Radio link failure

Siemens

Radio link failure

Contents
1 2 3 4 5 Radio link failure procedure Radio link failure warning procedure Parameters for radio link failure Exercise Solution 3 4 6 7 11

MN1789EU11MN_0001
2005 Siemens AG

Siemens

Radio link failure

MN1789EU11MN_0001
2005 Siemens AG

Radio link failure

Siemens

Radio link failure procedure

In the BTS as well as in the MS, the criterion for the detection of a RLF is based on the success rate of decoding messages on the uplink or downlink SACCH, respectively. In the beginning, when a connection on a dedicated channel is established, the radio link counter S (separately for MS and BTS) is initialized with the value of the O&M parameter RADIO_LINK_TIMEOUTMS/BTS (RLT - range 4...64, step size 4), which is administered on a cell by cell basis. There are different parameters for uplink and downlink to initialize the counters in the MS and BTS separately. The downlink parameter is broadcasted to all mobiles in the respective cell. Every time the BTS/MS is unable to decode a SACCH message on the uplink/downlink, the respective counter S is decremented by 1. Every time a SACCH message is successfully decoded in the BTS, the counter S is incremented by 2. In any case the counter shall not exceed the value of the RADIO_LINK_TIMEOUT parameter. As soon as the counter S in the BTS reaches 0, a RLF is declared and a CONNection FAILure INDication message with cause radio link failure is sent to the BSC via the Abis interface and the BSC initiates a release of the concerned connection. An analogous action is taken by the MS when the MS counter reaches 0.

decode message on SACCH

successful: unsuccessful: St+1 = St + 2 but if St+1 > S0 St+1 = S0 St+1 = St 1

S < 0 => downlink signaling failure;

In case of a channel change (handover) counter S is reset to its initial value RADIO_LINK_TIMEOUT. Note: AMR provides robust codecs (e.g. AFS4,75 , AFS5,9) that allow the network to operate at low C/R values and still to provide sufficient voice quality. On another side, error protection scheme for SACCH (FACCH) was designed for the network using FR and HR speech traffic that can't cope with interference level in AMR networks. This performance imbalance between SACCH (FACCH) and lower AMR FR codec modes appears as increased number of call drops due to expiry of the Radio Link Timeout timer while speech quality is reasonably good. The problem is solved by introducing separate configurable RLT counters for UL and DL depending on Service Group:

higher value for RLT for AMR FR lower value for RLT for EFR.
Radio Link Timeout counter values for AMR are defined via attributes pcradioLinkTimeoutBs and pcradioLinkTimeoutMs in the object SGxPCPAR (see chapter 6, Power Control section, i.e. 1.6).

MN1789EU11MN_0001
2005 Siemens AG

Siemens

Radio link failure

Radio link failure warning procedure

The radio link failure warning procedure is only applied for the uplink. A call in progress with a good quality may suddenly experience the impact of a severe shadowing or any other kind of high-level interference. As a consequence, a sudden degradation of the link quality is observed. Due to the considerable delay inherent in the regular PC process, the required power increase (if feasible) may not be performed fast enough to properly cope with the situation. Note that Intercell Handover due to quality or level is not allowed as long as the RF power has not reached the permitted maximum value. Therefore a procedure is implemented in the BTS, which immediately directs the MS and the concerned TRX in the BTS to use their maximum RF power if a RLF Warning occurs. The RLF warning is produced by the BTS as soon as it detects that radio communication on the uplink of a connection is short before breakdown and a RLF threatens to come about. The generation of RLF Warnings in the BTS can be enabled or disabled by an O&M flag EN_PC_RLFW. The criterion for the generation of a RLF Warning is based on the radio link counter S. Every SACCH multiframe the radio link counter S is modified and a RLF Warning is generated if the counter S is less than or equal to the threshold PC_TIMEOUT. The threshold PC_TIMEOUT is an O&M parameter administered on a cell-by-cell basis. The following regularity condition shall apply: RADIO_LINK_TIMEOUT > PC_TIMEOUT Upon detection of a RLF Warning in the BTS, the regular power control process on the concerned dedicated channel is immediately suspended. Power control actions due to RLF Warning have a higher priority than regular PC actions. The first time a RLF Warning is detected in the BTS, the power control timers are reset (if running), both MS_TXPWR and BS_TXPWR are set to their upper bounds MS_TXPWR_MAX and BS_TXPWR_MAX (if not already set by the regular PC process), respectively, and the corresponding timers for suspension of the regular power control process are started with the value of the O&M parameter P_CON_INTERVAL. The timers monitoring the confirmation of the commanded power level are not used because of the irregular reception on the SACCH. If MS_TXPWR or BS_TXPWR has already achieved its upper bound either on a regular PC command or due to the first RLF Warning, the only action to be taken is to restart timers for suspension of the regular power control process (P_CON_INTERVAL), respectively. As a consequence in the case of repeated RLF Warnings, both timers shall be restarted simultaneously. Upon expiration of these timers the threshold comparison process of the respective (uplink/downlink) power control process is resumed, provided that the call on the dedicated channel is still in progress.

MN1789EU11MN_0001
2005 Siemens AG

Radio link failure

Siemens

RLF Counter S

RADIO_LINK_TIMEOUT = 8 Radio Link Failure Warning Power Command Radio Link Failure

PC_TIMEOUT = 2

SACCH Frames decoded SACCH message not decoded SACCH message

Fig. 1 Example for the radio link failure process

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MN1789EU11MN_0001
2005 Siemens AG

Siemens

Radio link failure

Parameters for radio link failure

DB Name/ Object
EPWCRLFW / PWRC RDLNKTO / BTS

Specification Name
EN_PC_RLFW RADIO_LINK_TIMEOUTMS

Range
TRUE/ FALSE 0...15 (4)

Meaning
Flag to enable/disable the radio link failure warning mechanism. Initial value of the radio link failure counter S within the MS: S0 = 4 + 4 * RDLNKTO. S is increased /(decreased) by 2/(1) if a SACCH message can/(cannot) be decoded. If S reaches 0, the connection is released and the MS returns to the idle mode. Initial value of the radio link failure counter S within the BTS: S0 = RDLNKTBS. S is increased /(decreased) by 2/(1) if a SACCH message can/(cannot) be decoded. If S reaches 0, the connection is released. If the radio link failure counter S within the BS reaches PC_TIMEOUT, the transmit power of the MS and the BS is set to its maximum value. Initial value of the radio link failure counter S within the MS for AMR calls, where: 0=4SACCH frames. 15=64SACCH frames Initial value of the radio link failure counter S within the BS for AMR calls, where: 0=4SACCH frames. 15=64SACCH frames

RADIO_LINK_TIMEOUTBS

RDLNKTBS / PWRC

4...64 (20)

PC_TIMEOUT

PCRLFTH / PWRC

0...64 (18)

RADIO_LINK_TIMEOUTMS_

AMR

radioLinkTime 015 outMs/PWRC (10)

RADIO_LINK_TIMEOUTBS_

AMR

radioLinkTime 015 outBs/PWRC (10)

MN1789EU11MN_0001
2005 Siemens AG

Radio link failure

Siemens

Exercise

MN1789EU11MN_0001
2005 Siemens AG

Siemens

Radio link failure

MN1789EU11MN_0001
2005 Siemens AG

Radio link failure

Siemens

Exercise 1
Title: Task
Given a cell with a problem area of 100 m extension (very low coverage only). Assume that the SACCH messages cannot be decoded in this area. What should be the starting value S0 of the Radio Link Failure counter S so that for a MS in connected mode, passing this area with 36 km/h, the connection will not drop due to radio link timeout? Radio Link Failure

MN1789EU11MN_0001
2005 Siemens AG

Siemens

Radio link failure

10

MN1789EU11MN_0001
2005 Siemens AG

Radio link failure

Siemens

Solution

MN1789EU11MN_0001
2005 Siemens AG

11

Siemens

Radio link failure

12

MN1789EU11MN_0001
2005 Siemens AG

Radio link failure

Siemens

Solution 1
Title: Task
The MS will be for 10 seconds in the problem area. During this time, every 480 msec which is more or less every 0.5 sec, S will be counted down by 1 step. Therefore, the starting value S0 for the Radio Link Failure counter S must be set to a value greater than 20. Radio Link Failure

MN1789EU11MN_0001
2005 Siemens AG

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Siemens

Radio link failure

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MN1789EU11MN_0001
2005 Siemens AG