GPRS General Packet Radio Service

Current GSM Architecture

MS
OMC

BTS

BSC

MSC

PSTN

Base Transceiver Station GSM900 and DCS1800 applications

Base Station Controller Made up of Speech Transcoder and Base Station Controller

Mobile Switching Centre 64kbit/s PCM Any voice switch with the appropriate GSM MSC software

MS Um

GSM Network Structure

BTS

HLR VLR Includes Base Transceiver Station(BTS) Mobile Station (MS)Module Subscriber Identity BSC and Base Station Controller(BSC) Hand portable unit (SIM) Abis Visitor Location Register (VLR) MSCBTS functionality Portable Voice encoding and with Smart Card Home Location Register (HLR) Identity of Mobile Subscriber A radio transmission and reception (TRX) transmission memory AuC Stores user data of all Subscribers related to the MS Copy of subscriber data from HLR Subscriber identification voice encoding/decoding Voice encryption/decryption GMSC GMSC BTS Location Area Code information functions voice encryption/decryption International Mobile Subscriber Provides necessary data when mobile originates call Phone billing Power memories, measurements of Identity(IMSI) uplink transmission power measurements Abis information adjacent cells to perform Interfaces Users telephone number (MS ISDN) EIR handover Ability to store Short Messages Abis interface between BSC and BTS A Subscription information and services received Display of short messages MSC Gateway Mobile Services VLR address A interface between BSC and MSC Switching Centre (GMSC) BSC functionality Referred when call comes from public land Interface of the cellular PSTN network to PSTN BSC Monitors and controls several BTSs network Routes calls between PLMN and PSTN Um Management of channels on calls the radio interface Queries HLR when come from BTS Alarm handling theuser external interfaces PSTN tofrom mobile VLR Performs Inter-BSC inter-cell handover Performs call switching OMC Server Switching from Abis link to the A link Paging subscribers 3

Base Station Sub-system (BSS)

GPRS- What is it
GPRS is packet switched protocol
data is packetised and transmitted over GPRS radio channels. A packet sub-network within the GSM PLMN. Radio channels shared between multiple Mobile Stations(MS).

Uses radio resources only when users are receiving/ transmitting data.
Economical to the mobile user

Requires new network elements like SGSN and GGSN to integrate GPRS in GSM network. Changes are required to most existing GSM network elements including BTS, BSC, MSC (VLR and HLR) and OMC
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GPRS- What is it
Second generation GSM standard Wireless packet switched network Flexible Channel Allocation
one to eight time slots. Allows data transfer speeds upto 115kbps. available resources shared by active users GPRS and Circuit switched GSM services can use same time slots alternatively

Connections with different Packet data networks. Profitable for network operator

GPRS - What is it
Transfers high speed and low speed data and signaling. Uses GSM radio networks and TDMA based wireless networks. Strict separation between the radio sub-system and network subsystem GPRS does link-by-link transmission of packets across the PLMN. It takes about 500ms to transmit 500byte packet over a time-slot.

GPRS- What is it
GPRS supports widely used IP & X.25 The user data is transferred transparently between the MS and the external data networks . Several quality of services are supported. GPRS allows present Short Message Services (SMS) transfer over GPRS radio channels.

Possible GPRS Data Services

Internet Access
Tele-traffic services(GPS, Toll collection, tracking) Mobile Office / Intranet Access Messaging Services(SMS, PTP, Broadcast) PTM Applications

Weather info, road traffic info, news

GPRS vs GSM
Characteristics GPRS External packet Connection data networks Duration Can last Several hours GSM Circuit switched networks 1 call per hour avg. call length2 minutes

Data transmission

Bursty, uplink and Continuous data downlink flow in both transmissions directions independent
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GPRS vs GSM
Characterstics Query to HLR Service Activation Charging GPRS Not needed for every GPRS packet GSM For every Mobile terminated call. All services Separately done activated at for each service IMSI Attach Based on Based on amount of Data duration of call Transferred
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GPRS Network Structure

HLR
R Laptop GPRS PCMCIA Card

BSC

MSC

Gs VLR

GPRS Mobiles Standard GPRS capable

GSM mobiles that can Mobile operate in both Circuit switched mode and Packet switched mode communication

Um

PCU

Gb

FR Network Gn GPRS backbone network

SGSN Gp

BSC Modifications
BTS Control Unit Packet BTS (PCU) functionality Other Gb interface unit (GbIU) functionality to Frame PLMN Relay Network connecting BSSs and SGSNsGPRS Support Gateway BTS

Serving GPRS Support Node (SGSN)

GGSN

Node (GGSN)
Gateway between GBS and PDN Public Packet Data Routing towards GPRS users Netwrork Firewall to the network

Packet Gateway between BSS and GBS Responsible for delivering data IP packets to MS in its service area Network Enables Mobility of the GPRS subscriber Authentication of the GPRS subscriber Paging of GPRS subscriber Gi GGSN

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GPRS System Architecture

BTS BTS MS BTS

HLR

BSC

Gr Interface

Gc Interface

SGSN
BTS BTS MS BTS
Abis Interface

GGSN

PLMN

BSC
Gb Interface Gn Interface

Um Interface

Gi Interface
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Base Station Subsystem

GPRS Network

Modified Network Elements

BSS BSS requires extensive updates to handle the new GPRS packet traffic from the Mobiles and management functions to administer and manage the shared radio resources for GPRS. Introduction of packet control functionality within the BSS to provide interface between packets and GSM air interface. MSC MSC requires changes to support inter-working to the new packet network node SGSN to support efficient co-existence of GPRS and the existing circuit switched network HLR HLR requires changes to support GPRS subscriber, feature, and mobility management data for GPRS Mobile Subscribers

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GPRS Backbone System (GBS)

GPRS operator managed IP domain and Domain Name Server to map logical names for each element connected to the GBS domain to IP addresses. Multiple Serving GPRS Support Nodes (SGSN) which provide packet service management for GPRS subscribers. Multiple Gateway GPRS Support Nodes GGSNs which provide subscribers with access to external packet data networks and Public Land Mobile Networks PLMNs GBS management Network Element Manager (NEM) called an Operations and Maintenance Centre for the GBS or OMC-G.
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SGSN
Serving GPRS Support Node(SGSN) serves a similar role to the MSC for the GPRS network. Serving GPRS Support Node (SGSN) is the node that is serving the MS. At GPRS attach, the SGSN establishes a mobility management context containing information pertaining to MS At PDP Context Activation, the SGSN establishes a PDP context, to be used for routing purposes, with the GGSN that the GPRS subscriber will be using.
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SGSN
The SGSN is responsible for: Logical connections to GPRS Mobile Stations Mobility Management Authentication, Encryption Packet routing and transmission into the GPRS network GSM Circuit Switched interactions (Paging) BSS Queue Management Gb Resource management

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GGSN
The GGSN is the gateway in and out of the GPRS system. The GGSN is the node that is accessed by the packet data network due to evaluation of the PDP address. It contains routeing information for attached GPRS users. The GGSN is the first point of PDN interconnection with a GSM PLMN supporting GPRS It routes packets from an external network to the SGSN, and routes packets from the SGSNs to which it is connected to the external network. This concept is called tunnelling.

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GGSN
GGSN is responsible for Packet translation from GSM<->Packet Data Network(IP) Packet routing and transmission Mobility Management Access Control

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GPRS Mobile Stations

An MS in
class-A mode of operation operates GPRS and other GSM services simultaneously. class-B mode of operation monitors control channels for GPRS and other GSM services simultaneously, but can only operate one set of services at one time. class-C mode of operation exclusively operates GPRS services.

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GPRS - Transmission Stack

Application IP / X.25
Relay

IP / X.25 SNDCP LLC

Relay

SNDCP LLC RLC MAC GSM RF Um RLC MAC BSSGP

GTP UDP / TCP IP L2 L1 Gn

GTP UDP / TCP IP L2 L1 Gi

BSSGP Network Service L1bis Gb

Network Service GSM RF L1bis

MS

BSS

SGSN

GGSN

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GPRS - Transmission Stack

GPRS Tunnelling Protocol (GTP): This protocol tunnels user data and signalling between GPRS Support Nodes in the GPRS backbone network. TCP carries GTP PDUs in the GPRS backbone network for protocols that need a reliable data link (e.g., X.25) UDP carries GTP PDUs for protocols that do not need a reliable data link (e.g., IP). Subnetwork Dependent Convergence Protocol (SNDCP): This transmission functionality maps network-level characteristics onto the characteristics of the underlying network.
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GPRS - Transmission Stack

Logical Link Control (LLC): This layer provides a highly reliable ciphered logical link. LLC shall be independent of the underlying radio interface protocols Relay: In the BSS, this function relays LLC PDUs between the Um and Gb interfaces. In the SGSN, this function relays PDP PDUs between the Gb and Gn interfaces. Base Station System GPRS Protocol (BSSGP): This layer conveys routeing- and QoS-related information between BSS and SGSN. BSSGP does not perform error correction. Network Service (NS): This layer transports BSSGP PDUs. NS is based on the Frame Relay
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Mobility Management
Mobility Management is needed in GPRS to
Attach Know who is the MS and what it can or is allowed to do Detach Leave the system Location Updates (Routing area and cell updates) Know the location of the MS
Route the mobile terminated packets to the MS. Mobile originated packet has no routing problem.

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Mobility Management - GPRS Attach

What happens in GPRS Attach?
Inform the network for the MSs request to be active Network can/should check the MSs identity Download MSs subscription information from HLR to SGSN if IMSI Attached Update MSC/VLR

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Location Management
Functions
Provides a mechanism for the network to know the RA for MSs in STANDBY and READY states Provides a mechanism for the network to know the cell identity for MSs in Ready state. Provides mechanisms for cell and PLMN selection. Routeing Area Update, Combined Routeing Area and Location Area Update and Cell update procedures.

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Routing Area
GPRS introduces a new network area - RA
RA can consists of one or more cells RA is always served by only one SGSN One SGSN can serve more than one RA

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RA Update
When MS changes RA
It tells to the network which (old) RA it came from MS does not know if SGSN changes Simple Update, if same SGSN handles both RAs If SGSN changes, then
Get MSs active information from the old SGSN New SGSN needs to get users subscription data from HLR All GGSNs must be updated. Update also MSC/VLR (GSM services)
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Mobility Management States

Three different Mobility Management states
Each state describes a certain level of functionality and information allocated.

The information sets held at MS and SGSN are denoted MM context IDLE (GPRS) State
No MM context in MS and SGSN No MM procedures are performed

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Mobility Management States

STANDBY State
Is attached to GPRS mobility management. MS and SGSN have established MM contexts. MS may initiate activation or deactivation of PDP contexts. A PDP context shall be activated before data is transmitted or received. Informs the network when changing the RA

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Mobility Management States

READY State
GPRS Attached at least one PDP context active, can activate others can send and receive PTP PDUs informs the network of every cell change

How to move between Ready and Standby states

Standby -> Ready : When MS sends a packet, starts ready timer Ready -> Standby: When the ready timer expires
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Mobility Management States

IDLE IDLE
GPRS Detach or Cancel Location

GPRS Attach

GPRS Detach

GPRS Attach

STANDBY timer expiry

READY

STANDBY timer expiry or Cancel Location

READY

READY timer expiry or Force to STANDBY

PDU transmission

READY timer expiry or Force to STANDBY or Abnormal RLC condition

PDU reception

STANDBY

STANDBY

MM State Model of MS

MM State Model of SGSN

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Mobility Management
The main idea for mobility management is to keep all network elements up to date for MSs location Only necessary elements are updated During mobility management process
no data should be sent some data may be routed to old network elements

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Attach
A GPRS attach is made to the SGSN and the MS shall provide its identity.

The identity provided shall be the MSs Packet -TMSI (PTMSI) and the RAI if the MS has a valid P-TMSI If the MS does not have a valid P-TMSI , then the MS shall provide its IMSI.
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AttachP-TMSI
P-TMSI is sent by the SGSN to the MS in Attach Reciept or in RA Update Accept messages. P-TMSI has local significance in the SGSN that allocated it.

During Attach TLLI is derived from P-TMSI

Temporary Logical Link Identity (TLLI) identifies a GPRS user

Usage of TLLI provides User Identity Confidentiality

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Attach
The basic attach procedure provides: - a logical mapping between the MS and the SGSN by use of a TLLI generated at SGSN. - authentication (exchange of security information) - IMEI equipment validation - moves the MM context from idle to ready (times out to standby if not used at that time)

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SM-Packet Data Protocol States

A PTP GPRS subscription contains the subscription of one or more PDP addresses
Each PDP address is described by an individual PDP context in the MS, the SGSN, and the GGSN.

Every PDP context exists independently in one of two PDP states. The PDP state indicates whether the PDP address is activated for data transfer or not All PDP contexts of a subscriber are associated with the same MM context for the IMSI of that subscriber
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Packet Data Protocol States

INACTIVE

Activate PDP Context

Deactivate PDP Context or MM state change to IDLE

ACTIVE

Functional PDP State Model

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PDP Address
Static PDP Address
-PDP address assigned permanently to the MS -For every MS zero,one or more static PDP address per PDP Type can be subscribed to

Dynamic PDP Address -PDP address assigned to the MS once a PDP context
is activated .
- For every MS zero,one or more dynamic PDP address per PDP Type can be assigned
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SM - PDP Context Activation

Packet Data Protocol (PDP) context activation per protocol & QoS, activated by the network or the MS once in ready or standby state

PDP contexts remain active until: - the MM moves to the idle state - the MS or Network moves the user to inactive state (potentially a user can remain attached for long periods of time)

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SM - PDP context Activation

MS Initiated
informs the network that it wants to activate PDP context PDP type, PDP Address,QoS parameters, APN SGSN checks that MS is allowed to activate the context SGSN selects GGSN to be used QoS negotiation

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Packet Transfer
whilst a PDP context is active then packet transfer can be started immediately
There is no call set up time apart from initial attach and PDP context activation

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Encapsulation
GPRS transparently transports PDP PDUs between external networks and MSs. Encapsulation functionality exists at the MS, at the SGSN, and at the GGSN. Two different encapsulation schemes are used; one for the GPRS backbone network between two GSNs, and one for the GPRS connection between SGSN and MS.

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GPRS Data Transfer

GPRS data transfer operates using a multistage procedure: 1. Attach procedure (MM: Mobility Management)
In order to access the GPRS services, an MS shall first make its presence known to the network by performing a GPRS attach. This operation establishes a logical link between the MS and the SGSN, and makes the MS available for SMS over GPRS, paging via SGSN, and notification of incoming GPRS data.

2. PDP context activation (SM: Session Management)

In order to send and receive GPRS data, the MS shall activate the packet data address that it wants to use. This operation makes the MS known in the corresponding GGSN, and interworking with external data networks can commence.

3. Packet Transfer
User data is transferred transparently between the MS and the external data networks with a method known as encapsulation and tunnelling: This transparent transfer method lessens the requirement for the GPRS PLMN to interpret external data protocols, and it enables easy introduction of additional interworking protocols in the future.
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Identifiers - NSAPI and TLLI

The Network layer Service Access Point Identifier (NSAPI) and Temporary Logical Link Identity (TLLI) are used for network layer routeing. A NSAPI / TLLI pair is unambiguous within a routeing area.In the MS, NSAPI identifies the PDP-SAP. Between the MS and SGSN, TLLI unambiguously identifies the logical link. When the MS requests the activation of a PDP context, the MS selects one of its unused NSAPIs.
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Identifiers - NSAPI and TLLI

GPRS MS X.121 address SAP NSAPI-1 TLLI NSAPI-2 IP address SAP SGSN GGSN associated with: IP address Gi IP GGSN associated with: X.121 address Gi X.25 / X.75

Use of NSAPI and TLLI

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Identifier - TID
A Tunnel Identifier (TID) is used by GTP between GSNs to identify a PDP context.
TID is a combination of IMSI and NSAPI. Which uniquely identifies a single PDP context. TID is forwarded to the GGSN upon PDP Context Activation. TID is used in subsequent tunnelling of user data between the SGSN and GGSN.

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Mobile Terminated Data transfer

IP Packet

MS
SNDCP [TLLI,NSAPI,IP packet]

SGSN

TID ->PDP context -> TLLI,NSAPI,QoS,(cell) GTP [SGSN-IP-address, TID, IP packet]

GGSN

IP address: 1.2.3.4 ->PDP context ->TID +SGSN IP packet (DST=1.2.3.4, SRC =6.7.8.9,data)

PDN
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Mobile Originated Data transfer

IP packet (DST=6.7.8.9, SRC =1.2.3.4,data)

MS

IP address: 1.2.3.4 ->PDP context ->TLLI+NSAPI

SNDCP [TLLI,NSAPI,IP packet]

SGSN

TLLI + NSAPI -> PDP context -> TID +GGSN GTP [GGSN-IP-address, TID, IP packet]

GGSN

TID ->PDP context

IP Packet

PDN
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PCU
PCU
Can be either in BTS/BSC/outside BTS/BSC LLC to RLC segmentation/combination ARQ Handling Channel access handling Data Channel allocation up/downlink Radio Channel management Backward Error Correction (BEC)

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PCU Functionality
LLC frame (up to 1500 bytes)

segmentation

Gb
RLC block RLC block RLC block RLC block RLC block

& reassembly

Um
RLC block

LLC frame

Gb
5 6 7 8 9 10 11

Automatic Retransmission reQuest (ARQ)

block 7 & 10 erroneous

7 10 12 13 14 15

PCU Functionality
radio resource administration
dynamic allocation contention resolution CS - GPRS interworking

CS
request TS grant/reject TS release TS

CS
confirm access bursts

CS
access grants CS pagings (A, B) GPRS pagings

PCU

PCU

PCU

GPRS

GPRS

GPRS

Gb Interface
The Gb interface connects the BSS and the SGSN, allowing the exchange of signalling information and user data.
The Gb interface shall allow many users to be multiplexed over the same physical resource. Resources are given to a user upon activity (when data is sent or received) and are reallocated immediately thereafter. GPRS signalling and user data are sent in the same transmission plane.
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Gb Interface

LLC RELAY RLC MAC BSSGP NS L1 Gb BSSGP NS L1

BSS

SGSN
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Gb Interface - BSSGP
Primary function of BSSGP
BSSGP provides radio-related, QoS and routing information necessary to transmit user data between BSS and SGSN Secondary function of BSSGP BSSGP enables two physically distinct nodes, the SGSN and BSS, to operate Node management control functions

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Gb Interface - BSSGP
BSSGP
provide a connection-less link between the SGSN and the BSS. Transfer data unconfirmed between the SGSN and the BSS provides tools for bi-directional control of the flow of Data between the SGSN and the BSS

handles paging request from SGSN to theBSS

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Gb Interface - NS
Network Service Consists of:
Network Service Control (NSC) Protocol : Performs peer to peer communication across the Gb interface using NSVC. This makes BSSGP independent of the underlying layers. Sub Network Service Protocol: Frame relay is used as Sub Network Service Protocol.Frame Relay provides a communication service to NSC peer entities. Frame Relay Virtual circuits are established between SGSN and BSS.

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Gb Interface -NS Control

Load Sharing of user uplink traffic over Unblocked Network Service Virtual Connections (NSVCs) In sequence delivery of NS SDU during normal operation Re-Distribute the load upon NSVC failure / Blocking procedure Status Indication to BSSGP about the change in the available transfer capability
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Gb Interface -Frame Relay

Frame Relay
is used for signalling and data transmission. Information field size shall be 1600 octets.

Address length shall be 2 octets.

Detection of transmission errors.

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GPRS Special properties

Like IP networks
IP context must be activated before use More than one IP address can be active at the same time Transmission media shared with other users Variable length IP packets can be sent

Different from normal IP networks

Users are mobile Different addresses can have different priorities

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Thanks for your time

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