Introduction

IN circuit-switched connection an end-to end connection is established.

IN packet-switched mode, each portion of information (message, frame, block, etc.) travels independently across the network. No resources are allocated for the exclusive use of the connection during its whole duration.

WHAT IS EDGE?

1.

EDGE can be introduced in two ways:

Packet-switched enhancement for general packet radio service (GPRS), known as enhanced GPRS or EGPRS. Circuit-switched dataenhancement called enhanced circuit-switched data (ECSD).

2.

Executive Summary
  

 

Presentation is to describe EDGE technology and how it leverages existing GSM systems and for evolution of 3G. EDGE is the next step in the evolution of GSM and IS-136. The objective of the new technology is to increase data transmission rates and spectrum efficiency and to facilitate new applications and increased capacity for mobile use. With the introduction of EDGE in GSM phase 2+, existing services such as GPRS and high-speed circuit switched data (HSCSD) are enhanced by offering a new physical layer. The services themselves are not modified. EDGE is introduced within existing specifications and descriptions rather than by creating new ones.

GPRS/EDGE Overview
GPRS allows data rate of 160 kbps and EDGE provides data rate of 473.6kbps.  A new modulation technique and error-tolerant transmission methods, combined with improved link adaptation mechanisms, make these EGPRS rates possible  EDGE is therefore and addon to GPRS and cant work alone.  In other words it is a narrow band (200khz) radio technology that allows operators to offer 3G services without purchasing 3G license.


GPRS/EDGE Architecture

GPRS and EGPRS have different protocols and different behavior on the base station system side.  On the core network side, GPRS and EGPRS share the same packet-handling protocols and,therefore, behave in the same way.  EGPRS dosesnt bring about direct architecture Impacts.It remains as it is while there are 3 additional components involved which can be seen in the diagram shown in above slide.


 

The 3 components are: SGSN,GGSN and PCU. The packet control unit (PCU) may still be placed either in the base station, the BSC or the GPRS support node, and the central control unit is always placed in the base station. It is responsible for the GPRS packet data radio

 

resources management in BSS. Serving GPRS Support Node ( SGSN ) can be compared to a GSM MSC/VLR. It forwards incoming and outgoing IP packets to and from the MSs attached within the SGSN Service Area.( routing of packet data within SGSN area and towards GGSN ).

The Gateway GPRS Support Node (GGSN) is responsible for: Packet routing and transfer towards external IP networks Associating subscribers with appropriate SGSN Output of billing data

Technical differences between GPRS and EGPRS

Modulation Technique
 

 

In GSM/GPRS we use GMSK as our modulation technique while 8 PSK is used in EDGE. This technique allows to re-use the channel width,channel coding & existing mechanism functionalities of GPRS. 8-PSK generates interference on adjacent channel as GMSK, so its possible to integrate EDGE channel into an existing frequency plan. In 8-PSK modulation technique ->3 consecutive Bits mapped onto 1 symbol. The symbol rate remains same as GMSK but each symbol in 8-PSK now represents 3 bits instead of 1 thereby increasing the data rate by factor of 3.

Modulation Technique Contd

Also can be seen from the above graphical representation distance between different symbols is shorter using 8-PSK than GMSK.Shorter Distance increase the risk of misinterpretation of symbols which causes difficulty to receivers to detect the received symbol. Under good RF condition this does not matter.Only under poor RF condition GMSK is more efficient.

GPRS/EDGE Coding schemes.

Coding Schemes-Contd.
For GPRS, four different coding schemes, designated CS1 through CS4, are defined.  For EGPRS, 9 modulation coding schemes, designated MCS1through MCS9, are introduced  The lower four EGPRS coding schemes (MSC1 to MSC4) use GMSK,whereas the upper five (MSC5 to MSC9) use 8PSK modulation.


Link Adaptation
It uses Radio quality measured either by Mobile station in DL Transfer or by BS in an Uplink transfer to select most appropriate modulation scheme for transmission of next sequence of packets.  The modulation coding scheme can be changed for each radio block (four bursts), but a change is usually initiated by new quality estimates.


PDP Context Activation

PDP Context Activation Contd..

1. MS sends PDP context activation request to SGSN 2. Security functions may be executed between MS and SGSN 3. SGSN validates the request 4. SGSN Checks the subscription Checks quality of service Sends Access Point Name (APN) to GGSN Creates a Tunnel Identity (TID) to the GGSN 5. GGSN contacts an external network and asks for an IPaddress for the MS 6. The server in the external network sends IP-number to GGSN 7. GGSN sends IP-number to the MS After PDP-context activation the computer network accepts the MS. A packet transfer can take place. An MS can have more than one PDP context activated, as it may have access to different external computer networks. One MS can have up to 7 different PDP contexts activated. This means a need to handle up to 7 different IP addresses. PDP context deactivation can be initiated by the MS, SGSN or GGSN.

THE MATERIAL USED IN THIS PRESENTATION HAS BEEN OBTAINED FROM VARIOUS SOURCES, DOCUMENTS AND PRESENTATIONS IN THE GSM WORLD, CREATED BY A LARGE VARIETY OF PEOPLE. I WOULD LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE ALL THE AUTHORS/CREATORS OF THE USED MATERIAL.

THANK YOU......