Compressed mode is a physical layer function that allows the UE to temporarily

tune to another frequency and measure the RF environment of another UMTS

frequency (IFHO) or another technology (IRATHO), while maintaining an existing
dedicated channel. Unlike TDMA type air interfaces, the WCDMA physical frame
does not contain any idle or unused slots to make measurements on other
frequencies or other technologies. Compressed mode may take one of two forms
SF/2 for circuit switched voice and HLS (higher layered scheduling) for packet
services. SF/2 leads to 50% reduction in spreading factor and increasing the power
of the compressed fame by 3dB in addition to the downlink power utilization,
compressed mode also effect capacity by consuming more codes in the downlink,
increasing the channel element usage, and increasing uplink noise rise due to
increasing UE transmit power. Because of this side effect s care must be taken to
ensure that UE's do not unnecessarily trigger compressed mode. In addition, the
time spent in compressed mode should be minimized. In case of HLS does not
required additional power, code usage, channel element usage, or UE transmit
power to achieve compressed mode operation only the throughput will be
decreased.

What is compressed mode and why it is required?

InGSM system there are dedicated idle frames available, which are used for
neighbor cell measurements required for cell re-selection. The same is depicted in
various GSM frames used for signaling(51 frame multiframe) and traffic (26 frame
multiframe) as well as GPRS frame structure(52 frame multiframe).

In the case ofWCDMA systems such idle frames are not available and frame
structure is continuous and not bursty. Hence there is no place dedicated in the
frame structure to perform measurements. There is a concept called compressed
mode, in which network provides gaps for Mobile/UE to perform measurements.
During these gaps no conversation/packet data flow happens and the gaps are
solely used for neighbor cell measurements.

Compressed mode, also known as the Slotted Mode, is needed when making
measurements on another frequency (inter-frequency) or on a different radio
technology (inter-RAT). In the Compressed Mode the transmission and reception are
stopped for a short time and the measurements are performed on other frequency
or RAT in that time. After the time is over the transmission and reception resumes.
To make sure that the data is not lost, the data is compressed in the frame making
empty space where measurements can be performed.
Compressed mode is not necessary. If the UE has a second receiver it can make
measurements on that receiver while continuing with the transmission/reception on
the first receiver. This does not happen in practice as the cost would go up. The UE
capabilities define whether a UE requires compressed mode in order to monitor cells
on other FDD frequencies and on other modes and radio access technologies. UE
capabilities indicate the need for compressed mode separately for the uplink and
downlink and for each mode, radio access technology and frequency band.
A UE shall support compressed mode for all cases for which the UE indicates that
compressed mode is required. A UE does not need to support compressed mode for
cases for which the UE indicates that compressed mode is not required. For these
cases, the UE shall support an alternative means of making the measurements. The
UE shall support one single measurement purpose for one transmission gap pattern
sequence. The measurement purpose of the transmission gap pattern sequence is
signaled by higher layers.
The figure above gives an idea of how the frame is compressed for performing
measurements. In compressed frames, TGL slots from Nfirst to Nlast are not used
for transmission of data. As illustrated in figure, the instantaneous transmit power is
increased in the compressed frame in order to keep the quality (BER, FER, etc.)
unaffected by the reduced processing gain. The amount of power increase depends
on the transmission time reduction method. What frames are compressed, are
decided by the network. When in compressed mode, compressed frames can occur
periodically, as illustrated in figure, or requested on demand. The rate and type of
compressed frames is variable and depends on the environment and the
measurement requirements.

Compressed mode in UMTS is an important concept that enables functionality such

as inter-frequency and inter-system/inter-RAT (Radio Access Technology) handovers.
Compressed mode is the mode in which the transmitter (base band) on Node B
and/or User Equipment (UE) creates gaps in its transmission in Downlink and/or
Uplink in order for the UE receiver to tune its receive frequency to the non-used
desired frequency and perform measurements.

Not all UEs require the compressed mode to perform measurements. Some
advanced terminals come with dual RF receiver capability in which they will be able
to receive simultaneously on two carriers. Such mobiles would be able to make inter
frequency measurements even without compressed mode configurations. However,
when the UE capability does not allow it to make measurements on the non-used
frequency (ie, other than the currently used frequency on which the UE has camped
on), it can utilize the transmission gaps in the compressed frames to make
measurements on the desired frequency.

UEs that require compressed mode for inter frequency measurements shall support
one transmission gap sequence for each measurement purpose in FDD. More than
one transmission gap pattern can be active at a time if the UE supports several
measurement purposes. However, higher layers ensure that gaps from different
transmission gap patterns do not overlap.

There are three ways UE make a compresses mode:

Puncturing
Spreading factor reduction
Higher layer Signaling

By way of Puncturing method, part of the data from transmission is

removed/deleted and gap is introduced, which is used for measurement purpose.

By way of Spreading factor reduction method, data rate in UL/DL transmission is

changed by changing the length of channelization code. This is used to create gap
by doubling the rate and hence UE/NodeB will complete transmission/reception in
half the time than normal data rate.

By way of higher order signaling method, the transmission gap is generated by

restricting allowed transmission rate for some time; hence gap is created for
measurement purpose.