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How To Verify Your LTE MAC RF Interactions 16nov11 PDF
How To Verify Your LTE MAC RF Interactions 16nov11 PDF
and RF interactions
• The LTE downlink uses many You have to be able to read all
messages in different layers to of these messages to find out if
manage the operation of the radio link the system is working correctly
• 89600 WLA software provides the If you’re familiar with 89600 this
most cost effective extension of an is a powerful addition
existing analysis tool
2011
Copyright © 2011 Agilent Technologies
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Agenda
• Challenges Addressed
• Finding RF Control Information hidden
in LTE Layer 2/3 protocols
• Examining Control Loop Operation
• Agilent Solutions
• Q&A
2011
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Challenges Addressed
2011
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The LTE Air Interface Protocol Stack
Layer 2
Medium Access Control (MAC)
2011
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A Refresher: The 5 DL Channels & What They Do
PBCH Broadcast Channel sends basic information about the cell
using the Master Information Block
PCFICH Control Format Indicator tells the UE(s) where to look for
the control channel (the key to the allocation map)
PDCCH Control Channel where the eNB tells UEs when to expect
their downlink data, and when & how to transmit
2011
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Combining Views of the Physical and Detected
S-SS
P-SS
PBCH
PCFICH
Time
PDCCH
PDSCH
PHICH
(if present)
Spectrum &
Constellation &
Time views
Error summary
Detected
Allocations
Decoded Frame
Information summary
2011
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89600 WLA Builds on 89600 VSA Capability
2011
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89600 WLA Overview
Uplink configuration
parameters
Message Log
& Frame view
Individual
Message Analysis with Microsoft®
Contents Excel©
PUSCH
Allocations
2011
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EXAMPLE: DCI Scheduling for UE Power Control
2011
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UE Transmit Power Control Loop Operation
Power Change
2011
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The LTE Air Interface Protocol Stack
2011
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The LTE Air Interface Protocol Stack
2011
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LTE Protocol Layers and Channels
Control Plane
RRC RRC
NAS direct
RRC System Information
& Paging
Connection
establish
dedicated
control
transfer
Service
NRT data RT data
signalling
traffic traffic
System Information traffic
Paging SRB 0 SRB 1 SRB 2
DRB1 DRB2 DRB3
Packet Data Convergence
Protocol SAPs
PDCP
RLC Service Access Points Transparent Mode
RLC
Logical Channels BCCH PCCH CCCH DCCH1 DCCH2 DTCH1 DTCH2 DTCH3
Physical Layer
Ref: TS36.300
2011
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LTE Protocol Layers and Channels
NAS Network Access Stratum
User Plane
RRC RRC
Traffic data including service
NAS direct
RRC System Information
& Paging
Connection
establish
dedicated
control
transfer
Service
related signalling
NRT data RT data
signalling
traffic traffic
System Information traffic
Paging SRB 0 SRB 1 SRB 2
DRB1 DRB2 DRB3
Packet Data Convergence
Protocol SAPs
ROHC
PDCP Integrity & Ciphering
Ciphering
Logical Channels
Physical Layer
Ref: TS36.300
2011
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The LTE Air Interface Protocol Stack
Layer 2
Medium Access Control (MAC)
2011
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Layer 2 – Medium Access Control
Logical Channels BCCH PCCH CCCH DCCH1 DCCH2 DTCH1 DTCH2 DTCH3
Physical Layer
2011
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MAC Protocol Data Unit Structure (3GPP TS 36.321)
2011
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EXAMPLE: MAC Control Element Timing Advance
Initial Random Access
T.A. MAC Control Element
Response, RAR Message
Timing
Adjustments
2011
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Tracking Changes to Timing Advance
Timing Advance
2011
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Downlink MAC Hybrid-ARQ (Asynchronous)
Variable
Fixed 4 sub-frame interval Fixed 4 sub-frame interval Variable interval
interval
Sub-frame #0 #1 #2 #3 #4 #5 #6 #7 #8 #9 Sub-frame #0 #1 #2 #3 #4 #5 #6 #7 #8 #9
2011
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Downlink MAC HARQ Redundancy Version
Variable
Fixed 4 sub-frame interval Fixed 4 sub-frame interval Variable interval
interval
Sub-frame #0 #1 #2 #3 #4 #5 #6 #7 #8 #9 Sub-frame #0 #1 #2 #3 #4 #5 #6 #7 #8 #9
2011
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Downlink HARQ Evaluation
N9020A MXA Signal Analyzer
E6621A PXT
(eNodeB emulator)
Ext Trig 1 In
Trig In
2011
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DL HARQ: Add Noise Bursts to Channel
N9020A MXA Signal Analyzer
E6621A PXT
(eNodeB emulator)
Ext Trig 1 In
Trig In
HARQ processes
limiting data
throughput?
2011
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MAC HARQ Process Retransmissions
Successful HARQ transmission of PDSCH
data can be inferred from the presence or
absence of retransmissions Throughput is represented
by the slope of the
acknowledged bits
Transport Block bits
RV = 0-2-3-1
2011
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Sample Result
Unexpected:
Unexpected:
One process
Multiple
cycles through
processes
Expected: 4 redundancy
retransmitting
Single versions
retransmission
(delay 8ms)
2011
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HARQ in the Uplink Using PHICH
2011
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The LTE Air Interface Protocol Stack
Layer 2
Medium Access Control (MAC)
2011
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Layer 2 – Radio Link Control
Control Plane User Plane
Service
NRT data RT data
signalling
traffic traffic
System Information traffic
Paging SRB 0 SRB 1 SRB 2
DRB1 DRB2 DRB3
Packet Data Convergence
Protocol SAPs
ROHC
PDCP Integrity & Ciphering
Ciphering
Logical Channels
Transport Channels
Physical Layer
2011
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Radio Link Control Protocol – 3 Levels of Service
Transparent Unacknowledged Acknowledged
Mode Mode Mode
2011
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The LTE Air Interface Protocol Stack
Layer 2
Medium Access Control (MAC)
2011
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Layer 3 – Radio Resource Control Protocol
2011
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RRC Signalling Radio Bearers (3GPP TS 36.331)
Control Plane User Plane
NAS Traffic data including service
related signalling
RRC
System RRC RRC
NAS direct
Information & Connection dedicated
transfer
Paging establishment control
2011
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System Information Broadcasting
Type Key Information
MIB DL Bandwidth, PHICH Configuration, System Frame #
SIB1 Information relevant when evaluating if a UE is allowed to access a cell and defines the scheduling of
other system information blocks
SIB2 Common and shared channel information
SIB4 Information about the serving frequency and intra-frequency neighbouring cells relevant for cell re-selection
(including cell re-selection parameters common for a frequency as well as cell specific re-selection parameters)
SIB5 Information about other E-UTRA frequencies and inter-frequency neighbouring cells relevant for cell re-selection
(including cell re-selection parameters common for a frequency as well as cell specific re-selection parameters)
SIB6 contains information about UTRA frequencies and UTRA neighbouring cells relevant for cell re-selection
(including cell re-selection parameters common for a frequency as well as cell specific re-selection parameters)
SIB7 contains information about GERAN frequencies relevant for cell re-selection (including cell re-selection
parameters for each frequency)
SIB8 contains information about CDMA2000 frequencies and CDMA2000 neighbouring cells relevant for cell re-
selection (including cell re-selection parameters common for a frequency as well as cell specific re-selection
parameters)
SIB9 contains a home eNB identifier (HNBID)
2011
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Radio Resource Control High Level Signalling
RRC Connection Establishment
UE EUtran UE EUtran
RRC CONNECTION RRC CONNECTION
REQUEST REQUEST
RRC CONNECTION
SETUP COMPLETE
2011
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UE Attach Message Capture
N9020A MXA Signal Analyzer
E6621A PXT
(eNodeB emulator)
Is the UE getting
the correct
configuration
RF power detector
information from
the eNodeB?
2011
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UE Attach Message Capture
N9020A MXA Signal Analyzer
E6621A PXT
(eNodeB emulator)
2011
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DL Messages & Timing during Connection Setup
2011
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SIB 2 & RRC Connection for PUCCH Config.
2011
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Downlink / Uplink Capture
N9020A MXA Signal Analyzer
E6621A PXT
(eNodeB emulator)
Ext Trig 1 In
Trig In
& 89600 VSA to:
1. Trigger on uplink
2. Capture the uplink
2011
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CQI Control Loop Testing
N9020A MXA Signal Analyzer
E6621A PXT
(eNodeB emulator)
Ext Trig 1 In
Trig In
feedback process
act fast enough?
2011
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Test CQI Control Loop Using UE Reporting
2011
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Test CQI Control Loop Using UE Reporting
• eNodeB uses channel feedback from the UE to determine MCS allocations
• UE reports HARQ feedback and CQI information using PUCCH (or PUSCH)
2011
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89600 VSA Uplink Synchronization & Analysis
2011
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Uplink PUCCH Decoding
89600 VSA
decodes uplink
signal contents
2011
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PUCCH Reporting: HARQ, CQI, PMI, RI
Analysis Key
• HARQ Size & Info ? There is ambiguity in the signal
• CQI Size & Info (when using auto-detection)
F The pattern has bit errors
• PMI (MIMO)
Size= 0 The signal not present / found
• RI (MIMO)
Info= 0xF00 Result, front loaded Hex format
2011
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UL HARQ & CQI Changes In Noisy Channel
HARQ HARQ goesfrom
Info drops from0xC [1100]
0xC [1100]
ACKACK to 0x0
to 0x0 [0000]
[0000] NACKNACK
2011
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Agenda
• Challenges Addressed
• Finding RF Control Information hidden
in LTE Layer 2/3 protocols
• Examining Control Loop Operation
• Agilent Solutions
• Q&A
2011
Page 49
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89600B VSA Signal Analysis
2011
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89600 WLA Software for LTE
2011
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Signal Capture
X series Infiniium Modular
Analyzers Oscilloscopes N7100A
PXI M9392A
2011
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E6621A (MIMO) Real Time eNB Emulator
2011
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Summary
1: Information used to control the LTE RF link is spread across all the
protocol layers, from System Information Blocks in layer 3 to the DCI
content in the PHY
2011
Page 54
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Summary
1: Information used to control the LTE RF link is spread across all the protocol layers, from System
Information Blocks in layer 3 to the DCI content in the PHY
2011
Page 55
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Summary
1: Information used to control the LTE RF link is spread across all the protocol layers, from System
Information Blocks in layer 3 to the DCI content in the PHY
2: Being able to recover this information allows verification of the signal content, to ensure the correct
configuration is being used for testing
3: LTE has at least six control loops running during normal operation,
including power, timing & MCS control and DL/UL HARQ retransmissions
2011
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Summary
1: Information used to control the LTE RF link is spread across all the protocol layers, from System
Information Blocks in layer 3 to the DCI content in the PHY
2: Being able to recover this information allows verification of the signal content, to ensure the correct
configuration is being used for testing
3: LTE has at least six control loops running in normal operation, including power, timing and modulation
control and downlink / uplink HARQ retransmissions
2011
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Q&A
2011
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References
1: LTE and The Evolution to 4G Wireless Design and Measurement
Challenges Agilent Technologies. Edited by Moray Rumney
www.agilent.com/find/ltebook
2011
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Thanks for your time. We
hope this has been helpful
2011
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