System Information Block (SIB)

SIB's are system information that is transmitted from UTRAN to UE.

>>The set of channels used in transmitting SIBs:

BCCH (logical channel) --> BCH (transport channel) --> PCCPCH (physical channel)
and
BCCH (logical channel) --> FACH (transport channel) --> SCCPCH (physical chaanel)

>>System Information is the first set of information UE needs to decode and read information received
from UTRAN to know about the system and hence the PCCPCH is transmitted with constant data rate
and TF so that UE can easily decode the System informations.

>>For BCH, TTI is fixed as 20ms and fixed transport block size of 246 bits.

>>The radio interface are based on the 10 ms radio frames and each frames are counted by SFN from 0
to 4095 i.e total length of 4096. This SFN is the basis of scheduling of different SIBs. And, hence the
complete System information is divided into 20 ms BCH transport blocks. Then, this 20 ms second BCH
transport block is transmitted in two radio frames i.e in two SFN.

>>SIB contains one MIB (Master Information Block), two SB (Scheduling blocks) and many SIBs (System
Information Blocks).

>> In general, SIBs are too large and the BCH transport blocks are of fixed size hence Segmentation and
Concatenation of the SIBs is required. This is done at RRC layer.

>> The different types of Segments are:

1. First Segment - Indicates that this is the first segment of segmented SIBs.
2. Subsequent Segment - Indicates that this is the subsequent segment of segmented SIBs.
3. Last Segment - Indicates that this is the last segment of segmented SIBs.
4. Complete - Indicates that this is the complete SIBs i.e no segmentation.

>>SISs are of different types and that too large in size, SIB scheduling becomes a very important aspect.
Below are the parameters used in SIBs scheduling:
SEG_COUNT : Defines the number of segments (1,...,16)
SIB_REP : Defines the SIB repetition period (after how many radio frames it will be repeated
(4,8,16,...,4096))
SIB_POS : Defines the SIB position within SFN (multiple of 2)
SIB_OFF : Defines the offset for the next segment of segmented SIBs (multiple of 2)

>> For the MIB, some of the parameters are fixed. SIB_REP=8 frames, SIB_POS=0.

>>Different types of SIBs are:

SIB1 : The system information block type 1 contains NAS system information as well as UE timers and
counters to be used in idle mode and in connected mode.
SIB2 : The system information block type 2 contains the URA identity.
SIB3 : The system information block type 3 contains parameters for cell selection and re-selection.
SIB4 : The system information block type 4 contains parameters for cell selection and re-selection to be
used in connected mode.
SIB5 : The system information block type 5 contains parameters for the configuration of the common
physical channels in the cell.
SIB6 : The system information block type 6 contains parameters for the configuration of the common and
shared physical channels to be used in connected mode.
SIB7 : The system information block type 7 contains the fast changing parameters UL interference and
Dynamic persistence level.
SIB8 : The system information block type 8 contains static CPCH information to be used in the cell.
SIB9 : The system information block type 9 contains CPCH information to be used in the cell.
SIB10 : The system information block type 10 contains information to be used by UEs having their DCH
controlled by a DRAC procedure.
SIB11 : The system information block type 11 contains measurement control information to be used in the
cell.
SIB12 : The system information block type 12 contains measurement control information to be used in
connected mode.
SIB13 : The system information block type 13 contains ANSI-41 system information.
SIB14 : Only for TDD
SIB15 : The system information block type 15 contains information useful for UE-based or UE-assisted
positioning methods.
SIB16 : The system information block type 16 contains radio bearer, transport channel and physical
channel parameters to be stored by UE in idle and connected mode for use during handover to UTRAN.
SIB17 : Only for TDD
SIB18 : The System Information Block type 18 contains PLMN identities of neighbouring cells to be
considered in idle mode as well as in connected mode.