Adaptive Multi Rate (AMR)

Central II

Topics

AMR Overview

AMR parameter setting for Channel & Coded Adaptation

Drive Test in AMR

AMR effect on KPIs, Capacity, Coverage

AMR network doctor reports

AMR Overview

Before & After AMR

Before AMR the GSM operator had available on the air interface:
2 different Channel Type (Full Rate & Half Rate)
2 different channel Coding (1 @ Full Rate & 1 @ Half Rate)

With the introduction of AMR the GSM operator have available on the air
interface:
2 Different Channel Type (Full Rate / Half Rate)
14 Different Channel Coding (8 @ Full Rate & 6 @ Half Rate)

The reason of the introduction of 2 different Channel Type is

Exploit where possible the capacity of the TRX
Improved Quality,where possible.

The reason of the 14 different Channel Coding is to use in every moment of

the conversation the best trade off between Channel Coding and Speech
Coding.
Increased Speech Coding ~ Increased Voice Reconstruction Accuracy
Increased Channel Coding Increased Robustness Good FER in poor
C/I environment

AMR Idea

The AMR idea is based on the fact that in soft limited RF

environments (poor C/I)
Speech coding can be decreased in order to improve channel
coding
Overall result is an improved voice quality (in terms of FER)
For AMR, the speech and channel coding data rates are
dynamically adapted to best fit the current RF channel
conditions.

AMR consists on a family of codec with different Channel

Coding operating in GSM Full Rate (FR) and Half Rate
(HR). The aim is to improve channel (FR/HR) quality by
adapting the most appropriate channel codec based on
the current radio conditions.

With AMR, the speech capacity is increased by using the

AMR Codec

GSM FR/EFR channel gross bit-rate is 22.8 kbps in GSM FR/EFR:

13 kbps speech coding
9.8 kbps /channel coding

Note that HR channel gross bit rate 11.4 kbps

For AMR case, different codec use different bit rate to encode speech
(source coding). The rest of the gross bit-rate is used for channel
protection

Channel bit-rate (kbit/s)

25

Channel coding
Speech coding

20

Robustness
15
10
5

Speech Qual

0
FR
12.2

FR
10.2

FR FR 7.4 FR 6.7 FR 5.9 FR

7.95
5.15

FR
4.75

HR HR 7.4 HR 6.7 HR 5.9 HR

7.95
5.15

AMR codec mode

HR
4.75

AMR Codecs
Full Rate

Half rate

12.2
10.2
7.95

AMR codecs:
8 for FR and
6 for HR

AMR Full Rate performance compared to

Full Rate EFR in Clean Speech
MOS (Mean Opinion Score)
5.0
4.0

7.95
7.4
7.4

3.0

6 dB gain in
performance

6.7
6.7
5.9

2.0

5.9

EFR
AMR FR

5.15

1.0
No Errors

4.75

AMR Half Rate performance compared to

Full Rate in Clean Speech
MOS (Mean Opinion Score) Quality loss of
5.0
~ 0.2 between
AMR HR and
FR
4.0

5.15
4.75

New AMR family of codec tolerate 6 dB

higher interference than current GSM
EFR codec

Can be directly utilized for higher

capacity with Frequency Hopping
Higher interference tolerance
Reduced time slot occupancy

16 dB C/I

13 dB C/I

10 dB C/I

7 dB C/I

4 dB C/I

3.0
2.0

AMR HR
AMR FR

1.0
No Errors 19 dB C/I 16 dB C/I 13 dB C/I 10 dB C/I 7 dB C/I 4 dB C/I

AMR Channel and Speech Codec

In high-error conditions more bits are used for error correction to obtain
error robust coding, while in good transmission conditions a lower amount of
bits is needed for sufficient error protection and more bits can therefore be
allocated for source coding

Codec Mode Supported

Note that the codec supported from the Nokia BTSs depends from the type of BTS

These are the codec supported from the different NOKIA BTSs

BTS

AMR FR

AMR HR

Talk Family

4.75, 5.90, 7.40, 12.2

kbps

4.75, 5.90, 7.40

kbps

Prime Site

4.75, 5.90, 7.40, 12.2

kbps

4.75, 5.90, 7.40

kbps

Ultrasite
All
All except 7.90 kbps
MobileMetrosite
Shall Support all Speech
a setup
of four
All Codec Modes, although
All except
7.90
kbpsSpeech Codec
Modes is used during a call.

Default Value

AMR FR

AMR HR

4.75, 5.90, 7.40, 12.2

kbps

4.75, 5.90, 7.40 kbps

Link Adaptation(Algorithms)

Link Adaptation is a capacity of AMR Feature to very Codec Used according to

the Link Conditions.

Both BTS for Downlink and Mobile for Uplink ,measure the radio conditions in
each Link and take decisions which Codec should be applied to each way .

Two Different Type Of Link Adaptation are Defined

Codec Mode Adaptation
It select the best codec
Channel Mode Adaptation
It changes the channel rate between FR and HR codec.

Set of CodecsCodec Mode Adapt.

Channel Mode Adaptation
AMR

Codec Mode (Link) Adaptation

Codec Mode Adaptation is the algorithm that selects which codec has to be
used each moment by the MS (in UL) or by the network (in DL direction).
The basic AMR codec mode sets for MS and BTS are provided by BSC via layer
3 signalling
Both the MS and the network implement their own independent LA algorithms
There are two link adaptation (LA) modes:
ETSI specified fast LA Inband codec mode changes on every other TCH
frame = 40 msec
Nokia proprietary slow LA Changes only every SACCH frame interval =
480 msec
The suggested LA rate is the fast one.
LA algorithms are vendor dependant

Procedure for Codec Mode (Link) Adaptation

4.-DL
codec
used

3.- Network
decides which
codec to use for
DL

DL
LA

UL LA

1.-Which DL
Radio
Conditions?
2.-Request a
codec for DL

2.-Command a
codec for UL

1.-Which UL
radio
conditions?

3.-MS uses the

codec commanded
by the network for
UL

Channel Mode Adaptation

Channel Mode Adaptation is an HO algorithm that aims at select the correct
channel rate (FR or HR).
The selection of the channel rate depends on 2 main factors: load and
quality

Codec

load

FR
FR

Good
Quality

packing
unpacking
Bad
Quality

HR
HR

AMR parameter setting for Channel &

Coded Adaptation

Channel Adaptation - Packing & Unpacking

mechanism

To trigger the packing of active Full Rate AMR calls to AMR Half Rate, traffic
and quality threshold must be set.
Spontaneous Packing of AMR FR to AMR HR calls is triggered:
Free full rate resources reduces below the value of the parameter
btsLoadDepTCHRate(HRL)
At least Quality (2) in which quality is above the amrHandoverFr(IHRF)
and which uses the least robust codec mode
Packing continues until the number of free full rate resources increases above
the value of the parameter btsLoadDepTCHRate (HRU).
Spontaneous unpacking of AMR HR calls to AMR FR calls is triggered when the
quality of a AMR HR call degrades below the amrHandoverHr(IHRH). Cell load
does not have an effect.
HRL and HRU are set on BSC level but load evaluation is based on individual
BTS.
btsspLoadDepTCHRate (FRL) and (FRU) are BTS specific parameters. They
have priority over btsLoadDepTCHRate (HRL) and (HRU)
The feature is disable when set HRL > HRU or FRL > FRU
Real network behavior shows that if FRL > FRU, but HRL < HRU, the AMR
feature is enable

Channel Adaptation - Packing &

Unpacking mechanism

Example:
HRL = 40%
HRU = 60%
IHRF = 2
IHRH = 4
Packing starts when free FR resources below 40% and calls with
RxQual below 2, and stops when free FR resources above 60%
Unpacking when HR calls RxQual below 4

Initial Codec Mode Selection

amrConfigurationFR: codecModeSet and amrConfigurationHR: codecModeSet

specify which of the possible speech coding bit-rate are implemented in the serving
Cell.
Parameter
Codec Mode Set
amrConfigurationFR

4.75, 5.90, 7.40, 12.2 kbps

amrConfigurationHr

4.75, 5.90, 7.40kbps

The most robust codec available (less bit rate for speech) is recommended

The Initial Codec mode to start the speech coding operation at call set-up and after
handover may be signalled by layer 3 signalling

amrConfigurationFr: initCodecMode, amrConfigurationFr: startMode,

amrConfigurationHr: initCodecMode and amrConfigurationHr: startMode you
can select a different codec mode from the default ones:
If the initial codec mode is set to
"0" (default) then the Initial codec mode is defined by the implicit rule provided in
GSM 05.0
"1" Initial codec mode is defined by amrConfigurationFr: startMode.

Initial Codec Mode Selection

amrConfigurationFr: startMode
00: Codec mode 1 (the most robust mode)
01: Codec mode 2
10: Codec mode 3
11: Codec mode 4

With initAmrChannelRate parameter you define the initial channel in call

set-up ,internal inter cell handover (HO) and external HO for an AMR call.

Default Value can be any Rate ,the other option is AMR Full Rate. The reason
behind this last parameter is that quality may not be sufficient for HR AMR call
set-up

Code Mode Adaptation

Parameters which are taken into account for switching

between different Codec Modes are
AMR Thresholds:
amrConfigurationFr: threshold1
amrConfigurationFr: threshold2
amrConfigurationFr: threshold3

AMR HYSTERESIS:
amrConfigurationFr: hysteresis1
amrConfigurationFr: hysteresis2
amrConfigurationFr: hysteresis3

AMR Thresholds And Hysteresis

Codec Adaptation - Parameters to

decide

The parameters "amrConfigurationFr: codecModeSet" &

"amrConfigurationHr: codecModeSet" (FRC) determine
the set of codecs in used.

Change in FRT/HRT

There is no noticeable change in DL FER with change in

FRT/FRH values.

There is a change in codec usage in DL with change in the

thresholds.

There is no change in codec usage in UL.

Drive Test in AMR

Packing = FR HR (1/3)

AMR FR Call, DL VQ =0, good C/I

Codec used 12.2 kbps

The slide
shows MS
call on
AMR FR
on codec
set 12.2
and VQ =
0

AS VQ is
good,
dependin
g upon
load
threshold
s the call
packs
from FR
12.2
codec to

Packing = FR HR (2/3)

AMR HR Call, DL VQ =0, good C/I

HR Codec used is 4.75 kbps

After packing
from FR to HR
the MS first
selects most
robust codec
(4.75 kbps)
on HR and
then does the
link
adaptation to
select
another
codec
depending
upon channel
conditions.
The slide
shows MS
call on AMR
HR on codec
set 4.75 and
VQ = 0
AS VQ is

Packing = FR HR (3/3)

AMR HR Call, DL VQ =0 , good C/I

HR Codec used is 7.40 kbps

After packing
from FR to HR
the MS first
selects most
robust codec
(4.75 kbps )
on HR.

AS VQ is good,
(good C/I ) MS
does the link
adaptation
and changes
from codec
4.75 to codec
7.4

The slide
shows MS call
on AMR HR on
codec set 7.40
kbps and VQ
=0

Unpacking = HR FR (1/2)

AMR FR Call, DL VQ =5, bad C/I

Codec used 4.75 kbps

The slide
shows MS
call on
AMR HR
on codec
set 4.75
and VQ =
5, and bad
C/I
AS VQ is
bad, call
unpacks
from HR
7.4 codec
to FR 5.3
codec as
shown in
next slide

Unpacking = HR FR (2/2)

AMR FR Call, DL VQ =6
Codec used 5.3 kbps

The slide
shows MS
on HR on
AMR FR on
codec set
5.3 and
VQ = 6

Handover FR (1/3)
The slide
shows MS
call on
AMR FR
on codec
set
12.2kbps
and VQ =
0

AMR FR Call, DL VQ =0, good C/I

Codec used 12.2 kbps

Handover FR(2/3)
The slide
shows MS
call on
AMR FR
after HO
has
switched
to Codec
Mode
5.9kbps
VQ = 0
AMR FR Call, DL VQ =0, good C/I
Codec used 5.9 kbps

HandOver FR(3/3)

AMR FR Call, DL VQ =0, good C/I

Codec used 12.2 kbps

The slide
shows MS
call on
AMR FR
after HO
has
switched
back
again to
12.2kbps
from
Codec
Mode
5.9kbps
as VQ =

AMR effect on KPI, Capacity, Coverage

AMR effect on KPIs

The AMR feature itself will not impact the individual connections
DCR, but it will affect the overall system DCR since the interference
generated in the network is lower due to the AMR power control
settings.
Radio Link Timeout can be adapted to AMR in order for dropped calls
to maintain the same correlation with voice quality degradation as
with EFR
AWS National standard changed for Radio Link Timeout changed
from 20 to 44 SACCHs.The new standard is due to the fact that the
AMR calls may still have a good communication but radio link
timeout is small and call is cleared based on RLT.
Quality -> better perceived speech quality.
With Frequency Hopping and AMR, BER becomes increasingly
meaningless and therefore alternative indicators are needed to
benchmark the voice quality

AMR effect on Capacity & Coverage

AMR provides a significant performance enhancement that can be

translated into a tradeoff between quality and capacity

AMR feature impact and deployment strategy depends strongly upon the
AMR capable mobile penetration

AMR gains:
Quality -> AMR maintains good speech quality in the situation where
the connection faces low C/I or low signal level. Also due to
retransmissions schemes used by these channels the probability of
signaling success maintain very high even for very degraded conditions
Capacity -> HR utilization doubles the hardware capacity of the cell
since two half-rate connections can be allocated to fill only one
timeslot. Practically the gain is up to 150% higher capacity for the
same quality
Coverage -> additional 3-4 dB effective coverage
Cost (HR hardware efficiency) -> 20-40% lower number of TRXs
Improved BCCH plan: tighter frequency reuse or better quality with
same frequency reuse

AMR Network Doctor Reports

Network Doctor Reports

Following Network Doctor report are used to monitor and

optimize the AMR codec utilization
ND-244: BER quality per CODEC type and rate. Reports total voice
samples distributed across AMR and EFR for each CODEC rate
ND-245: Lists FER for both uplink and downlink separated for all
CODEC types and rates
ND-246: Summary report for AMR KPI
ND-247: Call failure rate per CODEC type
ND-248: This report shows seizure and failure statistics for codec
set modifications in internal HO
ND-249: AMR counters summary