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E1968A, E6701F, E6704A

Contents

Call Processing Two-Cell Test System

Measurements
Manual Operation
Last updated: December 2, 2008
Programming
GPIB Commands
Protocol Logging This section is only applicable to the Lab Applications.
Data Channel
Troubleshooting Description
Configuration
Fast Switching
Release Notes
The range of transmission of a battery-powered mobile device is limited. Hence for
Downloadable Manual good coverage, it is necessary for the mobile to efficiently move from one cell to
another as it roams around the network. The mobile must transition to new cells as
users cross cell boundaries and RF conditions in the current cell degrade. Some cell
transitions can be performed autonomously by the mobile, as a result of the
measurements it has made on its serving cell and the surrounding cells. Cell transitions
Feedback may also be ordered by the network based on measurement reports from the mobile
Did the information
(note that in the two-cell test system, you must order the network-initiated cell
on this web page help transitions; it is not possible for the test sets to automatically order the transitions based
answer your question
or solve a problem? on measurement reports from the mobile).

As a mobile moves around the network, it constantly updates the network by sending
Yes
measurement reports regarding the serving cell as well as any neighbor cells specified
No in the serving cell's neighbor cell list. When the mobile is idle (not sending data), it can
easily measure the RF conditions of the current cell and surrounding neighbor cells.
Did not apply
While transmitting data, a GSM/GPRS/EGPRS mobile must make measurements in
Please provide free timeslots, a W-CDMA/HSPA mobile must use compressed mode to make
additional comments
about this page.
measurements on surrounding cells, or simply perform "blind" handovers (handover as
(Optional, 255 directed by the network, without first measuring the target cell).
character max)

The two-cell test system provides a way to test a mobile's cell transition and cell
selection procedures between cells of the same or different Radio Access Technologies
(RATs). Cell selection and transition procedures are documented in 3GPP TS 51.010
(GSM/GPRS/EGPRS), and 3GPP TS 34.121 section 8 and 34.123 (W-CDMA/HSPA).
GSM/GPRS/EGPRS mobile measurements for cell reselection, the criteria for cell
 selection and reselection, and cell reselection algorithms that determine when to initiate
the cell transition process are defined in 3GPP TS 05.08. W-CDMA/HSPA cell
reselection information is available in 3GPP TS 25.304.

Overview of Cell Transitions

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This section describes various cell transitions that a mobile may perform, either
(optional): autonomously (without being ordered by the network) or by network initiation. Cell
transitions may occur while the mobile is in idle mode or actively transferring data.

Cell selection does not involve transitioning between cells; rather, it is the process by
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which the mobile selects a serving cell once it has completed its power-up sequence.
away your email When the mobile is powered on, it must determine which cell to camp to (register with
address to any third
party. and/or attach to).

Handover refers to a cell transition that occurs when a circuit-switched (CS)

connection is in place (such as CS voice, CS data, or Dual Transfer Mode). Handovers
can only be initiated by the network. During a handover, the network sends the mobile
a Handover command, which provides information about the destination cell, including
the traffic channel configuration (in the two-cell test system, this information is
determined by the destination test set's current configuration; the originating test set
retrieves this information from the destination test set before ordering the handover).

For a GSM/GPRS/EGPRS DTM (Dual Transfer Mode) connection (wherein the

mobile simultaneously has a CS voice call and a packet-switched data connection), the
network sends a Handover command to transition the CS connection, but the mobile is
responsible to abort the PS (packet-switched) connection and re-establish the PS data
flow after arriving at the new cell. If DTM is not supported in the new cell, the mobile
performs the cell change and drops the PS data connection.

Handovers Available in the Two-Cell Test System

Destination cell : Destination cell : W-
GSM/GPRS/EGPRS CDMA/HSPA
Network- Mobile- Network- Mobile-
Mobile State
Initiated Initiated Initiated Initiated
CS Voice Yes Yes
Originating cell : CS Data No No
GSM/GPRS/EGPRS Dual Transfer
Yes Partial 2
Mode
N/A 1 N/A 1
CS Voice Yes No
Originating cell : W- CS Data No No
CDMA/HSPA Simultaneous
No No
Services
1
Handovers can only be initiated by the network, as defined by 3GPP.
2
Because simultaneous services in the W-CDMA/HSPA application does not support
two-cell test system handovers, when you handover a GSM/GPRS/EGPRS DTM
connection to a W-CDMA/HSPA cell, the voice portion of the connection is handed
over and the data portion should be suspended by the mobile.

Cell reselection is the process of changing the mobile's serving cell (either in idle
mode or while actively transmitting data). Cell reselections can be initiated by the
mobile or network. When the network initiates a cell reselection, it sends a Packet Cell
Change Order (GPRS/EGPRS) or a Cell Change Order (W-CDMA/HSPA), which
provides the parameters necessary for the mobile to find and synchronize to the
destination cell. If the mobile was actively transferring data at the time of the cell
reselection, any subsequent allocation of traffic channel resources to continue the
packet data transfer are handled by signaling between the mobile and destination cell,
and does not involve the origination cell.

Idle mode cell reselection refers to cell transitions that occur when the mobile is in
idle mode.

In mobile-initiated idle mode cell reselection, the mobile decides on the basis of its
own measurements to move from one cell to another to achieve improved RF quality.
The network is not aware of the reselection until the mobile appears on the destination
cell. The alternate cells a mobile may search for and transition to are determined by the
serving cell's broadcast list of neighbors.

In network-initiated idle mode cell reselection, the network orders the mobile to
transition to a new cell while in idle mode, using a Packet Cell Change Order (PCCO)
or a Cell Change Order (CCO).

Idle Mode Cell Reselections Available in the Two-Cell Test System

Destination cell : Destination cell : W-
GSM/GPRS/EGPRS CDMA/HSPA
Network- Mobile- Network- Mobile-
Mobile State
Initiated Initiated Initiated Initiated
Camped but not
N/A 1 Yes N/A 1 Yes
Originating cell : attached
GSM/GPRS/EGPRS Attached Yes Yes Yes Yes
PDP active Yes Yes Yes Yes
Originating cell : W- Camped but not
Yes Yes
CDMA/HSPA attached N/A 2 N/A 2
Attached Yes Yes
3
PDP active (but Yes N/A No N/A 3
 not actively
transferring
data)
1
In a GSM/GPRS/EGPRS cell, network-initiated cell reselection is only possible when
the mobile is attached or PDP active, as defined by 3GPP.
2
In a W-CDMA/HSPA cell, for Release 99 mobiles, network-initiated cell reselection
is only possible when the mobile is PDP active, as defined by 3GPP.
3
Mobile-initiated cell reselection is not possible from a W-CDMA/HSPA cell when the
mobile is PDP active in CELL_DCH, as defined by 3GPP. Note that if you turn off the
serving W-CDMA/HSPA test set's cell power, the mobile will find the other test set and
establish radio resources with it to continue data transfer on the existing PDP context;
however, this is not the same as a mobile-initiated reselection to the other test set.

PS data transfer mode cell reselection refers to cell transitions that occur when the
mobile is PDP active and actively transferring PS data (such as GPRS, HSPA, or W-
CDMA PS data). Whether the cell reselection is initiated by the mobile or by the
network, the mobile is responsible for aborting the current data flow and restarting it
upon arrival in the new cell. Any data packets routed to the old cell are lost and it is
assumed that the higher layer protocol that was generating packets manages
retransmission of any lost data to the mobile once it complete its transition to the new
cell. A cell update procedure is performed by the mobile upon arrival to the new cell.
The new cell is not responsible for re-establishing the PDP context, but rather the
mobile or the network entity it was communicating with (for example, FTP server).

In network-initiated PS data transfer mode cell reselections, the current serving cell
sends the mobile a PCCO or CCO to command it to change cells.

PS Data Transfer Mode Cell Reselections Available in the Two-Cell Test System
Destination cell : Destination cell : W-
GSM/GPRS/EGPRS CDMA/HSPA
Network- Mobile- Network- Mobile-
Mobile State
Initiated Initiated Initiated Initiated
Actively
Originating cell :
transferring Yes Yes Yes Yes
GSM/GPRS/EGPRS
PS Data
Actively
Originating cell : W-
transferring Yes N/A 1 No N/A 1
CDMA/HSPA
PS Data
1
Mobile-initiated cell reselection is not possible from a W-CDMA/HSPA cell when the
mobile is PDP active in CELL_DCH, as defined by 3GPP. Note that if you turn off the
serving W-CDMA/HSPA test set's cell power, the mobile will find the other test set and
establish radio resources with it to continue data transfer on the existing PDP context;
however, this is not the same as a mobile-initiated reselection to the other test set.

Two-Cell Test System Overview

You can connect two test sets via an External Device Connection to test your
mobile's cell selection and cell transition behavior. The test sets can be configured to
emulate two GSM/GPRS/EGPRS cells, or one GSM/GPRS/EGPRS cell and a W-
CDMA/HSPA cell (the appropriate lab application must be installed on each test set).
At this time you cannot emulate transitions between two W-CDMA/HSPA cells.

Once the system is configured (see Two-Cell Test System Physical Layout and
Requirements ) and the mobile is powered on, the mobile performs the cell selection
process by selecting one of the test sets in the system with which to communicate.
After the mobile has camped on a test set, the mobile's cell transition procedures are
ready to be tested.

To influence mobile-initiated cell transitions, you can change the properties of each
cell (such as lowering, or turning off Cell Power in one of the test sets, or changing
Cell Parameters , Reselection Parameters and Access Restriction
Parameters ). Note however that to cause a network-initiated cell transition, you must
manually order the transition using the Execute External 8960 Handover
immediate action ( CALL:HANDoff:EXTernal[:IMMediate] ). The test sets do not
automatically order cell transitions based upon the mobile's measurement reports, you
must initiate the transition. However, you can monitor the mobile's measurement
reports on the test sets as you change the properties of the two-cell system.

Two-Cell Test System Physical Layout and Requirements

The figure below shows the recommended system layout of the two-cell test system.
The requirements for the physical layout of the two-cell test system are as follows:

• Two Test Sets

The two-cell test system requires two test sets which emulate the two cells for
the mobile to transition between. The inter-RAT two cell test system scenarios
assume that one test set is running a GSM/GPRS/EGPRS application/format
while the other is running a W-CDMA/HSPA application/format.

• Ethernet (LAN) Connection

The two-cell test system relies on an ethernet connection ( External Device

Connection ) between the two test sets to allow them to exchange control
messages during cell reselections and handovers. Before establishing the
External Device Connection , you must set Ext 8960 IP Addr to the LAN
IP Address of the other test set. You must also set DUT IP Address to a
different value in each test set.

It is recommended that you connect the test sets via an ethernet switch or hub,
rather than through a gateway or WAN link, to minimize the chance of data loss
 due to delayed packets. You can also connect the test sets directly via a cross-
over cable, however it is then not possible to capture any protocol message logs
from the Wireless Protocol Advisor (WPA), or to communicate with external
servers.

• RF Interface

The mobile must be able to communicate with both test sets. To accomplish
this, it is recommended that you use an RF splitter to connect the mobile to both
test sets simultaneously.

• GPIB Connection

GPIB connection between both test sets and a controlling PC are necessary if
remote control of the instruments in the system is required.

• Ethernet Switch or Hub

An Ethernet switch or hub is needed in order for the mobile to connect to

external servers as well as for connecting the PC running WPA to the test sets.

Operating Considerations

• Important : DUT IP Address must be set to a different value in each test set
in the two-cell test system.
• The operating mode in both test sets must be set to Active Cell in order to
perform cell transitions, as this is the only operating mode that provides
signaling to the mobile.
• While operating in the GSM/GPRS/EGPRS application/format, the connection
type must be set to Auto in both test sets of the two-cell test system in order to
maintain IP-based data connections during cell reselection. Any other
connection type setting terminates the active data connection during cell
reselection and does not restart the data connection once cell reselection is
complete.
• The DUT IP Address setting is inaccessible if the mobile is connected to the
current test set but using an IP address originally assigned by the other test set.
Refer to the External Device Connection documentation ("DUT IP
Address Information") for additional information.
• It is recommended that you configure the neighbor cell list in each test set to
contain the other test set's information (using the SIB 11 Cell Info List in
W-CDMA/HSPA or the Cell Lists in GSM/GPRS/EGPRS). This enables
the mobile to measure the other test set before transitioning to it (some mobiles
will not perform a "blind" handover) and allows you to view the mobile's
measurement reports for the test set. Ensure that you have properly configured
the mobile measurement reports to match the destination test set's configuration
 (using the Compressed Mode settings in W-CDMA/HSPA or the
Measurement Reports settings in GSM/GPRS/EGPRS).
• Network Control Order in the GSM/GPRS/EGPRS application determines
how the mobile should perform cell reselections. If Network Control Order
is set to NC0 or NC1 in the test set to which the mobile is currently attached, it
may not respond to network-initiated attempts at cell reselection. Also, if the
test set to which the mobile is attached has Network Control Order set to
NC2 , the mobile may not perform autonomous cell reselection.

Related Topics

How Do I Set Up and Test Cell Selection and Transitions?

Troubleshooting the Two-Cell Test System

Two-Cell Test System Ladder Diagrams

External Device Connection

DUT IP Address

GSM/GPRS/EGPRS Cell Configuration

• Cell Parameters
• Cell Identification Parameters

W-CDMA/HSDPA Cell Configuration

• Cell Parameters
• Cell Reselection Parameters
• Cell Access Restriction Parameters

GSM/GPRS/EGPRS Neighbor List Configuration

• Cell Lists

W-CDMA/HSDPA Neighbor List Configuration

• SIB11 Cell Info List

GSM/GPRS/EGPRS Mobile-Reported Measurement

• Measurement Reports
 W-CDMA/HSDPA Mobile-Reported Measurement

• UE Reported Measurements

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