User Description, LAPD concentration Strona 1 z 11

User Description 84/1553-HSC 10312 Uen E

User Description, LAPD concentration

Copyright

© Ericsson AB 2002, All rights reserved.

Disclaimer

The contents of this document are subject to revision without notice due to continued progress
in methodology design, and manufacturing.

Ericsson shall have no liability for any error or damage of any kind resulting from the use of this
document.

Contents
1 Introduction

2 Glossary
2.1 Terminology

3 Capabilities

4 Technical description
4.1 General
4.2 LAPD concentration RBS 200
4.3 LAPD concentration RBS 2000
4.4 LAPD Link supervision
4.5 Main changes in Ericsson GSM system R8/BSS R8.0

5 Engineering Guidelines
5.1 Paging
5.2 Concentration factor

6 Parameters
6.1 Main controlling parameters
6.2 Value ranges and default values

7 References

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1 Introduction
The cost of transmission represents a significant part of the total cost of cellular networks. This
is especially true for rural areas where existing distance between the cell sites are longer. It is
main reason for optimizing of transmission solutions. The benefit of LAPD concentration is
reducing the number of required physical links between the BSC and the RBS.

LAPD concentration offers a more efficient usage of the signaling transmission between Base
Transceiver Station (BTS) and Base Station Controller (BSC). The improved utilization of the
signaling transmission is achieved by sharing the same 64 kbit/s time slot for several
Transceivers with low signal transmission.

2 Glossary

2.1 Terminology

BSC Base Station Controller

BTS Base Transceiver Station

CF Central Functions

DCP Digital connection Point

ETB Exchange Terminal Board

IS Interface Switch

LAPD Link Access Protocol on D-Channel

SAPI Service Access Point Identifier

TEI Terminal Endpoint Identifier

TGC Transceiver Group Control

TRI Transmission Radio Interface

TRX Transceiver

TRXC Transceiver Controller

3 Capabilities
By concentrating up to four LAPD signaling links upon one 64 kbit/s A-bis PCM timeslot the
required signaling transmission capacity can be reduced by approximately 25%. A transmission
saving can be seen in the table below.

PCM time slots required:

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Table 1
TRXs/cell Normal
1 3
2 6
3 9
4 12
LAPD conc. Savings
3 0%
5 17%
7 22%
9 25%

Figure 1 The structure of 2 Mbit/s PCM link towards BTS without and with LAPD concentration
in RBS 200

This feature can not be used simultaneously with LAPD multiplexing (see User Description,
LAPD Multiplexing ) in the same TG. The LAPD concentration is used for RBS sites with 2 TRXs
or more per cell (LAPD multiplexing is most efficient at small RBS sites, typically up to two TRX
per cell). The decision about using of LAPD concentration or multiplexing depends on the
configuration of the system. LAPD concentration can be used when RBS 200 and RBS 2000 are
cascaded in the same transmission link

4 Technical description

4.1 General

A physical 2 Mbit/s connection must be established for the communication between the RBS and
BSC. Each link has 32 time slots for 2 Mbit/s links. There are two types of communication
channels between BSC and BTS:

„ Traffic Channel: at 64 kbits/s, carrying speech or data for radio channels

„ Signaling Channel: at 64 kbits/s, carrying signal information either for BTS itself or for MS
that is to be transmitted over one of the radio channels.

As the figure 1 above shows, timeslot 1 is reserved for synchronization and the rest of them for
signaling and speech/data. As entire signaling information is transferred over one or more
channel (64 kbits/s) timeslots and then converted back at the receiving end. This is done in the
LAPD protocol (Link Access Procedure on the D-channel). The sending side constructs an LAPD
frame, which is then divided into a number of bytes and transported over the signaling channel

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in PCM link as in No.7 signaling.

The structure of the logical links between BSC and BTS is built according to A-bis interface.
Layer 1 is the Physical layer and is responsible for the physical transmission of zeroes and ones
on the medium, and contains the specification for the size and shape of the pulses.

Table 2
BSC BTS
Layer 2 LAPD LAPD
Layer 1 PHYSICAL PHYSICAL

4.1.1 LAPD protocol

All messages sent on the A-bis interface use the LAPD protocol that enables reliable
transmission of information. LAPD provides two kinds of transfer modes: Unacknowledged info
transfer with no guarantee that the information frame is successfully delivered to the
addressee, and acknowledged information transfer, which is more common, where each signal
is acknowledged, and the system makes sure that the frame has reached the destination
successfully. Only measurement reports use unacknowledged information transfer.

The LAPD links are provided on the 64 kbit/s physical connection.

4.1.2 Frame Structure

A flag, 01111110 (h'7E), delimits a frame. The one flag is enough between consecutive frames.
The receiving entity looks for the flag 01111110 to synchronize on the start of a frame.

Figure 2 LAPD frame

TEI and SAPI are used to access the right entity and right function at the receiving end.

SAPI is the address used to access different functions, such as TRXC, CF and Layer 2
management procedures, within one physical entity.

TEI is the address used to access different physical entities such as an individual TRX for radio
signaling.

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Two data link types are defined for each TEI. The data link types and their corresponding SAPI
are:

SAPI=0 is used for the Radio Signaling Link (RSL). This link is used for supporting traffic
management procedures. One link is required per TRX defined.

SAPI=62 is used for the Operations & Maintenance Link (OML). This link is used for supporting
network management procedures. One link is required per TEI defined.

The physical entities (TRX) that BSC communicates with at the BTS, via data links, are referred
to Terminal Equipment. A TEI/SAPI pair, unique for each physical connection identifies each
data link. Each physical connection can support a number of data links.

Figure 3 Logical configuration of A-bis interface without LAPD concentration for RBS 200

If there is no LAPD concentration used then each 64 Kbits/s physical connection can support
three data links, which will consist of the following types: one RSL link for traffic messages, one
or two (respectively for selected TRX two and for stand by - one) OML links for the BTS
equipment. It means one 64 Kbits/s physical connection can support only one TRX.

The purpose of the LAPD concentration is to improve network utilization by increasing the
number of data links that can share the same 64 Kbits/s connection. A concentrated link is one
of the numbers of logical links that share this 64 Kbits/s path. The links have no fixed
bandwidth, being implemented as separately addressed messages which are sending over the
common path.

See figure 4. The LAPD concentrator receives messages from several TRXs via the non-
concentrated LAPD links and sends these messages over a concentrated LAPD link to BSC. The
LAPD concentrator also receives messages on the concentrated LAPD link from the BSC. The
LAPD concentrator checks the address part of these messages and distributes them via non-
concentrated LAPD links to the respective TRX.

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The data links are connecting to the definite TEI must belong to the same Transceiver group.
Each data link from a concentrated link has a unique TEI to enable it to be identified.

4.1.3 Concentration ratio

The concentration ratio is a maximum number of TRXs sharing the same 64 kbit/s physical
connection for signaling links.

A maximum of one concentrator can be used to concentrate the messages on one LAPD link
between BSC and TRX

4.2 LAPD concentration RBS 200

4.2.1 General

The EMRP-S (Extension Module Regional Processor Speech Bus) board is required to be able to
use this feature. This board is located in the TRI (Transmission Radio Interface) and
concentrates a number of LAPD links to fewer physical links, concentraion=1:4. I.e. reducing
the number of 64 kbits/s physical links needed to provide signaling connections between the
BSC and BTS. LAPD concentration in a TRI can concentrate LAPD links from many TRI's. At the
BSC side concentrated links are terminated within the TRH (Transceiver Handler).

Figure 4 Logical configuration of A-bis interface with LAPD concentration of three non-
concentrated LAPD links to one concentrated LAPD link in RBS 200 with one remote TRX

4.2.2 Alarm and supervision of LAPD concentrator

The LAPD concentrator board is continuously supervised. The equipment will be automatically
blocked and an alarm will be issued if a fault occurs.

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Supervision of the LAPD concentrator board processor initiates an alarm when processor is
overloaded. Default value is 70 percent. The limit for ceasing the processor overload alarm is 60
percent.

Supervision of the concentrated LAPD link to the BSC initiates an alarm when the LAPD link is
overloaded. Default value is 70 percent. The limit for ceasing the link overload alarm is 60
percent.

The percentage limits for initiating and ceasing the link and processor overload alarm are set to
default value by the system. These parameters can be changed by a command in the
Administration of BSC Exchange Properties function.

4.2.3 Dimensioning Limits/Values

The number of signaling links that can be concentrated into one 64 kbits/link depends on
several factors, e.g. the number of subscribers in the cell, call and registration intensity per
subscribers in the cell, call and registration intensity per subscriber. These parameters may
vary quite much in different cells. Another important factor is how a TRX is configured.

A maximum of four TRXs can share the same physical 64 kbits/link.

The ETB has capacity of 31 circuits.

One EMRP-S board can handle up to 12 TRXs. If more than 12 TRXs are needed at a BTS site, a
second EMRP-S board has to be connected. The EMRP-S board can contain several
concentrators and each of them has the capacity to concentrate up to 12 non- concentrated
links into a number of concentrated links.

4.3 LAPD concentration RBS 2000

4.3.1 General

No additional board is required to be able to use this feature. RBS 2000 is administrated and
controlled remotely from BSC. All handling of RBS equipment, including configuration,
maintenance, and administration, is controlled by BSC. RBS software loading and administration
are also governed by the BSC.

RBS 2000 supports embedded LAPD Concentration/Multiplexing/Multi Drop functionality as a

part of DXU (Distribution Switch Unit). This is a modeled as a separate Managed Object (MO)
within BSC. DXU provides the LAPD concentration of many LAPD links to fewer physical path.
LAPD concentration in a RBS 2000 is within one DXU.

4.3.2 Administration

LAPD concentration in the RBS 2000 is handled in the BSC by the managed object, CON
(Concentrator). This MO is associated with a TG and is used to supply connection points to the
IS (Interface Switch) so that LAPD concentration is achieved. The CON is optional per TG and
only one CON can be defined per TG.

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Figure 5 LAPD concentration in RBS 2000.

Up to 8 Abis paths can be connected to the concentrator. The concentrated links of these paths
can be routed to a maximum of 4 unconcentrated links. This connection is configured during
CON configuration. Connection of the CON, TRXCs and Abis paths to DCP (Digital Connection
Point) in the IS are configured during IS configuration.

The maximum concentrator factor CONFACT is set per TG.

When LAPD concentrator is used the controlling parameter is SIG. SIG is set per CF and TRXC.
The parameter SIG (signaling information) contains one of four possible values:

„ MPLEX16 - 16k multiplex required

„ MPLEX32 - 32k multiplex required
„ UNCONC - Concentration no required
„ CONC - Concentration required

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4.3.3 Dimensioning Limits/Values

The maximum number of concentrated 64 kbits/links in one BTS is 8. These paths can be
routed to a maximum of 12 TRXs.

A maximum of four TRXs can share the same physical 64 kbit/s link.

LAPD concentration can not be combined with LAPD multiplexing for the same TG but can be
mixed in the same BSC.

The concentration is also valid for the CF link.

The concentration factor for a TG can be changed only when the TG is out of service.

4.4 LAPD Link supervision

CON sends CON QUEUE congestion when a LAPD link is overloaded via the CF signaling link up
to the BSC (see User Description, BTS Alarm Coordination ).

Figure 6

Due to that the object CON should always be manually deblocked.

4.5 Main changes in Ericsson GSM system R8/BSS R8.0

No changes.

5 Engineering Guidelines

5.1 Paging

Table 3 below shows the recommended maximum paging rate, PAGLIMIT , when the LAPD
concentration 64kbps is used, for handling a numbers of TRXs per link. In the table the worst
case is assumed, that means all TRXs carries BCCH.

Table 3
Link Type No of TRXs per link Recommended maximum
Pagings/s*
LAPD 64kbit/s 1 No restriction
LAPD Concentration 64kbps 2 60

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LAPD Concentration 64kbps 3 40

LAPD Concentration 64kbps 4 30

* The pagings/s means the paging per second in the Location Areas.

5.2 Concentration factor

Table 4
Concentrator factor is set to No of TRXs
4 <5
3 5-6
4 7 or 8
3 9
4 >9

6 Parameters

6.1 Main controlling parameters

6.1.1 RBS200

CONFACT is the maximum allowed LAPD concentration factor in the TG and it is set per TG.
Specifies the maximum number of TRXCs that can be LAPD concentrated on the same
transmission device.

CTEI is the TGC Application terminal endpoint identifier LAPD element used for L2 addressing to
TGC application in a TRXC. Set per TRXC.

TEI is the terminal endpoint identifier LAPD element used for L2 addressing to a TRXC. Set per
TRXC.

6.1.2 RBS2000

CONFACT is the maximum allowed LAPD concentration factor in the TG and it is set per TG.
Specifies the maximum number of TRXCs that can be LAPD concentrated on the same
transmission device.

DCP is the digital connection point number used for connection to the LAPD Concentrator. A
total of 24 DCPs can be given. Set per CON.

TEI is the terminal end point identifier LAPD element used for L2 addressing to a TRXC or a CF.
Set per TRXC and CF.

SIG is the signalling type:

UNCONC Unconcentrated

CONC LAPD Concentration

MPLEX16 16K Multiplex

MPLEX32 32K Multiplex

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PAGLIMIT Max number of paging orders allowed to be sent to the TRH per second. Set per
BSC.

6.2 Value ranges and default values

Table 5
Parameter name Default value Recommended value Value range Unit
CONFACT 1 3 or 4 1-4
DCP 0-255
CONC UNCONC
SIG UNCONC MPLEX16
MPLEX32
TEI 0-63
0 (no See chapter 5.1 10* pagings/s
PAGLIMIT 0-10
restriction)

7 References
1. User Description, LAPD Multiplexing
2. User Description, BTS Alarm Coordination

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