – carries information to/from multiple UEs.
• Dedicated – carries information to/from a single UE.
• Logical – defined by what type of information is transferred, e.g., signaling or user data and
whether it is dedicated or common. Logical channels are between the RLC and the MAC.
• Transport – defined by how data is transferred over the air interface; e.g., multiplexing of
logical channels. The transport channel provide a mechanism for the MAC to send messages
via the Physical Layer. Transport channels span between the MAC and the Physical Layer.
Transport channels generally map to specific physical channels.
• Physical – defined by physical mappings and attributes used to transfer data over the air
interface; e.g., spreading rate. Most physical channels have a very specific purpose.

© 2007 QUALCOMM Incorporated MAY CONTAIN U.S. EXPORT CONTROLLED INFORMATION 3-16
UMTS/WCDMA Technical Overview 80-W1447-1 Rev A
Section 3: WCDMA Protocol Layers and Channels

UMTS /WCDMA
Channel Mapping – R99 Logical Channels Technical Overview
Section 3-17

MAY CONTAIN U.S. EXPORT CONTROLLED INFORMATION

Channel Mapping
This diagram shows possible mappings of logical, transport, and physical channels in the control and user planes for
UMTS Release 99. Mapping for UMTS Release 5 and Release 6 appear later in this course. Not all mappings would
be defined at the same time for a given UE, and multiple instantiations of some mappings may occur simultaneously.
For example, a voice call uses three DTCH logical channels mapped to three DCH transport channels.
Transparent Mode (TM), Unacknowledged Mode (UM), and Acknowledged Mode (AM) indicate the mode in which
RLC is configured for a logical channel.
Some channels exist only in a Physical Layer context (e.g., CPICH, SCH, DPCCH, AICH, PICH). These channels
carry no upper layer signaling or user data. Their contents are defined at the Physical Layer.
R99 Logical Channels
Logical channels carry signaling and user data between the RLC and MAC layer and are defined by what type of
information is transferred, e.g., signaling or user data. Some important logical channels include:
Broadcast Control Channel (BCCH) [DL] – broadcasts information to UEs relevant to the cell, such as radio
channels of neighboring cells, etc.
Paging Control Channel (PCCH) [DL] – is associated with the PICH and is used for paging messages and
notification information.
Common Control Channel (CCCH) [UL and DL] – transfers control information in both directions.
Dedicated Control Channel (DCCH) [UL and DL] – carries dedicated control information in both directions.
Dedicated Traffic Channel (DTCH) [UL and DL] – a bidirectional channel carrying user data or traffic.

© 2007 QUALCOMM Incorporated MAY CONTAIN U.S. EXPORT CONTROLLED INFORMATION 3-17
UMTS/WCDMA Technical Overview 80-W1447-1 Rev A
Section 3: WCDMA Protocol Layers and Channels

UMTS /WCDMA
Channel Mapping – R99 Transport Channels Technical Overview
Section 3-18

MAY CONTAIN U.S. EXPORT CONTROLLED INFORMATION

R99 Transport Channels

Transport channels carry signaling and other user data between the MAC and physical layers and
are defined by how data is transferred over the air interface, e.g., multiplexing of logical channels.
Some important transport channels include:
Broadcast Channel (BCH) [DL] – broadcasts information to the UEs in the cell to enable
them to identify the network and the cell.
Paging Channel (PCH) [DL] – carries messages that alert the UE to incoming calls, SMS
messages, data sessions or required maintenance such as re-registration.
Forward Access Channel (FACH) [DL] – carries data or information to the UEs that are
registered on the system. A FACH may carry packet data and there may be more than one
FACH per cell.
Random Access Channel (RACH) [UL] – carries requests for service from UEs trying to
access the system
Dedicated Transport Channel (DCH) [UL and DL] – used to transfer data to a particular
UE. Each UE has its own DCH in each direction.

© 2007 QUALCOMM Incorporated MAY CONTAIN U.S. EXPORT CONTROLLED INFORMATION 3-18
UMTS/WCDMA Technical Overview 80-W1447-1 Rev A
Section 3: WCDMA Protocol Layers and Channels

UMTS /WCDMA
Channel Mapping – R99 Physical Channels Technical Overview
Section 3-19

MAY CONTAIN U.S. EXPORT CONTROLLED INFORMATION

R99 Physical Channels

The physical channels carry signaling and user data over the radio link and are defined by physical
mappings and attributes used to transfer data over the air interface, e.g., spreading rate. Some
important Physical Layer channels include:
Primary Common Control Physical Channel (PCCPCH) [DL] – continuously broadcasts
system identification and access control information.
Secondary Common Control Physical Channel (SCCPCH) [DL] – carries the Forward
Access Channel (FACH) providing control information, and the Paging Channel (PACH)
with messages for UEs registered on the network.
Physical Random Access Channel (PRACH) [UL] – enables the UE to transmit random
access bursts to access a network.
Dedicated Physical Data Channel (DPDCH) [UL and DL] – used to transfer user data.

© 2007 QUALCOMM Incorporated MAY CONTAIN U.S. EXPORT CONTROLLED INFORMATION 3-19
UMTS/WCDMA Technical Overview 80-W1447-1 Rev A
Section 3: WCDMA Protocol Layers and Channels

UMTS /WCDMA
R99 Physical Only Channels Technical Overview
Section 3-20

MAY CONTAIN U.S. EXPORT CONTROLLED INFORMATION

R99 Physical Only Channels

DPCCH (UL/DL) – Dedicated Physical Control Channel. DPCCH carries control information
associated to the DPDCH (e.g., Pilot signal used for DPCH synchronization, Transmit Power Control
[TPC] commands, Transport Format Combination [TFCI]). On the DL, DPCCH is time-multiplexed
with DPDCH, while on the UL they are two separate physical channels.
SCH (DL) – Synchronization Channel. P-SCH and S-SCH are transmitted simultaneously during the
DTX of the P-CCPCH. Their role is to time-synchronize UEs within the cell. The P-SCH is used for
the UE’s initial acquisition of the WCDMA system. The S-SCH provides frame timing, and reduces
the Primary Scrambling Code (PSC) search space from 512 to 8.
CPICH (DL) – Common Pilot Channel. The CPICH provides an in-cell timing reference. There are
two types of Common Pilot Channels, the primary CPICH (P-CPICH) and the secondary CPICH (S-
CPICH). In addition, P-CPICH is used for cell signal quality estimation for HO and cell reselection
purposes, open loop power control.
PICH (DL) – Paging Indicator Channel. The PICH carries page indicators (PIs). PIs signal the UE
that there is a message for it on the transport PCH mapped to an SCCPCH. The PICH is used for
efficient UE sleep operation.
AICH (DL) – Access Indicator Channel. The AICH carries acquisition indicators (AIs). AIs notify
the UE that the preamble on the Random Access Channel (RACH) was heard and that the RACH
message can now be transmitted

© 2007 QUALCOMM Incorporated MAY CONTAIN U.S. EXPORT CONTROLLED INFORMATION 3-20
UMTS/WCDMA Technical Overview 80-W1447-1 Rev A
Section 3: WCDMA Protocol Layers and Channels

Dedicated Channels – UMTS /WCDMA

Technical Overview
AMR Call Mapping Example Section 3-21

Dedicated
Logical Channels

DL DL DL DL DL DL DL
DCCH DCCH DCCH DCCH DTCH DTCH DTCH

DCH DCH DCH DCH

Dedicated
Transport Channels

Coded Composite Transport Channel (CCTrCh)

Dedicated Physical Channel

MAY CONTAIN U.S. EXPORT CONTROLLED INFORMATION

Dedicated Channels – Mapping Example

This diagram is an example of mapping dedicated logical channels to a dedicated transport
channel. This example is a typical configuration for an AMR voice call.
• DCCH to DCH – Four logical Dedicated Control Channels (DCCH) are allocated to carry
signaling messages. Two are used by the NAS Layer, and two are used by the RRC Layer.
All four logical channels are mapped to a single Dedicated Transport Channel (DCH).
• DTCH to DCH – Three logical Dedicated Traffic Channels (DTCH) are allocated to carry
AMR voice frames. Each DTCH is mapped to a Dedicated Transport Channel (DCH).
These four DCHs are mapped by the Physical Layer to a Coded Composite Transport Channel
(CCTrCh) and then to a Dedicated Physical Data Channel (DPDCH).

© 2007 QUALCOMM Incorporated MAY CONTAIN U.S. EXPORT CONTROLLED INFORMATION 3-21