UMTS System Architecture,

Protocols
(Module 2)

by,
Usman Qureshi
SINA- Feb 2014

UTRAN Logical Architecture

WCDMA Network Architecture

Interfaces
Open Interfaces:
The function of the Network Elements have been clearly specified by
the 3GPP.
Their internal implementation issues are open for the manufacturer
All the interfaces have been defined in such a detailed level that the
equipment at the endpoints can be from different manufacturers.
Open Interfaces aim at motivating competition between
manufacturers.

Physical implementation of Iu interfaces:

Each Iu Interface may be implemented on any physical connection
using any transport technology, mainly on E1 (cable), STM1 (Optic
fiber) and micro-waves.
ATM will be provided in the 3GPP R4 release and IP is foreseen for
the 3GPP R6.

RNC: Radio Network

Controller

Main Functions of this Intelligent part of UTRAN System includes;

Radio resource management (code allocation, Power Control,
congestion control, admission control)
Call management for the users
Connection to CS and PS Core Network
Radio mobility management

Node-B

A Node-B can be considered, as first approximation, like a transcoder

between the data received by antennas and the data in the ATM cell on
the Iub.
Radio transmission and reception handling
Involved in the mobility management
Involved in the power control
Modulation / Demodulation
Closed loop power control
An RNS (Radio Network Subsystem) contains one RNC (Radio
Network Controller) and at least one Node-B.

Multiple Access Technology

Multiple Access Techniques

Advantages
FDMA

1. Simple Implementation

1. Frequency Reuse
2. privacy

AMPS, TACS
TDMA

Defect
Disadvantages

1.Privacy

1. Need synchronized of
frame

1. Reduction the interference

1. Sophisticated power
control for mobile

GSM, PDC
CDMA
IS95,
W-CDMA

2. Diversity Hand-over
3. Privacy

Multiple Access Techniques

CDMA

FDMA/TDMA

77 66
77 66
55

22
33

77 66

44 77

22
55

33

44

55

66

22

77

33

44

22

11

11

11
11
11 77
11
11
11
11 44
11

22 11
11 55
11
11 66
77
11
11

11
11
11
11
11

Frequency is different in each

sector.

Frequency is same.

Need for

No need for frequency plan

frequency plan (Frequency Reuse)

Reuse

CDMA Concept

UMTS Bandwidth

UMTS Bandwidth
Channel Spacing
The nominal channel spacing is 5 MHz, but this can be adjusted to optimize
performance in a particular deployment scenario.
Channel Raster
The channel raster is 200 KHz, which means that the center frequency must be
an integer multiple of 200 KHz.
Channel Number
The carrier frequency is designated by the UTRA Absolute Radio Frequency
Channel Number (UARFCN), where
Fcenter = UARFCN * 200 KHz

WCDMA Wideband & codes

Carrier Spacing & Carrier Spacing Raster

The nominal carrier spacing for UMTS is 5 MHz

It is possible to move the centre frequency of the carrier on a 200
kHz raster
We can have carrier spacings between 4.2MHz and 5.8MHz
This may be set within the license conditions, or to the operators
discretion

Characteristics of CDMA
System

High Spectral Efficiency

Frequency multiplex coefficient is 1.

Soft capacity
Quality
Coverage
Interference

Self-interference system
A UE transmission power is interference for
another UE.

Characteristics of CDMA
In CDMA system, mutual interference between users or cells is
System
permitted, so adjacent cells can be distributed with same frequency.
That is why the spectrum efficiency is very high and the capacity is
also very large in CDMA system. But it also causes self-interference,
if the interference is out of control, the capacity and quality of CDMA
system will be worse, so many technologies were invented to control
the interference, and it is not easy.
The second feature of CDMA is security. After spreading, the
narrowband signal of the user will be changed to broadband signal,
is close to noise, only people who use the same spreading code
can revert it. Of course, it causes the other shortcoming: more
frequency band needed.
The third feature of CDMA is soft capacity. Because all of the
carrier resource (the main resource is power) is shared by all of
the users, if some user occupy more power, it will cause the
capacity lower. Soft capacity will cause network planning more
complex, emulation is necessary.

Protocols in UTRAN

The Iu protocols
Used to exchange data (traffic and signaling) between RNCs, Node Bs and
the Core Network.
The Radio protocols
Used to process the data sent on the air and for the signaling between
UTRAN and the UEs
Important Radio Protocols
RRC: Radio Resource Control
RLC: Radio Link Control
MAC: Medium Access Control

UMTS Signaling Protocol

Stack

Radio Channels, Protocols &

Network Elements

Radio Channels, Protocols & Network Elements

The radio protocols are responsible for exchanges of signaling and user data
between the UE and the UTRAN over the Uu interface.
User plane protocols
These are the protocols implementing the actual Radio Access Bearer
(RAB) service,
i.e. carrying user data through the access stratum (EXAMPLES 1,2 and 4).
Control plane protocols
These are the protocols for controlling the radio access bearers and the
connection between the UE and the network from different aspects including
requesting the service, controlling different transmission resources,
handover & streamlining etc...
Also a mechanism for transparent transfer of Non Access Stratum (NAS)
messages is included.

Radio protocol stack

The radio protocols are responsible for exchanges of signaling and user
data between the UE and the UTRAN over the Uu interface
The radio protocols are layered into:
the RRC protocol located in RNC* and UE
the RLC protocol located in RNC* and UE
the MAC protocol located in RNC* and UE
the physical layer (on the air interface) located in Node-B and UE

Radio Resource Control (RRC)

The RRC functions are:

Call management
RRC connection establishment/release (initial access)
Radio Bearer establishment/release/reconfiguration (in the control plane and in
the user plane)
Transport and Physical Channels reconfiguration
Radio mobility management
Handover (soft and hard)
Cell and URA update
Paging procedure
Measurements control (UTRAN side) and reporting (UE side)
Outer Loop Power Control
Control of radio channel ciphering and deciphering

Radio Link Control (RLC)

RLC main functions includes:

RLC Connection Establishment/Release in 3 configuration modes:
transparent data transfer (TM): without adding any protocol information
unacknowledged data transfer (UM): without guaranteeing delivery to the
peer entity (but can detect transmission errors)
acknowledged data transfer (AM): with guaranteeing delivery to the peer
entity. The AM mode provides reliable link (error detection and recovery, insequence delivery, duplicate detection, flow Control, ARQ mechanisms)

Medium Access Control (MAC)

Data transfer: MAC provides unacknowledged data transfer without segmentation

Multiplexing of logical channels (possible only if they require the same QoS)
Mapping between Logical Channels and Transport Channels
Selection of appropriate Transport Format for each Transport Channel depending on
instantaneous source rate.
Priority handling/Scheduling according to priorities given by upper layers:
- between data flows of one UE
- between different UEs
Priority handling/Scheduling is done through Transport Format Combination (TFC)
selection
Reporting of monitoring to RRC
Ciphering for RLC transparent data (if not performed in RLC)

The Physical Layer

Physical layer main functions:

Multiplexing/de-multiplexing of transport channels on CCTrCH (Coded Composite
Transport Channel) even if the transport channels require different QoS.
Mapping of CCTrCH on physical channels
Spreading/de-spreading and modulation/demodulation of physical channels
RF processing
Frequency and time (chip, bit, slot, frame) synchronization
Measurements and indication to higher layers (e.g. FER, SIR, interference power,
transmit power, etc.)
Open loop and Inner loop power control
Macro-diversity distribution/combining and soft handover execution

UMTS Global Services

A Radio Bearer is the service provided by a protocol entity (i.e. RLC

protocol) for transfer of data between UE and UTRAN.
Radio bearers are the highest level of bearer services exchanged between
UTRAN and UE
Radio bearers are mapped successively on logical channels, transport
channels and physical channels (Radio Physical Bearer Service on the
figure)

Radio Access Bearers

The RAB provides confidential transport of signaling and user data

between UE and CN with the appropriate QoS.

UMTS Modulation - QPSK

UMTS Modulation 16
QAM

Quadrature Amplitude Modulation