Simulator of WCDMA Procedures for Educational Purposes.

David Fajardo Patrn , Luis G. Guerrero Ojeda, David Bez Lpez, and Vicente Alarcn Aquino. Electrical Engineering Department Universidad de las Amricas, Puebla Ex-Hacienda de Santa Catarina Mrtir, Cholula, Puebla, Mxico. C.P. 72820 Phone:+(52) (222) 2292632 Fax: +(52) (222) 2292606 E-Mail: luisg.guerrero@udlap.mx

Abstract.
In this paper it is presented a system designed and developed with a didactic purpose. This system simulates the communication and link procedures of WCDMA. The system simulates the RRC connection procedures, Radio Bearer control procedures, Cell changes procedures and the intersystems Handovers. The system developed is called WCDMA Communication Procedures Simulator. It was developed using html and Macromedia Flash MX and it runs in both environments Microsoft Explorer and Netscape Navigator.

networks, as well as integrated part of the fixed network infrastructure. [1] The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) began studies on globalization of personal communications in 1986 and identified the long-term spectrum requirements for the future third-generation (3G) mobile wireless telecommunications systems. In 1992, the ITU identified 230 MHz of spectrum in de 2 GHz band to implement the International Mobiles Telecommunications-2000 (IMT-2000) system on a worldwide basis for the satellite and terrestrial components. IMT-2000 capabilities include a wide range of voice, data and multimedia services with the quality equivalent to or better than that of the wire-line telecommunications networks in different radio environments. The aim of IMT-2000 is to provide a universal coverage enabling terminals to have seamless roaming across multiple networks. The ITU accepted the overall standardization responsibility of IMT-2000 to define radio interfaces that are applicable in different radio environments including indoor, outdoor, terrestrial, and satellite. [1] The 3G mobile telecommunication systems will provide worldwide access and global roaming for a wide range of services. Standards bodies in Europe, Japan and North America are trying to achieve harmonization on the key and interrelated issues including radio interfaces; system evolution, backward compatibility, and user migration; global roaming; and phase introduction of mobile services and capabilities to support terminal mobility. The Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) studies were carried out by the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) in parallel with IMT-2000 to harmonize its efforts with ITU. In Japan and North America, standardization efforts for 3G are carried out by the Association of Radio Industries and Businesses (ARIB) and the Telecommunication Industry Association (TIA) committee TR45, respectively. Two partnership projects (3GPP and 3GPP2) are involved in harmonizing 3G efforts in the Europe, Japan and North America. [1] In Europe, 3G systems are intended to support a substantially wider and enhanced range of services

List of Abbreviations.
3G Third-generation ACTS Advance Communication Technologies and Services CN Core Network ETSI European Telecommunication Standards Institute FDD Frequency Division Duplex FRAMES Future Radio Wideband Multiple Access System GPRS General Packet Radio Service GSM Global System for Mobile Communication MUD Multiuser Detection QoS Quality of Service SMG Special Mobile Group TDD Time Division Duplex UE User Equipment UMTS Universal Mobile Telecommunications System UTRAN Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network WCDMA Wideband Code Division Multiple Access

1. 3G Systems.
Taking into account the limitations imposed by the finite amount of radio spectrum available, the focus of 3G mobile systems is on economy of network and radio transmission design to improve seamless service form a customer perspective. Third-generation mobile systems have to improve users with a seamless access to the fixed data network. Third-generation systems are perceived as the wireless extension of future fixed

Proceedings of the 15th International Conference on Electronics, Communications and Computers (CONIELECOMP 2005) 0-7695-2283-1/05 $20.00 2005 IEEE

compared with the second-generation (2G) system, the Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM). This enhanced will include multimedia services, access to the Internet, high rate data, etc. [1]

1.1 Third-Generation European Systems.

UMTS is the 3G system selected in Europe. UMTS offers teleservices (like speech or SMS) and bearer services, which provide the capability for information transfer between access points. It is possible to negotiate and renegotiate the characteristics of a bearer service at session or connection establishment and during ongoing session or connection. Both connection oriented and connectionless services are offered for Point-to-Point and Point-to-Multipoint communication. [2] A UMTS network consist of three interacting domains; Core Network (CN), UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access Network (UTRAN) and User Equipment (UE). The main function of the core network is to provide switching, routing and transit for user traffic. Core network also contains the databases and network management functions. [2] The basic Core Network architecture for UMTS is based on GSM network with GPRS. All equipment has to be modified for UMTS operation and services. The UTRAN provides the air interface access method for User Equipment. Base Station is referred as Node-B and control equipment for Node-B's is called Radio Network Controller (RNC) Figure 1 shows an example of how UMTS network could be build. [2]

1900-1920 and 2010-2025 MHz Time Division Duplex (TDD, TD/CDMA) Unpaired, channel spacing is 5 MHz and raster is 200 kHz. Tx and Rx are not separated in frequency. 1980-2010 and 2170-2200 MHz Satellite uplink and downlink. Figure 2 shows an IMT-2000 frequencies allocated in which we can appreciate UMTS branch.

Figure 2. WARC-92 IMT-2000 Frequencies. In figure 1 is shown both active elements and logical interfaces between them. Uu interface between UE and UTRAN uses the WCDMA technology and it provides UE with the capability of network access, this interface is further discussed in the next section. [3]

2. WCDMA.
With the European research program, Advance Communication Technologies and Services (ACTS), the project Future Radio Wideband Multiple Access System (FRAMES) was initiated with the objective of defining the radio interface for UMTS. As a result of FRAMES multiple access (FMA) was selected. FMA consists of two modes [1]: FMA1: Wideband TDMA with and without spreading. FMA2: direct-sequence wideband CDMA.

Figure 1. UMTS network architecture. In February 1992 World Radio Conference allocated frequencies for UMTS use.[2] As is shown next: 1920-1980 and 2110-2170 MHz Frequency Division Duplex (FDD, W-CDMA) Paired uplink and downlink, channel spacing is 5 MHz and raster is 200 kHz. An Operator needs 3 - 4 channels (2x15 MHz or 2x20 MHz) to be able to build a high-speed, high-capacity network.

In January 1998, a consensus agreement on the UMTS radio interface was reached in ETSI SMG. The proposed solutions are based on W-CDMA and TD/CDMA concepts. The W-CDMA solution is proposed for frequency-division duplex (FDD) operation in paired frequency bands, and TD/CDMA is proposed for time-division duplex (TDD) mode in the unpaired frequency band. [1] The main goals of WCDMA are [1]: Support of High-speed data (> 384 kbps with wide area coverage and up to 2 Mbps for indoor/local outdoor coverage)

Proceedings of the 15th International Conference on Electronics, Communications and Computers (CONIELECOMP 2005) 0-7695-2283-1/05 $20.00 2005 IEEE



High service flexibility wit support of multiple parallel variable-rate services on each connection Efficient packet access High initial capacity and coverage with built-in support for future capacity/coverage-enhancing technologies, such as smart antennas and advanced receiver structures (multiuser detection (MUD)) Support for interfrequency handover for operation with hierarchical cell structures Easy implementation of dual-mode UMTS/GSM terminal as well as handover between UMTS and GSM

Dedicated physical data channel(DPDCH) Dedicated physical control channel (DPCCH) Physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) Page indication channel (PICH) Acquisition indication channel (AICH) Synchronization channel (SCH) The logical channels are [3]: Broadcast control channel (BCCH) Paging control channel (PCCH) Common control channel (CCCH) Dedicated control channel (DCCH) Synchronization control channel (SCCH) ODMA common control channel (OCCCH) ODMA dedicated control channel (ODCCH) The transport channels are [1]: Dedicated channel (DCH) Fast uplink signaling channel (FAUSCH) Opportunity-driven dedicated channel (ODCH) ODMA random access channel (ORACH) Broadcast channel (BCH) Synchronization channel (SCH) Random access channel (RACH) Forward access channel (FACH) Downlink shared channel (DSCH) DSCH control channel Uplink shared channel (USCH) Common packet channel (CPCH) Paging channel (PCH) The traffic channels are [1]: Dedicated traffic channel (DTCH) ODMA dedicated traffic channel (ODTCH) Common traffic channel (CTCH)

2.1 WCDMA protocol stacks.

WCDMA is completely described by the first three layers of UTRAN protocol structure. These layers are physical layer or layer 1, medium access control (lower part of layer 2), radio link control (upper part of layer 2) and radio recourse control or layer 3. [1] Since the WCDMA air interface point of view, the most important layer is the physical layer. It makes some important functions as modulation; channel coding, measurements, error detection, multiplexing and mapping of transport channels onto physical ones, spreading, synchronization and power control. [3] The MAC layer performs the mapping of logical channels onto de transport ones, volume traffic measurements, changes in the transport format type and ciphering. [3] The RRC layer is the most important one since the procedures point of view. It makes possible the initial cell selection and reselection, transmit the system information blocks, paging, establishment and release of RRC connection, establishment, reconfiguration and release of radio bearers, assigned, reconfiguration and release of radio resources, handover procedures and inter-systems handovers, measurements control, open loop power control and control of QoS required. [3]

Figure 3 shows how the transport channels are mapped onto physical channels.

2.2 UTRA channels.

There are four kinds of channels in WCDMA: the physical channels, the logical channels, traffic channels and the transport channels. [3] The physical channels are [3]: Common pilot channel (CPICH) Primary common control physical channel (primary CCPCH) Secondary common control physical channel (secondary CCPCH) Physical random access channel (PRACH) Physical common packet channel (PCPCH)

Figure 3. Mapping of transport channels onto physical channels.

2.3 UMTS FDD codes.

In table 1 the UMTS FDD codes are shown. [2]

Proceedings of the 15th International Conference on Electronics, Communications and Computers (CONIELECOMP 2005) 0-7695-2283-1/05 $20.00 2005 IEEE

Synchronisation Channelisation Scrambling Scrambling Codes Codes Codes, UL Codes, DL

Gold Codes Primary Synchronization Codes (PSC) and Secondary Synchronization Codes (SSC) ComplexValued Gold Code Segments (long) or ComplexValued S(2) Codes (short) Pseudo Noise (PN) codes 4-512 chips 1.04 s 133.34 s = spreading factor 4 ... 256 UL, 4 ... 512 DL Yes, increases bandwidth UL: to separate physical data and control data from same terminal DL: to separate connection to different terminals in a same cell 38400 chips / 256 chips 10 ms / 66.67 s 38400 chips 10 ms 512 primary / 15 secondary for each primary code No, does not change bandwidth

Type

Orthogonal Variable Spreading Factor (OVSF) codes sometimes called Walsh Codes

ComplexValued Gold Code Segments Pseudo Noise (PN) codes

Length Duration Number of codes

256 chips 66.67 s

the procedures in the time domain. This tool was developed using Macromedia Flash MX because a requirement was to have animation and this is very easy to do in Flash MX. A characteristic of using Flash is that the user can animate any type of objects and make them appear at the desired time. In, addition, Flash projects can run under Flash player which is available free of charge in the Macromedia website. Furthermore, it can run under any web browser as Microsoft Explorer or Netscape Navigator, because it was made in HTML too. Figures 4, 5, and 6 show diffrente examples of the software. Figure 4 shows the main page where user may choose review th main topics of WCDMA basic theory or run the simulator procedures.

1 primary code / 16 secondary codes

16,777,216

Spreading change bandwidth

No, does not

No, does not change bandwidth

Usage

To enable terminals to locate and synchronise to the cells' main control channels

Separation of terminal

Separation of sectors

Table 1. FDD Codes.

2.4 Modulation.
UTRAN uses the QPSK modulation in its downlink direction. The chip rate is 3.84 Mcps. In the uplink direction, the modulation is a complex scheme which is called OCQPSK (Orthogonal Complex QPSK). [3]

2.5 Procedures in WCDMA.

The procedures in WCDMA are divided in five categories [3]. The most representative procedures are listed next: RRC connection procedures o RRC connection establishment o Signaling connection establishment o RRC connection release Radio bearer control procedures o Radio Bearer configuration o Radio Bearer establishment o Radio Bearer release o Radio Bearer reconfiguration Cell changes procedures o Soft-Handover o Hard-Handover Inter-systems handover procedures o Inter-systems handover from GSM to UMTS o Inter-systems handover from UMTS to GSM

Figure 4. Main page of the simulator. Figure 5 shows the RRC procedure where an interactive environment is available, this means that if user places the mouse on any object, then appears a window showing basic information about that topic.

Figure 5. An example showing the RRC procedure. Figure 6 shows the inter-system handover procedure, in this case, besides the interactive environment, is highlighted a panel with buttons to control the simulation of the procedure development. This play/pause/forward/backward option allows the user, to

3. Development of the software and results.

In order to let the students learn how the different procedures take place we have developed a tool to view

Proceedings of the 15th International Conference on Electronics, Communications and Computers (CONIELECOMP 2005) 0-7695-2283-1/05 $20.00 2005 IEEE

stop, forward or backward the development of the current procedure simulation.

Luis Gerardo Guerrero Ojeda received the B. Sc. degree in electronics and electrical communications engineering from the Universidad de las Amricas, Puebla in 1990 and the M.S. degree from the same university in 1994. He is currently an Associate Professor with the same department. In 1999 and 2000 he was awarded as one of the best lecturers of the Engineering School Faculty. His research interests span the areas of Telecommunications, Wireless Communications, RF Propagation, Mobile Communications, Distance Education and Virtual Instrumentation using internet. David Bez Lpez received the B. Sc. degree with honors in physics from Universidad Autnoma de Puebla 1n 1973, and the M.S. degree and Ph.D. from Arizona Satate University in 1976 and 1979, respectivamente. From 1979 to 1985 was researcher and head of the electrical engineering department in the Instituto Nacional de Astrofsica, Optica y Electrnica de 1979 a 1985. In 1985 hoe joined to the electrical engineering department of the Universidad de las Amricas,-Puebla where he was head of the electrical engineering department from 1988 a 1996. Currently he is titular professor in the same department and has been in the Mexican National System of Researchers (SNI) since 1985. Vicente Alarcn Aquino was born in Veracruz, Mxico, in 1967. He received the B. Sc. degree in electrical engineering from the Instituto Tecnolgico de Veracruz in 1989 and the M.S. degree from the Instituto Nacional de Astrofsica, Optica y Electrnica in 1993. In 2003 he received the Ph.D. from the Imperial College in U.K. He is currently an Associate Professor with the electrical engineering department in the Universidad de las Amricas, Puebla. His research interests span the areas of protocol analysis for communications networks, intruders detection, DSP using wavelets, VHDL and neural networks.

Figure 5. An example showing Inter-System handover procedure.

4. Conclusions.
We have presented a simulation tool of communication procedures of WCDMA. The simulations are developed to show how the communication procedures among different parts of a system take place. The display of the tool has animations, so the user can see the sequential order in which they are happening. Included in some elements, pertinent data is displayed, for example, a short description of interfaces, UTRAN, UE, Nodo-B, etc. Furthermore, it contains some links which guides user to the tutorial in which a general description of WCDMA most important elements are presented. It improves a past works with the adding of control buttons in each animation, with this, users can control the flow of information while the procedure is running. The simulation tool is developed in Macromedia Flash MX and HTML to able to have animations and to able to show important information about WCDMA air interface as channels, modulation, codes, mapping, spreading, etc. The tool shows how the information moves between the different parts of the system. It runs in Microsoft Explorer and Netscape Navigator, thus, it is possible to access it from a web site. References. [1] Garg, V. K., Wireless Network Evolution. PrenticeHall. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey, USA. 2002. [2] www.umtsworld.com/default.htm [3] Korhonen, J. Introduction to 3G Mobile Communication. Artech House, USA, 2001. [4] Fajardo, D. Simulation of protocols for WCDMA, B.S. Thesis, Universidad de las Amricas, Mxico, 2003.

Proceedings of the 15th International Conference on Electronics, Communications and Computers (CONIELECOMP 2005) 0-7695-2283-1/05 $20.00 2005 IEEE