Adama Science and Technology University

School of Electrical Engineering and Computing

Department of CSE

Wireless Mobile Networks

(CSE5309-Major Elective Course)

Chapter 5: Cellular Digital Packet Data

 Introduction

❖ Cellular digital packet data (CDPD) was a wireless data service used to access the Internet and
other packet-switched systems over a cellular network.
❖ CDPD was normally used by analog advanced mobile phone system (AMPS) standards and was
one of the first-generation cellular frequencies.
❖ The technology utilized idle or unused channels(bandwidth) operating at 800-900 MHz carriers
serving speeds of up to 19.2 kbps.
❖ The CDPD protocol was replaced by short message service (SMS), general packet radio services
(GPRS) and 3-G technologies.
❖ CDPD (Cellular Digital Packet Data) is a specification for supporting wireless access to the
Internet and other public packet-switched networks.

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❖ CDPD is typically used to provide wireless access to public packet-switched networks such as the
Internet so that mobile users can access their e-mail and other services.
❖ Multiple users can share the same channel; the user’s modem determines which packets are
destined for the user’s machine.
❖ Offer low-cost, ubiquitous, wireless data and transmits packet data over idle cellular voice channels.
❖ Serve as the wireless extension to a PSDN or other data networks such as the internet.
❖ CDPD also supports IP multicasting and is an open standard based on the Open Systems
Interconnection (OSI) reference model for networking.

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 Cont’d…
❖ Its based on the industry standard Internet Protocol (IP), allowing data to be transmitted to and
from the Internet
❖ CDPD Connectionless service Network services(CLNS) where every packet called a Network
Protocol Data Unit(NPDU).
❖ NPDU is routed individually based on the destination address of the packet and knowledge of
the current network topology.
❖ Initially CDPD provides two CLNSs:
❖ The standard OSI Connectionless network protocol and
❖ The Internet protocol.

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 Performance of CDPD How CDPD works?
❖ Cellular Digital Packet Data makes use of idle times between calls in cellular phone network channels
for interleaving packets of digital data.
❖ In other words, CDPD makes use of the «bursty» nature of typical voice transmission on the AMPS
cellular system.
❖ Voice communication has gaps or pauses where packet data can be inserted and transmitted without
interfering with the communication taking place between customers.
❖ Although CDPD supports data transmission rates of 19.2 Kbps and higher, actual data throughput is
usually around 9.6 Kbps.
❖ This is because of the large overhead added by CDPD to each data block transmitted.

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❖ This overhead is designed to ensure that communications are reliable and to maintain
synchronization between the modems at each end of the transmission.
❖ In addition, a color code is added to every data block to detect interference resulting from
transmissions on the same channel from neighboring cell sites.
❖ CDPD uses the Reed-Solomon forward-error-correcting code to encode each block or burst
of data sent, and includes built-in RC4 encryption to ensure security and privacy of the
transmitted data.

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Cellular Digital Packet Data Network Architecture

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 CDPD Network Architecture
• The figure depicts CDPD network architecture. As shown it consists three major system elements M-ES, MDBS and
MD-IS. Moreover CDPD co-exist with AMPS network and hence will have fall back to AMPS for voice call. Figure
shows AMPS-BS and AMPS-MSC which are part of AMPS network connected with PSTN for voice connectivity.
• There are three CDPD interfaces viz. E-interface, I-interface and A-interface. E-interface exists between CDPD and
fixed network external to CDPD. I-interface exists between two CDPD networks. A-interface exists between BS and
MS. It is also known as Air interface.
• Let us understand network elements used in CDPD architecture.
M-ES: It functions similar to subscriber or mobile unit used in any cellular system. It requires SIM for operation which
can be housed in laptop, mobile or PDA. It interfaces with radio equipment at 19.2 Kbps. Each M-ES has unique NEI
(Network Equipment Identifier) which is associated with its home MD-IS.
MDBS: It functions similar to Base Station. It broadcasts available channels for M-ES. It takes care of radio activities
such as channel allocation, usage etc. These MDBSs co-exist with AMPS Base Stations and hence share the same
antenna and site together.
MD-IS: It provides connectivity with internet and PSDN. It has functionalities of both frame relay switch and packet
router. It does buffering of packets routed for M-ES. It also supports roaming management as it contains registration
directory.
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 Mobile end System(M-ES)
❖ It is a mobile computing device with a built-in or attached CDPD modem.
❖ This system communicates in full-duplex mode with a Mobile Data Base Station (MDBS) using the
Digital Sense Multiple Access protocol, which prevents collisions of data streams from multiple
Mobile-End Systems.
❖ A CDPD user communicates with the CDPD network by using the M-ES.
❖ Though the physical location of M-ES may change from time to time, continuous network access
is maintained.
❖ An ME-S may be a credit card verification unit installed in Taxi, In PDA, or CDPD modem for
Personal computer palmtop, laptop ,which incorporates a cellular transceiver in a palm sized
,serially connected unit to a PC.

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 Cont’d…

❖ It functions similar to subscriber or mobile unit used in any cellular system.

❖ It requires SIM for operation which can be housed in laptop, mobile or PDA.
❖ Each M-ES has unique NEI (Network Equipment Identifier) which is associated with its home MD-IS.
❖ M-ES consists of three parts.
❖ Subscriber Unit: used to access the radio interface
❖ Subscriber Identity Model: contains information to identify a subscriber
❖ Mobile Application Subsystem: provide M-ESs application functionality

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 Mobile Database Station(MDBS)
❖ It is a manager of radio frequency for any communication in CDPD
❖ Mobile computing devices (e.g., smartphones and PDAs) store and share data over a mobile
network, or a database which is actually stored by the mobile device.
❖ This could be a list of contacts, price information, distance travelled, or any other information.
❖ Consists of several Modem-transceiver ,each of which supports one channel pair
❖ The MDBS is responsible for detailed control of the radio interface, such as :
❖ Radio channel allocation interoperation
❖ Radio media access control

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 Cont’d…
❖ User data received by the modern-transceiver are proposed by control computer.
❖ MES can communicate only with outside world through MDBS. There is no direct communication path
between M-ESs.
❖ In order to share radio resources with the cellular system, MDBSs are expected to be co-located with
the voice equipment's that provide cellular telephone service.
❖ Furthermore, MDBSs may share cellular equipment's (such as antennas for transmitters and receivers)
to communicate with the M-ESs.
❖ Because of the short synchronization delay (i.e., two bit delay) between the MDBS and the M-ES, the
radius of a CDPD is typically limited to less than 10 miles.

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 Mobile Data Intermediate system(MD-IS)
❖ Connected to several MDBSs via wired links or via microwave.
❖ properly routes data packets between the CDPD network and M-ES.
❖ Consists of Frame relay switch, packet router and workstation.
❖ Received data from one network and forward it to another network.
❖ The MDIS supports user mobility by operating a CDPD-specific Mobile Network Location Protocol to
exchange location information of CDPD users.
❖ It validates M-ES using encryption keys for secure transmission of data.
❖ It is responsible for IP routing
❖ It can provides mobile home & serving functions

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 Cont’d…

❖ The MDIS queues all packets from other intermediate systems (the packets are to be delivered to
the M-ESs), and sent them to the corresponding MDBS for transmission on the forward link.
❖ The MDBS broadcasts frames in its radio coverage area.
❖ Only M-ESs that have valid Network Entity Identifiers (NEIs) can decode the data received.
❖ The MDIS communicates with other intermediate systems by using Connectionless Network
Services (CLNS).
❖ Every packet (called Network Protocol Data Unit or NPDU) is routed individually based on the
destination address of the packet and knowledge of the current network topology.

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 Cont’d…

❖ Intermediate System (IS): I t is the standard Internet Protocol (IP) router, which relays data packets.
❖ The protocol is one of a family of IP Routing protocols, and is an Interior Gateway Protocol (IGP) for
the Internet, used to distribute IP routing information throughout a single Autonomous System (AS) in
an IP network.
❖ It routes the data through IP & CLNP(Connectionless Network Protocol)
❖ The IS components are the backbone of CDPD mesh
❖ Fixed-End System (FES) - the final/end destination, which is a common host/server for receiving and
processing data

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 CDPD Air Interface
❖ CDPD channel streams 19.2Kbps raw duplex wireless link
❖ Use ideal Cellular RF channels
❖ CDPD transmission must not interfere with cellular voice
❖ Forward link –link from MDBS to M-ES
❖ MD-IS send frames to the MDBS on the forward link
❖ MDBS broadcasts frame in its radio coverage area
❖ Only M-ES s that have Valid NEI (Network entity identifiers ) can decodes the receiving data
❖ Reverse Link- Link from M-ES to MDBS
❖ Uses digital sense multiple access(DSMA)
❖ MDBS broadcast the availability of the reverse link by an idle /busy control flag .
❖ If there is no transmission in reverse channel MDBS set the control flag idle status
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 CDPD Air Interface (2)...
❖ If M-ES detects a ”busy ” status
❖ Waite for random period of time
❖ Recheck the status of controlling flag
❖ If two M-ES detect the idle status and try to access the reverse link at the same time
❖ Collison occurs
❖ Exponential back off procedure for retransmission
❖ To prevent channel hogging situation
❖ Maximum time period is defined between two bursts
❖ When M-ES in communication moves from one cell to anther
❖ Radio link transfer process is required to reconnect the M-ES in the new cell
❖ CDPD link transfer process is controlled by the M-ES
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 CDPD Air Interface (3)..
❖ M-ES monitors the radio link quality
❖ If the quality fails bellow the threshold
❖ M-ES initiate the link transfer
❖ New MD-IS updates its registration directory
❖ If the old MDBS and the new MDBS connected to different MD-ISs
❖ Transport layer retransmission is required to reestablish the end to end connection
❖ Sleep mode operation
❖ An idle M-ES shutoff power for predefined period
❖ to wake up
❖ MD-IS periodically broadcast a notification message
❖ M-ES periodically activate its receiver
❖ If its name is found in the list,
❖ MD-IS leaves sleep mode
❖ Sends a notification message to the MD-IS
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 CDPD Air Interface (4)…
❖ TEI(temporary equipment identifier ) assignment procedure
❖ TEI is dynamic assigned MDLP address
❖ Sleep mode operation is requested
❖ T203 –element inactivity timer
❖ T204 –TEI notification timer

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 Radio Resource allocation
❖ CDPD transmission is frequency agile, mobile across adjacent cells (“cell transfers”)
❖ CDPD use channel sniffing and channel hopping
❖ MDBS periodically Scans/monitors the channels
❖ If communication link is exit between cellular system and CDPD
❖ If a communication link is not exit –sniffing is used
❖ MDBS generates a candidate list of available channels
❖ List is then forwarded to the MD-IS
❖ MD-IS collects channel lists from all the associated MDBSs
❖ Determines the CDPD channel steams based on its knowledge of the voice channel allocation algorithm.
❖ Periodic channel switching timed hop or planned hop
❖ To avoid channel sealing or channel stealing
❖ Timer
❖ Dwell timer
21 ❖ Layout timer
 Roaming Management
❖ Is archived by two functions
❖ MHF(mobile home function)
❖ MSF(mobile serving function)
❖ M-ES is identified by a distinct NEI
❖ Every NEI is associated with Home MD-IS
❖ Home MD-IS maintains a location directory
❖ Is called the location directory service in the MHF
❖ Record the address of the current serving MD-IS for each of its homed M-Ess
❖ Visited MD-IS maintains a registration directory
❖ Is called the registration directory service in the MSF
❖ Keep track of visiting M-ESs
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 Cont’d..

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 Cont’d..

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CDPD - Layering
Application

Transport
Connectionless Network Protocol
Network IP/CLNP
Subnetwork Dependent Convergence
Data link SNDCP Protocol
MDLP Mobile Data Link Protocol
MAC Media Access Control
Physical Physical Physical

Network layer CDPD Layer

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CDPD – Layering…..
Mobile Data Link Protocol
❖ It provides logical link control services between Mobile End Systems and Mobile Data Intermediate
Systems.
❖ The purpose of MDLP is to transmit information between network layer entities across the CDPD Air
link interface.
❖ High-level data link control (HDLC)
❖ Temporary equipment identifier (TEI)
❖ Identifies destination mobile - virtual address.
Subnetwork Dependent Convergence Protocol
❖ Encryption/decryption
❖ User data confidentiality
❖ SNDCP provides a number of services to the network layer
❖ Compression/elimination of redundant protocol control information

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 CDPD – Layering…..

Mobile Network Registration Protocol

• Exchange of routing and registration information between the M-ES and a serving MD-IS.
• Delivery of authentication information about an M-ES.
• Registration and Authentication of multicast NEI.

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Application of CDPD
❖ Credit card verification
❖ ATM network
❖ Transportation: Ambulance, dispatch system.
❖ Public security: Policemen can access the latest database in real time to. E.g. Check suspected
person, Verify identity. Check the car current status.
❖ Remote measurement: Remote control.
❖ Commerce. Wireless ATM. Wireless Credits Card Authentication. Mobile Payment.
❖ Implementing easily.
❖ High speed. CDPD modem set up time is much faster than wire dial up modem. Even CDPD is
19.2kbps, wire dial up modem is 33.6kbps.
❖ Reliable and Safety with strong encryption algorithm.

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 Problems with CDPD

• Limited bandwidth
– 19.2kbps shared per channel
– Modern applications demand more bandwidth.
• Security:
– “Man in the middle” identity theft attack
– IP network attacks
– Denial of Service attacks easy.

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 CDPD Advantages and Disadvantages
▪ Following are the advantages of CDPD:
• Utilizes existing channels of the AMPS network and hence easy to install and start using the
existing channels if not in use.
• It has cellular-like architecture and hence can support larger capacity due to ease in
upgrading the network.
• There is no delay in establishing data call as CDPD phone is already registered with the
CDPD network.
• Following are the disadvantages of CDPD:
• There is no mesh connectivity in CDPD. Hence M-ES and M-ES can not communicate
directly. Communication between them occurs via MDBS.
• CDPD cell size is limited to less than 10 miles.

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 of Chapter Fi
nd v

e
Thank You for Your
Attention

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