Abstract

 The general packet radio service is being operated by gsm

operator’s world wide used to offer services on data access at
bandwidths comparable to that of fixed telephone modem which is
used for providing fast and inexpensive internet links .
 GPRS offers packet based radio services and allow data
information to be sent and received across mobile networks
 The main benefits of GPRS are that it reserves radio resources
efficiently and sends data when ever user need and also reduces
wastage of bandwidth.
Contents

Overview of GSM

 What is GPRS?
 Network Architecture
 Protocol Stack
 Air Interface

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 Introduction to GPRS

Overview of GSM
 Second Generation F2 F4 F2
Technology F3
F1 F1
 Groups Special Mobile
F2 F4 F2
 Developed by ETSI F3 F1

 International wireless N=4 Frequency Reuse Concept

standard
 Based on the cellular concept A n a lo g

P D C (J a p a n )
 Frequencyreuse IS -1 3 6
implementation IS -9 5
 Over 480 million subscribers G SM

0 100 200 300 400 500

M illio n s o f s u b s c r ib e r s (F e b 2 0 0 1 )
s o u rc e : E M C

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 Introduction to GPRS

Contents
 Overview of GSM
What is GPRS?
 Network Architecture
 Protocol Stack
 Air Interface
 HSCSD, EDGE, and 3G Growth Path

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What is GPRS? - Circuit vs Packet
Switch
 2G technologies are circuit
switched
 Dial-up type connections
 A single user occupies a channel
for the entire transmission
 Requires time-oriented billing
 GSM transmissions are bursty
 Bursty nature favors data services
Introduction to GPRS
• GPRS is packet switched
technology
• More appropriate for data services
• Continuous flow is not required
• Access is based on demand only
• Several users can be multiplexed
• Billing based on negotiated QoS
and usage
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 Introduction to GPRS

What is GPRS? - Types of Data

Services
 Most popular Internet data
applications include:
 E-mail
 Web browsing
 File transfers
 Real time audio
 Streaming video
 Different services have
different throughput
requirements
 GSM evolution is
expected to provide
services at throughputs
similar to their landline
counterparts
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 Introduction to GPRS

Contents
 Overview of GSM
 What is GPRS?
 Network Architecture
 SGSN, GGSN
 GR, PCU
 Mobile Station
 Protocol Stack
 Air Interface

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 Introduction to GPRS

GPRS Network Architecture

 GPRS introduces new entities to support data packet transmissions
 New entities are PCU, GSN, Border Gateway, and GPRS register

D A T A -B A S E B T S - B a s e T r a n s c e iv e r S ta tio n
B S C - B a s e S ta tio n C o n tr o lle r
SU B SYSTEM P C U - P a c k e t C o n tr o l U n it
S G S N - S e r v ic e G P R S S u p p o r t N o d e
G G S N - G a te w a y G P R S S u p p o rt N o d e
V LR H LR B G - B o rd e r G a te w a y
G R H L R - H o m e L o c a tio n R e g is te r
V L R - V is ito r L o c a tio n R e g is te r
A ir G R - G P R S R e g is te r
In t e r fa c e P D N - P a c k e t D a ta N e tw o rk
G s G r G c
In te r fa c e In te rfa c e In te rfa c e
B TS
G b
G i
In te r f a c e
A b is In t e r fa c e
In te r f a c e B SC PC U SG SN G G SN PD N
G n
In te r fa c e
M S G p
G n In t e r fa c e
In te r fa c e
F o r e ig n
BG B G PLM N
O th e r S G S N
B TS
G SM
R A D IO G PR S EXTERN AL
SUB SYSTEM SU B SYSTEM N ETW O R K S

GPRS Network Architecture

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 Introduction to GPRS

GPRS Network Architecture -

SGSN
 Serving GPRS support node
 Delivers data packets to the B S S PCU SG SN

mobile stations
 Each SGSN is assigned to a B S S PCU SG SN G G SN

specific service area

BSS PCU SG SN
 Allows for very little
change in the BTS and BSC
• All mobile stations communicate to the SGSN in the area
• Provides authentication
• Handles mobility management
• Introduction of the routing area - RA
• Also responsible for billing over the air interface Pag
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 Introduction to GPRS

GPRS Network Architecture -

GGSN
 Gateway GPRS support node
 Allows the GPRS network to
communicate with external PDNs PDN
PDN
 Routes all packet data units through
the corresponding SGSN
 Whereas the SGSNs can change
G G SN G G SN

during cell reselections, the GGSN PLM N

remains the same during an on
going packet transaction G G SN

 Responsible for billing related to

connections with external PDNs
PDN

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 Introduction to GPRS

GPRS
 GPRS standard defines three mobile station classes
 Class A supports simultaneous circuit and packet switched
communications
 Class B supports packet and circuit switched sequentially
 Currently only Class B mobiles being developed
 Class C does not support parallel operation
 Operates in either packet or circuit mode only

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 Introduction to GPRS

GPRS Network Architecture - GSM

and GPRS
G SM
S W IT C H IN G O th e r M S C
A ir
In t e r f a c e SUBSYSTEM
E
In te r fa c e
BTS
A PSTN
A b is In t e r f a c e
In t e r fa c e
BSC TRAU M SC G M SC

M S IS D N

D A T A -B A S E C B
BTS In t e r f a c e In te r fa c e
SUBSYSTEM

H LR
VLR
D G R
In t e r f a c e
A ir
In t e r f a c e
G s G r G c
In te rfa c e In te r fa c e In te rfa c e
BTS
G i
G b
In te r fa c e
A b is In te r fa c e
In t e r fa c e BSC PCU SG SN G G SN PDN
G n
In t e r f a c e
G p
M S G n In te r fa c e
In t e r f a c e
F o r e ig n
BG BG PLM N
O th e r S G S N
BTS
G SM
R A D IO G PRS EXTERNAL
SUBSYSTEM SUBSYSTEM NETW O RKS

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 Introduction to GPRS

Contents
 What is GPRS?
 Network Architecture
 Protocol Stack
 OSI/ISO Model
 GPRS Protocol Stack
 GTP
 SNDCP and BSSGP
 RLC/MAC and LLC
 Air Interface

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 Introduction to GPRS

GPRS Protocol Stack - ISO/OSI

Model
 International Telecommunications Union (ITU) and International
Standardization Organization (ISO) developed Open Systems Interconnect
(OSI)
 Allows for compatibility between different equipment manufacturers

A p p lic a tio n A p p lic a tio n

7 7
L ayer L ayer

P r e s e n ta tio n p e e r-to -p e e r p ro to c o l P r e s e n ta tio n

6 6
L ayer L ayer

5 S e s s io n L a y e r S e s s io n L a y e r 5

4 T ra n s p o rt L a ye r T ra n s p o rt L a ye r 4

3 N e tw o rk L a y e r N e tw o rk L a y e r N e tw o rk L a y e r 3

2 D a ta L in k L a y e r D a ta L in k L a y e r D a ta L in k L a y e r 2

1 P h y s ic a l L a y e r P h y s ic a l L a y e r P h y s ic a l L a y e r 1

Node A Node B Node C

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 Introduction to GPRS

GPRS Protocol Stack - ISO/OSI

Model
 Each layer adds its own
header to the message
 Same layer at destination
node removes its In fo In fo

corresponding header 7 In fo 7 7 In fo 7
A p p lic a tio n L a y e r
 Physical layer delivers P r e s e n ta tio n L a y e r
6 7 In fo 6 6 In fo 7 6

message from one node

to the next
5 6 7 In fo 5
S e s s io n L a y e r
5 In fo 7 6 5

4 5 6 7 In fo 4 4 In fo 7 6 5 4
 In GSM, layer 1 T ra n s p o rt L a ye r

corresponds to the air

3 4 5 6 7 In fo 3
N e tw o rk L a y e r
3 In fo 7 6 5 4 3

interface 2 5 4 5 6 7 In fo 2
D a ta L in k L a y e r
2 In fo 7 6 5 4 3 2

 GPRS layers fall between 6 5 4 5 6 7 In fo 1

P h y s ic a l L a y e r
1 In fo 7 6 5 4 3 2

OSI layers 2 and 3

Node A Node C

In fo 7 6 5 4 3 2

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 Introduction to GPRS

GPRS Protocol Stack

N e tw o rk N e tw o rk
L ayer L ayer

O SI
Layer 3

SNDCP SNDCP GTP G TP

LLC LLC UDP UDP

OSI
Layer 2
RLC RLC BSSG P BSSGP IP IP
NS NS
M AC M AC L2 L2
FR FR

OSI P h y s ic a l P h y s ic a l P h y s ic a l P h y s ic a l P h y s ic a l P h y s ic a l P h y s ic a l P h y s ic a l
Layer 1 RFL RFL L ayer L ayer Layer L ayer L ayer L ayer L ayer Layer

BSC PCU SGSN G G SN

BTS
M S A ir A b is In te r n a l G b G n
In t e r f a c e In te r fa c e In te r fa c e In te r f a c e In te r fa c e

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 Introduction to GPRS

GPRS Protocol Stack - GTP

 GPRS Tunneling protocol
 Allows communication between the GGSN and SGSN
 Data transfer is done via encapsulation and tunneling
 GTP header includes such as PDU type, QoS parameters, and tunnel
identifier (TID)
 TID differentiates PTP from PTM transactions

N e tw o rk L a y e r

T C P /IP
Header
U s e r D a ta N PDU

G TP Layer

GTP
Header
T ID U s e r D a ta G TP PDU

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 Introduction to GPRS

GPRS Protocol Stack - SNDCP &

BSSGP
 Sub network Dependent Convergence Protocol
 Makes GPRS network transparent to the common subscriber regardless of what application
is running
 Responsible for converting network packet data units into GPRS suitable format
 Multiplexing of SN packet data units over the LLC layer
 Segmentation and Desegmentation of SN packets into LLC packets
 Compression of the IP header information

• Base Station Subsystem GPRS Protocol

– Routing between SGSN and PCU
N e tw o rk L a y e r
T C P /IP
Header
U s e r D a ta – Provide radio related info for
RLC/MAC
S N D C P Layer
S N -P D U S N -P D U
– Routing goes via Network Relay
C o m p r e s s e d In fo r m a tio n T a il C o m p r e s s e d In fo r m a tio n T a il
Header Header

– Transparent transfer of LLC frames

– Convey QoS information

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 Introduction to GPRS

GPRS Protocol Stack - LLC

 Logical Link Control
 Provides a logical reliable link between MS and SGSN
 Designed as independent as possible from the radio interface layers
 Encapsulation of SNDCP packet data units
 Detection and recovery of lost LLC packet data units
 Responsible for acknowledged/unacknowledged operation

S N D C P Layer
S N -P D U S N -P D U
C o m p r e s s e d In fo r m a tio n T a il C o m p r e s s e d In fo r m a tio n T a il
Header H eader

LLC Layer

F ra m e F ra m e F ra m e
H eader
R a d io B lo c k s FCS H eader
R a d io B lo c k s FCS Header
R a d io B lo c k s FCS

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 Introduction to GPRS

GPRS Protocol Stack - RLC / MAC

 RLC sublayer
 Transmission of data blocks across the air interface
 Retransmission of error data blocks using ARQ
LLC Layer

F ra m e F ra m e F ra m e
H eader
R a d io B lo c k s FCS H eader
R a d io B lo c k s FCS H eader
R a d io B lo c k s FCS

R L C /M A C
Layer
RLC R L C /M A C S ig n a lin g
USF T PC R L C D a ta BCS USF T PC BCS
Header In fo r m a tio n

R L C D a t a B lo c k R L C / M A C S ig n a lin g B lo c k

• MAC sublayer
– Provides access to a given transmission medium
– Controls access signaling, medium sharing by multiple users
– Release operations over the radio channel
– Access is based on slotted ALOHA
– Performs mapping of RLC blocks onto the GSM physical channels
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 Introduction to GPRS

Contents
 Network Architecture
 Protocol Stack
 Air Interface
 GPRS Logical Channels
 The Master Slave Concept
 The 52-Multiframe
 Timing Advance

 Mobility Management
 HSCSD, EDGE, and 3G Growth Path

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 Introduction to GPRS

GPRS Air Interface

 Air interface continues to be limiting
R L C - R a d io L in k C o n tr o l
factor in terms of capacity M A C - M e d iu m A c c e s s C o n tr o l
 GPRS shares the same interface with R F L - R a d io F r e q u e n c y L in k
GSM M S - M o b ile S ta tio n
B S S - B a s e S ta tio n S u b s y s te m
 Recall GSM has 200 kHz and eight
TS
RLC RLC
 GPRS utilizes multiplexing and
dynamic channel allocation to use
the air interface more efficiently M AC M AC
 Some channels can be configured
for data traffic and others for voice P h y s ic a l
traffic RFL L ayer
 Channels are reconfigured
accordingly based on demand
M S BSS
GPRS Air Interface

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 Introduction to GPRS

GPRS Logical Channels

 Signaling and traffic channels are also required for GPRS
 A new family of packet data channels PDCHs has been defined
 Some of the existing GSM signaling channels can still be used for
GPRS
 The GPRS mobile still requires to listen to the GSM broadcast
channel for GPRS channel information

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 Introduction to GPRS

GPRS 52-Multiframe
 Each radio block is transmitted over 4 TDMA frames
 Resource allocation is done in terms of blocks for
both uplink and downlink
 A 52-Multiframe consists of:
 twelve blocks for PDCHs signaling and traffic
 two timing advance frames
 two idle frames (for neighbor list and power control)
 12 x 4 +2 + 2 = 52 frames

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51

T T
B lo c k 0 B lo c k 1 B lo c k 2 B lo c k 3 B lo c k 4 B lo c k 5 I B lo c k 6 B lo c k 7 B lo c k 8 B lo c k 9 B lo c k 1 0 B lo c k 1 1 I
A A

T A - T im in g A lig n m e n t F r a m e
I - I d le F r a m e

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 Introduction to GPRS

GPRS 52-Multiframe
 The PDCHs are mapped and organized into a 52-Multiframe
H y p e rfra m e
3 h 2 8 m in 5 3 s 7 6 0 m s

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 2043 2044 2045 2046 2047

5 1 x 2 6 S u p e r fr a m e o r 2 6 x 5 1 S u p e r fr a m e o r 2 5 .5 x 5 2 S u p e r fr a m e
6s 120 m s

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 46 47 48 49 50

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 21 22 23 24 2 5 .5

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 21 22 23 24 25

2 6 M u ltifr a m e
120 m s

0 1 2 3 4 23 24 25
5 2 M u ltifr a m e
240 m s

0 1 2 3 4 49 50 51
5 1 M u ltifr a m e
2 3 5 .4 m s

0 1 2 3 4 48 49 50

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

1 T D M A F ra m e
4 .6 1 5 m s

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 Introduction to GPRS

GPRS Timing Advance - Uplink

0 1
 The PTCCH/U is divided into 16
subchannels with eight 52- 2 3

multiframes
 The 16 subchannels can be 4 5

assigned to 16 different active

mobile stations 6 7

 Every PTCCH/U has a cycle of

1.92 s 8 9

 Active mobile stations will

transmit one access burst with 10 11

TA=0 to the BTS once per eight

52-multiframes within their 12 13

subchannel
 Based on the PTCCH/U message, 14 15

the BTS can recalculate the

timing advance value 8 x 5 2 -m u ltifr a m e = 4 1 6 fr a m e s
TAI = 0 - 15

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 Introduction to GPRS

GPRS Timing Advance - Downlink

 Each mobile is assigned a timing advance index (TAI) value via the
PTCCH/D
 The TA message sent on the downlink can convey timing advance
information for up to 16 mobile stations
 The timing advance message contains the TAI values associated
with each mobile station
 Since the message requires 4 frames, it is carried within four
consecutive TA frames
0 1

O n e T A m e s s a g e in 4 n o r m a l b u r s ts
fo r u p to 1 6 M S

3 4

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 Introduction to GPRS

Contents
 Network Architecture
 Protocol Stack
 Air Interface
 Mobility Management
 Mobility Management States
 GPRS Attach

 HSCSD, EDGE, and 3G Growth Path

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 Introduction to GPRS

GPRS Mobility Management States

 Mobility management states
apply for both the mobile and
the SGSN
 Idle: Mobile is powered on but Id le
not attached to GPRS G PRS G PRS
 Standby: Mobile is powered on A tta c h D e ta c h
and attached to GPRS. No
packet transfer is in progress. R eady PDU
T ra n s fe r
Routing area updates are sent as
needed.
R e a d y -T im e r PDU
 Ready: The mobile is currently E x p ir y T ra n s fe r
engaged in packet transfer or
recently terminated a packet S ta n d b y
transfer. The Ready state is
determined by a timer. No need GPRS Mobility Management States for MS
to page a mobile in Ready state

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 Introduction to GPRS

GPRS Attach Process

 Process of registration of the mobile into the GPRS network
 Occurs when mobile is first powered on and can occur afterwards
based on network settings
 Mobile registers directly with the SGSN

• Information Exchanged A ir Gb Gs D
In te rfa c e In te r fa c e In t e r f a c e In te r fa c e
BSC SG SN H LR
– IMSI or P-TMSI M S BTS
VLR
G R

– TLLI
A tta c h R e q u e s t

– RA, LA A u th e n tic a tio n a n d C ip h e r in g A u th e n tic a tio n a n d C ip h e r in g

– Power class mark For G PRS

R o u tin g A r e a U p d a te

L o c a tio n A r e a U p d a te
– Type of registration For G SM

(GSM, GPRS) A tta c h A c k n o w le d g e d

– Authentication
– Ciphering
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 Introduction to GPRS

GPRS PDP Context Activation

• The mobile need to activate a packet data protocol context before it can
transmit or receive information

A ir G b G n
In te rf a c e In te r fa c e In te rfa c e
BSC SG SN G G SN
M S BTS

R e q u e s t P D P C o n te x t C re a te P D P C o n te x t

M e s s a g e In c lu d e s : M e s s a g e In c lu d e s :
§ IP A d d r e s s (S ta tic o f D y n a m ic ) § IP A d d r e s s (S ta tic o f D y n a m ic )
§ A c c e s s P o in t-A P (ie y a h o o .c o m ) § A c c e s s P o in t-A P (ie y a h o o .c o m )
§ Q oS § Q oS
§ NSAPI § T u n n e lin g ID (T ID )
P D P C o n te x t G ra n te d P D P C o n te x t A c t iv a te d

M e s s a g e In c lu d e s : M e s s a g e In c lu d e s :
§ IP A d d r e s s (S ta tic o f D y n a m ic ) § IP A d d r e s s (S ta tic o f D y n a m ic )
§ P r io r ity L e v e l § U P D P ro to c o l H e a d e r
§ Q oS § Q oS
§ T u n n e lin g ID (T ID ) § T u n n e lin g ID (T ID )
§ NSAPI
§ G G S N A d d re s s

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 Introduction to GPRS

GPRS Measurements - End-to-End

Process
 End-to-end test process is best approach towards measuring
performance at the application layer
 Client - Server configuration
 On the uplink, the mobile sends packets over the GPRS network. A
test server measures the performance and reports results back to the
mobile
 On the downlink, the test server sends packets over the GPRS
network. The test mobile measures performance and stores the
results

G i
In te rfa c e
G P R S N e tw o rk
T e s t S e rv e r
D r iv e T e s t S y s te m M S

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 Introduction to GPRS

HSCSD, EDGE and 3G Growth

Path
SMS, Data (9.6Kbit/s)
HSCSD
GPRS
EDGE
UMTS
Technology
1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003

Bandwidth 2 Mbit/s

384 kbit/s

171.2 kbit/s
60 kbit/s
9.6 kbit/s

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Conclusion
An understanding of the above technology and
changes it brings will be a vital for successful
deployment of gprs and full realization of
benefits to mobile network
Any queries
Thank you