WCDMA Downlink Physical Channels (FDD)

Common Downlink Physical Channels:

Time multiplex the broadcast channel (BCH) and the synchronization channel (SCH). BCH: broadcast system and cell-specific information. SCH: Carries Primary and Secondary Synchronization Codes, used for Slot synchronization. Frame synchronization. Detection of the scrambling code group (one out of 64). Idle mode: Transmits idle-mode signaling and control information to UE. Connected mode: send low-rate PS services (short infrequent data) as well as L3 signaling. Carries both the Paging Channel (PCH) and the Forward Access Channel (FACH). PCH: downlink transport CH used for paging. FACH: downlink transport CH carries control information to UE after it sent RACH to the base station. As the type of transport channel transmitted using this physical channel varies, Transport Format Combination Indication (TFCI) or Discontinuous Transmission (DTX) bits need to be sent to inform the receiving side of the channel types and bit rates. Sends the scrambling code of the cell. Provides coherent phase reference for DL channels Aids channel estimation (handover and cell selection). By adjusting the CPICH power level, the cell size and load between different cells can be balanced. sectored cells

P-CCPCH

S-CCPCH

P-CPICH S-CPICH

Dedicated Downlink Physical Channels:

(DPDCH) and (DPCCH) are time multiplexed onto one WCDMA slot in the downlink. DPDCH (one or more per UE): carries user traffic, layer 2 overhead bits, and layer 3 signaling data, for example, handover reports and commands. In DPDCH, the SF varies from 512(offers 15 kbps) to 4 (offers 960 kbps) to allow it to carry variable data rates. DPCCH (one per UE): The DPCCH carries layer 1 control bits: Pilot, TPC, and TFCI Pilot bits, which are used by the receiver to make different types of measurements. Transmit Power Control (TPC) bits, which are used in the inner loop power control. Transport Format Combination Indicator (TFCI) bits, which are used to inform the receiver about the transport format used. In DPCCH, the SF for the DPCCH is set to 256. In Uplink: DPCCH and DPDCH are not time multiplexed to improve the peak-to-average ratio. In Uplink: DPDCH uses the I-branch and the DPCCH uses the Q-branch. Transmits high-speed data to multiple users and layer 2 overhead bits Carries control information on how to decode the information on HS-PDSCH and which UE shall decode it. physical uplink channel to send ACK/NAK reports and channel quality reports Transmits response signaling of HS-PDSCH

DPDCH DPCCH

HS-PDSCH HS-SCCH HS-DPCCH

Downlink Indication Channels:

AICH
Acknowledges that the RBS has acquired a UE Random Access attempt Echoes the UEs Random Access signature Used to alert UEs of an incoming page sent on the S-CCPCH. Used together with (PCH) to provide UEs with an efficient sleep-mode operation to save battery in idle mode. Layer 1 channel only, that is, it originates in the physical layer.

PICH