1-What’s Difference between RSCP,RSSI and EcNo?

Lots people have some confusion related to RSCP,RSSI and EcNo.

Here is the solution.

RSSI is Rx level before descrembling. It’s just RxLev of UARFCH.

CPICH_RSCP is Rx level after descrembling.

CPICH_Ec/No is result of filtering after dechanalization.

In dBm is: RSCP=RSSI+EcNo

2-What is a typical UE sensitivity level?

The service and load determines the UE sensitivity; in general, in no-load condition, the sensitivity is
between -105dBm and -120dBm. For Ericsson, the UE sensitivity level is calculated at around:
CS12.2: -119 dBm
PS-64: -112 dBm
PS-128: -110 dBm
PS-384: -105 dBm
HSDPA: -95 dBm

3-Some Facts about HSDPA

HSDPA represents an evolution of the WCDMA radio interface, which uses very similar
methods to those employed by EDGE (Enhanced Data Rates for GSM Evolution) technology
for the GSM radio interface. The fundamental characteristics which enable the increase in
the data throughput and capacity with reduced latency are summarised below:

 Time and code multiplexing of the users

 Multi-Code transmission
 Fixed Spreading Factor (SF = 16)
 Shorter TTI = 2ms
 No DTX (Discontinuous transmission)for the data channel
 Adaptive modulation and coding (AMC) supporting higher order modulation
 Node B scheduling and link adaptation
 Node B retransmissions (H-ARQ – Hybrid Auotmatic Repeat-Request)
 No power control
 No soft handover

Cdma question

4-1)TXPOWER
2)RXPOWER
3)Ec/Io
4)TXADJ
5)FER.
1.EcIo
EcIo reflects the handset in the current received pilot signal level. This is an integrated pilot signal.
Why, because mobile phones are a multi-channel soft switching, which translates into mobile phones
often lies in more than one pilot overlapping coverage area, the level of the phone, EcIo reflects the
phone at this point that a multi-channel pilot signal level of the overall coverage. We know that the Ec
is a mobile phone available pilot signal strength, and Io is the mobile phone receives all the strength of
the signal. Therefore, EcIo reflects the available signal strength in occupies all signals. The higher the
value, the greater the proportion of a useful signal, on the other hand also reversed. At some point
EcIo big, there are two possibilities. First, the Ec is very large, dominant level here, Ec, Io is very
small, that is to say here is from another base station's messy little pilot signal, EcIo also larger. In the
latter case is weak, because the Ec small, Io is also small, so small, so RSSI also there may be dropped.
At some point EcIo also small, there are two possible, first, the Ec is also small small RSSI, this is the
weak coverage area. The Ec is not small, RSSI, this illustrates the Io is the overall intensity of the signal
is not bad. This situation is often a BSC switch data configuration, no nearby strong pilot signal into the
adjacent community table, so the phone doesn't recognize the strong pilot signal in the vicinity as a
jamming signal processing. On the road, in the case of a typical phenomenon is the phone in a move to
maintain certain RSSI, EcIo level, rapid rise to FER and eventually dropped.
2 TXPOWER
TXPOWER is the phone's transmitter power. We know that power control is guaranteed call quality and
address the CDMA
community interference tolerance and one of the key means of mobile phone from the base station
near, uplink quality
good, the mobile phone transmitting power is smaller, because at the base station is able to guarantee
the reception of the signal to launch mobile phone and fer also small and mobile phones transmitting
power is smaller to other mobile phones in the community is also a small interference. So mobile
phones transmit power level, reflecting the handset's current uplink loss and interference. Uplink loss
of large, or there is serious interference with the phone's transmitter power will be greatly missed
mobile phone transmitting power is smaller. Roadtest, in normal circumstances, the more closer to the
base station or Repeater, the mobile phone transmitting power is reduced, away from the base station
and Repeater, the mobile phone transmitting power increases. If the base station and Repeater nearby
mobile phone transmitting power, obviously it is not normal. Perhaps there is interference, the uplink
can be a base station and Repeater itself. Such as community antenna wrong receive carrier frequency
amplifier circuit problems, etc. If the Repeater nearby, cell phone transmitter power, it may be a
Repeater malfunctions, uplink gain set too small, and so on.Above you can see, the road of TXPOWER
level reflects the base station coverage area of reverse link quality and uplink interference levels.
3RXPOWER
RXPOWER is a mobile phone to receive power. In CDMA, according to my personal understanding, there
are three parameters is very close by, you can almost equivalent to the use of parameters. Namely
RXPOWER, RSSI, Io. RXPOWER is a mobile phone to receive power, Io is mobile phones currently
receives all signal strength, RSSI is receives downlink band of total power, as currently I have access to
information, the title explains, but understanding is very similar, is the phone receives a total of signal
strength. RXPOWER and reflects the current signal receiving phone, RXPOWER small area, the weak
positive fall within the coverage area, RXPOWER places belong to the covered area. But the high
places, RXPOWER and does not necessarily signal quality is good, because there may be no signal,
leading to frequency, or too many strong pilot, pilot frequency pollution. Therefore, the analysis of
RXPOWER to EcIo to analysis.Above you can see, RXPOWER and simply reflects the drive test signal
coverage area, rather than the quality of the signal coverage.
4TXADJ
TXADJ reflects the up and down-link a balance. Note that this value is calculated from the
measurement, instead. 800M CDMA system is Tx_adjust = 73dB + Tx_power + Rx_power, 1900M CDMA is
Tx_adjust = 76dB + Tx_power + Rx_power.
TXADJ reflects the current location of the mobile uplink and downlink of a more mass. We know that
under normal circumstances, the cell phone away from the base station close to the phone's
transmitter power will decrease, and
received power will become larger and far away from the cell phone, mobile phone base station
transmitter power will increase while receiving power gets smaller. Normally, the transmitter power
and receiver power plus a constant fixed values, the result should be a small interval (for example,-10
to + 10). If TXADJ great, it means that the phone's transmitter power, receive the power, then it is
obvious that mobile current downlink of good quality (receiving power), and the poor quality of the
uplink (transmitter power), this time forward link is better than a reverse link. On the contrary, TXADJ
is very small, explains this reverse link well to the forward link. We know that the base station
coverage depends on the reverse link loss level. Therefore, in General, we require the following TXADJ
in 0. But greater than 10, the reverse link forward link than are poor, the situation is not ideal. For
TXADJ, nor can they be said to be as small as possible. But in the actual drive test, we generally
encounter, often TXADJ too high, forward link, reverse link.
5 FER
FER is a forward-fer. Forward fer with EcIo also is a comprehensive quality of forward link. Because
when the phone is in the multi-channel soft switching, fer actually multi-channel forward an integrated
signal quality. FER, description of the mobile phone of the forward link better, received signal is good,
this time EcIo also should be better. The larger the Description cell phone FER the received signal
strength is poor, EcIo should also at this time. FER is large, it may also be due to a neighboring
community switch parameter configuration error. If you switch between adjacent community with
leakage, single and mobile to mobile, adjacent to the pilot was not recognized, and the pilot does not
recognize, it will become interference signal, resulting in increased FER. In reality, often manifested in
mobile, mobile phones, FER a rapid rise in sharp decline, EcIo, and finally dropped.Above that is
closely followed by EcIo FER. FER reflects the call quality is good or bad, reflects the RoadTest regional
coverage quality level, rather than the signal coverage strength level. In some areas although belonging
to the weak signal coverage area, but relatively clean (messy signals, noise), as well as be good FER.
Note the above parameters, EcIo, RXPOWER is the phone in standby or call have parameters,
TXPOWER, TXADJ, FER is only a phone call and from the only parameter. The above five parameters,
together, to analysis of drive test region to cover the intensity level, the former to override the quality
level, as well as the reverse link loss level, and so on, is the analysis of drive test is the most important
parameters. In-depth understanding of the five parameters, combined with the overall situation for
drive testing specific analysis, is engaged in network optimization staff in one of the basic conditions.

Antenna Hopping

Antenna Hopping is a downlink performance enhancement feature designed to improve link

performance where frequency hopping is not in use or not effective due to high correlation
between frequencies. In a typical sector where you have the BCCH and hopping layer, the
BCCH layer has no downlink diversity since it is only one frequency transmitting over a single
antenna. This makes it more suceptible to noise, interference and fading. The hopping layer
however has the advantage that it is “hopping” from one frequency to another creating phase
diversity where it combats long term fading and frequency related interference.
This feature enables the TRXs in an RF hopping BTS to transmit with all the TX antennas in the
BTS using the existing BB (Baseband) hopping functionality in the BTS. With AH the
improvement is more substantial on the non-hopping layer because we bring it to almost equal
link performance with the hopping layer .This translates to gain on the nonhopping layer that
will improve existing coverage and RSSI levels. This feature would also be very beneficial in
interference-limited areas
Step to check TCH Drop Analysis.

1. Radio Link Time-Out

Every time a SACCH message can not be decoded the radio link time-out counter is decreased by 1. If
the message can be decoded the counter is incremented by 2. However, the value can not exceed the
initial value. The initial value is set by the parameter RLINKT for radio link time-out in the mobile station
and by RLINKUP for timeout in the BSC. If the mobile moves out of coverage and no measurement
reports are received in the BSC, there will be a radio link time-out and the message Channel Release
(cause: abnormal release, unspecified) is sent to the mobile station and the SACCH is deactivated in the
BTS. A Clear Request message is sent to the MSC. To be sure that the mobile has stopped transmitting,
the BSC now waits RLINKT SACCH periods before the timeslot is released and a new call can be
established on the channel.

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2. Layer 2 Time-Out
If the BTS never get an acknowledge on a Layer 2 message after the time T200XN200, the BTS will send
Error Indication (cause: T200 expired) to the BSC, which will send Channel Release (cause: abnormal
release, timer expired) to the mobile station and a Clear Request to the MSC. The SACCH is deactivated
and the BSC waits RLINKT SACCH periods before the timeslot is released and a new call can use the
channel. This is only valid if the call is in steady state, i.e. not during handover or assignment.
3. Release Indication
When the BTS received a layer 2 DISC frame from the mobile it replies with a Layer 2 UA frame to the
mobile station and a Release Indication to the BSC. The system does only react on Release Indication if it
is received during a normal disconnection situation. If such a message is received unexpectedly this will
usually cause radio link time-out or timer T200 expiration as the mobile station stops the transmitting of
measurement reports. It is also possible that the release will be normal depending on when the Release
Indication is received.

4. MSC Time-Out
Normal Release:
If the MSC never received a response on a message (e.g. Identity Request) and there is no radio link
time-out or layer 2 time-out, the MSC will send a Clear Command to the BSC. The time-out is depending
on the message. When receiving Clear Command, the BSC will send a Channel Release (cause: normal
release) and then deactivates the SACCH.

Reject (only SDCCH):

If the MSC never receives a response on the first message after Establish Indication, the MSC will send a
reject message. If the connection was a Location Update it will be a Location Update Reject (cause:
network failure) and if the connection was a mobile originating call (CM Service Request) a CM Service
Reject (cause: network failure) will be sent. The MSC will then send a Clear Command to the BSC and
the call is cleared by Channel Release (cause: normal release).

5. Assignment to TCH

Before sending an Assignment Command from the BSC at TCH assignment, the following two criterion
have to be fulfilled:

a. There must be a TCH channel available, i.e. no congestion

b. The locating algorithm must have received at least one valid measurement report.
If either of the criterion is not fulfilled, Assignment Command will not be sent and a Channel Release
(cause: abnormal release, unspecified) will be sent to the mobile station and a Clear Request to the
MSC.

TCH Drop reason (1)

The classification of TCH Drop Reasons are arranged in the order of priority:
1.Excessive Timing Advance
2.Low Signal Strength
3.Bad Quality
4.Sudden Loss of Connection
5.Other Reasons

Excessive Timing Advance

The TCH Drop counters due to Excessive Timing Advance will pegged when the during the time of
disconnection, the last Timing Advance value recorded was higher than the TALIM Parameter. This drop
reason is commonly apparent to isolated or island sites with a wide coverage area.
Action:
Check if the cell parameter TALIM is < "63"
Solution:
Set TALIM to a value close to 63.
Tilt antenna/reduce antenna height/output power, etc. for co-channel cells.

TCH Drop Reasons (2)

Low Signal Strength on Down or Uplink or Both Links
The drops counters due to Low Signal Strength will be pegged when the Signal Strength during the last
Measurement Report before the call dropped is below the LOWSSDL and/or LOWSSUL Thresholds.
LOWSSDL and LOWSSUL are BSC Exchange Property parameters which is used only for statistics
purposes and does not affect the behavior of calls. If both UL and DL Signal Strength are below the
thresholds, only Drop due to Low SS BL will pegged. Normally a call is dropped at the border of large
rural cell with insufficient coverage. Bad tunnel coverage cause many dropped calls as well as so called
coverage holes. Bad indoor coverage will result in dropped calls. Building shadowing could be another
reason.

Action:
Check coverage plots.
Check output power.
Check power balance and link budget.
Check if Omni site.
Check antenna configuration & type.
Check antenna installation.
Perform drive tests & site survey.
Check TRX/TS with high CONERRCNT.

Solution:
Add a repeater to increase coverage in for example a tunnel.
Change to a better antenna (with higher gain) for the base station.
Add a new base station if there are large coverage holes.
Block/Deblock TRX

TCH Drop Reasons (3)

Poor Quality on Down or Uplink or Both Links
The drops counters due to Bad Quality will be pegged when the Signal Strength during the last
Measurement Report before the call dropped is above the BADQDL and/or BADQUL Thresholds.
BADQDL and BADQUL (expressed in DTQU) are BSC Exchange Property parameters which is used only
for statistics purposes and does not affect the behavior of calls. If both UL and DL Quality are above the
thresholds, only Drop due to BAD Quality BL will pegged.

Problem on Bad Quality is usually associated with Co-channel Interference on BCCH or TCH. Faulty
MAIO assignment can cause frequency collisions on co-sited cells especially on 1x1 Reuse. External
interference is also one possible cause of problem on quality.

Action:
Check C/I and C/A plots.
Check Frequency Plan (Co-BCCH or Co-BSIC Problem).
Check MAIO, HOP, HSN parameters.
Check FHOP if correctly configured (BB or SY).
Check for External Interference.
Perform drive tests.

Solution:
Change BCCH frequency.
Change BSIC.
Change MAIO, HOP, HSN.
Change FHOP.
Record RIR or on-site Frequency Scanning to identify source of interference.
Use available radio features.

TCH Drop Reasons (4)

Sudden Loss of Connection
Drops due to Sudden Loss are drops that have not been registered as low signal strength, excessive
timing advance, bad quality or hardware (other) reasons, and the locating procedure indicates missing
measurement results from the MS.

There are some common scenarios that could lead to Sudden Loss of connections such as very sudden
and severe drops in signal strength, such as when subscribers enter into buildings, elevators, parking
garages, etc., very sudden and severe occurrence of interference, MS runs out of battery during
conversation, Handover Lost, BTS HW faults, Synchronization or A-bis link fault (transmission faults), and

MS Faults.

Action:
Check BTS Error Logs, Alarms and Fault Codes.
Check CONERRCNT per TRX and TS.
Check Transmission Link (A-bis).
Check for DIP Slips.
Check LAPD Congestion.
Correlate Handover Lost to Drops due to Sudden Loss

Solution:
Fix Hardware Faults and Alarms.
Reset TRX with high CONERRCNT.
Ensure that Synchronization and A-bis Link are stable.
Change RBLT with high DIP Slips.
Change CONFACT or increase Transmission Capacity
Investigate HO Lost Problem

TCH Drop Reasons (5)

TCH Drops due to Other Reasons
TCH drops due to Other Reasons are computed by subtracting the sum of drops due to Excessive TA,
Low SS, Bad Quality and Sudden Loss from the Total TCH Drop Counts. Drops due to Other Reasons are
generally associated with hardware problems, transmission link problems on A-bis, Ater or Ainterfaces,
and sometimes Handover Lost.

Action:
Check BTS Error Logs.
Check Alarms and Fault Codes.
Check CONERRCNT per TRX and TS.
Check Transmission Link (A-bis).
Check for DIP Slips.
Correlate Handover Lost to Drops due to Other Reasons

Solution:
Fix Hardware Faults and Alarms.
Reset TRX with high CONERRCNT.
Ensure that Synchronization and A-bis Link are stable.
Change RBLT with high DIP Slips.
Investigate HO Lost Problem

Problem reason of drop in SDCCH

Low Signal Strength on Down or Uplink

The reason for poor coverage could be too few sites, wrong output power, shadowing, no indoor coverage
or network equipment failure.
Action: Check coverage plots.Check output power. Perform drive tests. Check BTS error log
Solution: Add new sites. Increase output power. Repair faulty equipment.
Poor Quality on Down or Uplink
Action: Check C/I and C/A plots. Check frequency plan. Perform drive tests.
Solution: Change frequency. Use available radio features.

Too High Timing Advance

Action: Check if the cell parameter TALIM is < style="font-weight: bold;">Solution: Set TALIM to a value
close to 63. Tilt antenna/reduce antenna height/output power, etc. for cochannel cells.

Mobile Error
Some old mobiles may cause dropped calls if certain radio network features are used. Another reason is
that the MS is damaged and not working properly.
Action: Check MS fleet.
Solution: Inform operator.

Subscriber Behavior
Poorly educated subscribers could use their handsets incorrectly by not raising antennas, choosing
illadvised locations to attempt calls, etc.
Action: Check customer complaints and their MS.

Battery Flaw
When a subscriber runs out of battery during a conversation, the call will be registered as dropped call
due to low signal strength or others.
Action: Check if MS power regulation is used. Check if DTX uplink is used.

Congestion on TCH
The SDCCH is dropped when congestion on TCH.
Action: Check TCH congestion
Solution: Increase capacity on TCH or using features like Assignment to another cell, Cell Load Sharing,
HCS, Dynamic Half-Rate Allocation and FR-HR Mode Adaptation etc

What is benefit of shorter TTI in HSDPA?

1)After every TTI the resources can be redistributed among the users. Therefore, the resource usage is
more efficient.
2)each UE reports about the channel quality after every TTI by sending the CQI.
3)CQI is sent after the very short period of time of 2 ms, it is possible to effectively perform link
adaptation even in rapidly changing condition

What is Difference between ARQ and HARQ?

ARQ (Automatic Repeat Request), which is used in UMTS, a package received in error will be discarded
and a retransmission will be requested. If the retransmission is also erroneous, another retransmission
will be requested.

Using HARQ, an erroneous package will be stored at the receiver and a retransmission will be
requested. Even if the retransmission is faulty, the receiver attempts to combine the two erroneous
packages to reproduce the original package.

What are the main technologies used for HSDPA?

1)Link adaptation (AMC)

2)Fast Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request (HARQ), and
3)Shorter Transmission Time Interval (TTI)

What is Latency in HSDPA

Latency is the time a packet needs to travel from sender to receiver. While UMTS typically features an
end-to-end latency of approximately 200ms, HSDPA manages to lower the delay times in transmission
to around 100ms.

What is Link Adaption?

HSDPA uses link adaptation, which means the way of transmission is changed according to the quality
of the channel conditions.

If a user is in favourable conditions, for example close to the nearest antenna tower, this user will be
assigned a high data rate.

When the user moves into worse channel conditions, for example far away from the antenna tower, the
transmission parameters will be changed accordingly and thus the data rate will be decreased.

What happens when the Mobile is switched on? How does it find the Scrambling
code to camp on?
When the mobile The synchronization procedure starts with downlink SCH
synchronization. The UE knows the SCH primary synchronization code, which is
common to all cells. The slot timing of the cell can be obtained by receiving the
primary synchronization channel (P-SCH) and detecting peaks in the output of a filter
that is matched to this universal synchronization code. The slot synchronization takes
advantage of the fact that the P-SCH is only sent during the first 256 chips of each
slot. The whole slot is 2,560 chips long. This is depicted in Figure above. Thus the UE
can determine when a slot starts, but it does not know the slot number yet (there are
15 slots in each frame), and thus it does not know where the radio frame boundary
may be.

Thereafter the UE correlates the received signal from the secondary synchronization
channel (S-SCH) with all secondary synchronization codes (SSC), and identifies the
maximum correlation value. The S-SCH is also only sent during the first 256 chips of
every slot. One SSC is sent in every time slot. There are 16 different SSCs, and they
can form 64 unique secondary SCH sequences. One sequence consists of 15 SSCs,
and these sequences are arranged in such a way that in any nonzero cyclic shift less
than 15 of any of the 64 sequences is not equivalent to some other sequence. This
means that once the UE has identified 15 successive SSCs, it can determine the code
group used as well as the frame boundaries (i.e., frame synchronization).

What is RACH and how does it work?

The Random Access Channel (RACH) is an uplink transport channel. The RACH is
always received from the entire cell. The RACH is characterized by a collision risk
and by being transmitted using open loop power control. The Random Access Channel
(RACH) is typically used for signalling purposes, to register the terminal after power-
on to the network or to perform location update after moving from one location area
to another or to initiate a call. The structure of the physical RACH for signalling
purposes is the same as when using the RACH for user data transmission.

In UTRA the RACH procedure has the following phases:

 The terminal decodes the BCH to find out the available RACH sub-channels
and their scrambling codes and signatures.
 The terminal selects randomly one of the RACH sub-channels from the group
its access class allows it to use. Furthermore, the signature is also selected
randomly from among the available signatures.
 The downlink power level is measured and the initial RACH power level is set
with the proper margin due to the open loop inaccuracy.
 A 1 ms RACH preamble is sent with the selected signature.
 The terminal decodes AICH to see whether the base station has detected the
preamble.
 In case no AICH is detected, the terminal increases the preamble transmission
power by a step given by the base station, as multiples of 1 dB. The preamble is
retransmitted in the next available access slot.
 When an AICH transmission is detected from the base station, the terminal
transmits the 10 ms or 20 ms message part of the RACH transmission.

The RACH procedure is illustrated in Figure above, where the terminal transmits the
preamble until acknowledgement is received on AICH, and then the message part
follows. In the case of data transmission on RACH, the spreading factor and thus the
data rate may vary; this is indicated with the TFCI on the DPCCH on PRACH.
Spreading factors from 256 to 32 have been defined to be possible, thus a single frame
on RACH may contain up to 1200 channel symbols which, depending on the channel
coding, maps to around 600 or 400 bits. For the maximum number of bits the
achievable range is naturally less than what can be achieved with the lowest rates,
especially as RACH messages do not use methods such as macro-diversity as in the
dedicated channel.

What is the significance of SFN and CFN?

SFN is the frame number used by the physical layer. CFN is the frame number used
by the MAC layer. SFN is independent of the UE contexts, but associated with the
Radio Link. CFN is associated with a UE context. The RRC layer maintains the
mapping between CFN and various (for each RL) SFN

What is compressed mode and is it necessary for the UE to support compressed

mode?

Compressed mode is needed if the UE needs to perform Inter-Frequency or Inter-RAT

measurements. More details on what compressed mode is and how its performed can
be seen inCompressed Mode Tutorial.

Compressed Mode is performed in Uplink(UL) as well as in Downlink(DL). Uplink

compressed mode must be used if the frequency to be measured is close to the uplink
frequency used by the UTRAN air interface (i.e., frequencies in TDD mode/GSM
1800/1900 band). Otherwise interfrequency interference may affect the results.
Downlink compressed mode is not necessary if the UE has dual receivers. In that case
one receiver can perform interfrequency measurements while the other handles the
normal reception. Note however, that double receivers in the UE do not remove the
need for uplink compressed mode. If the uplink frequency is close enough to the
downlink frequency to be measured, then compressed mode must be employed in the
uplink to prevent interfrequency interference.

Why is secondary scrambling code needed?

For each primary scrambling code there is a set of 16 secondary scrambling codes.
They can be employed while transmitting channels that do not need to be received by
everyone in the cell. They should be used sparingly because channels transmitted with
secondary scrambling codes are not orthogonal to channels that use the primary
scrambling code. One possible application could be in sectored cells, where separate
sectors do not have to be orthogonal to each other.

The secondary downlink scrambling codes can be applied with the exception of those
common channels that need to be heard in the whole cell and/or prior to the initial
registration. Only one scrambling code should be generally used per cell or sector to
maintain the orthogonality between different downlink code channels. With adaptive
antennas the beams provide additional spatial isolation and the orthogonality between
different code channels is less important. However, in all cases the best strategy is still
to keep as many users as possible under a single scrambling code to minimise
downlink interference. If a secondary scrambling code needs to be introduced in the
cell, then only those users not fitting under the primary scrambling code should use
the secondary code. The biggest loss in orthogonality occurs when the users are
shared evenly between two different scrambling codes.

Introduction to Compressed Mode Measurements procedure

Introduction:

Compressed mode, also known as the Slotted Mode, is needed when making
measurements on another frequency (inter-frequency) or on a different radio
technology (inter-RAT). In the Compressed Mode the transmission and reception are
stopped for a short time and the measurements are performed on other frequency or
RAT in that time. After the time is over the transmission and reception resumes. To
make sure that the data is not lost, the data is compressed in the frame making empty
space where measurements can be performed.

Compressed mode is not necessary. If the UE has a second receiver it can make
measurements on that receiver while continuing with the transmission/reception on
the first receiver. This does not happen in practise as the cost would go up. The UE
capabilities define whether a UE requires compressed mode in order to monitor cells
on other FDD frequencies and on other modes and radio access technologies. UE
capabilities indicate the need for compressed mode separately for the uplink and
downlink and for each mode, radio access technology and frequency band.

A UE shall support compressed mode for all cases for which the UE indicates that
compressed mode is required. A UE does not need to support compressed mode for
cases for which the UE indicates that compressed mode is not required. For these
cases, the UE shall support an alternative means of making the measurements. The UE
shall support one single measurement purpose for one transmission gap pattern
sequence. The measurement purpose of the transmission gap pattern sequence is
signalled by higher layers.
The figure above gives an idea of how the frame is compressed for performing
measurements. In compressed frames, TGL slots from Nfirst to Nlast are not used for
transmission of data. As illustrated in figure, the instantaneous transmit power is
increased in the compressed frame in order to keep the quality (BER, FER, etc.)
unaffected by the reduced processing gain. The amount of power increase depends on
the transmission time reduction method. What frames are compressed, are decided by
the network. When in compressed mode, compressed frames can occur periodically,
as illustrated in figure, or requested on demand. The rate and type of compressed
frames is variable and depends on the environment and the measurement
requirements.

Parameterisation of the compressed mode [3]

In response to a request from higher layers, the UTRAN shall signal to the UE the
compressed mode parameters.

A transmission gap pattern sequence consists of consecutive occurrences of

transmission gap pattern 1, where transmission gap pattern 1 consists of one or two
transmission gaps. See figure below.
The following parameters characterise a transmission gap pattern:

 TGSN (Transmission Gap Starting Slot Number): A transmission gap pattern

begins in a radio frame, henceforward called first radio frame of the
transmission gap pattern, containing at least one transmission gap slot. TGSN is
the slot number of the first transmission gap slot within the first radio frame of
the transmission gap pattern;
 TGL1 (Transmission Gap Length 1): This is the duration of the first
transmission gap within the transmission gap pattern, expressed in number of
slots;
 TGL2 (Transmission Gap Length 2): This is the duration of the second
transmission gap within the transmission gap pattern, expressed in number of
slots. If this parameter is not explicitly set by higher layers, then TGL2 =
TGL1;
 TGD (Transmission Gap start Distance): This is the duration between the
starting slots of two consecutive transmission gaps within a transmission gap
pattern, expressed in number of slots. The resulting position of the second
transmission gap within its radio frame(s) shall comply with the limitations of
[1]. If this parameter is not set by higher layers, then there is only one
transmission gap in the transmission gap pattern;
  TGPL1 (Transmission Gap Pattern Length): This is the duration of transmission
gap pattern 1, expressed in number of frames;

The following parameters control the transmission gap pattern sequence start and
repetition:

 TGPRC (Transmission Gap Pattern Repetition Count): This is the number of

transmission gap patterns within the transmission gap pattern sequence;
 TGCFN (Transmission Gap Connection Frame Number): This is the CFN of
the first radio frame of the first pattern 1 within the transmission gap pattern
sequence.

In addition to the parameters defining the positions of transmission gaps, each

transmission gap pattern sequence is characterised by:

 UL/DL compressed mode selection: This parameter specifies whether

compressed mode is used in UL only, DL only or both UL and DL;
 UL compressed mode method: The methods for generating the uplink
compressed mode gap are spreading factor division by two or higher layer
scheduling and are described in [1];
 DL compressed mode method: The methods for generating the downlink
compressed mode gap are spreading factor division by two or higher layer
scheduling and are described in [1];
 downlink frame type: This parameter defines if frame structure type 'A' or 'B'
shall be used in downlink compressed mode. The frame structures are defined
in [1];
 scrambling code change: This parameter indicates whether the alternative
scrambling code is used for compressed mode method 'SF/2'. Alternative
scrambling codes are described in [4];
 RPP: Recovery Period Power control mode specifies the uplink power control
algorithm applied during recovery period after each transmission gap in
compressed mode. RPP can take 2 values (0 or 1). The different power control
modes are described in [5];
 ITP: Initial Transmit Power mode selects the uplink power control method to
calculate the initial transmit power after the gap. ITP can take two values (0 or
1) and is described in [5].
The UE shall support simultaneous compressed mode pattern sequences which can be
used for different measurements. The following measurement purposes can be
signalled from higher layers:

 FDD
 TDD
 GSM carrier RSSI measurement
 Initial BSIC identification
 BSIC re-confirmation.

The UE shall support one compressed mode pattern sequence for each measurement
purpose while operating in FDD mode, assuming the UE needs compressed mode to
perform the respective measurement. In case the UE supports several of the
measurement purposes, it shall support in parallel one compressed mode pattern
sequence for each supported measurement purpose where the UE needs compressed
mode to perform the measurement. The capability of the UE to operate in compressed
mode in uplink and downlink is given from the UE capabilities.

The GSM measurements Initial BSIC identification and BSIC re-confirmation are
defined in [6].

Higher layers will ensure that the compressed mode gaps do not overlap and are not
scheduled to overlap the same frame. The behaviour when an overlap occurs is
described in [7]. UE is not required to support two compressed mode gaps in a frame.

In all cases, higher layers have control of individual UE parameters. Any pattern
sequence can be stopped on higher layers' command.

The parameters TGSN, TGL1, TGL2, TGD, TGPL1, TGPRC and TGCFN shall all be
integers.

Different Methods of Frame Compression

There are three different methods through which the frame compression can be
achieved

 Puncturing: The symbol rate can be reduced by puncturing the data bits. This
method is practical only for short TGLs. This is because there is an upper limit
to the amount of data that can be punctured and then receovered at the other
end. The advantage is that it is a simple method and there is no need to change
 the speading code as in the other method. This method has been removed from
the latest version of the specifications.
 Changing the Spreading Factor (SF): In this method the frame in which
compression is to be carried out, SF is reduced by 2 so the same amount of data
can be transmitted in half the time and the remaining time measurements can be
done. This is the most popular method used in practice as its very
straightforward.
 Higher Layer scheduling: The higher layers are aware of the compressed mode
schedule, so they could lower the data rate in the frame measurements need to
be done thus avoiding the need for new spreading factor and new
channelisation codes. Higher layers sets restrictions so that only a subset of the
allowed TFCs are used in a compressed frame. The maximum number of bits
that will be delivered to the physical layer during the compressed radio frame is
then known and a transmission gap can be generated. Note that in the
downlink, the TFCI field is expanded on the expense of the data fields and this
shall be taken into account by higher layers when setting the restrictions on the
TFCs. Compressed mode by higher layer scheduling shall not be used with
fixed starting positions of the TrCHs in the radio frame.

Frame structure in the uplink [1]

The frame structure for uplink compressed frames is illustrated in figure below:

Frame structure types in the downlink [1]

There are two different types of frame structures defined for downlink compressed
frames. Type A maximises the transmission gap length and type B is optimised for
power control. The frame structure type A or B is set by higher layers independent
from the downlink slot format type A or B.
  With frame structure of type A, the pilot field of the last slot in the transmission
gap is transmitted. Transmission is turned off during the rest of the transmission
gap (figure a). In case the length of the pilot field is 2 bits and STTD is used on
the radio link, the pilot bits in the last slot of the transmission gap shall be
STTD encoded assuming DTX indicators as the two last bits in the Data2 field.
 With frame structure of type B, the TPC field of the first slot in the
transmission gap and the pilot field of the last slot in the transmission gap is
transmitted. Transmission is turned off during the rest of the transmission gap
(figure b). In case the length of the pilot field is 2 bits and STTD is used on the
radio link, the pilot bits in the last slot of the transmission gap shall be STTD
encoded assuming DTX indicators as the two last bits of the Data2 field.
Similarly, the TPC bits in the first slot of the transmission gap shall be STTD
encoded assuming DTX indicators as the two last bits in the Data1 field.

(a) Frame structure type A

(b) Frame structure type B

Transmission gap position [1]

(a) Transmission gap position

 (b) Transmission gap positions with different Nfirst

Transmission gaps can be placed at different positions as shown in figures a and b

(above) for each purpose such as interfrequency power measurement, acquisition of
control channel of other system/carrier, and actual handover operation.

When using single frame method, the transmission gap is located within the
compressed frame depending on the transmission gap length (TGL) as shown in figure
a(1). When using double frame method, the transmission gap is located on the center
of two connected frames as shown in figure a(2).

Parameters of the transmission gap positions are calculated as follows.

TGL is the number of consecutive idle slots during the compressed mode transmission
gap:

TGL = 3, 4, 5, 7, 10,14

Nfirst specifies the starting slot of the consecutive idle slots,

Nfirst = 0,1,2,3,…,14.

Nlast shows the number of the final idle slot and is calculated as follows;

If Nfirst + TGL  15, then Nlast = Nfirst + TGL –1 ( in the same frame ),

If Nfirst + TGL > 15, then Nlast = (Nfirst + TGL – 1) mod 15 ( in the next frame ).

When the transmission gap spans two consecutive radio frames, Nfirst and TGL must
be chosen so that at least 8 slots in each radio frame are transmitted.

Compressed Mode

During inter-frequency handover the UE’s must be given time to make the necessary
measurements on the different WCDMA carrier frequency. 1 to 7 slots per frame can
be allocated for the UE to perform this intra frequency (hard handover). These slots
can either be in the middle of the single frame or spread over two frames.

This compressed mode operation can be achieved in three different methods:

 Decreasing the spreading factor by 2:1. This will increase the data rate so bits will
get sent twice as fast.
 Puncturing bits. This will remove various bits from the original data and hence
reduce the amount of information that needs to be transmitted.
 The higher layer scheduling could also be changed to use less timeslots for user
traffic.

From the 3GPP TS 25.212:

In compressed frames, Transmission Gap Length slots from Nfirst to Nlast are not
used for transmission of data. As illustrated below , the instantaneous transmit power is
increased in the compressed frame in order to keep the quality (BER, FER, etc.) unaffected by the
reduced processing gain. The amount of power increase depends on the transmission time reduction
method. What frames are compressed, are decided by the network. When in compressed mode,
compressed frames can occur periodically, or requested on demand. The rate and type of compressed
frames is variable and depends on the environment and the measurement requirements.
The frame structure for uplink compressed frames is illustrated below.

There are two different types of frame structures defined for downlink compressed
frames. Type A maximises the transmission gap length and type B is optimised for
power control. The frame structure type A or B is set by higher layers independent
from the downlink slot format type A or B.

 With frame structure of type A, the pilot field of the last slot in the transmission gap is transmitted.
Transmission is turned off during the rest of the transmission gap (below).

 With frame structure of type B, the TPC field of the first slot in the transmission gap and the pilot
field of the last slot in the transmission gap is transmitted. Transmission is turned off during the rest of
the transmission gap (below).