GSM, GPRS and EDGE Performance: Evolution Towards 3G/UMTS

Timo Halonen, Javier Romero, Juan Melero9780470866948, 0470866942

GSM, GPRS and EDGE Performance provides a complete overview of the entire GSM system. It features comprehensive descriptions of GSM’s main evolutionary milestones – GPRS, AMR and EDGE and such developments have now positioned GERAN (GS/EDGE Radio Access Network) as a full 3G radio standard. For the first time in one volume, the radio network performance and capabilities of GSM, GPRS, AMR and EDGE solutions are studied in-depth by using revealing simulations and field trials.Cellular operators must now roll out new 3G technologies capable of delivering wireless Internet based multimedia services in a competitive and cost-effective way and this volume, divided into three parts, helps to explain how:1. Provides an introduction to the complete evolution of GSM towards a radio access network that efficiently supports UMTS services (GERAN). Both the functionality and architecture are explained and the integration of GERAN within the UMTS Qos concept for 3G networks is presented.2. Features a comprehensive study of system performance with simulations and field trials. Covers all the major features such as basic GSM, GPRS, EDGE and AMR and the full capability of the GERAN radio interface for 3G service support is envisaged. Also introduces an innovative approach for Radio Access Network automated planning and parameter optimisation tasks, together wth an in-depth analysis of automated trouble shooting.3. Discusses different 3G radio technologies and the position of GERAN within such technologies. Also includes the potential evolution paths and descriptions of the 3G Multi-Radio Radio Access Network concept, based on the seamless integrationof GSM and WCDMA radio technologies.Written by leading experts in the field, and endorsed with forewords from Mike Bamburak, Vice President, technology, Architecture & Standards, AT&T and Chris Pearson, Executive Vice President, 3G Americas, this performance-oriented and practical approach to the GSM system and its evolution will have far-reaching appeal to Engineering Professionals and Research & Development Engineers. It will also be an instant hit with technicla staff and Management working for cellular operators.

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Table of contents :
GSM, GPRS, and EDGE Performance : Evolution Towards 3G/UMTS……Page 1
Contents……Page 8
Acknowledgements……Page 20
Foreword……Page 22
Introduction……Page 28
Abbreviations……Page 32
Part 1 GERAN Evolution……Page 42
1 GSM/EDGE Standards Evolution (up to Rel’4)……Page 44
1.1 Standardisation of GSM-Phased Approach……Page 45
1.1.1 GSM/TDMA Convergence through EDGE……Page 46
1.1.2 GERAN Standardisation in 3GPP……Page 47
1.2 Circuit-switched Services in GSM……Page 49
1.2.1 Adaptive Multi-rate Codec (AMR)……Page 50
1.2.2 High Speech Circuit-switched Data (HSCSD)……Page 52
1.3.1 LCS Standardisation Process……Page 54
1.4.1 Introduction of GPRS (Rel’97)……Page 55
1.4.2 GPRS Network Architecture……Page 56
1.4.3 GPRS Interfaces and Reference Points……Page 61
1.4.4 GPRS Protocol Architecture……Page 63
1.4.5 Mobility Management……Page 66
1.4.6 PDP Context Functions and Addresses……Page 68
1.4.9 GPRS Radio Interface……Page 69
1.5.1 8-PSK Modulation in GSM/EDGE Standard……Page 88
1.5.2 Enhanced General Packet Radio Service (EGPRS)……Page 90
1.5.3 Enhanced Circuit-switched Data (ECSD)……Page 92
1.5.4 Class A Dual Transfer Mode (DTM)……Page 94
1.5.6 GPRS and EGPRS Enhancements in Rel’4……Page 95
References……Page 96
2 Evolution of GERAN Standardisation (Rel’5, Rel’6 and beyond)……Page 98
2.1 GERAN Rel’5 Features……Page 99
2.1.1 Iu Interface for GERAN and the New Functional Split……Page 100
2.1.3 Speech Capacity and Quality Enhancements……Page 102
2.1.4 Location Service Enhancements for Gb and Iu Interfaces……Page 103
2.1.5 Inter-BSC and BSC/RNC NACC (Network-assisted Cell Change)……Page 104
2.2.1 General……Page 105
2.2.2 Architecture and Interfaces……Page 106
2.2.3 Radio Access Network Interfaces……Page 110
2.3 GERAN Rel’6 Features……Page 122
2.3.1 Flexible Layer One……Page 123
2.3.2 Single Antenna Interference Cancellation (SAIC)……Page 127
2.3.3 Multimedia Broadcast Multicast Service (MBMS) in GERAN……Page 128
References……Page 129
3 GERAN QoS Evolution Towards UMTS……Page 132
3.1 Mobile Network as a Data Transport Media for IP-based Services……Page 133
3.2 Example of IP-based Applications Using Mobile Network as Data Bearer……Page 136
3.2.3 Audio/Video Streaming……Page 137
3.2.4 IMS Services……Page 139
3.3 End-to-end QoS in the 3GPP QoS Architecture……Page 140
3.4 PDP-context QoS Parameter Negotiation……Page 142
3.4.1 QoS Authorisation for IMS and Non-IMS Services with PDF……Page 146
3.5 Negotiated PDP-context QoS Enforcement in GERAN (and UTRAN)……Page 147
3.5.1 Control Plane QoS Mechanisms……Page 148
3.5.2 User Plane QoS Mechanisms……Page 153
3.6 End-to-end QoS Management……Page 156
3.6.1 Example of Service Activation Procedure……Page 157
References……Page 158
4 Mobile Station Location……Page 160
4.1 Applications……Page 161
4.2 Location Architectures……Page 162
4.3.1 Basic Service Level……Page 164
4.3.2 Enhanced Service Level……Page 167
4.3.3 Extended Service Level……Page 172
4.4.1 Basic Service Level Performance……Page 174
4.4.2 Enhanced Service Level Performance……Page 178
References……Page 180
Part 2 GSM, GPRS and EDGE Performance……Page 182
5.1 GSM Radio System Description……Page 184
5.1.1 Basic Channel Structure……Page 185
5.1.2 Transmitting and Receiving Chain……Page 187
5.1.3 Propagation Effects……Page 190
5.1.4 Basic TCH Link Performance with Frequency Hopping……Page 192
5.1.5 Discontinuous Transmission (DTX)……Page 196
5.1.6 Power Control……Page 199
5.2.1 Speech KPIs……Page 200
5.2.2 Data KPIs……Page 208
5.3 Spectral Efficiency……Page 214
5.3.1 Effective Reuse……Page 215
5.3.3 Frequency Allocation Reuse……Page 216
5.3.5 Effective Frequency Load……Page 217
5.4.1 Network Performance Characterisation……Page 219
5.4.2 Trial Area Definition……Page 220
5.4.3 Methodology Validation……Page 222
5.5 Baseline Network Performance……Page 223
References……Page 225
6.1 Basic GSM Performance……Page 228
6.1.1 Frequency Hopping……Page 229
6.1.2 Power Control……Page 234
6.1.3 Discontinuous Transmission……Page 235
6.2 Reuse Partitioning……Page 237
6.2.1 Basic Operation……Page 238
6.2.2 Reuse Partitioning and Frequency Hopping……Page 239
6.3.2 Traffic Reason Handover (TRHO)……Page 241
6.4 Performance of GSM HR Speech Channels……Page 242
6.5.1 Introduction……Page 244
6.5.2 GSM AMR Link Level Performance……Page 245
6.5.3 GSM AMR System Level Performance……Page 248
6.6.1 Introduction……Page 257
6.6.2 System Level Performance……Page 258
6.7.2 EDGE NB-AMR Performance……Page 260
6.7.4 EDGE Wideband AMR Codecs……Page 263
6.8.1 SAIC Techniques Overview……Page 265
6.8.2 SAIC Link Performance and Conditioning Factors……Page 266
6.8.3 SAIC Network Performance……Page 268
6.9.1 FLO for Circuit-switched Voice……Page 270
6.9.2 FLO for VoIP……Page 271
References……Page 273
7 GPRS and EGPRS Performance……Page 276
7.1.1 Introduction……Page 277
7.1.3 RF Impairments……Page 278
7.1.4 Interference-limited Performance……Page 279
7.2.1 Polling and Acknowledgement Strategy……Page 286
7.2.2 Link Adaptation Algorithms for (E)GPRS……Page 288
7.2.3 (E)GPRS Channel Allocation……Page 293
7.2.4 (E)GPRS Scheduler……Page 295
7.2.5 GPRS and EGPRS Multiplexing……Page 296
7.2.6 Power Control……Page 297
7.3.2 Modeling Issues and Performance Measures……Page 299
7.3.3 GPRS Performance in a Separate Non-hopping Band……Page 302
7.3.4 GPRS Performance in a Separate Band with RF Hopping……Page 309
7.3.5 GPRS Spectrum Efficiency with QoS Criterion……Page 310
7.4.3 EGPRS Performance with Link Adaptation in a Separate Non-hopping Band……Page 313
7.4.4 EGPRS Performance in a Separate Band with RF Hopping……Page 317
7.4.5 Spectrum Efficiency with QoS Criterion……Page 319
7.4.7 Effect of Traffic Burstiness……Page 322
7.4.8 (E)GPRS Deployment……Page 325
7.4.9 Gradual EDGE Introduction……Page 326
7.5 Mixed Voice and Data Traffic Capacity……Page 328
7.5.1 Best-effort Data Traffic……Page 329
7.5.4 Erlang Translation Factors……Page 330
7.6 (E)GPRS Performance Estimation Based on Real Network Measurements……Page 333
7.7 Application Performance Over (E)GPRS……Page 336
7.8.1 TSL Capacity Measurements……Page 338
7.8.2 EGPRS Performance Measurements……Page 343
References……Page 346
8.1 Characterization of End-user Performance……Page 348
8.1.1 Data Link Effects……Page 349
8.1.2 Upper Layer Effects……Page 350
8.2 Packet Data Services……Page 360
8.2.1 Web Browsing……Page 361
8.2.2 WAP Browsing……Page 363
8.2.3 Multimedia Messaging Service……Page 364
8.2.4 Streaming……Page 366
8.2.6 Push to Talk over Cellular (PoC)……Page 368
8.3 End-user Performance Analysis……Page 374
8.3.1 Web Browsing Performance……Page 375
8.3.2 WAP Browsing Performance……Page 377
8.3.3 Multimedia Messaging Service Performance……Page 379
8.3.4 Streaming Performance……Page 380
8.3.5 On-line Gaming Performance……Page 382
8.4 Methods to Optimize End-user Performance……Page 383
References……Page 389
9 Dynamic Frequency and Channel Allocation……Page 392
9.1.2 Implementation of Synchronisation……Page 393
9.1.4 Synchronisation Accuracy……Page 394
9.2.1 CIR Estimation……Page 399
9.2.3 Radio Channel Selection……Page 400
9.2.4 Information Exchange……Page 402
9.2.5 DFCA Frequency Hopping Modes……Page 403
9.3.1 Multitude of CS Services……Page 404
9.4.1 Performance in Ideal Network Layout……Page 405
9.4.2 Performance in Typical Network Layout……Page 412
9.5 DFCA for Packet-switched (PS) Services……Page 416
9.6 Simulations of DFCA in Mixed CS and PS Services Environment……Page 418
9.7 Summary……Page 419
References……Page 420
10.1 What is a Narrowband Network?……Page 422
10.1.2 Narrow Licensed Frequency Spectrum……Page 423
10.1.3 Microcell Deployment……Page 424
10.2 Performance of Narrowband Networks……Page 425
10.3.1 BCCH Reuse for Narrowband Scenarios……Page 426
10.3.2 Narrowband BCCH and Hopping Deployment Strategies……Page 427
10.3.3 Need of Guardband……Page 428
10.4 BCCH Underlay……Page 430
10.4.2 BCCH Underlay Simulation and Trial Results……Page 431
10.5 Transmit Diversity Gains……Page 435
References……Page 437
11.1 Basics of Radio Link Performance……Page 438
11.1.1 Minimum Performance Requirements……Page 439
11.1.2 Radio Link Power Budget……Page 441
11.2.1 Uplink Diversity Reception……Page 444
11.2.2 Uplink Interference Rejection……Page 445
11.2.3 Mast Head Amplifier……Page 446
11.2.4 Downlink Transmit Diversity……Page 447
11.2.5 Macrodiversity……Page 451
11.3.2 Field Measurements……Page 454
11.4.1 Uplink Diversity Reception……Page 457
11.4.2 Downlink Transmit Diversity……Page 458
11.4.3 Macrodiversity……Page 461
References……Page 464
12.1.1 Physical and Logical Channels……Page 466
12.1.2 Control Channel Configurations……Page 467
12.1.3 Usage of Control Channels……Page 469
12.1.4 Channel Coding and Interleaving……Page 471
12.2.1 Simulation Model……Page 472
12.2.2 Comparison of Channels……Page 473
12.3 Signalling Reliability and Delays……Page 475
12.3.1 Probabilistic Models……Page 476
12.3.2 SCH Information Broadcast……Page 477
12.3.4 RR Connection Establishment……Page 478
12.3.5 L2 Link Establishment……Page 480
12.3.7 Call Establishment and Location Update……Page 481
12.3.8 Handover and Channel Transfer……Page 482
12.3.9 Measurements and Power Control……Page 483
12.3.11 Conclusions……Page 485
12.4.1 Physical Layer Comparison……Page 486
12.4.2 System Level Comparison……Page 487
12.4.3 Conclusions……Page 490
12.5.2 Signalling Capacity for GSM Voice……Page 491
12.5.4 (E)GPRS Traffic Assumptions……Page 499
References……Page 506
13.1 Introduction to Radio Network Optimisation……Page 508
13.1.1 Operational Efficiency……Page 509
13.1.2 Characteristics of Automation……Page 510
13.1.3 Areas of Automation……Page 511
13.2.1 Outline of the Problem……Page 513
13.2.2 Traditional Frequency Planning……Page 515
13.2.3 The New Frequency Planning Concept……Page 518
13.2.4 Signal-level Reporting in GERAN……Page 519
13.2.5 Review of Interference Matrix Types……Page 523
13.2.6 MMFP Trial Results……Page 524
13.3 Automated Measurement-based Adjacency Planning……Page 525
13.3.1 Maintaining Adjacencies……Page 526
13.3.3 A Description of the Adjacency Management Process……Page 527
13.3.4 Network Test Results……Page 529
13.4.1 Outline of Problem……Page 532
13.4.2 Control Engineering for Automatic Parameter Optimisation in Mobile Networks……Page 533
13.4.3 Applications of Radio Network Parameter Optimisation……Page 536
13.5.1 Introduction……Page 542
13.5.2 Troubleshooting Process……Page 543
13.5.3 Decision Support Systems……Page 544
13.5.4 Bayesian Network Models……Page 546
13.5.5 Knowledge Acquisition……Page 548
13.5.6 Troubleshooting Sequence……Page 549
13.5.8 Interaction with the Network Management System……Page 550
References……Page 551
Part 3 3G Evolution Paths……Page 554
14.1 IMT-2000 3G Technologies and Evolution Paths……Page 556
14.2 3G Technology Support of Licensed Frequency Bands……Page 558
14.3.1 WCDMA Basics……Page 559
14.3.2 Multi-carrier CDMA (cdma2000) Fundamentals……Page 566
14.4.1 Voice Performance……Page 569
14.4.2 Data Performance……Page 572
14.4.3 Conclusions……Page 576
14.5.2 UMTS Multi-radio Evolution……Page 577
14.5.4 Trunking Efficiency Benefits from Multi-radio Integration……Page 579
14.5.5 QoS-based Multi-radio Integration……Page 580
References……Page 582
15.1.1 Operators’ Business Impact……Page 584
15.1.2 3G Technologies-Requirements……Page 586
15.2.1 Technology Globalisation……Page 587
15.2.2 Economies of Scale……Page 588
15.3 3G Technology Evolution Paths. UMTS Multi-radio and cdma2000……Page 590
15.3.1 From 2G to 3G……Page 591
References……Page 594
A.1 MAIO Management Limitations and Planning……Page 596
A.2 MAIO Management Limitations for Different Effective Reuses and Antenna Beamwidth……Page 598
B.1.1 The Erlang-B Formula……Page 600
B.1.2 Blocking Probability for HR/FR Scenario……Page 601
B.1.3 Effective Factor……Page 605
B.2 (E)GPRS HW Dimensioning Analysis……Page 609
B.2.1 Dedicated PS Resources……Page 610
B.2.2 Shared PS and CS Resources……Page 612
References……Page 619
C.2 Theoretical Analysis……Page 620
C.3 Simulations……Page 622
C.3.1 BCCH Layer Performance……Page 623
C.3.3 Effect of Power Control……Page 624
C.4 Final Results and Conclusions……Page 626
References……Page 627
D.1 Introduction……Page 628
D.2.1 Adjacent Channel Power……Page 630
D.3 Coverage Effects……Page 631
D.3.2 Uplink……Page 632
D.4 The Interference from WCDMA to GSM……Page 634
D.5 Monte-Carlo Simulation Study (GSM/EDGE and IS-95)……Page 635
D.6 Summary……Page 637
References……Page 638
E.2 Static Simulations……Page 640
E.3 Basic Principles of Dynamic Simulation……Page 641
E.4.2 Basic Functionality of the Simulator……Page 643
E.4.3 Link-Level Interface……Page 645
References……Page 649
Appendix F Trial Partners……Page 650
Index……Page 652