Session 5

Technical Aspects of LTE

Part III: Uplink and
Downlink Channels
ITU ASP COE Training on Technology,
Standardization and Deployment of Long
Term Evolution (IMT)
Sami TABBANE

9-11 December 2013 Islamic Republic of Iran

1

Agenda

1. LTE Radio Interface

2. Downlink Features
3. Downlink Radio Resources
4. DL Reference Signals
5. Uplink Features
6. Radio Channels
2

LTE/SAE

1. LTE Radio Interface

LTE physical layer

User #1 scheduled

f=15kHz

User #2 scheduled

DL: adaptive OFDM

Scheduling channel and link adaptation dependent in
the time and frequency domain

User #3
scheduled

UL: SC-FDMA with a dynamic bandwidth (pre-coded OFDM)

PAPR Better spectrum efficiency
Reduced UL interference (allows intra-cell orthogonality)

180 kHz

frequency

Flexible bandwidth (with resolution of 180 kHz)

Possibility to deploy in bandwidth of <5 MHz to 20
MHz
Multiple antennas, RBS and terminal
MIMO, antennas lobes, TX- and RX diversity, interference rejection
High bitrates and higher capacity
Harmonised FDD and TDD concept
FDD and TDD maximum spectrum sharing

<5

Maximum UE capacity: BW = 20 MHz

FDD--only
FDD

frequency

10

TX

RX

15

20 MHz

Half--duplex FDD
Half

fDL

fDL

fUL

fUL

TDD--only
TDD
fDL/UL

Temporal structure of LTE

Temporal Structure of High Level Transmission LTE

A radio frame duration Tframe = 10 ms, consists of 10

sub-frames, duration Tsubframe = 1 ms
Provide consistent time intervals
LTE radio access
delays expressed as multiples of the unit time Ts =
1/30720000 Tframe = 307 200 Ts, Tsubframe = 30720 Ts
5

Temporal structure of LTE

In FDD mode (Operation in paired spectrum)

all subframes of a carrier either used for
uplink or in downlink

Downlink / Uplink subframes Allocation for the FDD

Temporal structure of LTE

For the 5 MHz, there are 512 sub-carriers of 15 kHz. The total band is 7.68 MHz.
Larger than the 5 MHz band

Temporal structure of LTE

Advantages of using LTE TDD: it is possible to dynamically change
the up and downlink balance and characteristics to meet the load
conditions.
7 up / downlink configurations have been defined.

D/U is a subframe for downlink/ Uplink transmission and S is a "special" subframe

used as a guard time.
8

Temporal structure of LTE

In TDD mode (Operation in non-paired spectrum):

The first and sixth subframes (subframes 0 and 5)
are always allocated to the DL
The other sub-frames can be allocated to UL or DL
The 1st and 6th subframes contain synchronization
signals:
Transmitted in each cell
Allows the current and neighboring cells scan.
9

Temporal structure of LTE

TDD Downlink / Uplink Allocation of subframes

10

Temporal structure of LTE

5/5

TDD mode subframes allocation flexibility allows several

asymmetries in terms of radio resources (sub-frames) allocated on
uplink and downlink
The allocation of sub-frames must be the same for neighboring cells
to avoid severe interference between uplink and downlink
asymmetry
Uplink / Downlink cannot change dynamically (the
frame rate)
There are two types of frame structure in LTE:
Generic type 1: used in FDD and TDD
Generic type 2: used in TDD for coexistence with systems based on
the 3GPP TD-SCDMA

11

LTE/SAE

2. Downlink Features

12

Downlink physical resources

Downlink Physical resource

13

DL physical resource
1 resource block
(127 = 84 resource elements)

One frame (10 ms)

One sub-frame (1 ms)

One resource element

12 sub-carriers

One slot (0.5 ms)

TCP

Tu

Temporal structure:
10 ms frame = 10 sub-frames of 1 ms
1 sub-frame = 2 slots of 0.5 ms
1 slot = 7 symbols OFDM (6 symbols if extended CP)
Resource blocks:
12 sub-carriers during 1 slot
Allocation by pair of 2 consecutive resource blocks
DC carrier not used
14

Downlink physical resources

Cyclic prefixes of different lengths can be used in different subframes

Each Resource Block is composed of 12 subcarriers in a slot of 0.5 ms
Each Resource Block is composed of:
12 * 7 = 84 Resource Elements for normal cyclic prefix
12 * 6 = 72 Resource Elements for extended cyclic prefix

Resource Block for a Normal Cyclic Prefix

15

Signaling

A DL resource contains signaling bits:

Specific reference signals (RS) of the Cell (channel estimation and CQI
measurements)
L1/L2 signaling (for DL HARQ and scheduling info, UL scheduling, power
commands)
Primary and secondary synchronization signals (Cell selection)
Broadcast and paging channel
One frame (10 ms)

One sub-frame (1 ms)

One resource element

12 sub-carriers

One slot (0.5 ms)

TCP

Tu
16

Downlink physical layer

3. Downlink Radio Resources

17

Radio resources (1)

18

Radio resources (2)

19

Frame structure

20

Downlink physical layer

4. DL Reference Signals

21

Overview

Signals on the DL PHY layer

P-SS (Primary Synchronization Signal): used for initial
sync
S-SS (Secondary Synchronization Signal): frame boundary
determination
RS (reference signals): pilots for channel estimation and
tracking

Signals on the UL PHY layer

Demodulation Reference Signal: sync and channel
estimation
SRS (Sounding reference signals): transmitted on the
uplink to allow the network estimate the quality of the
channel on different frequencies.
22

Downlink reference signals

To perform coherent demodulation, the terminal needs to

estimate the channel Insert known reference symbols in
the OFDM time-frequency grid LTE Downlink Reference
Signals
The reference symbols are inserted:
In the first OFDM symbol and the third symbol from the end of
slot
With a frequency spacing of 6 subcarriers
With 3 sub-carriers spacing between the first and second
reference symbols

4 reference Resource Block symbols

23

Downlink reference signals

To reduce noise channel estimation on the time-frequency grid, the

terminal must perform interpolations on symbols of multiple
reference
To estimate the channel of a Resource Block, the
terminal can use the symbols of Resource Blocks references
neighbors and slots / subframe previous
For a frequency selective channel, the ability to interpolate in the
frequency domain is limited
The ability to interpolate in the time domain is limited in cases of:
High mobility of the terminal
TDD (The previous sub-frames cannot be allocated to the downlink)

24

Downlink reference signals

Structure of the reference signals in case of downlink transmission

with 2 antennas

25

Downlink reference signals

Structure of the reference signals in case of downlink transmission

with 4 antennas
26

Downlink transport channel processing

Downlink Transport Channel Processing

27

Uplink physical layer

5. Uplink Features

28

UL frame structure
Sub-frame = 2 slots
1 slot =
6 blocks for the data (each block consists in one DFTS-OFDM
symbol)
1 block for the reference signals (used for UL channel estimation
for the coherent demodulation)
Transmission bandwidth and frequency location are controlled by
Node B scheduler
If a single frequency transmitter is used, resources can be treated
the same as in OFDMA
User #1

User #2

Data

Reference signal
29

Uplink physical resources

Structure of DFTS-OFDM Transmission Base

A DFT of size M is applied to a block of M symbols

The output of DFT is applied to a subset of the inputs of IFFT
of size N.
30

Uplink physical resources

The basic parameters of the uplink in LTE are as far as

possible aligned with the downlink:
Spacing between subcarriers f = 15 kHz
Resource Blocks consisting of 12 subcarriers

Unlike the downlink, the DC subcarrier is used in the

uplink because:
The presence of a DC subcarrier in the middle of the
spectrum makes possible the allocation of the entire band
to a single mobile while maintaining the low PAPR property
DFT pre-coding spreads the effect of DC interference for M
symbols of a block making it less critical than for a normal
OFDM transmission
31

Uplink physical resources

The total number of subcarriers in the uplink is Nsc = 12*NRB

The physical layer in the uplink allows much flexibility in terms of
frequencies band system: Any number of Resource Blocks from 6
The time structure is very similar to the downlink:
Each sub-frame consists of two slots of duration Tslot = 0.5 ms
Each slot consists of a number of DFT blocks including a cyclic
prefix
Two periods of cyclic prefix: Normal and extended

32

Uplink physical resources

Sub-frame and Slot Structures: each sub-frame consists of 2 Slots

Each slot consists of 6 or 7 DFTS-OFDM blocks
33

Uplink physical resources

Unlike the uplink, the resource blocks assigned to the terminal

in the uplink must be consecutive in the frequency domain
Same as in the downlink, a resource block in the uplink is
composed of 12 DFTS-OFDM subcarriers in a slot of 0.5 ms

RB: Resource Block

Resource allocation in the uplink

34

Uplink physical resources

Inter-slot frequency hopping can be used in the uplink
Physical resources used on the 2 slots do not occupy the
same subcarriers
RF transmission band completely covers the spectrum in the
uplink
The frequency hopping changes the DFT-IFFT
mapping
Frequency hopping two benefits: Diversity and frequency
diversity interference

Frequency hopping in the uplink

35

Uplink Transport Channel Processing

1/3

Transport Channel Processing

in the uplink

36

Downlink physical layer

6. Radio Channels

37

Radio channels

To be flexible, the E-UTRAN offers several types of

channels:
Logical channels (What is transmitted)
Transport channels (How is it transmitted)
Physical channels

The logical channels correspond to data transfer services

offered by the protocols of the radio interface to higher
layers
There are two types of logical channels:
Control channels: Transfer of Control Plane Information
Traffic channels: Transfer user plane information

38

Radio channels

E-UTRAN mapping between channel types (as in the network).

39

Radio channels

The E-UTRAN channel model was inherited

from the UTRAN channel model

Logical Channels / Transport Channels Association in the MAC Layer of RNC

UTRAN / FDD

40

Radio channels

UTRAN and E-UTRAN models:

Share almost the same logical channels
Completely different scale of transport channels: DCH channel
present in the UTRAN has disappeared from the E-UTRAN

Point-to-point E-UTRAN Data services are packet oriented

and use a single transport channel: SCH (Shared Channel)
The radio interface follows the same operating mode as the
network all-IP packet core
E-UTRAN channels are simpler
The SCH is an evolution of the HS-DSCH (HSDPA) and E-DCH
(HSUPA)

41

Channels (4)

42

Channels (3)

Logical Channels
Control channels:
Broadcast Control Channel
(BCCH)
Paging Control Channel (PCCH)
Common Control Channel
(CCCH)
Multicast Control Channel
(MCCH)
Dedicated Control Channel
(DCCH)

Mapping between the logical and transport channels DL

Traffic channels:
Dedicated Traffic Channel
(DTCH)
Multicast Traffic Channel
(MTCH)
43

Radio channels

Logical control channels:

BCCH (Broadcast Control Channel): Systems information
broadcasting; Broadcast information used by the terminal
operator to know the configuration of common channels
and how to access the network
The PCCH (Paging Control Channel): paging information to
terminals

44

Radio channels

CCCH (Common Control Channel):

Used to connect terminal and E-UTRAN in the absence of
RRC connection
Used in the initial communication establishment phase

MCCH (Multicast Control Channel): used to transmit

MBMS (Multimedia Broadcast and Multicast Services)
information to one or more terminals
DCCH (Dedicated Control Channel): Point-to-point
bidirectional channel carrying control information
(RRC and NAS) between a terminal and the network

45

Radio channels

Logical traffic channels:

DTCH (Dedicated Traffic Channel): point-to-point
bidirectional, between a terminal and the network for user
data
MTCH (Traffic Multicast Channel): point-to-multipoint
channel transfer network data to one or more terminals
(associate the MBMS service)

Transport channels describe how and with what

characteristics data is transferred over the radio
interface: Channel coding, CRC protection, interleaving,
packet size transmitted Transport Format
46

LTE Downlink Logical Channels

47

LTE Downlink Logical Channels

48

Channels

49

Channels

Transport Channels
Only shared channels.
Downlink transport channels:
Broadcast Channel (BCH)
Downlink Shared Channel (DL-SCH)
Paging Channel (PCH)
Multicast Channel (MCH)

50

Radio channels

The transport channels are classified into two categories:

Downlink Transport Channels
Uplink Transport Channels

Downlink transport channels:

BCH (Broadcast Channel):
Associated with the BCCH
Has a predefined transport format

PCH (Paging Channel): Associated to the PCCH

DL-SCH (Downlink Shared Channel): control and user data
MCH (Multicast Channel): Associated to MBMS

51

Radio channels

Uplink transport channels:

UL-SCH (Uplink Shared Channel): Equivalent to DL-SCH
RACH (Random Access Channel):
Limited transfer of control information
Used at the beginning of the establishment of a
communication and in case of RRC state change

Physical channels: represent the implementation

of the transport channels on the radio interface
Structure related to the characteristics of the
OFDM physical interface
52

LTE Downlink Transport Channel

53

LTE Downlink Transport Channel

54

Radio channels
Downlink physical channels:
Physical Downlink Shared Channel (PDSCH): user data and signaling of
higher layers,
Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH): scheduling decisions to
individual UEs, i.e. scheduling assignments for uplink and downlink,
Physical Multicast Channel (PMCH): Multicast / Broadcast information,
Physical Broadcast Channel (PBCH): System Information,
Physical Control Channel Format Indicator (PCFICH): Number symbols
for the PDCCH (1, 2, 3, or 4 symbols are possible). PCFICH is needed
because the load on PDCCH can vary, depending on the number of
users in a cell and the signaling formats conveyed on PDCCH,
Physical Hybrid ARQ Indicator Channel (PHICH): ACK and NACK.

55

Radio channels

Uplink physical channels:

Physical Uplink Shared Channel (PUSCH): user data and
signaling high layers
Physical Uplink Control Channel (PUCCH): control
information, including ACK and NACK.
Physical Random Access Channel (PRACH): random access

The physical layer uses the physical signals:

Reference signals (signal through the antenna port on the
DL)
Timing signals (primary and secondary signals)

56

Radio channels

System Information is composed of:

Critical information systems: Fixed format,
Updated frequently, with the PBCH
Dynamic and less critical information systems:
Association with a transport channel with more
flexibility in terms of band and repetition period
DL-SCH

57

Radio channels

Multicast channels MCCH and associated MTCH:

Transport channel for the MCH service offering multi-cell MBMS
DL-SCH channel in case the MBMS service is available in a single
cell

Physical channels PUCCH, PDCCH, PCFICH and PHICH:

Do not carry higher layers information.
Carry information related to coding and HARQ

RACH is a transport channel: Carries a preamble (All first

bits are sent by the terminal to the network to request
access)

58

PBCH channel

Physical Broadcast Channel (PBCH):

Carries system information necessary for network access
(RACH parameters, ...)
Occupies 1.08 MHz (6 Resource Blocks) band
independent of the carrier bandwidth
Uses a convolutional coding.

Information partially carried by the PBCH:

The Master Information Block is carried by PBCH
The System Information Blocks are carried by the PDSCH

59

LTE Downlink Physical Channels

60

LTE Downlink Physical Channels

61

LTE Uplink Logical Channels

62

LTE Uplink Transport Channel

63

LTE Uplink Physical Channels

64

PBCH channel

Center of the PBCH band Locating (600 subcarriers = 9 MHz)

65

Physical channels synthesis: subframe structure on the carrier

DL
PBCH: Broadcast channel
PCFICH: PDCCH symbol
PDCCH: Assigns
PDSCH/PUSCH
PHICH: Indicates HARQACK for UL
PDSCH: Transmits Data
PMCH: Transmits
Multicast channel
Synchronization Signal:
UE synchronization
UL
PUCCH: Transmits
ACK/NACK, CQI, SR
PUSCH: Transmits Data
PRACH: Transmits
Random Access Preamble
SRS: For UL CQI
measurement
66

Physical channels synthesis

67

Physical channels synthesis

68

Radio Architecture

69

LTE downlink frame

70

Thank you

71