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An Overview of Wireless

Data Communications

Wide Area Cellular Services


Wireless LANs
Satellite
Integrated Wireless Services
Richard Perlman
Lucent Technologies
perl@lucent.com
Wide Area Cellular
Services
The Cellular Principle
• Relies on the concept of concurrency
• delivered through channel reuse i.e. reusing channels in
different cells
• Total coverage area is divided into cells
• only a subset of channels available in each cell
• All channels partitioned into sets
• sets assigned to cells
– Rule: assign the same set to two cells that are
sufficient geographically distant so that interference
is small
– Net result: increased capacity!
Advantages of Cellular Networks

• More capacity due to spectral reuse


• Lower transmission power due to smaller
transmitter/receiver distances
• More robust system as Base Station problem
only effects the immediate cell
• More predictable propagation environment due
to shorter distances
Disadvantages of Cellular Networks

• Need for more infrastructure


• Need for fixed network to connect Base
Stations
• Some residual interference from co-channel
cells
• Handover procedure required
GSM Services - Phase 1
Service Category Service Comments
Teleservices Speech Full Rate 13Kbps
Emergency Point to Point & Cell Broadcast
SMS (Short Message Service)
Group 3 Fax
Bearer Services Asynchronous Data 300 – 9600bps
Synchronous Data 300 – 9600bps
Supplementary Services Call Forward Subscriber Busy, Not Reachable
Call Barring International & Incoming Calls
GSM Services - Phase 2
Service Category Service Comments
Teleservices Speech Half Rate 6.5Kbps
Emergency Point to Point & Cell Broadcast
SMS (Short Message Service)
Group 3 Fax
Bearer Services Synchronous Packet Data Access 2400 – 9600bps
Supplementary Services CLI (Calling Line Identification)
Call Waiting
Call Hold
Multiparty
USSD (Unstructured Supplementary
Service Data)
Operator Barring
Advice on charge
GSM Services - Phase 2+
• Primarily concerned with the improvement of
Bearer (data!) services
– Full data rate @ 14.4 kb/s
– High Speed Circuit Switched Data (HSCSD)
– General Packet Radio Service GPRD)

• Some additional supplementary services also


specified
Architecture of a GSM Network
Base Station
Network Subsystem
Mobile Station Subsystem Other Networks

PSTN
MSC/ GMSC
BSC VLR
BTS
ME
SIM
PLMN

EIR HLR AUC


Internet

+
SD

Note: Interfaces have been omitted for clarity purposes.


Mobile Station (MS)
• Mobile Equipment
– Fixed
– Portable
• International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI)
number
• Subscriber Identity Module (SIM)
• Personal Identification Number (PIN)
• International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI)
number
• Enables access to subscribed services
• Smart card
Base Transceiver Station - BTS
– Usually referred to as the Base Station
– Provides the interface to the network for the MS
– Handles all communications with the MS
– Less “intelligent” than analogue equivalent
• cheaper than analogue systems
• bypass analogue in less wealthy countries
– “intelligence” now deployed on MS
• for example, when to perform a handover
– Transmitting power determines cell size
Base Station Controller - BSC
– Controls Base Stations
• up to several hundred depending on manufacturer
– Manages radio channels
• allocation and release
– Coordinates Handover
– Physical location may vary
– Abis interface
• between BSC and BTS
Mobile Switching Centre (MSC)
– Performs all switching/exchange functions
– Handles
– registration
– authentication
– location updating
– A GSM network must have at least one MSC
– May connect to other networks
• Gateway MSC (GMSC)
Home Location Register (HLR)
– Administrative information for all subscribers
• IMSI number
• actual phone number
• permitted supplementary services
• current location i.e. which VLR subscriber is currently
registered with
• parameters for authentication and ciphering
– One HLR per GSM PLMN
Integrating GPRS
Base Station
Network Subsystem
Mobile Station Subsystem Other Networks

MSC/ GMSC
BSC VLR PSTN
BTS
ME
SIM

PLMN
EIR HLR AUC

GGSN Internet
SGSN
+
SD

Note: Interfaces have been omitted for clarity purposes.


GPRS MS
– Two Components
– Mobile Terminal (MT)
– SIM card
– Three Classes of terminal
– Class A - simultaneous circuit switched (GSM) and packet
switched (GPRS) traffic
– Class B- supports both GSM and GPRS connections but
not both at the same time. One call is suspended for the
duration of the other
– Class C - handless both GPRS or GSM but can only be
connected to one at the same time.
GPRS NSS
• Two new nodes introduced for packet data
– Serving GPRS Support Node (SGSN)
• handles all packet data for the appropriate geographic area
– monitors GPRS users
– handles security and access control
– may be regarded as the packet switched equivalent of the circuit-
switched MSC
– Gateway GPRS Support Node (GGSN)
– internetworking functionality
– routes incoming data to correct SGSN
– translates between different protocols and formats
– Details of data services added to HLR
GPRS - Summary
• Data capacity increased considerably
• Depending on configuration
• @ 14.4 kb/s per channel, 115.2 kb/s achieved
• @ 21.4 kb/s per channel, 171.2 kb/s achieved
• BUT up to 8 users per channel!
• Minimum set-up time
• “always-on” connection
• Charging determined by actual data not time
Integrating EDGE
• Minimum changes to the existing network
• New Modulation scheme
– 8 phase shift keying (8PSK)
– 3 bits of information per signal pulse
– data rates increased by a factor of three
EDGE - NSS
• Minimum impact on the core network
• SGSN & GGSN practically independent
of data rates
• Some minor software upgrades
3G - UMTS
Base Station
Network Subsystem
Mobile Station Subsystem Other Networks

MSC/ GMSC
BSC VLR PSTN
BTS
ME
SIM

EIR HLR AUC PLMN

RNS
GGSN
SGSN
Node RNC Internet
ME B
USIM

UTRAN
+
SD

Note: Interfaces have been omitted for clarity purposes.


UMTS - MS
• User Equipment
– Mobile Equipment
– UMTS SIM (USIM)

– Air interface
• UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access (UTRA)
– W-CDMA
– TD-CDMA
UMTS BSS
• Radio Network Subsystem
• Two new network elements
– Node B
• equivalent of a BTS
– Radio Network Controller
• supports a number of Node Bs
• equivalent of a BSC
• Obviously, UMTS has major implications
for the BSS
CDMA BASICS
• CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) splits
calls into fragments and send them over different
frequencies simultaneously
• The use of multiple frequencies gives CDMA
effective protection against interference and lost
calls
• CDMA supports true packet switching and does
not use time slots, therefore is more bandwidth
efficient than TDMA -- also a more direct path to
3G
• Current CDMA penetration in the world market is
about 27%
3G CDMA Architecture

CDMA2000-1xEVDO System Architecture (Basic)


• BTS: Base Station, which creates a single cell
• BSC: Base Station Controller, which controls roaming and channel
allocations amongst various BSTs and is also referred to as a Radio
Network Controller (RNC).
• MSC: Mobile Switching Center, which performs the telephony switching
functions and is usually connected to an SS7 network.
• PDSN: Packet Data Serving Node, maintains IP communications between
all MNs and the Packet Data Network (PDN), which in this diagram is
the Internet.
BTW, the US didn’t pick ANY 2G
standard--with predictable results
• The US allowed adoption of multiple wireless
network technologies, including:
– IS-95 CDMA (cdmaOne)
– IS-136 TDMA
– iDEN (Nextel)
– GSM
• Unlike Europe and Japan, the US now lacks a
dominant 2G standard – carriers and subscribers
are using CDMA, TDMA, iDen, and GSM
Why do carriers want to move to
3G?
• Faster speeds--able to handle more calls
• Efficiencies in data handling
– Integration with the Internet technology
• More capable, multi-media handsets and
devices
• Global interoperability and roaming*
• Advanced services and more profitable
revenue opportunities**
Some Urgent 3G Drivers
• Need to increase wireless data revenues and ARPU
as voice prices decline
• Staggering investment already made in preparing
for 3G upgrades
• Pressure by device makers and governments
– 3G License clock ticking in Europe
• Dramatic success stories:
– Korea, Japan markets are embracing 3G
• Fear of falling even further behind
– Competition from WiFi as the high-speed alternative
Comparative Network Speeds
CDMA
2400
1xEV/DO
W-CDMA
2000
stationary
W-CDMA
384
moving
CDMA
144
1xRTT

GPRS 114
Theoretical
CDMA 64 data
transmission
PDC-P 28.8 speed
kbps
GSM/PDC 9.6 Source: ITU.
3G Systems Overview

3G Migration
SOURCE: CDMA Development Group (CDG) CDG Migration Diagram
Mobility Overview
• Future mobility will be provided
with higher data rates and
Ubiquitous access
– This implies the need for
seamless wide area and office
coverage
– Future remote access
techniques will mirror existing
to protect current investments
• Higher data rates and better
coverage will be realized using
disparate types of Wireless
Technologies
Data Rates and Ranges of Wireless
– Mobility across disparate Technologies
networks is a significant SOURCE: ITU

change to the paradigm of


current mobile networks.
– Mobility is attributed to L2
and L1 abstraction through
use of IP (Mobile IP).
3rd Generation Wireless Vision
• Extends current data applications & devices
• Enables breakthrough data services

2nd Generation 3rd Generation

Web Browsing Full Web Streaming


browsing Audio & Video
E-mail
E-mail w/ Online Games
E-Commerce Attachments
Video
Telemetry Richer Telephony
E-Commerce
Vertical Music
Solutions Multimedia Download
Messagin
g Messaging
Vehicle Location
9.6 Kbps 28.8 Kbps 384 Kbps
Standards Evolution to 3G
Worldwide
Japan Europe/Parts of Asia Americas/Parts of Asia

1st Gen TACS NMT/TACS/Other AMPS

2nd Gen PDC GSM TDMA CDMA

3rd Gen W-CDMA/UMTS cdma2000 EDGE cdma2000

Instead of solving the 2G network differences via 3G, we will continue to


have W-CDMA and cdma2000 as separate networks. Both will be “optional
implementation modes” in one 3G standard specification.
Basic 3G phones will support one or the other. “Global phones” will be able to
roam from one to the other.
Application Platforms
For Cellular Networks
• WAP: discredited in first outing, but still alive and
well as a backend mobile server standard
• SMS: proven worldwide but just emerging in US;
limited to plain text messaging
• MMS: standard behind the exchange of pictures
from camera phones; also for many audio and
graphic formats
• iMode: proven in Japan; export still in doubt
• J2ME (Java for mobile): large developer following
and handset deployment; confused business models
• BREW: CDMA app platform: big in a few areas;
clearer business and distribution model
Overview of WAP
• WAP is an acronym for Wireless Application
Protocol
• A WAP-enabled phone acts like a miniature
browser – with obvious limitations on graphical
display
• WAP content is marked up in WML – Wireless
Markup Language
• Small client-side applications can be written in
WMLScript (like JavaScript)
• Images are crude and delivered in wbmp format
WAP Architecture
WAP combines handset and server functionality:
• The mobile device has embedded browser
software
•This browser connects to a WAP gateway and
makes a request for information from a WAP-
enabled web server
• The content for wireless devices can be stored
on any web server on the Internet, but the content
must be formatted for the mobile device using
WML
Early WAP Was Over-Sold
• Wireless Internet Browsing conveyed WWW on
the phone—not what subscribers experienced
• Expected WAP to quickly become the “killer
application” builder for mobile commerce
– Hundreds of new companies and thousands of WAP
developers quickly went out of business instead
• Currently WAP is valued as infrastructure for
delivering content and messaging to phones
– Re-emerging as Internet enabled phone client
Evolution of messaging
Versatility of Content and User Benefits
Rich Call

Mobile
Multimedia

Multimedia
Message
Browsing Picture Service
Messaging
SMS

Text Text & Digital New


Graphics image content
Messaging input types

Time
SMS
SMS=Short Message Service=Current
Worldwide “Killer Application”
• A basic text messaging service for sending messages
up to 160 characters to mobile phones
• Runs on separate channel from voice traffic-much
cheaper for operators to carry text messages (started out
as free service in many countries)
•Overwhelming user uptake in Europe and A/P --
billions of messages sent each month; very profitable
for carriers
SMS growth in Europe
60
SMSs/subs/month

50
Norway
Finland
40
Portugal
Germany
30
Sweden
20
UK Italy
Greece
10
Spain
France
0
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80%
Mobile Penetration
i-Mode
•In 1999 Japanese wireless operator NTT DoCoMo
decided to launch its own specially developed
application environment for subscribers and to
open its billing system to application providers
• DoCoMo developed a programming
language based on HTML (cHTML), set up the
billing and distribution infrastructure and
manufactured a new breed of application friendly
handsets.
•The service was branded as i-Mode
Importance of iMode Model
• First to value the content/app provider part of the
business model--developers get the revenues for
application usage (minus 9% for DoCoMo to
handle billing)
• Enormous popularity with very large range of titles
and applications developed
• Viewed as a potential model for Europe & US
(investment in AT&T Wireless, launch with KPN)
J2ME and BREW Applications
Why Run Locally on the Handset?
• Overcomes some of the issues with messaging
applications
– No network/delivery delay in highly interactive apps like
games
– User not worried about cost of airtime or message
delivery; one-time fee for downloading easier to present
to the marketplace
• Can use processing power of device to add speed,
graphics, and logic support for richer user experience
• Simpler value chain for all players
New Phones Have MMS, WAP, Java (GSM) or
BREW (CDMA) – 400 million plus in 2003
What is J2ME?
• Java 2 Micro Edition
– Optimized Java programming and execution for mobile
devices
– CLDC: Connected Limited Device Configuration
– MIDP: Mobile Information Device Profile
• Creates a Virtual Machine that runs programs on the device
• Makes it easy for large Java programming community to
write mobile applications
• Apps can be downloaded from carrier sites, Java portals, or
directly from developers
• No consistent business model to support revenue collection
and marketplace management
– Nokia provides a marketplace at Tradepoint, but no
testing and billing services
What is BREW?
• Binary Runtime Environment for Wireless
– Also a sly poke at Java from its Qualcomm creators
• Like Java, BREW runs a virtual machine on the handset
– Allows user to download an application once from the
wireless network and then interact with content without
using air time
– Supports graphics, etc. to make it suitable for games and
interactive apps
• Applications written in C or C++ (or even Java)
• Well-organized BREW business model created and maintained
by Qualcomm
– Testing and “TrueBREW” certification for apps
– For 20% of app revenue, Qualcomm manages marketplace
Wireless LANs
Wireless LANs
• Wireless LAN networks, including 802.11 or Wi-Fi,
are growing quickly for home and office applications
• Unregulated frequency bands - Quality of Service not
guaranteed, but speed, low cost, and ease of
implementation are compelling
• Very suitable for local data transmission and access
outside operator networks - e.g. company internal
solutions or home installations
• Being endowed with roaming capabilities and voice
enabled devices to compete directly with carrier-
owned networks
Wi-Fi
• Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi)
• IEEE 802.11b
• 50m range approximately
• Data rates vary
– 11 - 56 Mb/s in theory
• Higher with some proprietary extensions
– 7 Mb/s is more realistic
• Walls can reduces range and throughput
• Number of users can reduce data rates
WLAN Overview

• WLANs are specified by IEEE 802.11 standards:


• 802.11a: 5.8 GHz OFDM technology supporting typical ranges of 100m and 54
Mbps data rates.
RF &
MAC
• 802.11b: 2.4 GHz DSSS technology supporting typical ranges of 100m and 11 Mbps
Layer data rates.
• 802.11g: 2.4 GHz OFDM & DSSS technology supporting typical ranges of 100m
and 54 Mbps data rates.

• 802.11i: MAC layer security using AES, 802.1x, and SHA…Expected draft for 2004
MAC
• 802.11e: QoS features in the air interface…Expected draft for 2004
Layer
Features • 802.11f: Inter Access Point Protocol (IAPP) for seamless interoperable roaming…
Expected draft for 2005

• All 802.11 standards can be used for Point-to-Point or Point-to-


Multi-Point configurations
Wi-Fi Problems
• Security
– Wi-Fi was not designed with robust security
in mind
• Interference
– operates in unlicensed 2.4 GHz spectrum
– competes with other products e.g microwave
ovens!
• Scarcity of “hotspots”
Bluetooth
• 1998
• Goal: eliminate the need for cables
• Short range - 10m
• data rate - 1 Mb/s
• Example of an ad-hoc network
– network formed on an “as-needed” basis
Bluetooth Topology
• Piconet
– Two or more Bluetooth devices
– One master
• regulates traffic between devices
– Remainder termed slaves
• Scatternet
– Two or more piconets
• Note that a device can be a member of
more than one piconet at a given time.
Satellite
Satellite Telephony
TYPE Altitude Characteristics Examples
GEO 35,800km •Large coverage footprint INMARSAT
(Geosynchronous •Small number of satellites
Earth Orbit) •Large propagation delay
•High power requirements
LEO Between •Small coverage footprint Iridium
(Low Earth Orbit) 500km and •Larger number of satellites GlobalStar
1500km •Faster response time
•Low power requirements
•Short life span of satellites
(due to increased radiation
at low altitudes)
MEO Between Essentially a compromise Odyssey
(Medium Earth 5000km between GEO and LEO ICO
Orbit) and satellites with the respective
12000km advantages and disadvantages
being affected accordingly.
Integrated Wireless
Services
Future of Mobility • Current mobility is based on
Enterprise
Home AAA Server
single wireless technologies.
WLAN
Gateway, • Future will allow automatic
HA, FA
Corporate LAN
configuration for seamless
Ethernet roaming amongst various
wireless technologies…and,
VPN
Firewall
hence, greater coverage
802.11 Access Points (ubiquitous).

IP Backbone/
Internet
GSM/UMTS
CDMA WSP WSP
PDSN/FA/HA/Fir
ewall WLAN GGSN/FA/HA/
Gateway Public Firewall
& FA WLAN SGSN
PCF
Ethernet
MSC/RNC
BSC
BS BS CGF
BS 802.11 Access BS
Points

Mobile devices can Multi-mode terminal


connect to office networks w/MobileIP client
anytime from anywhere…. & IPSec Client

Architecture of Seamless Enterprise Connectivity


WLAN-3G Integration Overview

WLAN/3G Integration – Loose and Tight Methods


SOURCE: Bell Labs IOTA 3G-WLAN IEEE Communications Publication

There is not yet a defined standard architecture for 1x-EVDO WLAN


Interworking via 3GPP2 (ITU CDMA2000 standards group), but loose
integration is currently favored in preliminary drafts.
Loose integration makes most sense because it allows office WLAN, public hotspot WLAN,
home WLAN, and operator WLAN access.
WLAN-3G Integration
Overview
Two Types of Integration Services:

– Simple IP Service: A mobile node (MN) acquires L2 authentication and then


the WLAN gateway provides IP address.
– This results in lost sessions from 1xEVDO to WLAN b/c of change of IP
address
– Not optimized to support mobility.
4. Mobile IP Service: User can roam heterogeneous networks.
– Utilizes mobile IP to allow IP address to seem unchanged to higher layer
applications
– Optimized for mobility
WLAN-3G Integration-
Mobile IP

IP Address
is
Constant

Using Mobile IP for Handoffs Used for Seamless


Roaming
WLAN-3G Seamless
Authentication
• Authentication across multiple technologies
must be seamless
• Client driver intelligence to determine when to switch entirely
from WLAN to CDMA, CDMA to WLAN, or WLAN to
WLAN resulting in overhead usage but assuring higher layer
sessions are kept active.
– Software is responsible for Mobile IP on client
– Must support both interfaces (WLAN & 1x-EVDO) and corresponding
access techniques: Office, Public Hotspot, Home, etc…
WLAN-3G Seamless
Authentication
• Link security of interworking architecture must accommodate
a mutual technique for authentication or client intelligence
regarding which credentials to present for authentication.
– For example: Client supporting hotspot proprietary access technique while
office access is determined via 802.1x. Client must realize which network it
is trying to access, and then present the proper authentication credentials.
Similarly, if accessing the 1xEV-DO network, it must present proper
credentials.

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