UMTS and Beyond

Prof. Hamid Aghvami

Centre for Telecommunications Research - King’s College London
Wireless Multimedia Communications Ltd
 Mobile System Generations

 First Generation (1G) mobile systems were designed to

offer a single service, i.e., speech.
 Second Generation (2G) mobile systems were also
designed primarily to offer speech with a limited capability
to offer data at low rates.
 Third Generation (3G) mobile systems are expected to
offer high-quality multi-media services and operate in
different environments.
 3G systems are referred to as Universal Mobile
Telecommunications System (UMTS) in Europe and
International Mobile Telecommunications 2000 (IMT2000)
worldwide.
UMTS
“UMTS will be a mobile communications system that can offer
significant user benefits including high-quality wireless multimedia
services to a convergent network of fixed, cellular and satellite
components.
It will deliver information directly to users and provide them with
access to new and innovative services and applications.
It will offer mobile personalised communications to the mass
market regardless of location, network and terminal used”.

UMTS Forum 1997

UMTS Main Requirements (3 Ms)

Multi-media

Multi-environment

Multi-operator Virtual operators

 Mobile Multimedia Services

Mobile Multimedia Broadcast

2M Database Access
Video Internet Remote medical
Information
Conference service
(High quality) Access (Medical image) Video on Distribution
384K Video demand Mobile TV
Catalog Services
-Sports
Video shopping -News News
Conference -Movies
(Low quality) WWW 　
64K Weather
forecast
e-mail Electronic ISDN
Newspaper Karaoke Traffic Mobile
32K information Radio
ftp Voice
Telephone
Mail Electronic pager Sports
16K Conference
IP Publishing information
telephony Leisure
9.6K Information
Telephone etc Electronic FAX Image
2.4K Mail
Data
1.2K Voice

Symmetric Asymmetric Multicast

Point to Point Multi Point

Different Environments for UMTS

Global

Suburban
Urban

In- Building
Micro-Cell
Home-Cell

Macro-Cell Pico-Cell
 First phase of UMTS

 Europe has decided to adopt an evolutionary approach for

the UMTS core network based on migration from the
GSM/GPRS infrastructure.

 For the actual air interface, a revolutionary approach has

been chosen. That is a new radio air interface for UMTS
Terrestrial Radio Access (UTRA).

 There is another parallel activity concerning the UMTS air

interface using an evolutionary approach (an intermediate
approach).
 GSM Public
Radio Access
Infrastructure Network
Dual-mode
Evolved

GSM

Radio Access

(GERAN) PSTN
NSS
N-ISDN

B-ISDN
New And
IP-based
Radio Access Networks
(UTRAN) GSN’s
Dual-mode

Evolution approach based on GSM Infrastructure

Evolution Approach
Evolutionary approach for the GSM Air Interface

 In this approach the GSM air interface has evolved within GSM
phase 2+ to support higher rate data services. The most
important developments in this approach are:

1. General Packet Radio Services (GPRS )

2. High Speed Circuit Switched Data (HSCSD )
3. Enhanced Data Rates for GSM Evolution (EDGE )

It is referred to GSM/EDGE Radio Access Network (GERAN)

 UMTS – Phase I

PSTN PDN Internet

HLR
Circuit Switched

Gc

Packet Switched
C
GGSN
(GSM)

GMSC Gr

(GPRS)
D
Gn
Gs
SMSC/ SGSN
VLR
.…..
Iu,ps
Iu,cs
Iu,cs Iu,ps

RNC RNC ……

UTRAN
…. ….
Node B … Node B Node B … Node B
 Legacy mobile
Applications signalling
& Services network

Multimedia
Mh
SGW Mm IP networks
Ms
HSS
(HLR) CSCF Mg
Cx
Gi Mr Gi
Gr
MRF
Gc
TE MT GERAN Gi MGCF
R Um Mc
Iu-PS SGSN GGSN
PSTN/
Gn MGW
TE MT UTRAN
Gp Gi legacy/external
R Uu EIR
Gf
Gn GGSN
Other PLMN
SGSN
Signalling interface
Signalling and data transfer interface

Simplified architecture for the support of IP-based multimedia services in 3GPP release 5
New Functional Entities for the All IP Architecture

• Call State Control Function (CSCF) executes the call control. It is based on the
IETF Session Initiation Protocol (SIP).

• Media GateWay (MGW) provides an inter-connection from GGSN to legacy

circuit-switched networks such as PSTN.

• Media Gateway Control Function (MGCF) controls the MGW.

• Media Resource Function (MRF) performs multiparty call and multimedia

conferencing functions.

• Signalling GateWay (SGW) performs signalling conversion to/from legacy

mobile signalling network.

• Home Subscriber Server (HSS) is an evolved HLR.

 4G Concept

Towards 4G
User centric,
user controlled services
and
context-aware applications
 4G Concept

What does “user controlled services” mean?

“ The user has freedom and flexibility to select any desired service
with reasonable QoS and affordable price, anytime, anywhere using
any device in a secure manner”
 4G Concept

What does “context-aware applications” mean?

“ A context-aware application means the behaviour of the

application adapts itself to user context changes. User context
includes:
-user profile and preferences.
-user device and access network capabilities.
-user environment and mobility. ”
 Technologies

Challenges
• Convergence/integration/inter-working of all existing and
emerging fixed and mobile (wired and wireless) networks IP
including broadcast Technology

• Simple to select and easy to use desired services Agent

Technology

• Universal and low cost terminals Reconfigurable

Technology
 Network Level Concepts

• Inter-working Concept

• Integration Concept
Interworking/Integration

• For the design of next generation wireless networks two different approaches
are currently being considered. They are:
- Interworking with next generation Internet (tight coupling)
- Integration within next generation Internet (very tight coupling)

• In the first approach, the access network and the core network use different IP
protocols and mechanisms and only the core network is considered as a
sub-network of the Internet.

• In the second approach, both the core and access networks use common IP
based protocols and mechanisms and the access network is considered as a
sub-network of the Internet.
 Inter-Working

Billing SIP Proxy Signalling WAP Accounting ISP

VHE Server Gateway

The
Internet
Satellite FES
Context-aware information
Centre
IP backbone

Broadcast Networks
(DAB, DVB-T)
GSM /
GPRS
UMTS
IP-based
micro-mobility Wireless
LANs
 Integration

Applications

AP1 AP2 AP3 APn

Middleware
Service support sub-layer

Location Accounting/billing Media conversion Distribution

Basic network management sub-layer

RRM MM C/SM Security QoS ISDN/

PSTN
IP-based transport NW
IP IP
IP
IP
Radio IP IP Internet
Radio IP Radio

General architecture of the IP-based IMT network platform

 Hierarchical coverage layers for 4G

IP-based backbone

Global coverage Satellite

Regional coverage DAB and DVB-T, DVB-S

National coverage 2G, 3G and 4G Cellular

Local area coverage

Wireless LANs

Personal area coverage

Wireless PANs

Vertical Handover

Horizontal Handover
 The complexity of the problem: user prospective

From a user prospective

Multiple Heterogeneous network

operators UMTS DVB WLAN
part of

Multiple user environments

accessed using

Multiple heterogeneous devices

owned by Laptop
PDA

heterogeneous users
 The complexity of the problem: network prospective

From a network prospective

Operators
Multiple Heterogeneous network Operator D
operators Upward Vertical Handover
23
(i.e. WLAN  Bluetooth)
providing
Multiple services Operator C

2
through
Operator B
multiple access networks

Operator A 3
to Access technology
users with heterogeneous devices
Bluetooth GPRS WLAN
Service A
Service B
1
Service C
Downward Vertical Handover
Service 1 2
(i.e. GPRS  WLAN)
 A Heterogeneous Network Architecture

Future Internet Core Network

Wireless
UTRAN WLAN 4G RAN
Access Network

PAN
Intra-Cell PAN PAN
Ad-hoc Network PAN PAN
Inter-working between two radio access networks
Open coupling
Inter-working between two radio access networks
Loose coupling
Inter-working between two radio access networks
Tight coupling
Inter-working between two radio access networks
Very tight coupling
 IP network
SGSN Inter-working examples - caching
HSS
Location Profile

Query
(2) Response
(3)
CSCF

Gateway/
Content IP
Encapsulator
transfer
(5) Carousal
local content
Request Content Storage
Generator

mp3's / movie (HTML,Clips,

(1) mp3's, games) regional
multiplexer DVB-T
MPEG-2
real time
encoder
ATM/
Response SDH

Packetiser
MPEG-2
(4) real time
leased
network
encoder
IP packet
inserter
Transport
Multiplexer
regional
Stream server DVB-T
multiplexer

Petrol station

Sa
te
l li t
e
Cache Server
Content
transfer
WLAN
(6)

Retrieve
content
 Inter-working examples
user centric

Delivery options

Content Delivery
Notification Network provides device delivery options
including cost and delivery times
Content: video clip(15MB)
Service: Music Clips
Company: MTV

User selects desired destination

Please select delivery options
Send to PDA (5 eur) –15min
Send to office PC (10 eur) –7min
Send to STB (20 eur)-2min

Slide:30
Slide:30-40
-40
 Inter-working examples – network centric

Load balancing i.e. Using DVB to multicast or broadcast to large number of

users

Handovers i.e. Users in train moving outside the coverage of a network

Slide:31
Slide:31-40
-40
 Network Selection

Most Appropriate Network Selection Criteria

• Service Type
- Data rate
- QoS
• Available Resources
• User Context
- Environment (When and Where)
- Mobility
- User preferences
 Convergenc
e
Convergence of Cellular Mobile Networks and WLANs
Benefits
For cellular mobile operators
 Higher bandwidths.
 Lower cost of networks and equipment.
 The use of licence-exempt spectrum.
 Higher capacity and QoS enhancement.
 Higher revenue.

For users
 Access to broadband multimedia services with lower cost and where

mostly needed (e.g. in Central Business Districts and Business

Customer Premises).
 Inter-network roaming.
 Convergenc
e
Convergence of Mobile Communications and Broadcasting
Drivers
From broadcaster point of view
 Introducing interactivity to their unidirectional point-to-multipoint
broadcasting systems. That is, a broadband downlink based on
DAB/DVB-T and a narrowband uplink based on 2G/3G cellular
systems.
From the cellular mobile operator point of view
 Providing a complementary broadband downlink in vehicular
environments to support IP-based multi-media traffic which is
inherently asymmetrical.
 Convergenc
e
Benefits

 Broadcasters will benefit from the use of cellular mobile systems to

adapt the content of their multi-media services more rapidly in
response to the feedback from customers.

Cellular operators will benefit from offering their customers a range of

new broadband multi-media services in vehicular environments.

 Users will benefit from faster access to a range of broadband multi-

media services with reasonable QoS and lower cost.
 IP Layer Model

Steve Deering - Cisco : Fifty-first IETF; London, England, August 5-10, 2001
 IP Layer Model for WLANs

Higher Layers

Additional IP Functions
 Mobility Management  IP Sec
 Quality of Service  Ad-Hoc Routing
 AAA  etc.
IP Network Layer
Native IP Functions:
 Routing
 Addressing
 Packet Formatting and Handling

Data Interface Control Interface

 Error Control  Configuration Management

 Buffer Management  Address Management
 QoS Support  QoS Control IP Convergence Layer
 Segmentation/Reassembly  Handover Control
 Header Compression  Idle Mode Support
 Multicast Support  Security Management

Lower Layers
 IP Layer Model

 The functionalities and structure of the IP layer model are not

sufficient and/or efficient to achieve the requirements of future
inter-worked or integrated networks.

 No fundamental changes have been made in the design of IPV6.

 The question is:

“ Are some radical changes needed to the IP layer model in

order to offer better solutions to the convergence issue?” If yes,
what are the consequences and implications?
 Agent Definition

“ An agent is a software component (object) that is situated within an

execution environment (e.g. computers) and acts autonomously on
behalf of a user or process and has specific goal.”

AP AP

AP
AP

2G, 3G
WLAN
…

Service Centre
AP: Agent Platform
 Agent Technology

• Mandatory features
– Reactive: senses changes in the environment and
reacts in accordance.
– Autonomous: has control over its own actions
– Goal-driven: is pro-active
• Optional features
– Collaborative: communicates/negotiates with other
agents
–Mobile: travels from one host to another
– Learning: adapts in accordance with previous
experience
– Believable: appears believable to the end-user.
 Mobile vs. Static Agents

request

respond

Client Server
request
respond

Client Server

“Software components that can migrate under their own control from host to host in a network or between networks”
 Mobile Agents

• Mobile agents have already been used for network

monitoring and service delivery including education
at a distance.
• In an ever-increasing world of service providers and
service packages, a user demands a simple
approach to the selection of the desired service and
its delivery mechanism in real-time with least effort.
This can be achieved through the use of mobile
agents.
• The use of mobile agents can also overcome
the constraints imposed on applications by
the limited processing power and speed of
mobile terminals.
 Agent Technology

An open question:

Static or mobile agents for wireless networks?

What are the pros and cons?
 Re-configurable Technology

What does Reconfiguration mean?

“Reconfiguration refers to the software
re-definition and/or adaptation of every element
within each layer of the communication chain.”

A/D Converter
RF Baseband User
Front End Processing Data
D/A Converter
 Re-configurable Technology

Benefits
• Users
- Select network depending on service requirements and cost.
- Connect to any network – Worldwide roaming.
-Access to new services.
• Operators
- Respond to variations in traffic demand (load balancing).
- Incorporate service enhancements and improvements.
- Correction of software bugs and upgrade of terminals.
- Rapid development of new personalised and customised services
• Manufacturers
- Single platform for all markets.
- Increased flexible and efficient production.
 Re-configuration Procedures

Reconfiguration Initiated by network

Trigger operator or user

Mode Mode What networks are

Monitoring Identification available?

What is the most suitable

Mode
network (based on QoS, user
Negotiation
preferences etc.)?

Mode Switch
Decision on preferred mode
Decision

Download software
Software Reconfigure
modules that are required
Download Terminal
for the target mode
 Re-configurable Technology

CHALLENGES
• Regulatory and Standardisation issues.
• Business models.
• User preference profiles.

• Inter-system handover mechanisms and criteria.

• Software download mechanisms.
• Flexible spectrum allocation and sharing between operators.

• Enabling Technologies (RF and antenna elements, ADC/DAC etc.)

 Conclusion

Reconfigurable IP Technology
Technology

4G
Vision

Agent Technology