02b-3gatm - Atm Protocols and Signalling - 6-66215

3G Platform
ATM Protocols and Signalling

Training Document
CTXX 5881 © Nokia Networks Oy 1 (38)

Issue 2.0 en
The information in this document is subject to change without notice and describes only the
product defined in the introduction of this documentation. This document is intended for the
use of Nokia Networks' customers only for the purposes of the agreement under which the
document is submitted, and no part of it may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or
means without the prior written permission of Nokia Networks. The document has been
prepared to be used by professional and properly trained personnel, and the customer
assumes full responsibility when using it. Nokia Networks welcomes customer comments as
part of the process of continuous development and improvement of the documentation.
The information or statements given in this document concerning the suitability, capacity, or
performance of the mentioned hardware or software products cannot be considered binding
but shall be defined in the agreement made between Nokia Networks and the customer.
However, Nokia Networks has made all reasonable efforts to ensure that the instructions
contained in the document are adequate and free of material errors and omissions. Nokia
Networks will, if necessary, explain issues which may not be covered by the document.
Nokia Networks' liability for any errors in the document is limited to the documentary
correction of errors. Nokia Networks WILL NOT BE RESPONSIBLE IN ANY EVENT FOR
ERRORS IN THIS DOCUMENT OR FOR ANY DAMAGES, INCIDENTAL OR
CONSEQUENTIAL (INCLUDING MONETARY LOSSES), that might arise from the use of this
document or the information in it.
This document and the product it describes are considered protected by copyright according
to the applicable laws.
NOKIA logo is a registered trademark of Nokia Corporation.
Other product names mentioned in this document may be trademarks of their respective
companies, and they are mentioned for identification purposes only.
Copyright © Nokia Networks Oy 2001. All rights reserved.
2 (38) © Nokia Networks Oy CTXX 5881

Issue 2.0 en
Contents
Contents
1 Objectives ............................................................................................ 4
2 ATM protocol ....................................................................................... 5

2.1 Physical layer ........................................................................................ 6
2.2 ATM layer .............................................................................................. 7
2.3 ATM adaptation layer............................................................................. 7
2.3.1 ATM adaptation layer 2 (AAL2)............................................................ 10
2.3.2 ATM adaptation layer 5 (AAL5)............................................................ 12
3 Switching in ATM network ................................................................ 14

3.1 Switching in ATM layer ........................................................................ 14
3.2 AAL type 2 switching ........................................................................... 15
4 Signalling in 3G network ................................................................... 17

4.1 Signalling protocol layers ..................................................................... 17
4.2 AAL type 2 signalling ........................................................................... 19
5 ATM as a transport network in 3G .................................................... 22

5.1 ATM interface ...................................................................................... 23
5.2 General protocol model for UTRAN terrestrial interfaces ..................... 24
6 Review questions .............................................................................. 34
Abbreviations..................................................................................... 36

Issue 2.0 en
1 Objectives
After completing this module, the student should be able to:
• Name the three planes in ATM protocol reference model and their
functions.
• List the three main protocol layers of ATM and describe their functions.
• Describe the main functions of AAL type 2 signalling protocol.
• List different uses for an ATM network. Describe in block diagrams how
such a network can be structured in 3G.

Issue 2.0 en
ATM protocol
2 ATM protocol
The ATM reference model includes three planes, which consist of all layers:
User plane is responsible for user information transfer and associated controls
(such as flow control and error control)
Control plane performs call and connection control functions
(such as signalling procedures).
Management plane contains two components:
• Layer management, which performs management functions relating to
layer's resources and parameters (for instance, OAM information flows).
• Plane management, which performs management functions related to the
system as a whole.
Management Plane
User Plane Control Plane
Higher Layers Higher Layers

Plane Management
ATM Adaptation Layer
ATM Layer
Physical Layer
Layer Management
Figure 1. ATM protocol reference model
The ATM protocol reference model includes three functional layers:

• Physical layer
• ATM layer
• ATM adaptation layer (AAL)

Issue 2.0 en
Convergence Sublayer (CS)

ATM Adaptation Layer
Segmentation And Reassembly (SAR)
ATM Layer ATM Layer
Transmission Convergence (TC)

Physical Layer
Physical Medium (PM)
Figure 2. ATM protocol layers
2.1 Physical layer

The physical layer defines the transmission medium, electrical characteristic,
network interfaces, and a signal-encoding scheme. The ATM physical layer is
divided into two parts:
• Physical medium dependent sublayer
• Transmission convergence sublayer
Physical Medium Dependent (PMD) sublayer

This layer is responsible for coding, decoding, scrambling, and adaptation to the
medium. PMD sublayer is dependent on the physical medium used. ATM can
use any physical medium capable of carrying ATM cells, such as SDH, SONET
and E1.
Transmission Convergence (TC) sublayer

The convergence sublayer handles all the processes involved in taking cells
to/from the ATM layer, and performs bit rate adaptation, header protection, cell
delineation, and adaptation to the physical mediums structure.
Existing transmission networks are widely based on Plesiochronous Digital
Hierarchy (PDH). Although the Synchronous Digital Hierarchy (SDH) forms
the basis of transport of the ATM traffic, there is need to transport ATM cells
also using PDH transmission networks. PDH-based ATM interfaces are used for
providing low-speed link connections between the ATM network elements.
PDH interfaces are especially suitable for links between RNC and base station
(BS), where the bandwidth requirements are low and capacity and cost
optimisation are necessary. Interface types are E1, T1 and JT1.

Issue 2.0 en
ATM protocol
In addition to traditional PDH order multiplexing levels (for example, between

E1 or E3 level), inverse multiplexing, which provides flexible transmission
capacity building according to the operator's needs, is also supported at the
ATM physical layer.
2.2 ATM layer

The user traffic is split and delivered in fixed length packets called ATM cells.
The size of the cell is 53 bytes, which is divided into a 5-byte header and a
48-byte payload field.
53 bytes
Header Payload
5 bytes 48 bytes
Figure 3. ATM cell structure
The ATM layer adds the cell header to the 48-byte cell payload after it has been
assembled in the ATM adaptation layer (AAL), and extracts the header before
the cell is delivered to the AAL. The layer translates the values of the VCI and
VPI at the ATM switches or cross-connects. In addition, multiplexing and
switching of cells takes place at the ATM layer. The ATM layer provides virtual
connections between end points and maintains the contracted quality of service
(QoS) by applying a traffic contract procedure at a call setup time. It is also
used to "police" the agreed traffic contract while the connection is in progress.
2.3 ATM adaptation layer

The ATM adaptation layer (AAL) provides data link services for upper layer
protocols. AAL is needed for adapting upper-layer protocol data units such as
TCP/IP and signalling to ATM layer. On the other hand, voice codecs generate
short voice packets, which must also be adapted to ATM layer services.
The AAL maps user data from higher layer into standard ATM cells to be
transported over an ATM network. Then it collects information from the ATM
cells for delivery to higher layers. AAL layer includes two sublayers:
• Convergence sublayer (CS)
• Segmentation and assembly sublayer (SAR)

Issue 2.0 en
User data
Convergence Sublayer (CS)
AAL
Segmentation and Reassembly

Sublayer (SAR)
48 bytes
Header Payload Header Payload

ATM Layer
5 bytes 48 bytes
SDH O/H
Transmission Convergence
Header Payload
Physical (TC)
Layer
Physical Medium Dependent Scramble frame and adapts
(PMD) the signals to the optical or STM-1 Frame
electrical transmission
medium
Figure 4. ATM adaptation layer functions
Convergence sublayer (CS) provides the AAL service to the higher layer
protocol. This sublayer is service dependent. It performs a variety of functions
that depend on the actual service being supported, including clock recovery,
compensating for cell delay variation and dealing with other problems
introduced by the network (e.g. cell loss).
Segmentation and reassembly sublayer (SAR) provides segmentation of the
users' information (together with any supporting information added by the
convergence sublayer) into 48-byte segments that form the payload field of an
ATM cell. It also reassembles the contents of the ATM cell information fields
into higher layer information formats.
ATM adaptation layer protocols are handled only at the endpoints of the ATM
connection. Typically AAL type is transparent for intermediate ATM switches.

Issue 2.0 en
ATM protocol
ATM End System (BS) ATM network ATM End System (RNC)
ATM Adaptation Layer ATM Adaptation Layer

(AAL) ATM Switch (AAL)
ATM Switch
ATM Layer ATM Layer ATM Layer ATM Layer
Physical Layer Physical Layer Physical Layer Physical Layer
Physical medium Physical medium Physical medium
Figure 5. ATM adaptation layer at ATM end systems
Several AALs are currently specified to support different types of traffic. The
following figure shows the characteristics of user traffic supported by each
AAL.
Bit rate Constant Variable

Timing required Synchronised Not synchronised
between source & dest.
Connection oriented
Connection mode Connection oriented
or connectionless
Video, Data,
Example of Voice,
voice with Data, Frame
traffic types circuit
silence SMDS Relay,
emulation
removed IP
AAL AAL1 AAL2 AAL3/4 AAL5
ATM layer
Physical layer
Figure 6. ATM adaptation layers and supported traffic

Issue 2.0 en
AAL1
AAL1 is for constant bit rate (CBR) information, which requires timing
synchronisation between the source and destination. It is appropriate for
transporting telephone traffic, uncompressed video traffic and circuit emulation
service.
AAL2
AAL2 is for variable bit rate (VBR) information, which requires a strict
relationship between the transmission and reception clocks. It provides the
bandwidth efficient transmission of short, variable length packets in delay-
sensitive applications. AAL2 multiplexes short packets from multiple users into
one ATM connection. It has been mainly designed for transporting compressed
voice in mobile networks, but will also be used for compressed voice in wireline
applications. This AAL is aimed at compressed video, which will vary its bit
rate significantly.
AAL3/4
AAL3/4 is for data transmission in a connection oriented or connectionless
mode. This is aimed at variable bit rate information, which has no strict timing
relationship between the transmitter and receiver. It is used to transmit Switched
Multimegabit Data Service (SMDS) packets over an ATM network.
AAL5
AAL5 supports connection oriented or connectionless variable bit rate data. No
timing relationship is required between the transmitter and receiver. It is used to
transfer most non-SMDS data, such as IP over ATM and Local Area Network
(LAN) emulation, signalling channels, and Frame Relay/ATM interworking.
AAL5 is also known as Simple and Efficient Adaptation Layer (SEAL). It
provides a similar data transport service to AAL3/4, but it provides the service
in a much simpler way and with significantly fewer overheads, and it does not
include a multiplexing capacity.
2.3.1 ATM adaptation layer 2 (AAL2)
The human speech contains significant periods of silence and requires low
network bandwidth for transmission. Compressed voice is inherently variable
bit rate (VBR) but delay sensitive. The AAL2 enables these low bit rate and
delay sensitive applications to share a single ATM VCC thus improving the
network bandwidth utilisation and reducing the call establishment time as
shown in Figure 7.
Voice/user data is accumulated into a short packet having a 3-byte header.
These short packets are accumulated into a standard ATM cell. The packet
header consists of a channel identification number, packet length, user-to-user
indication, and a header error control code. Each cell's payload has a one-byte

Issue 2.0 en
ATM protocol
start field to indicate the next packet's starting point, which maximises the
packet packing density in cell assembly for low bit rate voice. In addition, the
silence compression function on a codec works effectively using AAL2,
because in a silent period in a conversation, the short packets do not have to be
accumulated into a cell.
Low bit rate voice
ch#4
ch#3
Silence
ch#2 ....
ch#1 ....
CID in the header
Short packet hh ch#1

ch#1 hh ch#2
ch#2 hh ch#3
ch#3 hh ch#4
ch#4 hh ch#2
ch#2 ....
Standard H
H H
H
ATM cell
Start field
Figure 7. AAL2 cell packing
AAL2 is especially suitable for carrying voice packets that are produced by
speech codecs. Also longer packet lengths up to 64 Kbytes are supported by
AAL2.
AAL2 is divided into two sublayers:
Service specific convergence layer (SSCS) performs the segmentation and
reassembly function for application packets longer than CPS packet size
(that is, 45 bytes by default), but also packet size of 64 bytes can be used.
Common part sublayer (CPS) enables variable-size packets (0 - 64 bytes)
from different users to be assembled in an ATM cell payload and transmitted on
the same ATM virtual connection. A packet (minicell) received from a user is
converted to a CPS packet with a 3-byte header that includes a single byte
Channel ID (CID) to distinguish AAL2 connections within a single ATM VCC.
Multiplexing and demultiplexing in the AAL2 occurs in the CPS.

Issue 2.0 en
Higher layers User data

AAL2 SSCS
Segmentation and
reassembly function
for application packets
AAL2 AAL2 CPS
CPS AAL2 channel

multiplexing and
demultiplexing
ATM layer
CPS Common Part Sublayer

SSCS Service Specific Convergence Sublayer
Figure 8. ATM adaptation layer 2 sublayers
2.3.2 ATM adaptation layer 5 (AAL5)
AAL5 includes two main sublayers: Segmentation and Assembly Sublayer

(SAR) and Convergence Sublayer (CS). The CS is divided into the Common
Part Convergence Sublayer (CPCS) and the Service Specific Convergence
Sublayer (SSCS) as shown in Figure 9. The CPCS and the SAR sublayer are
called the Common Part of the AAL type 5. SAR and CPCS layers are common
for all AAL5 service users. Those AAL5 common part sublayers can be
implemented as the combination of a SAR chip and a device driver or as a pure
software implementation.
Different Service Specific Convergence Sublayer protocols (SSCSs) to support
specific AAL user services or groups of services are defined. The SSCS may
also be null, in the sense that it only provides for the mapping of application
protocol to the Common Part Convergence Sublayer (CPCS) and vice versa.

Issue 2.0 en
ATM protocol
Higher layers
AAL5 SSCS
SSCF
SSCS
Maps Layer 3 to SSCOP
SSCOP
Reliable data transfer
CS
AAL5
AAL5 CPS
CPCS
Common part
CPCS
Transparent transport of
SDUs
SAR
SAR
SDU segmentation and
reassembly
ATM layer
Figure 9. ATM adaptation layer 5 sublayers
AAL5 can be used for IP over ATM traffic, signalling traffic bearer, and
FR/ATM interworking. Internal control connections of RNC/MGW (ATM
module) are based on ATM AAL5 connections between units. AAL5 capability
is available in all units having ATM connectivity (in some units only for system
internal use, e.g. message passing).

Issue 2.0 en
3 Switching in ATM network

In ATM network, the user traffic can be switched in ATM layer or ATM
adaptation layer (AAL). The switching in ATM adaptation layer used in mobile
network is AAL type 2 switching.
3.1 Switching in ATM layer

The basic operation of an ATM switch is straightforward: The cell is received
across a link on a known VCI or VPI value. The switch looks up the connection
value in a local translation table to determine the outgoing port (or ports) of the
connection and the new VPI/VCI value of the connection on that link. Then, the
switch retransmits the cell on that outgoing link with the appropriate connection
identifiers. Because all VCIs and VPIs have only local significance across a
particular link, these values are remapped, as necessary, at each switch.
There are two levels of switching capability within an ATM switch (which
perform switching at ATM layer): Virtual Path (VP) switching and Virtual
Channel (VC) switching.
Virtual path (VP) switching

VP switching occurs when only the VPI field within the cell header is used to
describe the destination of the cells. This has the advantage that many VCIs
destined for the same network endpoint can be "bulk switched".
VP switches terminate VP links. A VP switch translates incoming VPIs to the
corresponding outgoing VPIs according to the destination of the VPC whereas
VCI values remain unchanged.
VP switching is shown in Figure 10.
Virtual channel (VC) switching

VC switching takes place when all cells on a physical interface are identified
and switched to their destination through the switch fabric based on a
combination of the VPI/VCI values. A table is maintained on each interface
identifying input and output ports associated with certain VPI/VCI.
The VCI values are changed in a VC switch and the VPI values are changed as
they pass through a VP switch. However, VCI values are not changed when
passing through a VP switch.
VC switching is shown in Figure 10.

Issue 2.0 en
Switching in ATM network
VC switch
Port
Port
VCI 9 VPI 36 VCI 15

VCI 10 VPI 3
VPI 8 VCI 26
VP switch
VCI 9 VCI 9
VCI 10 VPI 23 VPI 9 VCI 10
Port
Figure 10. Virtual channel and virtual path switching
3.2 AAL type 2 switching

AAL2 supports multiplexing of different sources on a single ATM virtual
connection. The Channel Identifier (CID) is used to distinguish AAL
connections within a single ATM VCC. An AAL2 switching system performs
AAL2 level switching, while an ATM node performs only ATM level
switching. The traditional VPI/VCI table used for ATM cell switching is
extended one more level by introducing CID entries to identify AAL type 2
connections. An ATM cell received at an AAL type 2 switch is first
demultiplexed into AAL type 2 connections (CIDs), then switched and
assembled into outgoing ATM cells according to the entries found in the
VPI/VCI/CID table.
If an AAL2 connection is routed through ATM switches that do not support
AAL2 switching, it is considered to be AAL2 trunking and those switches
support only ATM level switching.
In Figure 11, the traffic from the users is multiplexed by AAL2 in one ATM
cell. This is considered as virtual AAL2 connections inside the virtual ATM
connection.

Issue 2.0 en
User 1
User 2
User 3 BS RNC MGW
Upper layer Upper layer Upper layer
AAL2 Process AAL2 Process AAL2 Process
ATM H #1 #2 #3 ATM H #1 #2 #3 H #5 #6 #7 ATM H #5 #6 #7

ATM cell ATM cell ATM cell ATM cell
PHY PHY PHY
AAL2 connections VCC VCC
ATM connection ATM connection
Figure 11. ATM virtual connections and AAL2 connections

Issue 2.0 en
Signalling in 3G network
4 Signalling in 3G network
4.1 Signalling protocol layers

Signalling protocol can be looked at as an application running on top of the
lower, physical, ATM and AAL layers as shown in Figure 12 and Figure 13.
C-Plane U-Plane
Signalling
protocol User data
Signalling
AAL
AAL
ATM layer
Physical layer
Figure 12. ATM protocol for signalling and user data

Issue 2.0 en
NNI
UNI RNSAP/RANAP
S
B-ISUP
S
SCCP
#
Signalling protocol e.g. NBAP 7
MTP3b
SSCF (Q.2130) SSCF (Q.2140)

SSCS S SSCS S
SSCOP (Q.2110) A SAAL UNI SSCOP (Q.2110) A SAAL NNI
CPCS A CPCS A
AAL5 AAL5 L AAL5
L
SAR SAR
ATM Layer ATM Layer
Physical Layer Physical Layer
SAAL Signalling ATM Adaptation Layer AAL5 ATM Adaptation Layer 5

SCCP Signalling Connection Control Part B-ISUP Broadband ISDN User Part
SSCF Service Specific Coordination Function MTP3 Message Transfer Part lever 3
SSCOP Service Specific Connection Oriented NBAP Node B Application Protocol
Figure 13. Signalling protocol layers
Signalling occurs over a Signalling ATM Adaptation Layer (SAAL) residing

between the ATM layer and the signalling protocol. The SAAL provides
reliable transport of signalling messages between two ATM systems to include
the recovery of multiple gaps within the data stream. The SAAL is composed of
two sublayers: Common Part and Service Specific Part.
The Common Part is based on AAL5, which consists of Segmentation and
Reassembly Sublayer (SAR) and Common Part Convergence Sublayer (CPCS)
functions. The common part ensures information transfer and detection of
corrupt service data units.
The Service Specific Part is divided into:
• Service Specific Co-ordination Function (SSCF)
• Service Specific Connection Oriented Protocol (SSCOP)
The SSCF maps signalling messages from the upper level in to SSCOP while
SSCOP provides mechanisms for establishing, releasing, and monitoring
signalling information exchange between signalling entities. It also performs
recovery of lost or corrupted signalling data units.
There are two types of SAAL:
• SAAL-NNI
• SAAL-UNI

Issue 2.0 en
SAAL-NNI complies with ITU-T Q.2140 B-ISDN AAL - Service Specific

Co-ordination Function for Signalling at the Network-Node Interface (SSCF at
NNI), Q.2144 B-ISDN Signalling ATM Adaptation Layer (SAAL) – Layer
Management for the SAAL at the Network-Node Interface (NNI), Q.2110 B-
ISDN SAAL - Service Specific Connection Oriented Protocol (SSCOP).
SAAL-UNI complies with ITU-T Q.2110 B-ISDN AAL Service Specific
Connection Oriented Protocol (SSCOP) and Q.2130 B-ISDN AAL Service
Specific Co-ordination Function (SSCF) for signalling at the User-Network
Interface (UNI).
Note
AAL type 2 signalling protocol and Node B Application Protocol (NBAP)
application protocol use UNI SAAL in point-to-point signalling connections in
3G RAN Iub interface where there is no SS7 signalling network available.
4.2 AAL type 2 signalling

AAL2 signalling protocol is a separate new protocol − not an extension of any
existing ATM signalling protocols. This approach increases the speed of AAL2
connection establishment because intermediate "ATM-only" switches do not
delay the process by storing and forwarding AAL2 signalling protocol
messages. A further benefit is that switched AAL2 connections can be
established on top of any ATM network regardless of the protocol used for
establishing ATM level connections. The ATM level connections can be
established using any existing ATM signalling protocol, for example, ITU-T
Broadband ISDN User Part (B-ISUP), ATM Forum Private Network-Network
Interface (PNNI), ITU-T Q.2931, or ATM Forum User-Network Interface
(UNI).

Issue 2.0 en
RNSAP/RANAP AAL2 SIG

NBAP
SCCP STC
MTP3b
SSCF-UNI
SSCF-NNI
SSCOP
AAL5
ATM
Physical
Figure 14. AAL 2 signalling protocol
The AAL type 2 signalling protocol provides functions to dynamically establish

and release AAL type 2 point-to-point connections as requested by AAL2
served users in a network comprised of AAL2 endpoints and AAL2 switches.
The AAL2 served user in 3G networks is the radio resource management and
handover control entity, which establishes/releases AAL2 connections when
new soft handover legs are established/released.
AAL
AAL Type
Type 22 AAL
AAL Type
Type 22
Served
Served user
user Served
Served user
user
AAL AAL Type 2 AAL

AAL Type
Type 22
Signalling AAL Type
Type 22
Signalling
Signalling Signalling
Signalling
Protocol Signalling
Messages
Signalling MTP SAAL-UNI ……. MTP

MTP SAAL-UNI
SAAL-UNI …….
…….
MTP SAAL-UNI …….
Transport Converter
Converter Converter
Converter Converter
Converter Converter
Converter Converter
Converter Converter
Converter
Converter
Signalling MTP Layer 3

SAAL-UNI
…….
……. MTP Layer 3
SAAL-UNI
…….
…….
SAAL-UNI Converter SAAL-UNI Converter
Transport SAAL-NNI Converter SAAL-NNI Converter
Figure 15. AAL2 signalling protocol architecture

Issue 2.0 en
The AAL2 signalling protocol feature provides a clear and efficient interface to
the users of the AAL2 signalling protocol. The interface is used by the served
user for initiating AAL2 connection establishment and release of a connection.
The feature contains procedures to establish an AAL2 connection, release an
AAL2 connection and maintenance functions to align the status of the AAL2
resources within the two peer AAL2 nodes. It offers a reset mechanism, which
is used to return one or several AAL2 channels to idle condition. It is invoked
after an unrecognised status of connection, for example, if the signalling peer
entity does not respond to message. The feature also contains a mechanism for
blocking and unblocking resources during test procedures, before service-in or
modification of it bandwidth.
The Signalling Transport Converter (STC) provides the generic signalling
bearer service for exchanging AAL2 signalling messages between protocol
entities. It provides assured data transport and service availability indication
services independent of the underlying signalling bearer. Examples of signalling
bearers are MTP-3 and SAAL UNI.
Note
The signalling bearer converters use AAL5 connections. These signalling
connections are configured as permanent ATM connections between AAL
type 2 switches.
AAL2 signalling complies with ITU-T Q.2630.1 AAL type 2 signalling

protocol (Capability Set 1).

Issue 2.0 en
5 ATM as a transport network in 3G

Nowadays transmission protocols of many telecommunication networks are
based on pulse code modulation (PCM). The switching is also based on the
switching of 64 or 56 kbit/s PCM connections. ATM is selected to be the
transport technology for 3G network especially in UTRAN and also at the Iu
interface in Release 99.
ATM is employed
Iub Iu-CS A B
Uu
BS RNC MGW MSC PSTN
UE NNI
UNI
Iur
NNI Iu-PS
UNI NNI
BS RNC
UNI
Gn Gi
BS
SGSN GGSN IP network
Figure 16. ATM in 3G
ATM provides efficient support for transmission of bursty wideband services

and offers an integrated solution to voice (circuit mode as well as packet voice),
data and video. It provides QoS guarantee and reliability. It utilises statistical
multiplexing to take advantage of the inherently bursty nature of applications.
Less bandwidth can be reserved than if bandwidth reservation would be based
on the peak rate of the connections. Achieved transmission cost savings are
considerable.
In addition, ATM is able to support the soft handover functionality, which
requires the capability of fast connection setup and teardown in Wideband
CDMA (WCDMA), which is the radio interface technology for 3G.
In the 3G network, the radio network controller (RNC) is assigned the task of
radio resource management and handover control. When the mobile terminal
communicates with one BS, a connection is established from the Serving RNC
(S-RNC) node to the BS, where the connection is terminated. When in SHO, the
mobile terminal communicates with several BSs, and correspondingly several

Issue 2.0 en
ATM as a transport network in 3G
SHO legs are established from the S-RNC node to the BSs currently in the
active set. In order for SHO to work seamlessly for the user, the transmission
path should be established quickly (e.g. in the range of 100 ms or less).
Specifically, because of the necessary radio level synchronisation between the
SHO legs, these connections are required to meet strict delay and jitter
requirements. This is a challenging task in the ATM network, since the
transmission capacity over the Iub and Iur interfaces is expensive, and
consequently it is required to achieve high Iub utilisation.
These requirements call for a connection oriented access network with strict
QoS control. The most promising technology today to meet these requirements
is ATM together with AAL2. AAL2 meet the specific requirements of mobile
telephony such as low delay and loss, and less signalling complexity. AAL2
allows low bit rate and delay sensitive applications to share a single ATM
connection in order to maximise the network utilisation and at the same time
guarantee the delay requirements. Even though AAL2 is more efficient for
compressed speech, it is also suitable for low-bit-rate data applications such as
short message service (SMS).
ATM extended with switched AAL2 is the most reasonable transport
technology for 3rd-generation mobile access networks. However, a new
signalling protocol (AAL2 signalling or Q.2630.1) capable of establishing,
releasing and maintaining on-demand end-to-end AAL2 connections is needed
to support AAL2 switching.
5.1 ATM interface

In an ATM network, User-Network Interface (UNI) refers to the interface
between terminal equipment and a network termination where access protocols
apply. The interface between a RNC and a WCDMA BTS is seen as an UNI
interface.
Network-Node Interface (NNI) is the interface between two network nodes like
a RNC and an MGW.
Figure 16 shows the ATM interfaces between network elements in 3G network.

Issue 2.0 en
5.2 General protocol model for UTRAN terrestrial

interfaces
The protocol structures in UTRAN terrestrial interfaces (Iu, Iur, Iub) are
designed according to the same general protocol model as shown in Figure 17.
Radio
Network Control Plane User Plane
Layer Application Data
Protocol Stream(s)
Transport
Network Transport Transport Transport
Layer Network Network Network
User Plane Control Plane User Plane
ALCAP(s)
Signalling Signalling Data

Bearer(s) Bearer(s) Bearer(s)
Physical Transmission layer
Figure 17. General protocol model for UTRAN terrestrial interfaces
Horizontal layers
The protocol structure consists of two main layers:
• Radio network layer
• Transport network layer
All UTRAN-related issues are visible only in the radio network layer. The
transport network layer represents standard transport technology that is selected.
Vertical planes
There are four main planes in the protocol structure:
• Control plane
The control plane is used for all 3G specific control signalling. It includes
the application protocol (i.e. RANAP in Iu, RNSAP in Iur, NBAP in Iub)
and the signalling bearer for transporting the application protocol
messages.

Issue 2.0 en
The application protocol is used, among other things, for setting up

bearers to the UE (i.e. the radio access bearer in Iu and subsequently the
radio link in Iur and Iub). The signalling bearer for the application
protocol is always set up by O&M actions.
• User plane
All information sent and received by the user, such as coded voice in a
voice call or the packets in an Internet connection, are transported via the
user plane.
The user plane includes the data stream(s) and the data bearer(s).
• Transport network control plane
The transport network control plane is used for all control signalling
within the transport network layer. It includes the ALCAP protocol that is
needed to set up the transport bearers (data bearers) for the user plane. It
also includes the signalling bearers needed for the ALCAP.
ALCAP (Access Link Control Application Part) protocol is the generic
name for the transport signalling protocols used to set up and tear down
transport bearers.
When using the transport network control plane, the transport bearers for
the data bearer in the user plane are set up in the following fashion: First
there is a signalling transaction by the application protocol in the control
plane. This transaction triggers the setup of the data bearer by the
ALCAP protocol that is specific for the user plane technology.
It should be noted that ALCAP may not be used for all types of data
bearers. If there is no ALCAP signalling transaction, the transport
network control plane is not needed at all. This is the case when
preconfigured data bearers are used.
The signalling bearer for the ALCAP may not be of the same type as that
for the application protocol. The signalling bearer for ALCAP is always
set up by O&M actions.
• Transport network user plane
The data bearer(s) in the user plane and the signalling bearer(s) for the
application protocol also belong to the transport network user plane. The
data bearers in the transport network user plane are directly controlled by
the transport network control plane, but the control actions required for
setting up the signalling bearer(s) for the application protocol are
considered O&M actions.
The following figures present the protocol used for Iub, Iur, Iu-CS and Iu-PS
according to the general protocol model.

Issue 2.0 en
Radio
Control Plane User Plane
Network
RACH FP
DSCH FP
CPCH FP
FACH FP
DCH FP
PCH FP
Layer
NBAP
Transport Transport Network Transport Network Transport Network

Network User Plane Control Plane User Plane
Layer AAL2 SIG (Q.2630.1)
STC(Q.2150.2)
SSCF-UNI SSCF-UNI
SSCOP SSCOP
AAL5 AAL5 AAL2
ATM
Figure 18. Protocol structure for Iub
Radio
Network
Layer
RNSAP DCH FP CCH FP

SCCP STC (Q.2150.1)

MTP3b MTP3b
SSCF-NNI SSCF-NNI
SSCOP SSCOP
AAL5 AAL5 AAL2
ATM
Figure 19. Protocol structure for Iur

Issue 2.0 en
Radio
Network
Layer Iu User Plane
RANAP
Protocol

SCCP STC Q.2150.1)

MTP3b MTP3b
SSCF-NNI SSCF-NNI
SSCOP SSCOP
AAL5 AAL5 AAL2
ATM
Figure 20. Protocol structure for Iu-CS
Radio
Network
Layer Iu User Plane
RANAP
Protocol

Layer
SCCP
MTP3b GTP-U
SSCF-NNI UDP
SSCOP IP
AAL5 AAL5
ATM
Figure 21. Protocol structure for Iu-PS

Issue 2.0 en
In the user plane the user traffic (both voice data and packet data) is carried by
AAL2 at Iub, Iur and Iu-CS, while the packet data towards GPRS network is
carried by AAL5 at Iu-PS as shown in Figure 22.
In the control plane the signalling is carried on top of AAL5. The signalling
data is carried by the SS7 signalling network on SAAL NNI (Network-Node
Interface) protocol stack. At the Iub interface, between RNC and WCDMA
BTSs, the signalling links are permanent ATM virtual channel connections on
the SAAL UNI (User-Network Interface) protocol stack without the SS7
signalling network layer.
Figure 23 shows the different logical interfaces and network elements in the
ATM signalling network. The SAAL NNI / SS7 signalling network ends at the
RNC network element. The WCDMA base stations are connected to the RNCs
at the Iub interface through permanent SAAL UNI signalling links.
The following figures depict the protocol stack for the user plane and control
plane in a circuit switched network, a packet switched network and between
RNC-RNC.
Figure 24 and Figure 28 show AAL type 2 signalling the protocol stack, used to
establish and release AAL2 connection, in the network.
Iub Iu-CS A B
Uu
BS RNC MGW MSC PSTN
UE AAL2
AAL2
Iur
AAL2 Iu-PS
AAL2 AAL5
BS RNC
AAL2
Gn Gi
BS
Figure 22. ATM adaptation layer for user plane

Issue 2.0 en
Iub Iu-CS A B
Uu
BS RNC MGW MSC PSTN
UE RANAP
NBAP
SCCP
UNI SAAL (AAL5)
MTP3
RNSAP NNI SAAL (AAL5)
SCCP Iur
MTP3 Iu-PS
RANAP
NNI SAAL (AAL5) SCCP
BS MTP3
RNC NNI SAAL (AAL5)
NBAP
UNI SAAL (AAL5) Gn Gi
BS
Figure 23. ATM adaptation layer for control plane
Iub Iu-CS A B
Uu
BS RNC MGW MSC PSTN
UE AAL2 SIG
AAL2 SIG
STC STC
UNI SAAL (AAL5) MTP3b
NNI SAAL (AAL5)
AAL2 SIG
Iur
STC
MTP3 Iu-PS
NNI SAAL (AAL5)
BS RNC
AAL2 SIG
STC
UNI SAAL (AAL5) Gn Gi
BS
Figure 24. ATM adaptation layer for transport network control plane
(AAL type 2 signalling)

Issue 2.0 en
Uu Iub Iu-CS A B
PSTN
UE BS RNC MGW MSC
UNI NNI
USER PLANE
E.g. Vocoder E.g. Vocoder

A/µ-law, A/µ-law,
RLC-U RLC-U PCM, PCM,
MAC Iu -CS UP Iu -CS UP UDI, UDI, PSTN
MAC
etc. etc. N-ISDN
FP FP
WCDMA WCDMA AAL2 AAL2 AAL2 AAL2
Link Layer Link Layer
L1 L1 ATM ATM ATM ATM
PHY PHY PHY PHY PHY PHY PHY
CONTROL PLANE
RANAP RANAP BSSAP BSSAP
NBAP NBAP
SCCP SCCP SCCP SCCP
MTP3b MTP3b
SSCF-UNI SSCF-UNI
SSCF-NNI SSCF-NNI
MTP MTP
SSCOP SSCOP SSCOP SSCOP
AAL5 AAL5 AAL5 AAL5
ATM ATM ATM ATM TDM TDM
PHY PHY PHY PHY PHY PHY
Figure 25. Protocol stack for circuit switched data

Issue 2.0 en
Uu Iub Iu-PS Gn Gi
BS RNC SGSN GGSN

UE
UNI NNI IP
network
USER PLANE
E.g.
IPv4, IPv5 E.g. IPv4, IPv5
PDCP PDCP GTP-U GTP-U GTP-U GTP-U
RLC-U RLC-U UDP UDP UDP UDP
MAC MAC IP IP IP IP
FP FP LLC/SNAP LLC/SNAP
AAL2 AAL2 AAL5 AAL5 Link Link
WCDMA WCDMA
Layer Layer
L1 L1 ATM ATM ATM ATM
PHY PHYRNC PHY PHY SWU
PHY PHY MSC
PHY
CONTROL PLANE
RANAP RANAP
NBAP NBAP
SCCP SCCP
MTP3b MTP3b
SSCF-UNI SSCF-UNI
SSCF-NNI SSCF-NNI
SAAL UNI
SSCOP SSCOP SSCOP SSCOP SAAL NNI
AAL5 AAL5 AAL5 AAL5
ATM ATM ATM ATM
PHY PHY PHY PHY
Figure 26. Protocol stack for packet switched data

Issue 2.0 en
Iur
RNC RNC
NNI
USER PLANE
RNC RNC
FP FP
AAL2 AAL2
ATM ATM
PHY PHY
SWU
CONTROL PLANE
RNSAP RNSAP
SCCP SCCP
MTP3b MTP3b
SSCF-NNI SSCF-NNI
SSCOP SSCOP SAAL NNI
AAL5 AAL5
ATM ATM
PHY PHY
Figure 27. Protocol stack for Iur interface

Issue 2.0 en
Uu Iub Iu-CS A
PSTN
UE BS RNC MGW MSC
UNI NNI
AAL2 SIG AAL2 SIG AAL2 SIG AAL2 SIG

STC (Q.2150.2) STC (Q.2150.2) STC (Q.2150.1) STC (Q.2150.1)
MTP3b MTP3b
SSCF-UNI SSCF-UNI
SSCF-NNI SSCF-NNI
SSCOP SSCOP SSCOP SSCOP
AAL5 AAL5 AAL5 AAL5
ATM ATM ATM ATM
PHY PHY PHY PHY
Iur
RNC RNC
NNI
AAL2 SIG AAL2 SIG

STC (Q.2150.1) STC (Q.2150.1)
MTP3b MTP3b
SSCF-NNI SSCF-NNI
SSCOP SSCOP
AAL5 AAL5
ATM ATM
PHY PHY
Figure 28. Protocol stack for AAL type 2 signalling

Issue 2.0 en
6 Review questions
Please take some time and use the material in this module as a reference to
answer the following questions.
1. Fill the type of the ATM adaptation layer (AAL) used at different
interfaces for user traffic.
Iub Iu-CS A B
Uu
PSTN
UE
Iur
Iu-PS
Gn Gi
IP network
2. Fill in the type of ATM adaptation layer (AAL) used at different

interfaces for control traffic.
Iub Iu-CS A B
Uu
PSTN
UE
NBAP
UNI SAAL
AAL5
Iur
Iu-PS
Gn Gi
IP network

Issue 2.0 en
Review questions
3. Which of the following statements is not true about AAL type 2

signalling?
a. The AAL type 2 signalling provides functions to dynamically
establish and release AAL type 2 point-to-point connections.
b. The AAL type 2 signalling protocol is at Iub, Iur, and Iu-CS
interface to set up the AAL2 connection for user traffic.
c. The signalling bearer under AAL type 2 signalling at Iub interface
is SAAL UNI.
d. The signalling bearer under AAL type 2 signalling at Iur interface
is SAAL UNI.
4. Fill in the type of ATM adaptation layer (AAL) used at different

interfaces for transport network control plane (AAL type 2 signalling).
Iub Iu-CS A B
Uu
PSTN
UE
NBAP
UNI SAAL
AAL5
Iur
Iu-PS
Gn Gi
IP network

Issue 2.0 en
Abbreviations
AAL ATM Adaptation Layer
ABR Available Bit Rate
ALCAP Access Link Control Application Part
ATM Asynchronous Transfer Mode
AXC ATM cross-connect
B-ISUP Broadband ISDN User Part
BS Base Station
CAC Call Admission Control
CBR Constant Bit Rate
CDV Cell Delay Variation
CDVT Cell Delay Variation Tolerance
CID Channel Identification
CLP Cell Loss Priority
CLR Cell Loss Ratio
CPS Common Part Sublayer
CS Convergence Sublayer
CTD Cell Transfer Delay
EPD Early Packet Discard
GFC Generic Flow Control
HEC Header Error Control
IMA Inverse Multiplexing for ATM
LAN Local Area Network
MBS Maximum Burst Size
MCR Minimum Cell Rate
MGW Media Gateway
MSC Mobile Switching Centre
MT Mobile Terminal
MTP3b Broadband Message Transfer Part lever 3
nrt-VBR non-real time Variable Bit Rate
NBAP Node B Application Protocol
NNI Network-Node Interface
NPC Network Parameter Control

Issue 2.0 en
Abbreviations
PCR Peak Cell Rate

PDH Plesiochronous Digital Hierarchy
PDU Protocol Data Unit
PMD Physical Medium Dependent sublayer
PPD Partial Packet Discard
PT Payload Type
PVC Permanent Virtual Circuit
QoS Quality of Service
RANAP Radio Access Network Application Part
RNC Radio Network Controller
RSNAP Radio Network System Application Part
rt-VBR Real time Variable Bit Rate
SAAL Signalling ATM Adaptation Layer
SAR Segmentation and Assembly Sublayer (SAR)
SCR Sustained Cell Rate
SCCP Signalling Connection Control Part
SDH Synchronous Digital Hierarchy
SHO Soft Handover
SMDS Switched Multimegabit Data Service
SONET Synchronised Optical NETwork
S-RNC Serving RNC
SS7 Signalling System Number 7
SSCF Service Specific Co-ordination Function
SSCOP Service Specific Connection Oriented Protocol
SSCS Service Specific Convergence Sublayer
STC Signalling Transport Converter
SVC Switched Virtual Circuit
TC Transmission Convergence Sublayer
TDM Time Division Multiplexing
UNI User-Network Interface
UPC Usage Parameter Control
UBR Unspecified Bit Rate
VBR Variable Bit Rate

Issue 2.0 en
VCC Virtual Channel Connection

VCCTP Virtual Channel Connection Terminating Point
VCI Virtual Channel Identifier
VCL Virtual Channel Link
VPC Virtual Path Connection
VPI Virtual Path Identifier
VPI Virtual Path Link
VCCTP Virtual Path Connection Terminating Point

Issue 2.0 en

02b-3gatm - Atm Protocols and Signalling - 6-66215

Загружено:

Сведения о документе

Оригинальное название

Авторское право

Доступные форматы

Поделиться этим документом

Поделиться или встроить документ

Параметры публикации

Этот документ был вам полезен?

Это неприемлемый материал?

Авторское право:

Доступные форматы

02b-3gatm - Atm Protocols and Signalling - 6-66215

Загружено:

Авторское право:

Доступные форматы

3G Platform

ATM Protocols and Signalling

CTXX 5881 © Nokia Networks Oy 1 (38)

2 (38) © Nokia Networks Oy CTXX 5881

2 ATM protocol ....................................................................................... 5

3 Switching in ATM network ................................................................ 14

4 Signalling in 3G network ................................................................... 17

5 ATM as a transport network in 3G .................................................... 22

6 Review questions .............................................................................. 34

CTXX 5881 © Nokia Networks Oy 3 (38)

4 (38) © Nokia Networks Oy CTXX 5881

Higher Layers Higher Layers

ATM Adaptation Layer

Figure 1. ATM protocol reference model

The ATM protocol reference model includes three functional layers:

CTXX 5881 © Nokia Networks Oy 5 (38)

Convergence Sublayer (CS)

ATM Layer ATM Layer

Transmission Convergence (TC)

Figure 2. ATM protocol layers

2.1 Physical layer

Physical Medium Dependent (PMD) sublayer

Transmission Convergence (TC) sublayer

6 (38) © Nokia Networks Oy CTXX 5881

In addition to traditional PDH order multiplexing levels (for example, between

2.2 ATM layer

Figure 3. ATM cell structure

2.3 ATM adaptation layer

CTXX 5881 © Nokia Networks Oy 7 (38)

Convergence Sublayer (CS)

Segmentation and Reassembly

Header Payload Header Payload

Figure 4. ATM adaptation layer functions

8 (38) © Nokia Networks Oy CTXX 5881

ATM Adaptation Layer ATM Adaptation Layer

ATM Layer ATM Layer ATM Layer ATM Layer

Physical Layer Physical Layer Physical Layer Physical Layer

Physical medium Physical medium Physical medium

Figure 5. ATM adaptation layer at ATM end systems

Bit rate Constant Variable

AAL AAL1 AAL2 AAL3/4 AAL5

Figure 6. ATM adaptation layers and supported traffic

CTXX 5881 © Nokia Networks Oy 9 (38)

2.3.1 ATM adaptation layer 2 (AAL2)

10 (38) © Nokia Networks Oy CTXX 5881

Low bit rate voice

CID in the header

Short packet hh ch#1

Figure 7. AAL2 cell packing

CTXX 5881 © Nokia Networks Oy 11 (38)

Higher layers User data

AAL2 AAL2 CPS

CPS AAL2 channel

CPS Common Part Sublayer

Figure 8. ATM adaptation layer 2 sublayers

2.3.2 ATM adaptation layer 5 (AAL5)

AAL5 includes two main sublayers: Segmentation and Assembly Sublayer

12 (38) © Nokia Networks Oy CTXX 5881

Figure 9. ATM adaptation layer 5 sublayers

CTXX 5881 © Nokia Networks Oy 13 (38)

3 Switching in ATM network

3.1 Switching in ATM layer

Virtual path (VP) switching