7 GPRS and UMTS

Lecture 7
An
overview of
GPRS and
UMTS
Lecture Outline
 GPRS
 Objectives, Advantages, features and limitations
 Circuit Switching vs. Packet Switching
 Virtual Circuit Concept
 Network Architecture
 Interfaces and applications
 UMTS
 Network Architecture
 Interfaces and services
Introduction to GPRS
 GPRS - General Packet Radio Service was the
evolution of 2G GSM to provide packet switched
data at rates up to a maximum of 172 kbps.
 All previous mobile phone systems used circuit
switched channels for voice communications.
 GPRS was one of the first systems to address
the need for mobile data in a real way.
 Although 2G GSM could provide some data
capability it was too slow to be used for any real
applications.
GPRS Objectives
 Enable access to company LAN and the Internet
 Provide reasonably high data rates
 Enable the subscriber to be reachable at all
times (email)
 Offer flexible access (few users at high data
rates or many users at low rates)
 Offer low cost access to new services
GPRS Advantages
 Exchanging data directly with the Internet and
Intranet
 Packets from one user can be transmitted via
several time slots
 Time slot can be shared between users
 Users remain connected without using up any
resources
 Users are only allocated resources when they
actually need them
 No new frequencies used (implemented within
GSM)
Key GPRS User Features
 Speed: 10 times faster than GSM
 Immediacy: always online, no dial-up
 Simultaneity: voice call and packet data transfer
 New and Improved Applications: more
bandwidth, Wireless Application Protocol (WAP)
 Affordability: low cost to attract customers and
sufficient to recover infrastructure investment.
Flexible billing to meet a wide range of user
requirements
GPRS Limitations
 Slower data rates than anticipated
 Small cell capacity
 Limited availability of GPRS enabled mobile
terminals
 Transit delays: packets are sent in all directions,
experiencing different delays
Circuit Switching vs. Packet Switching
Circuit
Switching
Packet
Switching
Circuit Switching vs. Packet
Switching
 Circuit Switching:
 Suited to time-sensitive applications
 No arguing for network resources
 Less data overhead for routing requirements
 Compatible with existing circuit-switched networks
 Packet Switching:
 More efficient use of available bandwidth
 Suited to bursty-type traffic such as Internet access
 Compatible with existing packet-switched networks
Bursty-type traffic
Virtual Circuit Concept
 A virtual circuit is a way of communication where the
two hosts communicate as though they have a
dedicated connection from source to destination.
 A circuit is first established between end users by
defining a rout across the network from source to
destination.
 Packets might actually travel very different routes
before arriving at their destination.
 There are two main types of virtual circuits:
 Switch Virtual Circuits (SVC): network resource are allocated
temporarily (as dial-up in circuit-switched)
 Permanent Virtual Circuits (PVC): network resource are
allocated permanently (as leased line in circuit-switched)
GPRS Network
Architecture
GPRS core network
GPRS Network Architecture

GSM Modified Entities
 Mobile Station (MS): the mobile has to be able to
create packet data and pass it over the air
interface to the BSS.
 Base Station Sub-System (BSS): the BTS and
BSC have to be able to communicate and pass
packet data between the MS and the GPRS core
network. Both BTS and BSC require software
upgrades. The BSC requires a new hardware
(PCU).
GPRS Core Network Elements
 Serving GPRS Support Node (SGSN)
The SGSN carries out functions related to communication,
security and access control. It processes and retains
registration and location information of GPRS subscribers.
The MSC, VLR, HLR and EIR of the GSM network support
the SGSN.
 Gateway GPRS Support Node (GGSN)
The GGSN is the interface between GPRS users and
external networks. It is responsible for routing incoming
traffic to the correct SGSN. One GGSN may support
multiple SGSNs.
 Packet Control Unit (PCU) (BSS)
the interface between the BSS and SGSN. It separates
packet traffic from voice traffic at the BSC and directs the
packet data traffic to the GPRS network.
GPRS Interfaces
 Um: between the MS and the BSS
 Gb: between the BSS and the SGSN
 Gn: between the SGSN and the GGSN
 Gi: between the GGSN and external data
networks
 Gp: between the GGSN and other mobile
networks
GPRS Interfaces
Gb
Um
GPRS core network Gi
Gn Gp
Other PLMN
GPRS Applications
 Internet Applications
Using Wireless Application Protocol (WAP), the market of both
Internet and mobile networks has expanded.
 Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS)
MMS is a system application that allows mobile devices to
exchange messages containing a wide range of different media
elements, including text, pictures, audio, and video.
 Location Based Services
These services include safety, information, tracking, remote and
billing services.
 M-Business and M-Commerce
M-Business enables employees to access the company network
through mobile devices, and to access office applications on the
move.
M-Commerce applications are based on transactions made via
mobile phones such as mobile selling and gaming.
Universal Mobile
Telecommunications System
(UMTS)
Introduction
 Universal Mobile Telecommunications
System UMTS is a 3G packet-based mobile
system based on the GSM standards.
 UMTS offers services such as text, voice,
audio, video and multimedia to mobile users
regardless of their location in the world.
 UMTS is also known as Wideband Code
Division Multiple Access (WCDMA), because
WCDMA is the air interface used by UMTS.
UMTS Network Architecture
UMTS architecture consists of three main
components:
 User Equipment (UE)
 UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access Network (UTRAN)
 Core Network (CN)
UMTS Network
Architecture
UMTS Network Architecture

User Equipment (UE)
 The main functions of the UE are:
 Display and user interface
 To hold the authentication algorithms and keys
 User end termination of the air interface
 Application platform
 The elements of the UE are:
 The mobile equipment (ME): the radio terminal used for
communication over the radio interface
 The UMTS Subscriber Identity Module (USIM): a smartcard
the holds the subscriber identity, authentication and
encryption keys
 The Terminal Equipment (TE): optionally to support
Bluetooth for example
UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access
Network (UTRAN)
 The main UTRAN function are:
 Provide radio requirements for users at QoS levels
 System access control for active users
 Security and privacy
 Support for handover (soft, softer)
 Radio resource management and control (channel
allocation, traffic handling, power control, load control,
admission control)
 The basic elements
 Radio Network Controller (RNC): owns and controls radio
resources. Manages radio allocation and congestion control
in its cells (equivalent of the GSM BSC)
 NodeB: the radio base station (equivalent to the GSM BTS)
Core Network (CN)
 The functions of the CN are:
 Switching
 Service provision
 Communications with other networks
 Mobility management
 Operations, administration and maintenance
 The major elements of the CN are:
 Home Location Register (HLR)
 Visitor Location Register (VLR)
 Mobile Switching Center (MSC)
 Gateway MSC (GMSC)
 Serving GPRS Support Node (SGSN)
 Gateway GPRS Support Node (GGSN)
UMTS Interfaces
 Uu: the air interface
 Iu: the interface between the UTRAN and the CN
 Iur: the interface between different RNCs
 Iub: the interface between node B and the RNC
UMTS Interfaces
Iur
other RNC
UMTS Network Interfaces

UMTS Services
UMTS provides users a guaranteed integrated personalized
environment regardless of the mobile or network from which the
service is accessed. The following are some of UMTS services.
1) Virtual Home Environment
This service allows UMTS users to subscribe to their home
services while roaming in other networks having the same home
network environment.
2) Multimedia Services
The most attractive features in UMTS are multimedia services.
UMTS supports video-streaming applications, video conferencing
applications, on-line video sales catalogues and telemedicine
applications.
3) Access to Internet-Intranet Services
With the development of mobile devices and the bandwidth
UMTS provides, accessing the Internet and other networks is much
more stimulating.
4) Voice Recognition Services
These types of services increase the usability of existing
applications.
The End

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Lecture 7

GPRS core network

GPRS Network Architecture

GPRS core network Gi

UMTS Network Architecture

UMTS Network Interfaces

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