UTRAN Interfaces

Huawei Confidential

25 July 2007

UMTS Construction

CN
Iu

UTRAN
Uu

UE
UTRAN
CN
UE

UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access Network

Core Network
User Equipment

UMTS Structure

Core Network
Iu

Iu

RNS

RNS
Iur

RNC

RNC

Iub

Iub

Iub

Node B

Node B

Node B

Iub
Node B

The Position of UTRAN in WCDMA Network

Common Protocol Model of UTRAN

Interfaces
The principle of interface protocol architecture is the logical mutual-independence between
layers and planes. Protocol layers of a specified protocol version, or even all layers in a
plane can be modified if required in the future.

Radio
Network
Layer

Control Plane

User Plane

Application
Protocol

Data
Stream(s)

Transport
Network
Layer

Transport Network
User Plane

Transport Network
Control Plane

ALCAP(s)
Signalling
Bearer(s)

Signalling
Bearer(s)
Physical Layer

Transport Network
User Plane

Data
Bearer(s)

Protocol Stack of UTRAN Control Plane

UMTS Rel99:

CN protocols (Non-access Stratum, NAS)

MS
CC

RNC

Node B

SM

CN
CC

RRM

MM / GMM
RRC

RRC

RLC

MM / GMM
RANAP

RANAP

RLC

MAC

WCDMA L1

WCDMA L1

NBAP

NBAP MAC

Transport

Transport

layers

layers

Iub

Transport

Transport

layers

layers

Iu

Uu

UTRAN protocols (Access Stratum, AS)

6

SM

RNC
CN
RANAP

UE

RRC

RNC

RNSAP

RNC

NBAP

Node B

NBAP :Node B Application Part

RANAP:Radio Access Network Application Part
RNSAP:Radio Network Subsystem Application Part
RRC :Radio Resource Control
7

Course Contents

Chapter 1 UTRAN Network Architecture

Chapter 2 UTRAN Interface Protocol and Functions

UTRAN Interface Protocols and Functions

Iu Interface
Iur Interface
Iub Interface
Uu Interface

Iu Interface System Structure

UTRAN

Core Network (CN)

CS
Domain

Node B
RNC

Iu-CS

Node B

PS
Domain
Iu-PS

Node B
RNC

BC
Domain

Node B

Iu-BC

Iu Interface
10

Iu-CS Interface Protocol Stack Structure

Radio
Network
Layer

Transport
Network
Layer

Control Plane

User Plane

RANAP

Iu UP Protocol
Layer

Transport Network
User Plane

Transport Network
Control Plane
Q.2630.1

SCCP
MTP3b

Q.2150.1
MTP3b

SSCF-NNI

SSCF-NNI

SSCOP

SSCOP

AAL5

AAL5

ATM
Physical Layer

11

Transport Network
User Plane

AAL2

Iu-PS Interface Protocol Stack Structure

Radio
Network
Layer

Control Plane

User Plane

RANAP

Iu UP Protocol
Layer

Transport
Network
Layer

Transport Network
User Plane

Transport Network
Control Plane

Transport Network
User Plane

SCCP
M3UA
MTP3-B
SCTP
SSCF-NNI
SSCF-NNI

UDP
IP

SSCOP
AAL5

12

GTP-U

IP
AAL5

ATM

ATM

Physical Layer

Physical Layer

Iu-BC Interface Protocol Stack Structure

Radio
Network
Layer

Transport
Network
Layer

SA Broadcast Plane
SABP Protocol
Layer

Transport Network
User Plane

TCP
IP
AAL5

ATM
Physical Layer

13

Iu Interface Protocol Stack Structure

Control
Signaling
CS
Bearer

Q.AAL2
RANAP

Packet
Bearer

Q.2630
GTP-U

Unrestricted Digital
Voice Data

SCCP

Frame Protocol

Q.2150
MTP3-B

AAL2

AAL5 - SAAL NNI

ATM Lower Layers
Physical (Full Rate E1 or STM1 Optical)

RANAP: Radio Access Network Application Part

14

PS
Bearer

UDP
IP

Iu Interface Functions(1)
Mobility Management
Location Area Report
SRNS Relocation
Hard handover between RNCs and inter-system

handover

Radio Access Bearer RAB Management

Establishment, Modification and Release of RAB

Iu data transmission
normal data transmission
abnormal data transmission
Transparent transmission of UE-CN connection
15

information

Iu Interface Functions 2

Paging
Iu Release
Security Mode Control
Overload Control
Common UE ID IMSI Management
Iu Signaling Trace Management
Iu Interface Abnormality Management
CBS(Cell Broadcast Service) Control

16

 Iu Interface
Iur Interface
Iub Interface
Uu Interface

17

UTRAN Interfaces Protocols and

Functions

Iur Interface Logical Model

Serving Radio Network System
Iur Control Plane

Iur
Control
Port

Iur
DCH
Data
Port

Iur
DSCH
Data
Port

Iur
DCH
Data
Port

Iur
DSCH
Data
Port

Iur
TDD USCH
Data
Port

Iur
TDD USCH
Data
Port

Iur
RACH/
CPCH[FDD]/
FACH
Data
Port

RACH/FACH
Traffic Contexts
With attributes

Drift Radio Network System

Cell

Cell

Radio

Radio

Link

Link

Radio

Radio

Link

Link

Radio User Plane

18

Iur
RACH/
CPCH[FDD}/
FACH
Data
Port

Radio
Link

Radio
Link

Iur Interface Protocol Stack

Structure
Radio
Network
Layer

Transport
Network
Layer

Control Plane

User Plane

RNSAP

Iur Data
Stream(s)

Transport Network
User Plane

Transport Network
Control Plane
ALCAP(Q.2630.1)

STC (Q.2150.1)

SCCP
MTP3-B

M3UA

MTP3-B

M3UA

SSCF-NNI
SSCF-NNI

SCTP

SSCF-NNI
SSCF-NNI

SCTP

SSCOP

IP

SSCOP

IP

AAL5

AAL5

ATM
Physical Layer

19

Transport Network
User Plane

AAL2

Iur Interface Protocol Stack Structure

Control
Signaling

CS
Bearer

Q.AAL2
Unrestricted Digital
Voice Data

RNSAP

RLC / MAC

SCCP

Q.2150

Frame Protocol

MTP3-B

AAL2

AAL5 - SAAL NNI

ATM Lower Layers
Physical (Full Rate E1 or STM1 Optical)

RNSAP: Radio Network Subsystem Application Part

20

Q.2630

Iur Interface Functions

Support Basic Mobility Functions between
RNCs
Support SRNC relocation
Cell Update and URA Update between RNCs
Paging between RNCs
Protocol Error Report

Dedicated Channel Functions

Establish, Modify or Release Dedicated Channels in

DRNC during handover

Transmission of DCH TB(Transmission Block) on Iur
Management of RL(Radio Link) in DRNS by Dedicated

Measurement Procedure and Filter Control

21

RL Management Compressed Mode Management

Iur Interface Functions

Common Channel Functions

Establishment, Deletion of Common transport Channels

on Iur Occupation of Common Transport Channels for

Transmit UE information which is in Common Channel
state in DRNC
Separate MAC-d From MAC-c
Traffic Control Between MAC-d and MAC-c

Global Resource Management

Common Measurement Between RNCs
Transmission of Node B Timing Information between

RNCs
22

UTRAN Interfaces Protocols and

Functions
Iu Interface
Iur Interface
Iub Interface
Uu Interface

23

Logical Model of lub Interface

... ...

Node B
Control
Port

Controlling RNC

Iub
RACH
Data
port

Iub
FDD
CPCH
Data
port

Iub
FACH
Data
port

Iub
DSCH
Data
port

Iub
PCH
Data
port

Iub
TDD USCH
Data
port

Iub
DCH
Data
port

Iub
DSCH
Data
port

Communication
Control
Port

Traffic termination point

Common Transport Channels,

with attributes

Cell

24

Cell

...

Node B

Cell

Iub
TDD USCH
Data
port

Iub
DCH
Data
port

Traffic termination point

Node B Communication Contexts,

with attributes

Cell

Communication
Control
Port

Cell

Cell

Iub Interface Protocol Stack

Radio Network
Control Plane

Q.2630.1
Q.2150.2

Transport
Layer

SSCF-UNI

SSCF-UNI

SSCOP

SSCOP

AAL Type 5

AAL Type 5
ATM
Physical Layer

25

AAL Type 2

CP CH FP

ALCAP

U S CH FP

D S CH FP

P CH FP

F A CH FP

R AC H FP

Node B
Application Part
(NBAP)

User Plane

D CH FP

Radio
Network
Layer

Transport
Network
Control Plane

Iub Interface Protocol Stack

MS
RRC Signaling
CC/MM/RR

Unrestricted
Digital/Voice

CS
Bearer

PS
Bearer
Control
Signaling
Packet
Q.AAL2
NBAP

RLC / MAC

Q.2150

Frame Protocol
AAL2

AAL5 - SAAL UNI

ATM Lower Layers
Physical (Full Rate E1 or STM1 Optical)

NBAP: Node B Application Part

RRC: Radio Resource Control
RLC: Radio Link Control
26

MAC: Medium Access Control

Q.2630

Iub Interface Functions(1)

Common Functions
Common Transport Channel Management
Iub Common Channel Data Transmission
Logical O&M of Node B maintenance functions such

as cell configuration Management Fault

Management Block Management, etc.
System Information Management
Common Measurement
Resource Verification
Abnormality Management
Timing and Synchronization Management

27

Iub Interface Functions(2)

Dedicated Functions
Dedicated Transport Channel Management
Radio Link(RL) Monitoring
Dedicated Measurement Management
Timing and Synchronization Management
Up-link outer loop Power Control
Iub Dedicated Data transmission
Balance on down-link power drifting
Compressed Mode Control

28

UTRAN Interfaces Protocols and

Functions

Iu Interface
Iur Interface
Iub Interface
Uu Interface

29

Uu Interface Protocol Stack Structure

U-plane information

C-plane signalling
GC

Nt

DC

Duplication avoidance
GC

Nt

DC
UuS boundary

L3
control

PDCP

c o n tr o l
c o n tr o l

c o n tr o l

c o n tr o l

RRC

RLC

RLC

PDCP

L2/PDCP

RLC
RLC

RLC

RLC

RLC

BMC

L2/BMC

RLC

L2/RLC

Logical
Channels
MAC

L2/MAC
Transport
Channels

PHY

30

L1

Uu Interface L1 Functions 1
Multiplexing of transport channels and de-multiplexing
of encoded composite channels
Mapping of encoded composite transport channels on
physical channels
Macro-diversity distribution/combining and soft handover
execution
Error detection on transport channels and indication to
higher layers
FEC encoding/decoding and interleaving/de-interleaving
of transport channels
Rate matching of coded transport channels to physical
channels
Power weighting and combining of physical channels
31

closed-loop power control

Uu Interface L1 Functions 2

Modulation and spreading/demodulation and

de-spreading of physical channels
Synchronization between frequency and time
(chip, bit, slot, frame)
Radio characters measurements (FER, SIR,
Interference power) and indication to higher
layers
Compressed mode support
Diversity of Transmission/Receiving
Other base band processing functions
32

MAC: Medium Access Control

AS

GC

Nt

DC

Control
SAP

RRC(L3)

Control
SAP's

Radio
(Access)
Bearers

L2
PDCP
BMC

RLC

Logical Channels
MAC
Transport Channels
PHY(L1)
Physical Channels
33

MAC Functions
mapping between logical channels and transport channels
selection of appropriate Transport Format for each
Transport Channel depending on instantaneous data rate
priority handling between data flows of one UE
priority handling between UEs by means of dynamic
scheduling
identification of UEs on common transport channels
multiplexing/demultiplexing of higher layer PDUs into/from
transport blocks delivered to/from the physical layer on
common transport channels
multiplexing/demultiplexing of higher layer PDUs into/from
transport block sets delivered to/from the physical layer on
dedicated transport channels
34

traffic volume monitoring

MAC: Mapping of Logical Channels(UE)

Higher Layer
data
Logical
Channels

(Data
Dependent)

Paging
Paging

System
System
Info
Info

Signaling
Signaling

Cell
Cell
Broadcast
Broadcast
Service
Service

Signaling
Signaling
and
and
User
data
User data
DCCH

PCCH

BCCH

CCCH

CTCH

Decicated
Logical
Channel
CipherOn
{XOR}

Transport
Channels
(L1 Characteristics
Dependent)

Physical
Channels
35

PCH

S-CCPCH

BCH
P-CCPCH

FACH

RACH

DCH

PRACH

DPDCH

DTCH
DTCH
DTCH

MAC: Transport Formation Selection(1)

Contrl immediate bit rate by means of changing traffic per TTI(Transmission
Time Interval, is multiple of 10ms)
Transport Block (TB): Bit series to be trasmited from logical channel
Transport Block Size: Size of TB
Transport Block Set: A group of TB transferred in a TTI (Multiplexed on logical
channel)bb
Transport Block Set Size: Whole bit length contained in a TBS
Transport Block Size
Transport Block, TB#1
Transport Block
Set

TB#2

TB#n

Transport Block Set Size = Transport Block Size x N

Transport Time Interval, TTI

36

MAC: Transport Formation Selection(2)

Transport Format (TF) defines Transport Block Set (Transport Block
Size, Transport Block Set Size)
Transport Format Set (TFS): Possible TF combinations of a
transport channel. MAC will chose a TF during every TTI
Transport Format Combination (TFC): Determined TF combination
in each TTI, each transport channel
Transport Format Combination Set (TFCS): define all possible TFC
combination method. Thus MAC can process dynamic transport
rate control in different transport channels
TFC

TFS

TF
TFCS

37

TrCH#1TrCH#2TrCH#3TrCH#4

RLC: Radio Link Control

AS

GC

Nt

DC

Control
SAP

RRC(L3)

Control
SAP's

Radio
(Access)
Bearers

L2
PDCP
BMC

RLC

Logical
MAC

Channels
Transport
Channels

PHY(L1)
38

Physical
Channels

RLC Functions
Segmentation, re-assembly and Padding
Transmission of user data
Error correction using different transport
Format
In-sequence delivery of higher layer PDUs,
duplicate detection
Flow control
Sequence number check in Unacknowledged
Mode UM
Protocol error detection and recovery
39

Ciphering

PDCP Packet Data Convergence Protocol

BMC Broadcast/Multicast Control
AS

GC

Nt

DC

Control
SAP

RRC(L3)

Control
SAP's

Radio
(Access)
Bearers

L2
PDCP
BMC

RLC

Logical
MAC

Channels
Transport
Channels

PHY(L1)
40

Physical
Channels

PDCP Functions

Mapping of network PDU from network protocol

to RLC protocol
header compression and de-compression in
order to reduce the redundant control
information in higher layer data, thus enhance
the transport efficiency in air interface
TCP/IP (RFC2507) - Non-realtime IP
RTP/UDP/IP (RFC3095, ROHC) in Rel4- Realtime
IP (e.g. VoIP)
support of Loss-less SRNS Relocation
41

buffering and retransmit of higher layer data

BMC Functions
Storage of cell broadcast message
Monitoring of traffic volume and CBS (Cell
Broadcast Service) radio resource request
BMC message dispatching
Transport BMC message to UE
Transport BMC message to higher layer

42

RRC: Radio Resource Control

AS

GC

Nt

DC

Control
SAP

RRC(L3)

Control
SAP's

Radio
(Access)
Bearers

L2
PDCP
BMC

RLC

Logical
MAC

Channels
Transport
Channels

PHY(L1)
43

Physical
Channel
s

RRC Functions 1
Management of system information broadcast
Paging/Notification
RRC connection management
establish reconfig, maintain and release
Radio Bearer (RB) Management establish,
reconfig and release , support NAS services
RRC connection mobility management
initial cell selection
Routing of higher layer PDUs
Control of requested QoS and map into different
resources of Access Stratum
44

Management and control of radio resources

RRC Functions 2

Management and control of RB, transport

channel and physical channel
open loop power control
Support of SRNS relocation
Control of UE measurement and measurement
report
Ciphering control, protection of integrity
CBS related functions BMC configuration
CBS radio resource distribute request, support
of CBS non-continuous receiving
45

RAB, RB and RL

RAB
RB
UE

RL

RNC
NodeB

UTRAN

46

CN

RAB, RB and RL
RAB The service that the access stratum
provides to the non-access stratum for transfer of
user data between User Equipment and CN
RB The service provided by the layer2 for
transfer of user data between User Equipment
and Serving RNC

RL A "radio link" is a logical association between

single User Equipment and a single UTRAN access
point. Its physical realization comprises one or
more radio bearer transmissions

47

UE Working Modes and states

Idle mode
Connected mode
Cell_DCH
Cell_FACH
Cell_PCH
URA_PCH

48

UE Working Modes and states

Idle Mode
The UE has no relation to UTRAN, only to CN. For data

transfer, a signalling connection has to be established.

UE camps on a cell
It enables the UE to receive system information from the PLMN
When registered and if the UE wishes to establish an RRC
connection, it can do this by initially accessing the network on the
control channel of the cell on which it is camped
UE can receive "paging" message from control channels of the cell.
It enables the UE to receive cell broadcast services .

The idle mode tasks can be subdivided into three

processes:
49

PLMN selection and reselection;

UE Working Modes and states

Connected Mode (Cell-DCH, CellFACH, Cell-PCH, URA-PCH)

When at least one signalling connection exists, the

UE is in connected mode and there is normally an

RRC connection between UE and UTRAN. The
UE position can be known on different levels:
UTRAN Registration Area (URA) level
The UE position is known on URA level. The URA is a set of
cells
Cell level
The UE position is known on cell level. Different transport
channel types can be used for data transfer:
50

Common transport channels (RACH / FACH, DSCH, CPCH)

UE Working Modes and states

Cell-DCH
In active state
Communicating via its dedicated channels
UTRAN knows which cell UE is in.

51

Cell-FACH and Cell-PCH State

Cell-FACH
In active state
Few data to be transmitted both in uplink and in downlink.
There is no need to allocate dedicated channel for this UE.
Downlink uses FACH and uplink uses RACH.
UE need to monitor the FACH for its relative information.
UTRAN knows which cell UE is in.

Cell-PCH
No data to be transmitted or received.
Monitor PICH, to receive its paging.
lower the power consumption of UE.
UTRAN knows which cell UE is in.
52

UTRAN have to update cell information of UE when UE

roams to another cell

URA-PCH State
URA-PCH
No data to be transmitted or received.
Monitor PICH.
UTRAN only knows which URA (UTRAN Registration
Area, which consists of multiple cells) that UE is in.
UTRAN update UE information only after UE has
roamed to other URA.
A better way to lower the resource occupancy and
signaling transmission

53

UE states
- Reduce action DTX and save power
RRC connection
URA_PCH

CELL_PCH

CELL_DCH

CELL_FACH

- Dedicated Channel
- Radio bearers Transmission Services
IDLE

DEAD

54

- upper layer Signaling

trigger (CN)
- Monitor paging channel
- cell re-selection

- Scanning networks (PLMN)

- Camp on cell

SRNC/DRNC
CN
SRNC

Iu

Iur

DRNC

SRNC and DRNC are on a per connection

basis between a UE and the UTRAN
The SRNC handles the connection to one

UE, and may borrow radio resources of a

certain cell from the DRNC
Drift RNSs support the Serving RNS by
55

providing radio resources

CRNC

CN
Iu

...
Node B

CRNC
Iub
Node B
Cell

Cell

Cell

The CRNC owns the radio resources of a

cell

56

Dynamical control of power for

dedicated channels, within limits
admitted by CRNC, is done by the SRNC.

Source RNC/Target RNC

CN

CN

Iu
Source
RNC

Iu
Serving
RNC

Iur

Target
RNC

RNC

The SRNS Relocation function coordinates

the activities when the SRNS role is to be
taken over by another RNS.

57

Source RNC is the SRNC before SRNs

Relocation and Target RNC is the SRNC
after SRNs Relocation

Thank You

58