WiMax Solutions

Division

WiMAX Network Architecture

Kuo-Hui Li, PhD

WiMAX Solutions Division
Intel Mobility Group
June 05, 2006
Generic Mobile WiMAX Architectural Model

ASP – Application Service Provider M:N NAP – NSP

relationship enabling
wholesale/unbundled Internet
access

Radio Access
Control/Mngmt.

NSP
WiMAX PSTN
Core
Access Network
Radio Access
Network Access Data Plane Network Service
Provider (NAP) Provider (NSP)

Flexible Network Operator Relationships ASP

• Supports infrastructure access unbundling
from IP connectivity services
• Supports Multiple Virtual Network Operator concept
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 Key Architecture Features
• All IP radio access and core transport network
¾ Based on IEEE* 802.16/e and IETF protocols
• Support for all usage models (fixed to fully
mobile)
• Access to incumbent core networks via
interworking functions
• Open interfaces both within the RAN, and
between the RAN and the core network
• Support for voice, data and multimedia services
with appropriate QoS

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 Network Reference Model (NRM)

NSP
R2 NAP
R6
BS HA AAA
ASN R3
Mobile R1
Subscriber GW
Station R6 (FA) CSN
BS
Roaming
ASN
R5
R4

Another
Another Operator’s
ASN CSN

ASN – Access Services Network NAP – Network Access Provider

CSN – Core Services Network NSP – Network Service Provider
BS – Base Station HA – Home Agent
FA – Foreign Agent AAA – Authentication, Authorization, & Accounting

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 Key Network Features
• AAA with CSN for homers and roamers
¾ IEEE 802.16 security framework extended to cover mobility scenarios
¾ RADIUS for AAA, evolving to DIAMETER
• QoS
¾ Based on subscription
¾ Policy enforcement
• Mobility management
¾ Mobility management is tiered
ƒ Intra-ASN
ƒ Inter-ASN
ƒ Inter-CSN when V-CSN supports the HA for mobile IP
• Wimax/3G Interworking
• Charging
¾ Common Billing with CSN but different CDR (Call Detail Record)
collectors
¾ Common Billing with common CDR collector
• Protocols
¾ Support for both IPv4 and IPv6

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 Network Nodes

ASN Core

MSS
Internet

BS
ASN-GW/FA

Backhaul Network internal

WiMAX Air
(L2/L3 Tunnel) (e.g., L2/L3 Tunnel)
Interface
Short
Distance
Physically
(e.g., Coax, At the Local
connected Home
Fiber transport Switching
to antenna Agent (HA)
of RF is under Center
consideration)

AAA

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 ASN Profiles
• Multiple ASN Profiles have been specified in WiMAX as a tool to
manage diversity in ASN node usage and implementation
¾ Vendors (esp. BS) very concerned that they will be forced to implement every
protocol option in the specification
¾ We cannot preclude any topological variant from serving any usage or
deployment/Interworking scenario
• Release 1 of NWG Specifications on WiMAX supports 3 ASN
Profiles:
¾ Profile A:
ƒ Centralized ASN Model with BS and ASN GW in separate platforms through R6
interface
ƒ Split RRM: RRA in BS and RRC in ASN-GW
ƒ Open interfaces for Profile A: R1, R6, R4, and R3
¾ Profile B:
ƒ Distributed ASN solution with the BS and ASN GW functionalities implemented in a
single platform
ƒ Open interfaces Profile B: R4 and R3
¾ Profile C: Similar to Profile A, except for RRM being non-split and located in BS.

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 ASN Profile A
R2 Separate BS and ASN-GW, Split RRM

ASP R6 R3
NSP

BS Internet
R1
ASN GW (FA)
MS Air
R4
Interface
BS

ASN GW (FA)

R4
•HO
R6 •HO •DHCP Proxy/Relay
•Data Path 1 & 2 R3
•Data Path 1 & 2 •MIP FA
ASN •Authentication Relay
•Authenticator
•Paging Agent •Location Register
Profile A •Key Receiver •Key Distributor •PMIP Client
•Context •Context •AAA Client
•RRA •RRC •Paging Controller
•SF Management •SF Authorization
BS ASN-GW
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 ASN Profile B
R2 Combined BS, ASN-GW

NSP
R3
BS+ASN GW Internet
R1 (FA)
R4
MS Air
Interface
BS+ASN GW
(FA)

R4
BS + ASN-GW
•HO •RRA + RRC R3
ASN •Data Path 1 & 2 •DHCP Proxy/Relay
Profile B •Authenticator •MIP FA
•Key Receiver + Distrib. •Location Register
•Context •PMIP Client/Assistant
•SFA + SFM •AAA Client

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 ASN Profile C
R2 Separate BS and ASN-GW, RRM in BS

ASP R6 R3
NSP

BS Internet
R1
ASN GW (FA)
MS Air
R4
Interface
BS

ASN GW (FA)

R4
•HO
R6 •HO •DHCP Proxy/Relay
•Data Path 1 & 2 R3
•Data Path 1 & 2 •MIP FA
ASN •Authentication Relay
•Authenticator
•Paging Agent •Location Register
Profile C •Key Receiver •Key Distributor •PMIP Client
•Context •Context •AAA Client
•RRA + RRC •SF Authorization •Paging Controller
•SF Management
BS ASN-GW
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 ASN Profiles Comparisons

ASN Descriptions Pro Con

Profile
Profile A •Centralized platform •Able to provide simplified •Difficult Interoperability
•Separate BS and ASN- pico-cell between BS and ASN-
GW •Able to provide soft GW from different
•Split RRM: RRA at BS handover vendors
and RRC at ASN-GW •Fewer backhauls for RRM •Heavy workload at
messages ASN-GW
•Fewer vendors
Profile B •Distributed platform •Simple architecture •Difficult to customize IP
•Combined BS and ASN- •Suitable for small-scale and wireless functions
GW deployment for operators
•Expensive for large-
scale deployment
Profile C •Distributed platform •Able to provide simplified •Extra backhauls for
•Separate BS and ASN- pico-cell RRM messages
GW •Able to get BS and ASN-
•RRM at BS GW from different vendors

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 AAA and Roaming Framework

• Non-Roaming Case
ASN H-CSN
ASN-GW
AAA Proxy AAA Server
R3
R6
R1
MS AAA Client
BS

• Roaming Case

ASN H-CSN
V-CSN
ASN-GW
AAA Proxy/ AAA Proxy/
AAA Proxy
Server Server
R3 R5
R6
R1
MS AAA Client
BS

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 QoS Framework
•End-to-End QoS model
Triggers QoS Requests

AF: Application Function

Home NSP
(e.g., SIP Proxy)

PF: Policy Function AF PF

Subscriber
Data
LPF: Local Policy Function

Via R3 & R5
ASN

Admission
R1 Control
SS
LPF
Local Local Policy
Resource Info Data

BS ASN-GW

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 Mobility Framework

• Mobile IP based
¾Proxy mobile IP
ƒ Client unaware of MIP
ƒ Standard RFC methods implemented in network
only
¾Client mobile IP
ƒ As per standard RFC
¾Coexistence
ƒ Support for both MIP-aware and other clients

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 WiMAX-3G Interworking
• Initial Interworking scenarios
¾ Scenario 1 - Common Billing and Customer Care
¾ Scenario 2 - 3GPP system based Access Control and Charging
¾ Scenario 3: Access to 3GPP system PS based services
¾ Other scenarios such Service continuity & Seamless services are in the
future
• Loose coupling
¾ Single subscription
¾ Roaming between WiMAX and 3G networks
• Requires WiMAX CSN IWU Node
¾ Provides IP Connectivity between ASN & 3GPP CSN.
¾ Direct Internet connectivity to MS
¾ Local IP address management (DHCP, DNS).
¾ NAT function
¾ AAA proxy or pass-through for Wa interface
¾ Bridges R3 interface with Wa and Wn interfaces of the CSN

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 3GPP Overlay (3GPP TS 23.234)

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 3GPP/2 Interworking with IMS

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