Siemens GPRS Implementation

Siemens

Siemens GPRS Implementation

Contents
1
1.1
2
2.1
2.2

Overview & Key Architecture

Key Architecture
Implementation Steps and Future Aspects
Phases of Introduction
Supported Node Configurations

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4
7
8
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Siemens GPRS Implementation

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Siemens

Overview & Key Architecture

Siemens
GPRS Implementation
Overview &
key architecture

Fig. 1

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1.1

Siemens GPRS Implementation

Key Architecture

In the Siemens implementation, the introduction of GPRS needs the following modifications to existing GSM networks:

introduction of new network nodes: serving GPRS support node SGSN and gateway GPRS support node GGSN based on a new, more powerful platform

integration of the packet control unit PCU into the base station controller BSC
hardware

software extension of the BTSE (implementation of the channel codec unit CCU)

expansion of the HLR data by adding subscription data of the GPRS subscribers
(GPRS register GR)

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Siemens GPRS Implementation

Key architecture

Siemens GPRS Implementation

GR Integration

T
R
A
U

Visited
MSC/VLR

Mobile DTE

PSTN
ISDN

packet switched: GPRS

Gb

BTSE
SW-Extension
(CCU)

Gateway
MSC

circuit switched: classical non-GPRS

B P
S C
C U

BTS

HLR/ GR

Internet
Intranet

SGSN/SLR

GGSN
Gi

PCU
Integration
into BSC
DTE: Data Transfer Equipment
GR: GPRS Register
CCU: Channel Codec Unit

PDN

SGSN & GGSN

based on new
HW-Platform

Fig. 2 General layout of a Siemens GSM phase 2+ network

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Siemens GPRS Implementation

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Siemens

Implementation Steps and Future Aspects

Siemens
GPRS
Implementation
Implementation steps
& future aspects

Fig. 3

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2.1

Siemens GPRS Implementation

Phases of Introduction

The introduction of Siemens GPRS implementation will take place in different steps.
Currently, 3 phases are planned: GPRS Release GR1.0, GR2.0, and GR3.0. On the
other hand there will be the introduction of UMTS which will have an impact on the
hardware for GPRS. Therefore there are roadmaps (projects) which describe in general steps in the evolution of the network architecture: circuit switched CS1.0, packet
oriented PO1.0, PO2.0. The project PO1.0 describes the hardware for packet oriented services and it comprises of GR2.0 and UMTS packet oriented part UR1.0.
The migration from GSM to GPRS (and UMTS) will naturally affect Base Station
Subsystem BSS and Network Switching Subsystem NSS and due to this there are
releases which describe the steps of development in the subsystems of the PLMN
(e.g. Base Station Release BR5.0, BR5.5, ...). The documentation focuses on GPRS
and will discuss parts of these different projects but not cover aspects of UMTS.

2.1.1

GPRS Release GR1.0

In the first phase, a co-location of SGSN and GGSN will take/has taken place. All
GPRS support node SGN functions are realized in one physical unit. Thus, no Gnand Gp interfaces are necessary to connect SGSN with GGSN and other SGSN respectively. In GR1.0 mobility is limited to the supply area of one GSN (SGSN &
GGSN; no SGSN change is possible). However, during GPRS service introduction,
one GSN may supply an entire PLMN. The introduction of GR1.0 is carried out in two
steps:
as GPRS trial system for the pre-commercial friendly user operation; in this version,
the connection of the co-located SGSN & GGSN are restricted to the Gi interface to
an external packet data network and to the Gb interface as link to the radio subsystem called Siemens base station system SBS.
as commercial system; beside the Gi and Gb interface, the Gr interface continues to
be realized as connection to the HLR and the Gd interface still exists for contacting
SMS service centers.
In the commercial version of GR1.0, the following interfaces are not supported: Gn,
Gp, Gs and Gf.
Merely the Internet service providers ISP as external packet network are contacted
via the Gi interface (maximum 8 ISPs in total).
In GR1.0 the realization of best effort(delay class) is possible with regard to quality
of service QoS.
Moreover, also the realization of juridical interception is planned with GR1.0. The
common GPRS support node GSN shall suffice for 1000,000 GPRS users, offer access to a maximum of 8 Internet service providers ISP and treat up to 1000 user data
packets with up to 1500 bytes per second. As opposed to previous GSM networks,
from GR1.0 onwards volume-based charging is possible.

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Introduction in Phases:
GPRS Releases GR1.0

common GGSNN & SGSN

start option: 1 GSN for 1 PLMN
no SGSN change possible
supports: Gi-, Gb-,
Gr- & Gd Interface
no Gn-, Gp-, Gs- & Gf- Interface

SGSN
GGSN
HLR

BSC
PCU

Gb

ISP 1
Gr

Gi

BSC

ISP 2

PCU

GSN

BSC

GSN

PCU

ISP n
n8

volume dependent charging

max. connection to 8 ISP
Juridical Interception possible
for max. 100.000 subscriber
max. 1000 user data packets/s
QoS: best effort

GR1.0 Introduction:
Trial System for friendly user operation
(without Gd-, Gr-Interface)
commercial system

Fig. 4 First phase of introduction of GPRS

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2.1.2

Siemens GPRS Implementation

CS1.0/PO1.0, GPRS Release GR2.0

The GPRS release is part of the projects CS1.0 and PO1.0 which describe the evolution of the network from a general point of view. The introduction of new features/technology in the circuit switched part is described in CS1.0 whereas PO1.0 is
related to packet oriented services.
These projects include steps in mobile communication towards data communication
inside the GSM system like the phase 2+ features HSCSD and GPRS and the new
system UMTS which will be supported by its first release UR1.0. Therefore the subsystems of the network will have to be altered and this is handled by the releases
concerning for example the base station subsystem (e.g. BR5.5) and the switching
subsystem.
In the second phase of the GPRS introduction GR2.0 a series of new interfaces (Gn,
Gp and Gs) shall be realized along with the interfaces of the first release GR1.0 (i.e.
Gi, Gb, Gr and Gd). SGSNs and GGSNs are realized in independent physical units
interconnected through IP-based ATM links (Gn, Gp interface). By means of the Gs
interface (SGSN - MSC/VLR) common procedures for GPRS and non-GPRS services are possible. This again relieves the radio interfaces with regards to signaling
information transfer. As an add-on to GR1.0, GR2.0 shall also offer ciphered packet
data transfer and the option for time-dependent charging (e.g. introduction of prime
and off-prime-time tariffs).

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CS1.0/PO1.0:

GR2.0 (BR5.5) & UR1.0

SGSN

GPRS
SubSystem

GSS
GGSN
GPRS
IP-Backbone

SGSN
CS: Circuit Switched
PO: Packet Oriented
GR: GPRS Release
SR: Software (Switch) Release
BR: Base Station Subsystem Release
UR: UMTS Release

GGSN & SGSN: separate physical units

new GPRS interfaces: Gs, Gn, Gp
common GPRS- & non-GPRS procedures
ciphered transmission possible
option for time dependent billing
UMTS interface Iu

Fig. 5 Step two in the implementation of GPRS (GR2.0), which is part of the projects PO1.0 and CS1.0

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Siemens GPRS Implementation

2.2

Supported Node Configurations

2.2.1

GPRS Release GR2.0 (part of PO1.0)

In GR2.0 different options with regard to the location of the nodes are possible. Combinations of nodes may be used as an option for small networks, or to offer the migration path to UMTS. The following page shows the general outline of one these
solutions.
A detailed discussion of the hardware of these nodes is out of the scope of this introduction to GPRS but the following slides show some of the solutions which are offered for the different needs of different operators. Depending on the size of the network and the site which is going to be upgraded for GPRS/UMTS it may be either
useful to co-locate nodes or to have separate network elements.

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2G-SGSN: This configuration is providing the interfaces of the second generation

for GPRS based on a packet switched hardware. The interface to the GSM BSS is
the Gb interface based a protocol called Network Service (defined by ETSI) which
itself is based on Frame Relay.

2G-GGSN: This configuration is providing the interfaces of the second generation

for GPRS based on a packet switched hardware. The interface to the Internet
Service Providers ISPs is the Gi interface which is based on IP/X.25 as layer 3
protocol according to the OSI-model.

2G-SGSN/GGSN: This configuration is also called xGSN. It provides the interfaces of the second generation for GPRS based on a packet switched hardware.

2G-MSC/SGSN: In this co-location SS7-interfaces are provided as well as interfaces based on the GPRS-signaling (GMM/SM).

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Node Configurations in GR2.0

(not all interfaces depicted)

2G-SGSN

Core
Node

Gs

Gb

SGSN

Gr
Gn

2G-SGSN/
GGSN

Core
Node

2G-GGSN

SCP
Gd

GSM
BSS

MSC/VLR

Gs

Core
Node

SMSC
HLR/AC

SGSN

Gn

GGSN

SGSN

Gd

MSC/VLR

2G-MSC/
SGSN

PDN

Gi

GGSN

HLR/AC
Gn

SMSC

Gr
Gn

PDN

GGSN
Core
Node

SCP
GSM Gb
BSS

Gi

SGSN

GSM
BSS

Gb

MSC/
VLR

D
Gr

GMSC
SCP
HLR/AC

Gs

Gn

GGSN

SGSN

Gd

SMSC

Co-Location of SGSN and GGSN = xGSN

Fig. 6 Node configurations in GR2.0: co-location of SGSN/GGSN, SGSN/MSC are offered

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2.2.2

Siemens GPRS Implementation

Node Configurations in UR1.0

In CS1.0/PO1.0 the integrated configurations of the different network elements have

to be regarded as logically independent functional node. This is called coexistence of
these elements in one core node. Interworking/handovers will be supported by
UR2.0. Different configuration / co-locations options possible. Some of these configurations are mandatory, these have to be offered whereas other solutions will be provided in future releases:
l

MSC: mandatory

SGSN: mandatory, depicted on the following page

GGSN: mandatory, depicted on the following page

SGSN / GGSN: mandatory

MSC / 3G-MSC: supports interfaces A, Iu(CS), coexistence of nodes

SGSN / 3G-SGSN: supports interfaces Gb, Gn, Iu

MSC / SGSN

3G-MSC / 3G-SGSN ("UMSC-light"): supports interfaces Gn, Iu, depicted on the

following page

MSC / 3G-MSC / SGSN / 3G-SGSN ("UMSC"): supports interfaces A, Iu, Gb, Gn,
depicted on the following page

The figure next page is not showing all interfaces that are provided for reasons of
simplicity of the depiction.

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Node Configurations in UR1.0

(not all interfaces depicted)

3G-SGSN

3GSGSN
UTRAN

=
UMSC light

3G-MSC

Iu(PO)
Gn

HLR/AC
(UMTS
enhanced)

Gn

Core
Node

GGSN

Gr

Iu(PO)

3G-MSC/
3G-SGSN

UTRAN

SCP

Core
Node

GGSN
SCP
PSTN/
PLMN

Core
Node

3G-GGSN
=
2G-SGSN
SGSN

Gn

MSC/
3G-MSC/
SGSN
3G-SGSN
=
UMSC

3G-SGSN

GMSC
Gr

GSM
BSS

A MSC/
VLR *

IWU

UTRAN Iu(PO)

GMSC
SCP

3G-MSC

PSTN/
PLMN

Gr HLR/AC

Gb

HLR/AC
(UMTS
enhanced)

GGSN

Core
Node

IWU

PDN

Gi

(UMTS
enhanced)

SGSN/
3G-SGSN

Gn

GGSN

IWU = Interworking Unit, MSC/VLR * = MSC/VLR (Gs interface, UMTS enhanced)

Fig. 7 Node Configurations in UR1.0

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2.2.3

Siemens GPRS Implementation

Node Configurations in GR3.0 / UR2.0

The support of the interfaces and features of GPRS/UMTS described in the recommendations will be enhanced by the releases GR3.0 and UR2.0.
The coexistence of the integrated nodes of UR1.0/GR2.0 will be replaced by full interworking between the elements. The UMSC will support interworking for the CS
part whereas the UMSC premium will offer full interworking CS and PS.

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Node Configurations in GR3.0 / UR2.0

(not all interfaces depicted)

Integrated
MSC/
SGSN/
GGSN
GSM
BSS

UR2.0:

GMSC
E
PSTN/
PLMN

Gs

3G-SGSN/
3G-GGSN
UTRAN Iu(po)

SGSN
Gb

SMSC Gd

PDN

Core
Node
MSC/
VLR

Gi

Gn

GGSN

GR3.0

D
Gr

SCP

PDN

Gi

Core
Node

SCP

3GSGSN

Gr

Gn

Gn

3GGGSN

HLR/AC

GGSN

HLR/AC
(UMTS
enhanced)

UR2.0

2G / 3G-SGSN
2G / 3G-SGSN / GGSN
UMSC
: 2G / 3G, MSC+SGSN, integrated, CS-interworking
UMSC premium
: 2G / 3G, MSC+SGSN, integrated, full interworking

Fig. 8 Further enhancements in the core network by new node configurations

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