Mobile Systems

Information from broadcast signalling channels

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 Architecture of 4G mobile network

Architecture of 4G mobile network (Evolved Packet System; EPS)

- Access Network (Radio Access Network; RAN = Enhanced UTRAN)
- Core network (Evolved Packet Core; EPC)
- E-UTRAN + EPC = EPS (Evolved Packet System)

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 Architecture of 4G mobile network

Architecture of EPS network:

• Access Network (E-UTRAN),
• „Flatted” network hierarchy as
compared to GSM
• eNB node = evolved NodeB:
• eNB sends and receives
information to and from all its
terminals (Ues)
• eNB combines functions of
NodeB and RNC from UMTS, in
order to minimize network delay
and improve performance of
signalling procedures
• They can communicate directly
using X2 interface e.g. for
handover procedure

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 Multiple Access: OFDMA

Resource Grid:
- E-UTRA information is organized as a function
of frequency and time, using a resource grid
(see figure).
- The basic unit is the Resource Element (RE),
which consists of one symbol transmitted by
one subcarrier.
- Each resource element typically carries two,
four, or six physical channel bits, depending on
whether the modulation scheme is QPSK, 16-
QAM, or 64-QAM.
- Resource elements are grouped into Resource
Blocks (RB), each covering 0.5 ms (one time
slot) and 180 kHz (12 subcarriers). The base
station uses resource blocks for frequency-
dependent scheduling, allocating symbols and
subcarriers within each subframe in resource
block units.
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 Multiple Access: OFDMA

Frequency domain:
● One “Resource Block” (RB)
consists of 12 carriers (1
slot)One carrier has a
bandwidth of 15 KHz (typically
12 carriers per RB)The number
of simultaneous users depends
on the configured band in the
cell (number of RBs from 6 to
110)Time domain:
● One slot consists of N symbols
(typically N=7)

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 Resource grid

• Resource grid
• Individual physical
channels are marked with
colors

Source: https://www.sharetechnote.com/html/Handbook_LTE_Cell_Selection_Criterion.html 6
 Channels in 4G mobile network

Definitions of channels:
- Logical channel – defines the type of
data that is transferred. Logical
channels define the data transfer
services offered by the MAC layer,
- Transport channel – defines how and
with what characteristics data is sent
through the physical channel (transport
format), e.g. protection codes,
interleaving,
- Physical channel – defines the exact
characteristics of the radio channel, i.e.
implementation of transport channels,
e.g. channel coding, modulations.

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 Architecture of radio interface of E-UTRAN

Logical, transport and physical channels – information flows: Mapping between logical,
transport and physical channels:
- „Up-link” direction:
– UCI – Uplink Control Information, RACH – Random Access Channel, UL-SCH 0 Up-
Link Schared Channel,
– DTCH – Dedicated Traffic Channel
– DCCH – Dedicated Control Channel
– CCCH – Common Control Channel

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 Architecture of radio interface of E-UTRAN

Logical, transport, physical channels – „Down-link” direction:

- BCCH – Broadcast Control Channel
- BCH – Broadcast Channel
- DL-SCH – DowLink Shared Channel
- PBCH – Physical Broadcast Channel
- PDSCH – Physical Dowlink Schared Channel

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 Physical channels in 4G mobile network

Physical channels:
- Frequency ranges (Band) – it is a part of smartphone specification,
- In Europe (in Poland too) there are several operational bands LTE – B1
(FDD2100), B3 (FDD1800), B7 (FDD2600), B20 (FDD800) and B38
(TDD2600)

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 Physical channels in 4G mobile network

Physical channles as supported by a concrete terminal:

Source: https://www.kimovil.com/pl/frequency-checker/PL/xiaomi-mi8 11
 Signalling channels

• Manual choice of a network operator:

• RAT – Radio Access Technology
• Different MNO (Mobile Network
Operators)
• Different network access
technologies (GSM, WCDMA, LTE)
• Many base stations for ech
MNO/network technology (not visible
on the figure)

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 Signalling channels

Broadcast signalling channels (MIB i

SIB1 blocks)
- Periodically sent information: MIB
every 40ms, SIB1 every 80ms,
- Frames sent every 10ms,
- SFN – System Frame Number.

Source:
http://www.sharetechnote.com/html/Handbook_LTE_MIB.html
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 Signalling channels

MIB - example

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 Signalling channels

SIB1 – information about Mobile Network Operator and cel selection

related information

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 Signalling channels

SIB1 – example
This information might be used to
locate eNB, Mobile Network
Operator (MNC) and the country
(MCC)

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 Locations of Base Stations (eNBs)

On the map visualisation of base stations (worldwide project):

- https://opencellid.org/

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 Locations of Base Stations (eNBs)

On the map visualisation of base stations (local polish project):

- http://beta.btsearch.pl/

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 Signalling channels

Broadcast channels (MIB and SIB blocks)

Mobile Network Codes (MNC):

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 Signalling channels – information about base
stations
• Procedure for selecting an operator and base station to connect to the 4G mobile network -
selection criteria:
• Signal strength/quality criterion
• Operator Criterion (PLMN)
• Service type criterion
• The signal strength/quality criterion can be assessed based on the measurement of the
power of the reference signal in the terminal and information from SIB blocks transmitted by
each base station of the network operator:
Qrxlevmeas – measured power (RSRP)
Qqualmeas – measured quality (RSRQ)
Qrxlevmin – minimal required power (dBm)
Qqualmin – minimal required quality (dB)
Qrxlevminoffset – shift (compansation) of Qrxlevmin
parameter value
Qqualminoffset – shift (compansation) of Qqualmin
parameter value
Pcompensation – max[PEMAX – PPowerClass, 0]
PEMAX – max transmission power of the
terminal [dBm] acceptable by eNB
PPowerClass – maximmum terminal power
according to its class 20
 Signalling channels – information about base
stations
• Application supporting measurements of mobile network signals

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 Signalling channels – information about base
stations
• Application supporting measurements of mobile network signals

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 Signalling channels – information about base
stations
• Mobile cell and operator selection algorithm:

Source: https://www.sharetechnote.com/html/Handbook_LTE_Cell_Selection_Criterion.html 23
 Signalling channels – information about base
stations
• Algorithm for selecting
the operator and base
station to connect to the
4G mobile network
• Definition of main
parameters (according to
3GPP 36.214)
• RSRP (Reference
Signal Recieved
Power) – is defined
as the average of the
power share
(expressed in [W]) of
all the so-called
"Resource Elements"
that carry reference
signals in a given cell
(at a given
frequency).

Source: https://www.sharetechnote.com/html/Handbook_LTE_Cell_Selection_Criterion.html 24
 Signalling channels – information about base
stations
• Mobile cell and operator selection algorithm
• Definition of main parameters (according to 3GPP 36.214 )
• RSRQ – (Reference Signal Received Quality). RSRQ is defined as (N x
RSRP)/RSSI, where N is the number of RB (Resource Block) elements in the
frequency band covered by the measurement.Formulae: RSRQ = N ×
RSRP/RSSI

• Conclusion (from definition):

• RSSI (Received Signal Strength Indicator) is the total power received by the
mobile station - it includes power of all types: power from cells operating at the
same frequencies, interference from neighboring channels, thermal noise.
Therefore, the quantity (N x RSRP)/RSSI determines "How much of the clean
reference signal (RS) over the entire frequency range is received by the mobile
station".
• The RSRQ value, the value of which is calculated on the basis of RSRP and
RSSI, gives us information in addition to the signal strength, about interferences.

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 Signalling channels – information about base
stations
• Example of calculations : RSRP i RSRQ

Source: https://www.sharetechnote.com/html/Handbook_LTE_Cell_Selection_Criterion.html 26
 Signalling channels – information about base
stations
• Example of calculations : RSRP i RSRQ

Source: https://www.sharetechnote.com/html/Handbook_LTE_Cell_Selection_Criterion.html 27
 Signalling channels – information about base
stations
• Example of calculations: RSRP i RSRQ

Source : https://www.sharetechnote.com/html/Handbook_LTE_Cell_Selection_Criterion.html 28