GPRS and EDGE Introduction
Objective
At the end of this course, you will be able to
understand:
Learn the background, standards and evolution of
GPRS and EDGE
Master structure and protocol of GPRS/EDGE network
Master radio block structure and channel code of GPRS
and EDGE
Learn the difference of GPRS and EDGE
Learn cell reselection procedure and RLC/MAC
procedure
Content
Review of GPRS and EDGE Technologies
Channel Combination and Frame Structure
Comparison of GPRS and EDGE
Data Transferring Process
What is GPRS?
GPRS － General Packet Radio Service
Packet switch is most efficient way of using frequency
in data application.
GPRS = mobile + IP, which is the integration of GSM
radio access technique and internet packet switch
technique.
What is EDGE?
EDGE － Enhanced Data Rate for GSM
Evolution
Improve the data transmission rate through radio
connections in GSM.
Including EGPRS and ECSD, it can be used to transmit
PS and CS data.
It can fully make use of existing GSM resources.
Technical Features of GPRS
Seamless Connection to IP Network
High Transmission
Always Online and Traffic Accounting
Provides existing mature GSM technologies and
data service deployment schemes.
Technical Features of EDGE
A kind of modulation coding technology, which has
changed the rate of air interface.
The characteristics of air interface in EDGE are
same as those in GSM.
EDGE just upgrades BTS and PCU.
The core network of EDGE adopts a three-layer
model.
EDGE supports both packet switching and circuit
switching modes for data transmission.
Network Structure of GPRS and EDGE
Transmission Protocol Platform of GPRS and EDGE
Signaling Protocol Platform of GPRS and EDGE(1)
Signaling Protocol Platform of GPRS and EDGE(2)
Content
Review of GPRS and EDGE Technologies
Channel Combination and Frame Structure
Comparison of GPRS and EDGE
Data Transferring Process
Frame Structure and Channel Combination
52 Multiframe Structure
Logical Channel Classification
52 Multiframe Structure
52 TDMA Frames
B0 B1 B2 T B3 B4 B5 I B6 B7 B8 T B9 B10 B11 I
RLC Block T = PTCCH,
I= Idle frame
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
B0 - B11 = Radio blocks
TDMA frame
Except PRACH and PTCCH/U, the unit of logical channels is Block with the
occupancy sequence is B0, B6, B3, B9, B1, B7, B4, B10, B2, B8, B5, B11.
52 Multiframe Structure
PDCH frame organization
One 52 multi-frame includes 12 radio blocks
In circuit domain, one TDMA frame is divided into 8 TSL
TSL assigned to GPRS is PDCH
Multiple TSL can constitute one PDCH group, each including 8 TSL
at most.
Basic unit of radio resource allocation and radio transferring is
BLOCK.
One BLOCK includes 4 TDMA frame which is the smallest unit of
user occupancy.
Surplus 4 burst is used for measuring and reporting TA
Multiple users scramble for these blocks, in this way the goal of
packet share is achieved.
Logical Channel Classification
CS
PDTCH/CS1
PDTCH/CS2
Traffic CH
PDTCH/CS3
Logical CH
PDTCH/CS4
PS
PBCCH
PRACH
PAGCH
PCCCH
·Control CH PPCH
PNCH
PACCH
PDCCH PTCCH/D
PTCCH/U
Logical Channel Classification
Packet Data Channel (PDCH)
include packet service channel and packet control channel
Packet Data Traffic Channel (PDTCH)
Unidirectional traffic channel ： PDTCH/U ， PDTCH/D
Packet Control Channel
Broadcasting control channel ： PBCCH
Common control channel ： PPCH ， PRACH ， PAGCH
， PNCH （ send notification message ）
Dedicated control channel ： PACCH ， PTCCH/U （ to
estimate TA ）， PTCCH/D （ send TA upgrading
message ）
Packet Logical Channel to Physical Channel
Mapping
Combination of logical channels
Mode 1 ： PBCCH ＋ PCCCH ＋ PDTCH ＋ PACCH ＋
PTCCH
Mode 2 ： PCCCH ＋ PDTCH ＋ PACCH ＋ PTCCH
Mode 3 ： PDTCH ＋ PACCH ＋ PTCCH
PCCCH = PPCH + PRACH + PAGCH + PNCH
Service Volume
When GPRS traffic is not intense, GPRS and circuit
traffic generally share BCCH and CCCH in cells. In this
case, mode 3 is needed.
With the accumulation of traffic
Packet common channel is needed to be configured in
the cell. Channel combination is either mode 1 or mode
2.
GPRS Channel Coding
RLC / MAC layer RLC / MAC header RLC Data BCS
Radio block
Convolutional coding
Puncturing
456 bits
Physical layer
4 bursts
Coding scheme Code rate Radio block excl. BCS BCS Tail Coded bits Punctured bits Bit rate
CS-1 1/2 184 40 4 456 0 9.05 kbit/s
CS-2 ~ 2/3 274 16 4 588 132 13,4 kbit/s
CS-3 ~ 3/4 318 16 4 676 220 15,6 kbit/s
CS-4 1 440 16 - 456 0 21,4 kbit/s
GPRS Channel Coding
GPRS defines four channel coding mode from CS-1 to CS-
4
Data rate is 9.05 Kbps, 13.4 Kbps, 15.6 Kbps ， 21.4 Kbps
accordingly.
Channel coding of CS-1 is the same with that of SDCCH. C/I of
CS-1 and CS-2 is the same with that of voice service with the
coverage of 90 ％－ 100 ％； C/I of CS-3 is higher ； C/I of CS-4
is much higher and favorable radio environment are required.
Network will adjust channel coding mode based on real-
time monitoring of radio transmission
Different TSL can select different channel coding mode
When the quality radio transmission is good, it’s necessary to use
more efficient coding mode.
EDGE Channel Coding
EDGE Coding Schemes MCS-1 to MCS-9
EDGE Channel Coding
Coding Family
Family A: The payload of family A code has 37 bytes. It
corresponds to MCS-3, MCS-6 or MCS-9 coding
scheme.
Family A padding: The payload of family A padding code
has 34 bytes. It corresponds to MCS-3, MCS-6,or MCS-
8 coding schemes.
Family B: The payload of family B code has 28 bytes. It
corresponds to MCS-2, MCS-5 or MCS-7 coding
scheme.
Family C: The payload of family C code has 22 bytes. It
corresponds to MCS-1 or MCS-4 coding scheme.
Content
Review of GPRS and EDGE Technologies
Channel Combination and Frame Structure
Comparison of GPRS and EDGE
Data Transferring Process
Overview Comparison of GPRS and EDGE
EDGE is built on the basis of GPRS.
EDGE has great influence on GPRS RF, physical
layer at radio interface, and RLC/MAC protocol.
Relative to GPRS, EDGE changed Link Quality
Control (LQC).
Comparison of Physical Layer: GMSK and 8-PSK
GPRS uses Gaussian Minimum Shift Keying
(GMSK) as the modulation mode.
In addition to GMSK (MCS1~MCS-4), EGPRS
also uses 8-PSK modulation mode
(MCS5~MCS9).
Comparison of RLC/MAC Layer
Comparison of Coding Scheme
GPRS uses CS1~CS4 modulation and coding schemes.
EGPRS uses MCS1~MCS9 modulation and coding
schemes.
RLC/MAC Radio Block Structure
In GPRS, a RLC radio block only corresponds to a RLC
data block.
In EGDE, a RLC radio block can correspond to two RLC
data blocks using MCS7~MCS9 coding scheme,
Link Quality Control
In GPRS, it only supports adaptive link mode.
In EDGE, it not only supports adaptive link mode
(mixed ARQ type 1), but also supports incremental
redundancy (mixed ARQ type 2).
Channel Quality Report
In GPRS, two measurements can be done up to
within 240 ms.
In EDGE, measurement can be done on the basis
of each pulse.
Content
Review of GPRS and EDGE Technologies
Channel Combination and Frame Structure
Comparison of GPRS and EDGE
Data Transferring Process
UL TBF Access
TBF establishment process on the following channels
CCCH
PCCCH
PACCH
Access Mode
ONE PHASE
means network assigns adequate resource one time upon network
receiving channel request.
TWO PHASE
means network assigns single RLC & MAC block the first time and
assign corresponding RR upon MS’s specific request.
CCCH One-phase Access
MS Network
Packet Channel Request
PRACH or RACH
Packet Immediate Assignment
PAGCH or AGCH
Uplink Data (TLLI)
PDTCH
Uplink Data (TLLI)
PDTCH
Uplink Data (TLLI)
PDTCH
......
Packet Uplink Ack/Nack
PACCH
Uplink Data PDTCH
CCCH Two-phase Access
MS Network
Packet Channel Request
PRACH or RACH
Packet Immediate Assignment
PAGCH or AGCH
Packet Resource Request
PACCH
Packet Resource Assignment
PACCH
Uplink Data
PDTCH
Uplink Data
PDTCH
GPRS UL Data Transfer
MS BSS SGSN
Access and Assignment
PDTCH Data Block
PDTCH Data Block
PDTCH Data Block (last in send window)
PACCH Packet Uplink Ack/Nack
PDTCH Data Block
PDTCH Data Block
PACCH Packet Uplink Assignment
Data Block
PACCH
PDTCH Data Block (last)
LLC PDU
final Packet Ack/Nack
PACCH
GPRS Paging
MS Network
Packet Paging Request
PPCH or PCH
Packet Channel Request
PRACH or RACH
Packet Immediate Assignment
PAGCH or AGCH
Packet Paging Response (LLC frame)
PACCH
GPRS DL Data Transfer
MS Network SGSN
LLC PDU
Immediate Assignment
AGCH
Packet Downlink Assignment
PACCH
Data Block
PDTCH
Data Block
PDTCH
Data Block (polling)
PDTCH
Packet Downlink Ack/Nack
PACCH
Data Block
PDTCH
Data Block
PDTCH
Packet Downlink Assignment
PACCH
Data Block
PDTCH
Data Block (last, polling)
PACCH
final Packet Ack/Nack
PACCH
Obtain TA in GPRS Data Transferring
TA Initialization
Initial TA value isn’t contained in Immediate Assignment
message, indicating UL data transmission will not be
conducted before TA value is gotten from TA update
System sends Packet Polling Message requesting MS
to send access burst for computing of initial TA value
Use default TA value as initial TA for cell radius is not
great.
Continuous TA update
Update once every 8x52multi-frame (1920ms,
approximately 2 second)
Continously TA Update Process
416 TDMA frames
TAI
26 TDMA frames
Uplink: 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
Downlink: TA message 1 TA message 2 TA message 3 TA message 4
Idle frame
For UL & DL data transferring, TAI will be gotten
upon getting PDCH. TAI is from 0 to 15 and
indicates 16 idle frame location of constant 8*52
multi-frame.
On UL channel, MS sends access burst on Idle
frame assigned by specified TAI. On DL,
corresponding idle frame sends TA Message.
Power Control in GPRS Transferring Process
MS UL transmission power formula （ power unit is dBM ）
P = min(0 - CH - * (C + 48), PMAX)
CH is power control parameter constant through control
message from network to MS related to MS and channels,
0 is a constant and the value is 39dBm in the case GSM900 and
36dBm in the case of DCS1800 ；
： is notified to MS by control message of BCCH or RLC , and is
a weighting factor of receiving factor when MS computing TxPwr
with the value of 0~1.
C ： standardized value of MS receiving signaling level.
PMAX is maximum transmission power allowed in cell and the
value is GPRS_MS_TXPWR_MAX_CCH when PBCCH exists
otherwise it is MS_TXPWR_MAX_CCH
