LTE Training Document

Index
1.Introduction
2.LTE Key feature
3.LTE Network
Elements(Architecture)
4.LTE Network Interfaces
5.LTE-Channel

LTE Introduction
3G LTE evolution
Although there are major step changes between LTE and its 3G predecessors, it
is nevertheless looked upon as an evolution of the UMTS / 3GPP 3G standards.
Although it uses a different form of radio interface, using OFDMA / SC-FDMA
instead of CDMA, there are many similarities with the earlier forms of 3G
architecture and there is scope for much re-use.
LTE can be seen for provide a further evolution of functionality, increased
speeds
and generalWCDMA
improved performance.

HSPA
HSPA+
LTE
(UMTS)

HSDPA / HSUPA

Max downlink
speed
bps

384 k

14 M

28 M

100M

Max uplink speed

bps

128 k

5.7 M

11 M

50 M

Latency
round trip time
approx

150 ms

100 ms

50ms (max)

~10 ms

3GPP releases

Rel 99/4

Rel 5 / 6

Rel 7

Rel 8

Approx years of
initial roll out

2003 / 4

2005 / 6 HSDPA
2007 / 8 HSUPA

2008 / 9

2009 / 10

Access
methodology

CDMA

CDMA

CDMA

OFDMA / SC-FDMA

In addition to this, LTE is an all IP based network, supporting both IPv4 and IPv6.
There is also no basic provision for voice, although this can be carried as VoIP.

3GPP LTE technologies

LTE has introduced a number of new technologies when compared to the
previous cellular systems. They enable LTE to be able to operate more
efficiently with respect to the use of spectrum, and also to provide the
much higher data rates that are being required.
OFDM (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplex): OFDM technology
has been incorporated into LTE because it enables high data bandwidths to
be transmitted efficiently while still providing a high degree of resilience to
reflections and interference. The access schemes differ between the uplink
and downlink: OFDMA (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access is
used in the downlink; while SC-FDMA(Single Carrier - Frequency Division
Multiple Access) is used in the uplink. SC-FDMA is used in view of the fact
that its peak to average power ratio is small and the more constant power
enables high RF power amplifier efficiency in the mobile handsets - an
important factor for battery power equipment.
MIMO (Multiple Input Multiple Output): One of the main problems
that previous telecommunications systems has encountered is that of
multiple signals arising from the many reflections that are encountered. By

When using MIMO, it is necessary to use multiple antennas to enable

the different paths to be distinguished. Accordingly schemes using 2 x
2, 4 x 2, or 4 x 4 antenna matrices can be used. While it is relatively
easy to add further antennas to a base station, the same is not true of
mobile handsets, where the dimensions of the user equipment limit the
number of antennas which should be place at least a half wavelength
apart.

Architecture Evolution: With the very high data rate and low
latency requirements for 3G LTE, it is necessary to evolve the system
architecture to enable the improved performance to be achieved. One
change is that a number of the functions previously handled by the
core network have been transferred out to the periphery. Essentially
this provides a much "flatter" form of network architecture. In this way
latency times can be reduced and data can be routed more directly to
its destination.

LTE specification overview

It is worth summarizing the key parameters of the 3G LTE specification. In view
of the fact that there are a number of differences between the operation of the
uplink and downlink, these naturally differ in the performance they can offer .
PARAMETER

DETAILS

Peak downlink speed

64QAM
(Mbps)

100 (SISO), 172 (2x2 MIMO), 326 (4x4

MIMO)

Peak uplink speeds

(Mbps)

50 (QPSK), 57 (16QAM), 86 (64QAM)

Data type

All packet switched data (voice and

data). No circuit switched.

Channel bandwidths
(MHz)

1.4, 3, 5, 10, 15, 20

Duplex schemes

FDD and TDD

Mobility

0 - 15 km/h (optimised),
15 - 120 km/h (high performance)

Latency

Idle to active less than 100ms

Small packets ~10 ms

Spectral efficiency

Downlink: 3 - 4 times Rel 6 HSDPA

Uplink: 2 -3 x Rel 6 HSUPA

Access schemes

OFDMA (Downlink)
SC-FDMA (Uplink)

Modulation types supported

QPSK, 16QAM, 64QAM (Uplink and

downlink)

LTE Key Features

Evolved NodeB (eNB)
No RNC is provided anymore
The evolved Node Bs take over all radio management
functionality.
This will make radio management faster and hopefully the
network architecture simpler
IP transport layer
EUTRAN exclusively uses IP as transport layer
UL/DL resource scheduling
In UMTS physical resources are either shared or dedicated
Evolved Node B handles all physical resource via a scheduler
and assigns them dynamically to users and channels
This provides greater flexibility than the older system

LTE Network
Architecture
Evolved UTRAN (E-UTRAN)

Evolved Packet Core (EPC)

HSS

MME: Mobility Management Entity

S6a

LTE-UE

Evolved
Node B
(eNB)

MME

X2
S1-MME

S11
S5/S8

S1-U
cell
LTE-Uu

S10

Serving
Gateway

PDN
Gateway
LTE
Gateway

volved Node B (eNB)

LTE-UE
LTE-Uu
cell

Evolved
Node B
(eNB)

eNB Functions
Inter-cell RRM: HO, load balancing between cells
Radio Bearer Control: setup, modifications and
release of Radio Resources
Connection Mgt. Control: UE State Mgmt. MME-UE
Connection

It is the only network element

Radio Admission Control

eNode B Measurements
Collection and evaluation

defined as part of EUTRAN.

It replaces the old Node B / RNC
combination from 3G.
It terminates the complete radio
interface including physical layer.
It provides all radio management
functions
An eNB can handle several cells.
To enable efficient inter-cell radio
management for cells not attached
to the same eNB, there is a intereNB interface X2 specified. It will
allow to coordinate inter-eNB
handovers without direct
involvement of EPC during this
process.

Dynamic Resource
Allocation (Scheduler)
IP Header Compression/ de-compression
Access Layer Security: ciphering and integrity
protection on the radio interface
MME Selection at Attach of the UE
User Data Routing to the LTE GW.
Transmission of Paging Message coming from MME
Transmission of Broadcast Info (System info, MBMS)

Mobility Management Entity (MME)

Evolved
Node B
(eNB)

S1-MME

HSS

MME
S6a
S11

S1-U

Serving
Gateway

It is a pure signaling entity inside

the EPC.
LTE uses tracking areas to track the
position of idle UEs. The basic
principle is identical to location or
routing areas from 2G/3G.
MME handles attaches and
detaches to the LTE system, as well
as tracking area updates
Therefore it possesses an interface
towards the HSS (home subscriber
server) which stores the
subscription relevant information

MME Functions
Control plane NE in EPC
Non-Access-Stratum (NAS)
Signalling
Idle State Mobility Handling
Tracking Area updates
Subscriber attach/detach
Signaling coordination for
LTE Bearer Setup/Release & HO
Security (Authentication,
Ciphering, Integrity protection)
Trigger and distribution of
Paging Messages to eNB
Roaming Control (S6a interface
to HSS)
Inter-CN Node Signaling
(S10 interface), allows efficient
inter-MME tracking area updates
and attaches

Serving Gateway
Evolved
Node B
(eNB)

S1-MME

MME
S6a
S11
S5/S8

S1-U

Serving
Gateway

PDN
Gateway

The serving gateway is a network

element that manages the user

data path ( bearers) within EPC.
It therefore connects via the S1-U
interface towards eNB and receives
uplink packet data from here and
transmits downlink packet data on
it.
Thus the serving gateway is some
kind of distribution and packet
data anchoring function within
EPC.

Serving Gateway Functions

Local Mobility Anchor Point:
Switching the User plane to a new
eNB in case of Handover
Mobility anchoring for inter-3GPP
mobility. This is sometimes referred
to as the 3GPP Anchor function
Packet Buffering and notification to
MME for UEs in Idle Mode
Packet Routing/Forwarding
between eNB, PDN GW and SGSN
Lawful Interception support

Packet Data Network (PDN) Gateway

MME
S6a
S11

PDN Gateway Functions

S5/S8

Serving
Gateway

PDN LTE
Gateway

Mobility anchor for mobility between

3GPP access systems and non-3GPP
access systems. This is sometimes
referred to as the LTE Anchor function
Policy Enforcement (PCEF)

The PDN gateway provides the

Per User based Packet Filtering (i.e.

deep packet inspection)

connection between EPC and a

Charging Support
number of external data
networks.
Lawful Interception support
Thus it is comparable to GGSN in IP Address Allocation for UE
2G/3G networks.
Routing/Forwarding between
A major functionality provided by Packet
Serving GW and external Data Network
a PDN gateway is the QoS
Packet screening (firewall functionality)
coordination between the
external PDN and EPC.
Therefore the PDN gateway can

Home Subscriber Server (HSS)

HSS

MME
S6a

The HSS is already introduced by UMTS

release 5.
With LTE/LTE the HSS will get
additionally data per subscriber for LTE
mobility and service handling.
Some changes in the database as well
as in the HSS protocol (DIAMETER) will
be necessary to enable HSS for LTE/LTE.
The HSS can be accessed by the MME
via S6a interface.

HSS Functions
Permanent and central subscriber
database
Stores mobility and service data for
every subscriber
Contains the Authentication Center
(AuC) functionality.

LTE UE Categories

All categories support 20 MHz

64QAM mandatory in downlink, but not in uplink (except Class
5)
2x2 MIMO mandatory in other classes except Class 1
Class 1

RF bandwidth

20 MHz

20 MHz

Class 3
100/50
Mbps
20 MHz

Modulation DL

64QAM

64QAM

64QAM

64QAM

64QAM

Modulation UL

16QAM

16QAM

16QAM

16QAM

64QAM

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

1-4 tx

1-4 tx

1-4 tx

1-4 tx

1-4 tx

Optional

2x2

2x2

2x2

4x4

Peak rate DL/UL

Rx diversity
BTS tx diversity
MIMO DL

Class 2

10/5 Mbps 50/25 Mbps

Class 4
150/50
Mbps
20 MHz

Class 5
300/75
Mbps
20 MHz

Qualcomm first chipset has 50 Mbps downlink and 25 Mbps uplink

LTE-Channel

Upper Layers

UL
DL

RLC

DCCH
DTCH

CCCH

UL-SCH

RACH

PUSCH
PUCCH
PRACH

PMCH

PDCCH

PCFICH

PHICH

PDSCH

PBCH

Air interface

MTCH
MCH

BCH

PCH

DL-SCH

Transport
channels

MCCH

BCCH

PCCH

CCCH

DCCH

DTCH

Logical channels

MAC

PHY

Physical channels: These are transmission channels that carry

user data and control
messages.
Transport channels: The physical layer transport channels offer
information transfer
to Medium Access Control (MAC) and higher
layers.
Logical channels: Provide services for the Medium Access Control
(MAC) layer within
the LTE protocol structure.

Logical channels

BCCH Broadcast Control CH

PCCH Paging Control CH

User data

MCCH Multicast Control CH

User specific signaling and control

DTCH Dedicated Traffic CH

Access information during call

establishment

DCCH Dedicated Control CH

Paging information when addressing UE

CCCH Common Control CH

System information sent to all UEs

Signaling for multi-cast

MTCH Multicast Traffic CH

Multicast data

LTE Channels

Transport channels

BCH Broadcast CH

PCH Paging CH

Used for multicast transmission

UL-SCH Uplink Shared CH

Transport of user data and signaling.

Used by many logical channels

MCH Multicast channel

Transport for PCH

DL-SCH Downlink Shared CH

Transport for BCCH

Transport for user data and signaling

RACH Random Access CH

Used for UEs accessing the network

LTE Channels

Physical Channel

PDSCH Physical DL Shared CH

PBCH Physical Broadcast CH

Uplink user data and signaling

PUCCH Physical Uplink Control Channel

Information required by UE so that PDSCH can be

demodulated (format of PDSCH)

PUSCH Physical Uplink Shared Channel

Reports status of Hybrid ARQ

PCIFIC Physical Control Format Indicator

Carries mainly scheduling information

PHICH Physical Hybrid ARQ Indicator

Data and signaling for multicast

PDCCH Physical Downlink Control CH

Broadcast information necessary for accessing the

network

PMCH Physical Multicast Channel

Uni-cast transmission and paging

Reports Hybrid ARQ acknowledgements

PRACH Physical Random Access Channel

Used for random access

LTE Channels

 Radio Resource Control

(RRC) States

From a mobility perspective, the UE can be in one of three

states.

LTE_DETACHED

LTE_IDLE

LTE_ACTIVE

OFF

Power Up

LTE_DETACH
ED
Registration

De-registration

LTE_ACTIVE
Inactivity

New Traffic

LTE_IDLE

Timeout of
Tracking Area
Update/PLMN
Change

UE States
Power On
Release due to
Inactivity

Registration (Attach)

LTE_DETACHED

Allocate C-RNTI, S_TMSI

Allocate IP addresses
Authentication
Establish security context

Release RRC connection

Release C-RNTI
Configure DRX for paging

LTE_ACTIVE

LTE_IDLE

New Traffic

Deregistration (Detach)
Change PLMN

Release C-RNTI, S-TMSI

Release IP addresses

Establish RRC Connection

Allocate C-RNTI

Timeout of Periodic TA
Update

Release S-TMSI
Release IP addresses

LTE_DETACHED state is typically a transitory state in which the UE is

powered-on but is in the process of searching and registering with the
network.

LTE_ACTIVE state, the UE is registered with the network and has an

RRC connection with the eNB. In LTE_ACTIVE state, the network knows
the cell to which the UE belongs and can transmit/receive data from the
UE.

LTE_IDLE state is a power-conservation state for the UE, where

typically the UE is not transmitting or receiving packets. In LTE_IDLE
state, no context about the UE is stored in the eNB. In this state, the

Thanks