WCDMA Access Procedure

Review

Access is associated with the call setup success

rate of the network. Mastering the access
procedure can increase this KPI with the access
parameters optimization.
 Objectives

Upon completion of this course,you will be able to:

 Know the detailed access

procedure in UMTS

 Know how to optimize the

access procedure
Course Contents

Random access procedure

RRC setup procedure

RAB setup procedure

Random access procedure

 Physical channel about access

 Random access procedure

 Parameters optimization
 PRACH access slot
radio frame: 10 ms radio frame: 10 ms

5120 chips

Access slot #0 #1 #2 #3 #4 #5 #6 #7 #8 #9 #10 #11 #12 #13 #14

Random Access Transmission

Random Access Transmission

Random Access Transmission

Random Access Transmission

UE can start the random-access transmission at the beginning of a access slot

There are 15 access slots per two frames

what access slots are available is given by higher layers

 Structure of the random-access transmission
Preamble Preamble Preamble Message part

4096 chips
10 ms (one radio frame)

Preamble Preamble Preamble Message part

4096 chips 20 ms (two radio frames)

 Each random-access transmission consists of one or several

preambles of length 4096 chips and a message of length 10
ms or 20 ms.
 Each preamble is of length 4096 chips and consists of 256
repetitions of a signature of length 16 chips.
 Structure of the random-access transmission

One access slot

Acq.
Ind.
AICH access
slots RX at UE

p-a
Pre- Pre-
amble amble Message part
PRACH access
slots TX at UE

p-p p-m

The preamble-to-preamble distance p-p shall be larger than or

equal to the minimum preamble-to-preamble distance
p-p,min .
Structure of the random-access transmission

when AICH_Transmission_Timing is set to 0

p-p,min = 15360 chips (3 access slots)
p-a = 7680 chips
p-m = 15360 chips (3 access slots)
when AICH_Transmission_Timing is set to 1, then
p-p,min = 20480 chips (4 access slots)
p-a = 12800 chips
p-m = 20480 chips (4 access slots)
The parameter AICH_Transmission_Timing is
signalled by higher layers.
Random access procedure

 Physical channel about access

 Random access procedure

 Parameters optimization
 Concepts in random access procedure

 Preamble Signature

 AC (Access Class)

 ASC (Access Service Class)

 RACH sub channels

 Access slot set

 Preamble Signature
The preamble signature corresponding to a signatures consists of 256 repetitions of a length

16 signature Ps(n) shown as the following table. UE gets signature from system info type5.
Preamble Value of n
signature 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
P0(n) 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
P1(n) 1 -1 1 -1 1 -1 1 -1 1 -1 1 -1 1 -1 1 -1
P2(n) 1 1 -1 -1 1 1 -1 -1 1 1 -1 -1 1 1 -1 -1
P3(n) 1 -1 -1 1 1 -1 -1 1 1 -1 -1 1 1 -1 -1 1
P4(n) 1 1 1 1 -1 -1 -1 -1 1 1 1 1 -1 -1 -1 -1
P5(n) 1 -1 1 -1 -1 1 -1 1 1 -1 1 -1 -1 1 -1 1
P6(n) 1 1 -1 -1 -1 -1 1 1 1 1 -1 -1 -1 -1 1 1
P7(n) 1 -1 -1 1 -1 1 1 -1 1 -1 -1 1 -1 1 1 -1
P8(n) 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1
P9(n) 1 -1 1 -1 1 -1 1 -1 -1 1 -1 1 -1 1 -1 1
P10(n) 1 1 -1 -1 1 1 -1 -1 -1 -1 1 1 -1 -1 1 1
P11(n) 1 -1 -1 1 1 -1 -1 1 -1 1 1 -1 -1 1 1 -1
P12(n) 1 1 1 1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 1 1 1 1
P13(n) 1 -1 1 -1 -1 1 -1 1 -1 1 -1 1 1 -1 1 -1
P14(n) 1 1 -1 -1 -1 -1 1 1 -1 -1 1 1 1 1 -1 -1
P15(n) 1 -1 -1 1 -1 1 1 -1 -1 1 1 -1 1 -1 -1 1
 Access Class

The SIMs/USIMs of all the UEs are allocated with one of Access Class 0~9. In addition
, one or more special access classes (Access Class 11~15) might be allocated to the
SIM/USIM storage information of the UEs with high priority, as shown below:
 Access Class 15 --- PLMN Staff;
 Access Class 14 --- Emergency Services;
 Access Class 13 --- Public Utilities;
 Access Class 12 --- Security Services;
 Access Class 11 --- For PLMN Use.

Different from Access Class 0~9 and 11~15, the control information of Acce
ss Class 10 is sent to UEs by means of air interface signalling, indicating w
hether the UEs belonging to Access Class 0~9 or without IMSI can be acce
ssed to the network in case of emergency calls. For the UEs with Access Cl
ass 11~15, they cannot initiate the emergency calls when Access Class 10
and Access Class 11~15 are all barred.
 Access Service Class

 The PRACH resources (access timeslots and preamble signatures in FDD

mode) can be classified into several ASCs. One ASC defines a partition of c
ertain PRACH resources.
 The ASCs are numbered within the range 0<= i <=7, and the maximum num
ber of ASCs is 8. "0" indicates the highest priority and "7" indicates the lowe

st priority.
 AC to ASC mapping. In case the UE is member of several ACs it shall selec
t the ASC for the highest AC number.

AC 0–9 10 11 12 13 14 15
st nd rd th th th th
ASC 1 IE 2 IE 3 IE 4 IE 5 IE 6 IE 7 IE
 Access Slot Set

Access slot set 1 contains PRACH slots 0 – 7 and starts p-a chips before t
he downlink P-CCPCH frame for which SFN mod 2 = 0. Access slot set 2
contains PRACH slots 8 - 14 and starts (p-a –2560) chips before the downli
nk P-CCPCH frame for which SFN mod 2 = 1.

AICH access
slots SFN mod 2 = 0 SFN mod 2 = 1

p-a #0 #1 #2 #3 #4 #5 #6 #7 #8 #9 #10 #11 #12 #13 #14

#0 #1 #2 #3 #4 #5 #6 #7 #8 #9 #10 #11 #12 #13 #14

PRACH
access slots Access slot set 1 Access slot set 2

10 ms 10 ms
 RACH sub channels

A RACH sub-channel defines a sub-set of the total set of uplink access

slots. There are a total of 12 RACH sub-channels.

SFN modulo 8 of Sub-channel number

corresponding P-
CCPCH frame 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

0 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

1 12 13 14 8 9 10 11

2 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

3 9 10 11 12 13 14 8

4 6 7 0 1 2 3 4 5

5 8 9 10 11 12 13 14

6 3 4 5 6 7 0 1 2

7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14
 Random access procedure
START

Choose a RACH sub channel from

available ones

Get available signatures

Set Preamble Retrans Max

Set Preamble_Initial_Power

Send a preamble

No AI Check the corresponding AI

Get positive AI
Choose a access slot again Get negative AI

Increase message part power by P p-m

based on preamble power
Choose a signature and increase preamble
transmit power

The counter of preamble retransmit

Send the corresponding message part
subtract 1; Commanded preamble power
increased by Power Ramp Step

Y Set physical status to be Nack on AICH

Counter >0 && Preamble power - received
maximum allowed power < 6dB Set physical status to be RACH message
transmitted
N

Set physical status to be Nack on AICH

received

Report the physical status to MAC

END
 Random access procedure

Before random-access procedure, Layer 1 shall receive the foll

owing information from the RRC layers:
 The preamble scrambling code.
 The message length in time, either 10 or 20 ms.
 The AICH_Transmission_Timing parameter [0 or 1].
 The set of available signatures and the set of available RACH sub-channels f
or each ASC.
 The power-ramping factor Power Ramp Step.
 The parameter Preamble Retrans Max.
 Preamble_Initial_Power.
 The Power offset P p-m = Pmessage-control – Ppreamble.
 The set of Transport Format parameters, This includes the power offset betwe
en the data part and the control part of the random-access message for each
Transport Format.
 Random access procedure

Layer 1 shall also receive the following information from the

MAC layers :
 The Transport Format to be used for the PRACH message pa
rt.
 The ASC of the PRACH transmission.
 The data to be transmitted .
 Random access steps

1. Derive the available uplink access slots in the next full

access slot set and Randomly select one access slot .
2. Randomly select a signature from the set of available
signatures within the given ASC .
3. Set the Preamble Retransmission Counter to Preamble
Retrans Max.
4. Set the parameter Commanded Preamble Power to
Preamble_Initial_Power.
 Random access steps

5. Transmit a preamble using the selected uplink access slot,

signature, and preamble transmission power.
6. Check the corresponding AI, if received positive AI, send the
message part and set L1 status “RACH message transmitted”.
If received negative AI, set L1 status “Nack on AICH received”.
7. If no AI received, select the next access slot, signature and
decrease the preamble retransmission counter by one,
increase the preamble power by power ramp step. Check if the
counter more than 0 and the preamble power less than the
maximum allowed. If true, send a preamble again. Otherwise,
set L1 status “No ack on AICH” .
Random access procedure

 Physical channel about access

 Random access procedure

 Parameters optimization
 ConstantValue

 Preamble_Initial_Power = DL_Path_Loss + UL_interference +

Constant_Value. This parameter is used for the UE to estimate
the initial PRACH transmission power according to the open lo
op power.
 Influence on the network performance: If this parameter is set t
oo big, the initial transmission power will be too big, but the ac
cess process will become shorter; if it is set too small, the acc
ess power will satisfy the requirements, but the preamble requi
res multiple ramps, which will lengthen the access process.
 PRACH Power Ramp Step

 PRACH PowerRampStep is the ramp step of the preamble po

wer by the UE before it receives the NodeB capture indication.
 Influence on the network performance: If this value is set too bi
g, the access process will be shortened, but the probability of
wasting power will be bigger; if it is set too small, the access pr
ocess will be lengthened, but some power will be saved. It is a
value to be weighed.
 Maximum Preamble Retransmit Times

 PreambleRetransMax is the maximum preamble retransmissio

n times of the UE within a preamble ramp cycle.
 Influence on the network performance: If this value is set too bi
g, the access process will be shortened, but the probability of
wasting power will be bigger; if it is set too small, the access pr
ocess will be lengthened, but some power will be saved. It is a
value to be weighed.
 Maximum Preamble Cycle Times

 Mmax defines the maximum times of the random access prea

mble cycle. When the UE transmits a preamble and has reach
ed the maximum retransmit times (PreambleRetransMax), if th
e UE has not received the capture indication yet, it will repeat t
he access attempt after the specified waiting time; but the max
imum cycle times cannot exceed Mmax.
 Influence on the network performance: If this parameter is set t
oo small, the UE access success rate will be influenced; if it is
set too big, the UE will probably try access attempt repeatedly
within a long time, which will increase the uplink interference.
Course Contents

Random access procedure

RRC setup procedure

RAB setup procedure

 RRC Setup Procedure

UE NODEB SRNC

RRC RRC Connection Request RRC

NBAP Radio Link Setup Requset NBAP

NBAP Radio Link Setup Response NBAP

RRC RRC Connection Setup RRC

RRC RRC Connection Setup Complete RRC

 Parameters optimization

 T300 and N300

 DPDCH Power Control Preamble Length (PCPreamble)
 Successive Synchronization Indication Times (NInSyncInd)
 Successive Out-of-sync Indication Times (NOutSyncInd)
 Radio Link Failure Timer Duration (TRLFailure)
 N312 and T312
 N313, N315, T313
 T300 and N300

 After the UE transmits RRC CONNECTION REQUEST message, the T300 tim
er will be started, and the timer will be stopped after the UE receives RRC CO
NNECTION SETUP message. Once the timer times out, if RRC CONNECTIO
N REQUEST message is retransmitted less than the number of times specifie
d by the constant N300, the UE repeats RRC CONNECTION REQUEST; othe
rwise it will be in the idle mode.
 Influence on the network performance: The T300 setting should be consider
ed together with the UE, UTRAN processing delay and the propagation delay.
The bigger T300 is, the longer time the UE T300 will wait for. The bigger N300
is, the higher success probability of the RRC connection setup will be, and the
longer RRC setup time will probably be. It will likely be that a UE repeats the a
ccess attempt and the connection setup request transmission, and consequent
ly other users will be influenced seriously.
 PCPreamble

 PCPreamble defines the lasting time of DPCCH transmission by the UE befor

e the UE transmits DPDCH.
 Influence on the network performance: At first, this parameter has been orig
inally used in the uplink and downlink power control convergence to prevent th
e uncontrollable power of the UE at the beginning. Later, it was considered in
some proposals that NodeB needs some time to find the uplink signal after the
UE starts DPCCH transmission. This delay depends on the searching process
and the propagation delay. It makes no sense to start the uplink DPDCH trans
mission process before the end of this process, because the data cannot be re
ceived normally at this time, and data loss will occur; or, if it is the confirmation
mode, the retransmission may cause more serious data delay. If this paramete
r is set improperly, it will lead to data loss and retransmission delay, which will
consequently influence the service rate and the transmission delay.
 NInSyncInd

 This parameter defines the successive synchronization indication times requir

ed for the NodeB to trigger the radio link recovery process. The radio link set r
emains in the initial state until it receives NInsyncInd successive synchronizat
ion indications from L1, then NodeB triggers the radio link recovery process, w
hich indicates that the radio link set has been synchronized. Once the radio lin
k recovery process is triggered, the radio link set is considered to be in the syn
chronized state.
 Influence on the network performance: The bigger this parameter is, the stri
cter the synchronization process will be, and the more difficult the sync will be;
the smaller it is, the easier the synchronization will be. However, if the link qual
ity is bad, a simple synchronization requirement will lead to the waste of the U
E power and the increase of uplink interference; in the radio link maintenance
process, this parameter is used together with the successive out-of-sync indic
ation counter.
 NOutSyncInd

 NOutSyncInd defines the successive out-of-sync indication times that are req
uired to receive to start the timer TRlFailure. When the radio link set is in sync
hronized state, the NodeB will start the timer TRlFailure after it receives NOuts
yncInd successive out-of-sync indications. The NodeB should stop and reset t
he timer TRlFailure after receiving NInsyncInd successive sync indications. If t
he timer TRlFailure times out, the NodeB will trigger the radio link failure proce
ss, and indicate the radio link set that is out-of-sync.
 Influence on the network performance: If this parameter is set too small, the
link out-of-sync decision will be likely to occur; if it is set too big, out-of-sync wil
l not be likely to occur, but, if the link quality is bad, it will result in waste of the
UE power and increased uplink interference. In the radio link maintenance pro
cess, this parameter is adopted together with the successive synchronization i
ndication counter.
 TRLFailure

 This value defines the timer TRlFailure duration. When the radio link set is in
synchronized state, NodeB should start the timer TRlFailure after it receives N
OutsyncInd successive out-of-sync indications; and NodeB should stop and re
set the timer TRlFailure after receiving NInsyncInd successive sync indications
. If the timer TRlFailure times out, NodeB will trigger the radio link failure proce
ss, and indicate the radio link set that is out-of-sync.
 Influence on the network performance: If the timer is set too short, there will
few chances for link synchronization; if it is set too long, the radio link failure pr
ocess will probably be delayed, and the downlink interference will be increase
d.
 N312 and T312

 When the UE starts to set up the dedicated channel, it starts the T312 timer, a
nd after the UE detects N312 synchronization indications from L1, it will stop th
e T312 timer. Once the timer times out, it means that the physical channel set
up has failed.
 Influence on the network performance: The bigger N312 is, the more difficul
t the dedicated channel synchronization will be; the longer T312 is, the bigger t
he synchronization probability will be, but the longer the synchronization time
will be.
 N313, N315, T313

 After the UE detects N313 successive out-of-sync indications from L1, it will st
art the T313 timer. And after the UE detects N315 successive sync indications
from L1, it will stop the T313 timer. Once the timer times out, the radio link fails
.
 Influence on the network performance: The bigger N313 is, the more difficul
t it will be to start T313, which will reduce the out-of-sync probability; the small
er N315 is, the longer T313 will be, and the bigger the link recovery probability
will be. These three parameters should be used together.
Course Contents

Random access procedure

RRC setup procedure

RAB setup procedure

 RAB Setup Procedure

UE NodeB SRNC CN

RANAP RAB Assignment Request RANAP

NBAP RL Reconfig Prepare NBAP

NBAP RL Reconfig Ready NBAP

NBAP RL Reconfig Commit NBAP

RRC RB Setup RRC

RRC RB Setup Complete RRC

RANAP RAB Assignment Response RANAP

 Appendix: MOC signaling process
Node B Serving
UE
Serving RNS RNC CN

CCCH : RRC Connection Request

RRC RRC

Radio Link Setup Request

NBAP
NBAP

Start RX

Radio Link Setup Response

NBAP NBAP

Q.AAL2 Establish Request Q.AAL2

Establish Confirm
Q.AAL2 Q.AAL2

DCH-FP Downlink Synchronisation

DCH-FP

Uplink Synchronisation
DCH-FP DCH-FP

Start TX

CCCH : RRC Connection Setup RRC

RRC
DCCH : RRC Connection Setup Complete
RRC RRC
DCCH : RRC Connection Setup Complete ack
RLC RLC
DCCH : Inital Direct Transfer
RRC RRC
 Appendix: MOC signaling process

Node B Serving
UE
Serving RNS RNC CN

DCCH : Inital Direct Transfer

RRC RRC

Initial UE Message
RANAP RANAP
(CM Service Request)

RANAP Direct Transfer RANAP

(CM Service Accept)

RRC DCCH : Downlink Direct Transfer RRC

RRC
DCCH : Uplink Direct Transfer RRC
RRC
Direct Transfer
RANAP
RANAP (Setup)
Direct Transfer
RANAP RANAP
(Call Proceeding)
DCCH : Downlink Direct Transfer
RRC RRC
DCCH : Uplink Direct Transfer
RRC RRC
 Appendix: MOC signaling process

Node B Serving
UE
Serving RNS RNC CN

DCCH : Downlink Direct Transfer

RRC RRC
DCCH : Uplink Direct Transfer
RRC RRC
RAB Assignment Request
RANAP RANAP
( Establishment )

Q.AAL2 Establish Request Q.AAL2

Establish Confirm
Q.AAL2 Q.AAL2
Radio Link Reconfiguration
NBAP NBAP
Prepare

NBAP Radio Link Reconfiguration NBAP

Ready
 Appendix: MOC signaling process

Node B
Serving
UE Serving RNS CN
RNC

Q.AAL2 Establish Request Q.AAL2

Establish Confirm
Q.AAL2 Q.AAL2

NBAP Downlink Synchronisation NBAP

Uplink Synchronisation
NBAP NBAP

Radio Link Reconfiguration NBAP

NBAP
Commit
RRC DCCH : Radio Bearer Setup RRC

Apply new transport format set

DCCH : Radio Bearer Setup Complete

RRC RRC
DCCH : Radio Bearer Setup Complete ack
RLC RLC

RANAP RAB Assignment Response RANAP

(Establishment )
 Appendix: MOC signaling process
Node B
Serving
UE Serving RNS CN
RNC

Direct Transfer
RANAP RANAP
(Alerting)
RRC DCCH : Downlink Direct Transfer
RRC
Direct Transfer RANAP
RANAP (Connect)
RRC DCCH : Downlink Direct Transfer RRC

RRC DCCH : Uplink Direct Transfer RRC

Direct Transfer
RANAP RANAP
(Connect Acknowledge)
RRC DCCH : Uplink Direct Transfer
RRC
Direct Transfer
RANAP RANAP
(Disconnect)
RANAP Direct Transfer
RANAP
(Release)
RRC DCCH : Downlink Direct Transfer RRC

RRC DCCH : Uplink Direct Transfer RRC

Direct Transfer
RANAP (Rlease Complete) RANAP
 Appendix: MOC signaling process
Node B
Serving RNS Serving
UE CN
RNC

RANAP Iu Release Command RANAP

Q.AAL2 Release Request Q.AAL2

Release Complete
Q.AAL2 Q.AAL2
DCCH : RRC Connection Release

DCCH : RRC Connection ReleaseComplete

Radio Link Deletion

NBAP
NBAP

Radio LinkDeletionComplete
NBAP NBAP

Q.AAL2 Release Request Q.AAL2

Release Complete
Q.AAL2 Q.AAL2
Iu Release Complete RANAP
RANAP
 Summary

 Random access procedure: physical channels, detailed

random access procedure, access parameters optimization.
 RRC setup procedure and parameters optimization.
 RAB setup procedure and the whole UE outgoing call
procedure.