RADIO ACCESS NETWORK

ARCHITECTURE
5.1 System Architecture
5.2 UTRAN Architecture
5.3 General Protocol Model for UTRAN Terrestrial
Interfaces
5.4 Iu, The UTRANCN Interface
5.5 UTRAN Internal Interfaces
5.6 UTRAN Enhancements and Evolution
5.7 UTRAN CN Architecture and Evolution
5.1 SYSTEM ARCHITECTURE
Functional network elements
User Equipment (UE)
interfaces with user and radio interface
Radio Access Network (RAN, UMTS Terrestrial RAN =
UTRAN)
handles all radio-related functionality
Core Network
switches and routes calls and data connections
to external networks
PLMN (Public Land Mobile Network)
operated by a single operator
distinguished from each other with unique identities
operational either on their own or together with other
sub-networks
connected to other PLMNs as well as to other types of
network, such as ISDN, PSTN, the Internet, etc.
UE consists of two parts
Mobile Equipment (ME)
the radio terminal used for radio communication over
Uu interface
UMTS Subscriber Identity Module (USIM)
a smartcard that holds the subscriber identity
performs authentication algorithms
stores authentication and encryption keys
some subscription information that is needed at the
terminal
UTRAN consists of two elements
Node B
converts data flow between Iub and Uu interfaces
participates in radio resource management
Radio Network Controller (RNC)
owns and controls radio resources in its domain
the service access point (SAP) for all services that
UTRAN provides the CN
e.g., management of connections to UE
Main elements of CN
a) HLR (Home Location Register)
b) MSC/VLR (Mobile Services Switching Centre/Visitor
Location Register)
c) GMSC (Gateway MSC)
d) SGSN (Serving GPRS (General Packet Radio Service)
Support Node)
e) GGSN (Gateway GPRS Support Node)
(a) HLR (Home Location Register)
a database located in users home system that stores
the master copy of users service profile
service profile consists of, e.g.,
information on allowed services, forbidden
roaming areas
supplementary service information such as
status of call forwarding and the call forwarding
number
it is created when a new user subscribes to the system,
and remains stored as long as the subscription is active
for the purpose of routing incoming transactions to UE
(e.g. calls or short messages)
HLR also stores the UE location on the level of
MSC/VLR and/or SGSN
(b) MSC/VLR (Mobile Services Switching
Centre/Visitor Location Register)
the switch (MSC) and database (VLR) that serve the UE
in its current location for Circuit Switched (CS) services
the part of the network that is accessed via MSC/VLR is
often referred to as CS domain
MSC
used to switch CS transactions
VLR
holds a copy of the visiting users service profile,
as well as more precise information on the UEs
location within the serving system
(c) GMSC (Gateway MSC)
the switch at the point where UMTS PLMN is connected
to external CS networks
all incoming and outgoing CS connections go through
GMSC
(d) SGSN (Serving GPRS (General Packet Radio
Service) Support Node)
functionality is similar to that of MSC/VLR but is typically
used for Packet Switched (PS) services
the part of the network that is accessed via SGSN is
often referred to as PS domain
(e) GGSN (Gateway GPRS Support Node)
functionality is close to that of GMSC but is in relation to
PS services
External networks can be divided into two groups
CS networks
provide circuit-switched connections, like the existing telephony
service
ISDN and PSTN are examples of CS networks
PS networks
provide connections for packet data services
Internet is one example of a PS network
Main open interfaces
Cu interface
the electrical interface between USIM smartcard and
ME
Uu interface
the WCDMA radio interface
the interface through which UE accesses the fixed part
of the system
the most important open interface in UMTS
Iu interface
connects UTRAN to CN
Iur interface
allows soft handover between RNCs
Iub interface
connects a Node B and an RNC
5.2 UTRAN ARCHITECTURE
5.2.1 Radio Network Controller
5.2.2 Node B (Base Station)
UTRAN
consists of one or more Radio Network Sub-systems (RNS)
RNS
a subnetwork within UTRAN
consists of one Radio Network Controller (RNC) and one or
more Node Bs
RNCs
may be connected to each other via Iur interface
RNCs and Node Bs are connected with Iub interface
Main characteristics of UTRAN
support of UTRA and all related functionality
support soft handover and WCDMA-specific Radio Resource
Management algorithms
use of ATM transport as the main transport mechanism in UTRAN
use of IP-based transport as the alternative transport mechanism
in UTRAN from Release 5 onwards
5.2.1 RADIO NETWORK
CONTROLLER
RNC (Radio Network Controller)
the network element responsible for radio resources control of
UTRAN
it interfaces CN (normally to one MSC and one SGSN)
terminates RRC (Radio Resource Control) protocol that
defines the messages and procedures between mobile and
UTRAN
it logically corresponds to the GSM BSC
RADIO
RESOURCE
CONTROL
Radio Resource Control (RRC) messages
the major part of the control signaling between UE and
UTRAN
carry all parameters required to set up, modify and release
Layer 2 and Layer 1 protocol entities
The mobility of user equipment in the connected mode is
controlled by RRC signaling
measurements, handovers, cell updates, etc.
3GPP BEARERS FOR SUPPORTING
PACKET-SWITCHED SERVICES
UTRAN
CN
TRAFFIC BEARERS STRUCTURE SUPPORTING
PACKET-SWITCHED SERVICES
3GPP Bearer
a dedicated path between mobile and its serving GGSN
for a mobile to send or receive packets over a 3GPP PS CN
a 3GPP Bearer in a UMTS network would be a UMTS Bearer
Constructed by concatenating
Radio Access Bearer (RAB)
connects a mobile over a RAN to the edge of
CN (i.e., a SGSN)
CN Bearer
carries user traffic between the edge of CN
and a GGSN
SIGNALING AND TRAFFIC
CONNECTIONS BETWEEN MOBILE AND
SGSN
The signaling connection between mobile and SGSN is
constructed by concatenating
Signaling Radio Bearer
between mobile and RAN (e.g., the RNC in UTRAN)
I
u
Signaling Bearer
between RAN and SGSN
Signaling and traffic connections between mobile and SGSN
Radio Resource Control (RRC) connection
Radio Access Network Application Part (RANAP)
connection
Radio Resource Control (RRC) connection
includes Signaling Radio Bearers and Traffic Radio
Bearers for the same mobile
used to establish, maintain, and release Radio Bearers
a mobile will use a common RRC connection to carry
signaling and user traffic for both PS and CS services
Radio Access Network Application Part (RANAP)
connection
includes I
u
Signaling Bearers and I
u
Traffic Bearers for
the same mobile
used to establish, maintain, modify, change, and release
all these I
u
Bearers
5.2.1.1 LOGICAL ROLE OF THE RNC
The RNC controlling one Node B is indicated as the
Controlling RNC (CRNC) of Node B
Controlling RNC
responsible for load and congestion control of its own
cells
executes admission control for new radio links
In case one mobileUTRAN connection uses
resources from more than one RNS (due to
handover), the RNCs involved have two separate
logical roles
Serving RNC (SRNC)
Drift RNC (DRNC)
Serving RNC
SRNC for one mobile is the RNC that terminates both
the Iu link for the transport of user data and the
corresponding RANAP (RAN Application Part) signaling
to/from the core network
SRNC also terminates the Radio Resource Control
Signaling, that is the signaling protocol between the UE
and UTRAN
it performs L2 processing of the data to/from the radio
interface
basic Radio Resource Management operations are
executed in SRNC
map Radio Access Bearer (RAB) parameters into air
interface transport channel parameters
handover decision
outer loop power control
one UE connected to UTRAN has one and only one
SRNC
Drift RNC
DRNC is any RNC, other than the SRNC, that controls
cells used by the mobile
DRNC does not perform L2 processing of the user
plane data, but routes the data transparently between
Iub and Iur interfaces
one UE may have zero, one or more DRNCs
5.2.2 NODE B (BASE STATION)
Main function of Node B
perform the air interface L1 processing, e.g.,
channel coding and interleaving
rate adaptation
spreading
also performs some basic Radio Resource Management
operations, e.g.
inner loop power control
It logically corresponds to the GSM Base Station
INTERLEAVING
The transmission of pulses from two or more digital
sources in time-division sequence over a single
path
5.3 GENERAL PROTOCOL MODEL FOR
UTRAN TERRESTRIAL INTERFACES
5.3.1 General
5.3.2 Horizontal Layers
5.3.3 Vertical Planes
5.3.1 GENERAL
The general protocol model for UTRAN terrestrial
interfaces
the layers and planes are logically independent of each
other
parts of the protocol structure may be changed in the
future while other parts remain intact
5.3.2 HORIZONTAL LAYERS
The protocol structure consists of two main layers
Radio network layer
Transport network layer
5.3.3 VERTICAL PLANES
5.3.3.1 Control Plane
5.3.3.2 User Plane
5.3.3.3 Transport Network Control Plane
5.3.3.4 Transport Network User Plane
5.3.3.1 CONTROL PLANE
Control Plane
used for all UMTS-specific control signaling
includes two parts
application protocol
RANAP (RAN application part) in Iu
RNSAP (RNS application part) in Iur
NBAP (Node B application part) in Iub
signaling bearer
transport the application protocol messages
Application protocol is used for
setting up bearers to UE, i.e.
radio access bearer in Iu
radio link in Iur and Iub
5.3.3.2 USER PLANE
User Plane
transport all information sent and received by the
user, such as
coded voice in a voice call
packets in an Internet connection
includes two parts
data stream(s)
data bearer(s) for data stream(s)
5.3.3.3 TRANSPORT NETWORK
CONTROL PLANE
Used for all control signaling within transport layer
Does not include any radio network layer information
Includes ALCAP (Access Link Control Application Part)
protocol used to set up the transport bearers (data bearer)
for user plane

Includes signaling bearer needed for ALCAP
Transport network control plane
acts between control plane and user plane
makes it possible for application protocol in radio
network control plane to be completely independent of
the technology selected for data bearer in user plane
5.3.3.4 TRANSPORT NETWORK USER
PLANE
Transport Network User Plane
data bearer(s) in user plane
signaling bearer(s) for application protocol
5.4 IU, THE UTRANCN INTERFACE
5.4.1 Protocol Structure for Iu CS
5.4.2 Protocol Structure for Iu PS
5.4.3 RANAP Protocol
5.4.4 Iu User Plane Protocol
5.4.5 Protocol Structure of Iu BC, and the SABP
Protocol
Iu interface
an open interface that divides the system into radio-
specific UTRAN and CN
handles switching, routing and service control
Iu can have two main different instances and one
additional instance
Iu CS
connect UTRAN to Circuit Switched (CS) CN
Iu PS
connect UTRAN to Packet Switched (PS) CN
Iu BC (Broadcast)
support Cell Broadcast Services
connect UTRAN to the Broadcast domain of CN
5.4.1 PROTOCOL STRUCTURE FOR IU
CS
5.4.1.1 Iu CS Control Plane Protocol Stack
5.4.1.2 Iu CS Transport Network Control Plane
Protocol Stack
5.4.1.3 Iu CS User Plane Protocol Stack

The following figure
depicts the Iu CS overall protocol structure
the three planes in the Iu interface share a common
ATM (Asynchronous Transfer Mode) transport
physical layer is the interface to physical medium
optical fiber
radio link
copper cable
5.4.1.1 Iu CS CONTROL PLANE
PROTOCOL STACK
Control Plane protocol stack consists of RANAP, on
top of Broadband (BB) SS7 (Signaling System #7)
protocols
The applicable layers are
Signaling Connection Control Part (SCCP)
Message Transfer Part (MTP3-b)
SAAL-NNI (Signaling ATM Adaptation Layer for
Network to Network Interfaces)
SS7
MTP (Message Transfer Part)
SS7(Signaling Data Link
Level)(Physical Level)

SS7
SS7(Signaling Link Level)
SS7
SS7(Signaling Network Level)

MTP3-b


SCCPISUP
ISDN-UP (ISUP)(Signaling
Connection)
(SP)

(User)()(SP)

(User Part)
TCAP
(Transaction CapabilitiesTC)
(Transaction Capabilities Application PartTCAP)
SS7(Application Layer)
(Application Service ElementASE)

SS7




(080
)TCAP
SAAL-NNI is further divided into
Service Specific Coordination Function
(SSCF)
Service Specific Connection Oriented
Protocol (SSCOP)
ATM Adaptation Layer 5 (AAL) layers
SSCF and SSCOP layers
designed for signaling transport in ATM
networks
take care of signaling connection
management
AAL5 is used for segmenting the data to
ATM cells

SSCF (Service Specific Coordination Function)

UNI (User-to-Network Interface)NNI
(Network-to-Network Interface)
(connection management)
(link status)
SSCOP (Service Specific Connection Oriented
Protocol)



SSCOP

ATM IN BRIEF
AAL2 AND AAL5
Above the ATM layer we usually find an ATM
adaptation layer (AAL)
AAL
process the data from higher layers for ATM
transmission
segment the data into 48-byte chunks and reassemble
the original data frames on the receiving side
Five different AALs (0, 1, 2, 3/4, and 5)
AAL0
no adaptation is needed
the other adaptation layers have different properties
based on three parameters
real-time requirements
constant or variable bit rate
connection-oriented or connectionless data
transfer
Iu interface uses two AALs
AAL2
(connection-oriented
services)(real-time data streams)
(variable bit rateVBR)

AAL2
AAL5

5.4.1.2 IU CS TRANSPORT NETWORK
CONTROL PLANE PROTOCOL STACK
Transport Network Control Plane protocol
stack consists of
Signaling Protocol on top of BB SS7
protocols for setting up
AAL2 connections (Q.2630.1 [Q.aal2
CS1])
adaptation layer (Q.2150.1 [AAL2
Signaling Transport Converter for
MTP3b])
BB SS7 are those described above
without SCCP layer
5.4.1.3 IU CS USER PLANE PROTOCOL
STACK
A dedicated AAL2 connection is reserved for each
individual CS service
Iu User Plane Protocol residing directly on top of AAL2
5.4.2 PROTOCOL STRUCTURE FOR IU
PS
5.4.2.1 Iu PS Control Plane Protocol Stack
5.4.2.2 Iu PS Transport Network Control Plane Protocol
Stack
5.4.2.3 Iu PS User Plane Protocol Stack

The following figure
depicts Iu PS protocol
structure
a common ATM transport is
applied for both User Plane
and Control Plane
the physical layer is as
specified for Iu CS
5.4.2.1 IU PS CONTROL PLANE
PROTOCOL STACK
Control Plane protocol stack
consists of
RANAP
signaling bearers
BB SS7-based signaling bearer
an alternative IP-based signaling
bearer
SCCP layer is used for both bearer
IP-based signaling bearer consists
of
M3UA (SS7 MTP3 User
Adaptation Layer)
SCTP (Stream Control
Transmission Protocol)
designed for signaling transport
in the Internet
ensure reliable, in-sequence
transport of messages with
congestion control
IP (Internet Protocol)
AAL5 (common to both alternatives)

SCTP (RFC 2960)

IuPS
IP
IPv4IPv6

M3UA
M3UA
SCTPSCCP

SCCP
MTP3
IPATM
MTP3

RANAP


(Transport
Network Layer)
SSCOPSCTP

5.4.2.2 IU PS TRANSPORT NETWORK
CONTROL PLANE PROTOCOL STACK
Transport Network Control Plane is not applied to Iu
PS
Setting up of GTP tunnel
requires an identifier for the tunnel and IP addresses for
both directions
these are already included in RANAP RAB Assignment
messages
5.4.2.3 IU PS USER PLANE PROTOCOL
STACK
Iu PS User Plane
multiple packet data flows are
multiplexed on one or several AAL5
PVCs (Permanent Virtual Circuit)
GTP-U (User Plane part of GPRS
Tunneling Protocol) is the multiplexing
layer that provides identities for
individual packet data flow
each flow uses UDP connectionless
transport and IP addressing
5.4.3 RANAP PROTOCOL
RANAP
defines interactions between RNS and CN
the signaling protocol in Iu that contains all the control
information specified for Radio Network Layer
implemented by various RANAP Elementary
Procedures (EP)
each RANAP function may require execution of one or
more EPs
three classes of EP
class 1 EP
request and response (failure or success)
class 2 EP
request without response
class 3 EP
request and possibility for one or more
responses
RANAP functions
relocation
RAB (Radio Access Bearer) management
Iu release
report unsuccessfully transmitted data
common ID management
paging
management of tracing
UECN signaling transfer
security mode control
management of overload
reset
location reporting
RANAP FUNCTION--
Relocationhandles both SRNS relocation and
hard handover (including inter-system case to/from
GSM)
SRNS relocation
the serving RNS functionality is relocated from
one RNS to another without changing the radio
resources and without interrupting the user data
flow
prerequisiteall Radio Links are already in the
same DRNC that is the target for the relocation
Inter-RNS hard handover
relocate the serving RNS functionality from one
RNS to another and to change the radio
resources correspondingly by a hard handover in
Uu interface
prerequisiteUE is at the border of the source
and target cells
RANAP FUNCTION--
RAB (Radio Access Bearer) managementcombines all
RAB handling
RAB set-up
modification of the characteristics of an existing RAB
clearing an existing RAB
Iu release
releases all resources (Signaling link and U-Plane)
from a given instance of Iu related to the specified UE
RANAP FUNCTION--
Reporting unsuccessfully transmitted data
allows CN to update its charging records with
information from UTRAN if part of the data sent was not
successfully sent to UE
Common ID management
the permanent identification of the UE is sent from CN
to UTRAN to allow paging coordination from possibly
two different CN domains

RANAP FUNCTION--
Paging
used by CN to page an idle UE for a UE terminating
service request, such as a voice call
a paging message is sent from CN to UTRAN with the
UE common identification (permanent Id) and the
paging area
UTRAN will either use an existing signaling connection,
if one exists, to send the page to UE or broadcast the
paging in the requested area
RANAP FUNCTION--
Management of tracing
CN may, for operation and maintenance purposes,
request UTRAN to start recording all activity related to a
specific UEUTRAN connection
RANAP FUNCTION--
UECN signaling transfer
transfer of the first UE message from UE to UTRAN
example
a response to paging
a request of a UE-originated call
a registration to a new area
it also initiates the signaling connection for Iu
direct transfer
used for carrying all consecutive signaling messages
over the Iu signaling connection in both uplink and
downlink directions
RANAP FUNCTION--
Security mode control
used to set the ciphering or integrity checking on or off
when ciphering is on
the signaling and user data connections in the radio
interface are encrypted with a secret key algorithm
when integrity checking is on
an integrity checksum, further secured with a secret
key, is added to some or all of the Radio Interface
signaling messages
this ensures that the communication partner has not
changed, and the content of the information has not
been altered
RANAP FUNCTION--
Management of overload
control the load over Iu interface against overload due
example, to process overload at the CN or UTRAN
a simple mechanism is applied that allows
stepwise reduction of the load and its stepwise
resumption
[()]
, triggered by a timer
RANAP FUNCTION--
Reset
reset the CN or the UTRAN side of Iu interface in error
situations
one end of the Iu may indicate to the other end that it is
recovering from a restart, and the other end can remove
all previously established connections
RANAP FUNCTION--
Location reporting
allows CN to receive information on the location of a
given UE
includes two elementary procedures
control the location reporting in RNC
send the actual report to CN
5.4.4 IU USER PLANE PROTOCOL
Iu User Plane protocol
in the Radio Network Layer of Iu User
Plane
defined to be independent of CN
domain
purpose
carry user data related to RABs over
Iu interface
the protocol performs either a fully
transparent operation, or framing for
user data segments
the protocol also performs some basic
control signaling to be used for
initialization and online control
the protocol has two modes
transparent mode

GTP-UIu FP

applied for RABs that assume fully transparent
operation
support mode

real-time
for predefined SDU (Service Data Unit) sizes
performs framing of user data into segments of
predefined size
the SDU sizes typically correspond to
AMR (Adaptive Multirate Codec) speech frames,
or
the frame sizes derived from the data rate of a
CS data call
control procedures for initialization and rate control
are defined, and a functionality is specified for
indicating the quality of the frame based, for
example, on CRC from radio interface
5.4.5 PROTOCOL STRUCTURE OF IU BC,
AND THE SABP PROTOCOL
Iu BC interface
connects RNC in UTRAN with the broadcast domain of
Core Network, namely with Cell Broadcast Centre
used to define Cell Broadcast information that is
transmitted to mobile user via Cell Broadcast Service
e.g. name of city/region visualized on the mobile phone
display
Iu BC is a control plane only interface
the protocol structure of Iu BC is shown as follows
SABP (Service Area Broadcast Protocol)
provides the capability for Cell Broadcast
Centre in CN to define, modify and remove
cell broadcast messages from RNC
SABP has the following functions
message handling
broadcast of new messages
amendment
[]
of existing broadcast
messages
prevention of broadcasting of specific
messages
load handling
responsible for determining the loading of the broadcast
channels at any particular point in time
reset
permits CBC to end broadcasting in one or more Service
Areas
5.5 UTRAN INTERNAL INTERFACES
5.5.1 RNCRNC Interface (Iur Interface) and the
RNSAP Signaling
5.5.2 RNCNode B Interface and the NBAP Signaling
5.5.1 RNCRNC INTERFACE (IUR
INTERFACE) AND THE RNSAP
SIGNALLING
5.5.1.1 Iur1Support of the Basic Inter-RNC Mobility
5.5.1.2 Iur2Support of Dedicated Channel Traffic
5.5.1.3 Iur3Support of Common Channel Traffic
5.5.1.4 Iur4Support of Global Resource
Management
The following figure shows the protocol stack of RNC to
RNC interface (Iur interface)
Iur interface provides four distinct functions
support of basic inter-RNC mobility (Iur1)
support of dedicated channel traffic (Iur2)
support of common channel traffic (Iur3)
support of global resource management (Iur4)
5.5.1.1 IUR1SUPPORT OF THE BASIC
INTER-RNC MOBILITY
This functionality requires the basic module of
RNSAP signaling
provides the functionality needed for the mobility of the
user between two RNCs
does not support the exchange of any user data traffic
If this module is not implemented
the only way for a user connected to UTRAN via RNS1
to utilize a cell in RNS2 is to disconnect itself
temporarily from UTRAN (release the RRC connection)
The functions offered by Iur basic module include
support of SRNC relocation
support of inter-RNC cell and UTRAN registration area
update
support of inter-RNC packet paging
reporting of protocol errors
Since this functionality does not involve user data
traffic across Iur
User Plane and Transport Network Control Plane
protocols are not needed
5.5.1.2 IUR2SUPPORT OF DEDICATED
CHANNEL TRAFFIC
This functionality
requires dedicated channel module of RNSAP signaling
allows dedicated and shared channel traffic between two
RNCs
This functionality requires also
User Plane Frame Protocol (FP) for dedicated and
shared channel
Transport Network Control Plane protocol (Q.2630.1
[Q.aal2 CS1]) used for the set-up of transport
connections (AAL2 connections)
Frame Protocol for dedicated
channels (DCH FP) defines the
structure of
the data frames carrying the user
data
the control frames used to exchange
measurements and control
information
Frame Protocol for common
channels (CCH FP) describes
the User plane procedure for the
shared channel

The functions offered by Iur DCH module
establishment, modification and release of the dedicated and
shared channel in DRNC due to handovers in dedicated
channel state
set-up and release of dedicated transport connections across
Iur interface
transfer of DCH Transport Blocks between SRNC and DRNC
management of the radio links in DRNS via
dedicated measurement report procedures
power setting procedures
compress mode control procedures
5.5.1.3 IUR3SUPPORT OF COMMON
CHANNEL TRAFFIC
This functionality
allows the handling of common channel (i.e. RACH, FACH
and CPCH) data streams across Iur interface
Note
CPCHCommon Packet CHannel
RACHRandom Access CHannel
FACHForward Access CHannel
It requires
Common Transport Channel module of RNSAP protocol
Iur Common Transport Channel Frame Protocol (CCH
FP)
If signaled AAL2 connections are used
Q.2630.1 [Q.aal2 CS1] signaling protocol of the
Transport Network Control Plane is needed
The functions offered by Iur common transport
channel module
set-up and release of the transport connection across
Iur for common channel data streams
splitting of the MAC layer between SRNC (MAC-d) and
DRNC (MAC-c)
flow control between MAC-d and MAC-c

MACMAC

MAC-b
(broadcast)(logical channel)
(transport channel)
UEMAC-b
Node BcellMAC-b
MAC-d
(dedicated)
UEMAC-d
SRNCUEMAC-d
MAC-c/sh
(common)(shared)

UEMAC-c/sh
CRNC (Controlling RNC)cellMAC-
c/sh
5.5.1.4 IUR4SUPPORT OF GLOBAL
RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
This provides signaling to support enhanced radio
resource management and O&M features across
Iur interface
The function is considered optional
This function has been introduced in subsequent
releases for the support of
common radio resource management between RNCs
advanced positioning methods
Iur optimization
The functions offered by Iur global resource module
transfer of cell information and measurements between
two RNCs
transfer of positioning parameters between controller
transfer of Node B timing information between two
RNCs
5.5.2 RNCNODE B INTERFACE
AND THE NBAP SIGNALING
5.5.2.1 Common NBAP and the Logical O&M
5.5.2.2 Dedicated NBAP
Figure 5.10 shows the protocol stack of RNCNode
B interface (Iub interface)
Figure 5.11 shows the logical model of Node B
seen from the controlling RNC
Figure 5.11 Logical Model of Node B
Logical model of Node B includes
the logical resources provided by Node B to UTRAN (via
Controlling RNC) - depicted as "cells" which include the
following physical channel resources
DPCH (Dedicated Physical Channel)
PDSCH (Physical Downlink Shared Channel)
PUSCH (Physical Uplink Shared Channel)
the dedicated channels which have been established on
Node B
the common transport channels that Node B provides to
RNC
Elements of the logical model
1. Node B Communication Contexts for dedicated and
shared channels
corresponds to all the dedicated resources that
are necessary for a user in dedicated mode
and using dedicated and/or shared channels
as restricted to a given Node B
attributes (not exhaustive)
list of Cells where dedicated and/or shared
physical resources are used
list of DCH which are mapped on the dedicated
physical resources for that Node B
Communication Context
list of DSCH and USCH [TDD] which are used
by the respective UE
the complete DCH characteristics for each
DCH, identified by its DCH-identifier
the complete Transport Channel characteristics
for each DSCH and USCH, identified by its
Shared Channel identifier
list of Iub DCH Data Ports
list of Iub DSCH Data ports and Iub USCH
data ports
FDD up to one Iub TFCI2 Data Port
for each Iub DCH Data Port, the corresponding
DCH and cells which are carried on this data
port
for each Iub DSCH and USCH data port, the
corresponding DSCH or USCH and cells which
serve that DSCH or USCH
physical layer parameters (outer loop power
control, etc)
2. Common Transport Channel
configured in Node B, on request of CRNC
attributes (not exhaustive)
Type (RACH, CPCH [FDD], FACH, DSCH,
USCH [TDD], PCH)
Associated Iub RACH Data Port for a RACH,
Iub CPCH Data Port for a CPCH [FDD], Iub
FACH Data Port for a FACH, Iub PCH Data
Port for PCH
Physical parameters
3. Transport network logical resources
3.1 Node B Control Port
Functionality
exchange the signaling information for the
logical O&M of Node B
the creation of Node B Communication
Contexts
the configuration of the common transport
channels that Node B provides in a given cell
PCH and BCH control information between
the RNC and the Node B
Node B Control Port corresponds to one
signaling bearer between the controlling RNC
and the Node B
There is one Node B Control Port per Node B
3.2 Communication Control Port
used to send the procedures for controlling the
connections between radio links and Iub DCH data
ports from RNC to Node B for control of Node B
Communication Contexts
one signaling bearer between RNC and Node B can
at most correspond to one Communication Control
Port
Node B may have multiple Communication Control
Ports (one per Traffic Termination Point)
3.3 Traffic Termination Point
represents DCH, DSCH and USCH [TDD] data
streams belonging to one or more Node B
Communication Contexts (UE contexts), which are
controlled via one Communication Control Port
3.4 Iub RACH Data Port
3.5 Iub CPCH Data Port [FDD]
3.6 Iub FACH Data Port
3.7 Iub PCH Data Port
3.8 Iub FDD TFCI2 Data Port
3.9 Iub DSCH Data Port
3.10 Iub TDD USCH Data Port
3.11 Iub DCH Data Port

5.5.2.1 COMMON NBAP AND THE
LOGICAL O&M
Iub interface signaling (NBAP, Node B Application
Part) is divided into two essential components
common NBAP
defines the signaling procedures across the
common signaling link
dedicated NBAP
used in the dedicated signaling link
User Plane Iub frame protocols
define
the structures of the frames
the basic inband control
procedures for every type of
transport channel (i.e. for
every type of data port of the
model)
Q.2630.1 [Q.aal2 CS1] signaling
used for dynamic
management of AAL2
connections used in User
Plane
Common NBAP (C-NBAP) procedures
used for the signaling that is not related to one specific
UE context already existing in Node B
defines all the procedures for the logical O&M
(Operation and Maintenance) of Node B
such as configuration and fault management
Main functions of Common NBAP
set-up of the first radio link of one UE, and selection of
the traffic termination point
cell configuration
handling of the RACH/FACH/CPCH and PCH channels
initialization and reporting of Cell or Node B specific
measurement
Location Measurement Unit (LMU) control
fault management
5.5.2.2 DEDICATED NBAP
When the RNC requests the first radio link for one
UE via C-NBAP Radio Link Set-up procedure
Node B assigns a traffic termination point for the
handling of this UE context
every subsequent signaling related to this mobile is
exchanged with dedicated NBAP (D-NBAP) procedures
across the dedicated control port of the given Traffic
Termination Point
Main functions of the Dedicated NBAP
addition, release and reconfiguration of radio links for
one UE context
handling of dedicated and shared channels
handling of softer combining
initialization and reporting of radio link specific
measurement
radio link fault management
5.6 UTRAN ENHANCEMENTS AND
EVOLUTION
5.6.1 IP Transport in UTRAN
5.6.2 Iu Flex
5.6.3 Stand Alone SMLC and Iupc Interface
5.6.4 Interworking between GERAN and UTRAN, and
the Iur-g Interface
Release99 UTRAN architecture
defines the basic set of network elements and interface
protocols for the support of Release 99 WCDMA radio
interface
Enhancement of the Release99 UTRAN
architecture
support new WCDMA radio interface features to provide
a more efficient, scalable and robust 3GPP system
architecture
Four most significant additions to the UTRAN
architecture introduced in Release 5 are described
in the subsequent sections
5.6.1 IP TRANSPORT IN UTRAN
ATM
the transport technology used in the first release of
UTRAN
IP transport
introduced in Release 5
In addition to the initially defined option of
AAL2/ATM, user plane FP frames can also be
conveyed
over UDP/IP protocols on Iur/Iub
over RTP/UDP/IP protocols in Iu CS interface
5.6.2 IU FLEX
Release99 architecture presented
in Figure 5.3
only one MSC and one SGSN
connected to RNC
i.e. only one Iu PS and Iu CS
interface in the RNC
Iu flex (flexible)
allows one RNC to have more
than one Iu PS and Iu CS
interface instances with the core
Main benefits of this feature
possible load sharing between
core network nodes
5.6.3 STAND ALONE SMLC AND
IUPC INTERFACE
Location-based services
expected to be a very important source of
revenue for mobile operators
a number of different applications are expected
to be available and largely used
UTRAN architecture includes a stand alone Serving
Mobile Location Centre (stand alone SMLC, or,
simply, SAS)
a new network element for handling of
positioning measurements and calculation of the
mobile station position
SAS
connected to RNC via Iupc interface
Positioning Calculation Application Part (PCAP) is the
L3 protocol used for RNC-SAS signaling
SAS performs the following procedures
provides positioning (GPS related) data to RNC
performs the position calculation function for UE
assisted GPS
SAS and Iupc interface are optional elements
Iupc
the first version, supported only Assisted GPS
later versions, support for other positioning methods
5.6.4 INTERWORKING BETWEEN GERAN
AND UTRAN, AND THE IUR-G INTERFACE
Iu interface
scheduled to be part of the GSM/EDGE Radio Access Network
(GERAN) in GERAN Release 5
allows reusing 3G Core Network also for GSM/EDGE radio
interface (and frequency band), but also allows a more
optimized interworking between the two radio technologies
Effect
RNSAP basic mobility module is enhanced to allow the
mobility to and from GERAN cells in the target and the
source
RNSAP global module is enhanced in order to allow
GERAN cells measurements to be exchanged between
controllers
allows a Common Radio Resource Management
(CRRM) between UTRAN and GERAN radios
Iur-g interface
refer to the above-mentioned set of Iur functionalities
that are utilized also by GERAN
5.7 UMTS CORE NETWORK
ARCHITECTURE AND EVOLUTION
5.7.1 Release99 Core Network Elements
5.7.2 Release 5 Core Network and IP Multimedia
Sub-system
UMTS radio interface, WCDMA
a bigger step in radio access evolution from GSM
networks
UMTS core network
did not experience major changes in 3GPP Release99
specification
Release99 structure was inherited from GSM core
network
both UTRAN and GERAN based radio access network
connect to the same core network
5.7.1 RELEASE 99 CORE NETWORK
ELEMENTS
Two domains of Release99 core network
Circuit Switched (CS) domain
Packet Switched (PS) domain
The division comes from the different requirements
for data
depending on whether it is real time (circuit switched) or
non-real time (packet data)
Figure 5.12
Release99 core network
structure with both CS and
PS domains
Registers
HLR, VLR, EIR
Service Control Point (SCP)
the link for providing a
particular service to end
user
CS domain has the following elements
Mobile Switching Centre (MSC), including Visitor
Location Register (VLR)
Gateway MSC (GMSC)
PS domain has the following
elements
Serving GPRS Support
Node (SGSN)
covers similar functions
as MSC for packet data,
including VLR type
functionality
Gateway GPRS Support
Node (GGSN)
connects PS core
network to other
networks, e.g. to the
Internet
In addition to the two domains, the network needs
various registers for proper operation
Home Location Register (HLR)
Equipment Identity Register (EIR)
contains the information related to the terminal
equipment
can be used to, e.g., prevent a specific terminal
from accessing the network
5.7.2 RELEASE 5 CORE NETWORK AND
IP MULTIMEDIA SUB-SYSTEM
Release 4 included the change in core network CS
domain
MSC was divided into MSC server and Media Gateway
(MGW)
GMSC was divided into GMSC server and MGW
Release 5
contains the first phase of IP Multimedia Sub-system
(IMS)
this will enable a standardized approach for IP-based
service provision via PS domain
Release 6
enhance IMS to allow the provision
of services similar to CS domain
services from PS domain
Release 5 architecture is presented in
Figure 5.13
Home Subscriber Server (HSS)
shown as an independent item
Session Initiation Protocol (SIP)
the key protocol between
terminal and IMS
the basis for IMS-related
signaling
MSC or GMSC server
takes care of the control functionality as MSC
or GMSC, respectively
user data goes via Media Gateway (MGW)
one MSC/GMCS server can control multiple
MGWs
this allows better scalability of the network
when data rates increase with new data
services
in this case, only the number of MGWs needs
to be increased
MGW performs actual switching for user data
and network interworking processing
e.g., echo cancellation or speech decoding/
encoding
IMS includes the following key
elements
Media Resource Function (MRF)
controls media stream resources
or mixes different media streams
Call Session Control Function
(CSCF)
the first contact point to terminal
in the IMS (as a proxy)
handling of session states
acting as a firewall towards other
operators networks
Media Gateway Control Function
(MGCF)
handle protocol conversions
control a service coming via CS
domain and perform processing in
an MGW, e.g. for echo cancellation