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The LTE/SAE network is designed for high rate packet data (HRPD) services. The SAE
network architecture is simple.
Compared with the original network architecture, the SAE network architecture has the
following advantages:
The LTE base stations (eNodeBs) are directly connected to the evolved
packet system (EPS) core network. The previously independent base station
controller (BSC) functions are integrated into the eNodeB.
The packet-switched(PS) domain is reconstructed as follows:
The control plane of the serving GPRS support node (SGSN) is separated
from the user plane. The SGSN's signaling function is implemented by the
MME, and the SGSN's forwarding function is implemented by the serving
gateways (S-GW).
The gateway GPRS support node (GGSN) function is implemented by the
PDN gateway (P-GW).
The S-GW and P-GW can be deployed on the same physical node.
The SAE network can access non-3GPP networks, for example, code division
multiple access (CDMA) HRPD networks. This ensures the interconnection between
multiple radio access technologies.
The S-GW is the anchor point in the user plane between different 3GPP access networks. It
can shield interfaces within the 3GPP network towards different access networks. The S-GW
functions as a gateway for the EPC and terminates the interface towards E-UTRAN. The S-
GW provides the following functions:
The local mobile anchor point used for inter-eNodeB handover
Downlink packet buffering and initiation of service requests on the network side in ECM-
IDLE mode
Lawful interception
Packet routing and forwarding
Marking of packets on uplink and downlink transport layers, that is, differentiated services
code point (DSCP)
Inter-carrier charging based on subscribers and QCI granularities
The P-GW is the anchor point on the user plane between 3GPP and non-3GPP access networks. The
P-GW is the gateway that terminates the SGi interface towards the PDN. The P-GW provides the
following functions:
UE IP address allocation
Marking of packets on uplink and downlink transport layers
Uplink and downlink service charging, such as service data function (SDF) based on policy and
charging rules function (PCRF) and service awareness based on local policies
DHCPv4 (on servers and clients) and DHCPv6 (on servers) functions
Binding of uplink and downlink bearers
Verification of the binding of uplink and downlink bearers
The S1-U is an interface between the user planes of the eNodeB and the S-GW. The
interface is used to transmit user-plane uplink and downlink data between the eNodeB
and the S-GW.
The GTPv1 protocol runs on the S1-U interface.
S11 is an interface between the control planes of the MME and the S-GW. It is used to
transmit messages for bearer establishment, update, and deletion between the MME and
the S-GW. In addition, when a UE is in the ECM-IDLE state, the S11 interface is used for
the S-GW to instruct the MME to page the UE so that the S1 bearer can be restored.
The GTPv2 protocol runs on the S11 interface.
S5 and S8 are interfaces between the signaling planes and user planes of the S-GW and
the P-GW.
The S5 and S8 interfaces on the signaling plane are used to transmit messages for
bearer establishment, update, and deletion, and to create bearer contexts for data
transmission.
The S5 and S8 interfaces on the user plane are used to transmit uplink and downlink
runs on the S5 and S8 interfaces on the signaling plane, and the GTPv1 protocol runs
on the S5 and S8 interfaces on the user plane.
3GPP 23.402 (non-3GPP access): PMIP-based S5 and S8 interfaces
The network architecture in 3GPP access mode is defined in the 3GPP 23.401 protocol.
GPRS Tunneling Protocol for Control Plane (GTP-C): used to encapsulate signaling
messages and transmit encapsulated signaling messages between the S-GW and the P-GW
over the S5 or S8 interface.
The User Data Packet (UDP) protocol: used to the transmit signaling messages between
the S-GW and the P-GW. UDP is defined in RFC 768 [26].
The enhanced network architecture in non-3GPP access mode is defined in the 3GPP
23.402 protocol.
The PMIPv6 protocol's control plane part (draft-ietf-netlmm-proxymip6 [8]) is used to
transmit signaling messages between the S-GW and the P-GW over the S5 or S8 interface.
The UGW9811 supports Proxy Mobile IP (PMIP), which is applied on the
S2a/S2a/S5/S8 interface.
S2a is the interface in both control plane and user plane between HSGW and PGW.
The control plane uses PMIPv6 protocol, the user plane uses GTE encapsulation.
Refer to 3GPP TS23402, and the interface protocol TS29275.
The SGi interface is used for the interconnection between the P-GW and the PDN. The
interface can also be used for the interconnection between the P-GW and the AAA server,
transmitting authentication and charging control messages.
The Gxc interface is not used when the S5 and S8 interfaces use the GTP protocol.
The reason is that the GTP protocol supports the transmission of QoS information,
The Ga interface is used for the interconnection between the S-GW/P-GW and the
charging gateway functionality (CGF).
The GTP' v2 protocol runs on the Ga interface.
The Gy interface is used for the interconnection between the GGSN/P-GW and the
OCS/OCF.
The Gy interface runs the Diameter protocol and is used for online charging control.
The UGW9811 communicates with the OCS through the Gy interface to implement
credit control for subscribers.
The S4 interface is used for the interconnection between the S-GW and the S4-SGSN.
The S12 interface is used for the interconnection between the S-GW and the UTRAN.
When the direct tunnel (DT) solution is used on the UTRAN, the interface transmits the
uplink and downlink user-plane data flows between the RNC and the S-GW.
S4 is an interface between the signaling planes and data planes of the S4-SGSN and the S-
GW.
The S4 interface on the signaling plane connects the S4-SGSN to the EPS network to
transmit messages for bearer establishment, update and deletion. The S4 interface on the
user plane transmits uplink and downlink user-plane data flows between the S4-SGSN and
the S-GW.
The GTPv2 protocol runs on the signaling plane of the S4 interface and the GTPv1 protocol
runs on the user plane of the S4 interface.
APN management: It is similar to the APN management function in the UMTS PS domain.
In an ESM procedure or EMM/ECM procedure (attach procedure for example), the
MME locates the S-GW based on the tracking area ID (TAID) and locates the P-GW
based on the APN.
The P-GW locates the PDN that subscribers are to access based on the APN.
The GTP-U protocol runs on the S1-U interface. The S-GW needs to support the GTP
protocol.
The GTP protocol or the PMIP protocol runs on the S5 and S8 interfaces.
In non-transparent access mode, the GGSN/P-GW requests that the AAA server
perform subscriber authentication during PDP context or EPS bearer context
activation. The AAA server is defined in the access point name (APN) configuration
on the UGW9811. The AAA server is located on the ISP network or intranet that
provides the requested services to subscribers.
During PDP context or EPS bearer context activation, the MS/UE sends a Create
PDP Context Activation message or a Create Session Request message carrying an
authentication request in the PCO field to the UGW9811. After receiving the
message, the UGW9811 requests the AAA server to perform subscriber
authentication. The AAA server returns the authentication result and requested
content, such as information about the active and standby DNS servers, to the
GGSN/P-GW in the PCO field. The information is then sent by the UGW9811 through
the serving GPRS support node (SGSN)/mobility management entity (MME) to the
MS/UE.
Subscribers must be authenticated by the AAA server and ISP charges may apply. In
this mode, IP addresses in the carrier IP address space are assigned to subscribers.
The IP addresses can be statically assigned (when a subscriber subscribes to a
packet service) or dynamically allocated during PDP context or EPS bearer context
activation.
When detecting that the active OCS does not respond to a request, the UGW9811
automatically sends online charging messages to the standby OCS. Services are not
interrupted during the handover if the OCS servers support switchover.
With the content-based charging (CBC) function, the SAE network identifies the service
types of uplink and downlink data flows by filtering and analyzing packets. A carrier can
apply flexible charging policies to subscribers.
The UGW9811 implements the following operBased on configured rules, ations on
subscriber packets:
Layer 3 filtering: source/destination IP address
Layer 4 filtering: layer 4 protocol, and source/destination port number
Layer 7 filtering: application protocols, including HTTP, WAP, FTP, and RSTP-based
VOD.
Offline and online charging can be used for CBC.
GRE VPN
Based on the layer 3 tunnel technology, the GRE tunnel encapsulates a network
layer protocol over another network layer protocol. Through the GRE tunnel,
packets of upper layer protocols can be transmitted by using the IP protocol,
implementing the virtual private network (VPN) function.
MPLS L3 VPN
The MPLS L3 VPN implements the VPN function by using the IP backbone network
of a service provider. The MPLS L3 VPN uses the Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) to
ddistribute VPN routes on the IP backbone network to separate the traffic of
different VPN members. Then, the MPLS is used to forward VPN packets on the IP
backbone network.
L2TP VPN
The L2TP tunnel is a layer 2 tunneling technology. This technology uses the IP
network to set up an L2TP tunnel, and encapsulates data into Point-to-Point
Protocol (PPP) packets for transmission over the L2TP tunnel. The UGW9811
provides the L2TP access concentrator (LAC) function. The UGW9811 can
construct a VPN (using the L2TP tunnel) to transmit PDP packet data units (PDUs).
VLAN VPN
The virtual LAN (VLAN) is a new technology to realize virtual working groups by
dividing network segments based on the logical addresses instead of the physical
addresses of the devices on a LAN. The IEEE issued 802.1Q to standardize VLAN
implementation in 1999. The UGW9811 divides a physical interface into sub-
interfaces, and specifies VLAN IDs for these sub-interfaces to implement the VLAN
VPN function.
Over E-UTRAN and evolved packet core (EPC) networks, the EPS provides an IP connection
between the UE and the PDN, known as the PDN connection. Each PDN connection
consists of the EPS bearer and IP connection. The EPS bearer is defined as a logic set of
one or multiple service data flows (SDFs). It meets the requirements for QoS management
and control based on the carrier level.
The UGW9811 supports multi-granularity QoS management and control. The enhanced
QoS functions are as follows:
Enhanced bandwidth control and DiffServ functions
For the UGW9811, QoS parameters such as the QoS class identifies (QCI)
are configured to enhance bandwidth control and DiffServ functions. QCI is
used to control packet forwarding.
Enhanced traffic policing
For the UGW9811, the aggregate maximum bit rate (AMBR) is configured
to enhance the traffic policing function. The system limits traffic flows to
ensure that the bit rate of a set of data flows is lower than the maximum
bit rate (MBR).
APN-AMBR: Bandwidth control based on APN-AMBR is used to restrict the
maximum bandwidth for a set of data flows carried by the non-GBR
bearers of all PDN connections set up by a UE under an APN.
The service awareness (SA) function of the UGW9811 helps carriers perform the following
operations:
Service analysis
When a subscriber surfs the Internet through a browser or watches a
movie online, the traffic is the basis of charging by carriers. The SA
function provides accurate and detailed data traffic information, and
classifies traffic information based on contents. Carriers can charge
subscribers at different tariffs for different service contents. In addition, the
service analysis results are used as the reference for carriers to determine
resource distribution. The UGW9811 can accurately analyze protocol
packets and perform processing accordingly.
Service control
Based on the analysis of data and analysis of service types, carriers provide
various service packages for subscribers and filter out forbidden services.
The UGW9811 implements SA on the following service types: HTTP, WAP1.X, streaming
(Quick Time or Real Player), MMS, FTP, and DNS.
When functioning as a P-GW, the UGW9811 supports service redirection of the captive
portal and Web proxy types.
Captive portal
It enables subscribers to manage subscriber information, including service
subscription, accounts, and fees.
After a subscriber initiates an HTTP service request, the UGW9811 redirects the
uniform resource locator (URL) of the request to the URL of the captive portal
based on portal configurations for the subscriber. Therefore, subscribers can access
the portal and manage the subscriber information.
Web proxy
To speed up browsing, the UGW9811 can redirect the IP address of the page
requested by a subscriber to the IP address of a Web proxy cache server. In this way,
the subscriber-requested page can be cached on the cache server to achieve network
acceleration.
Based on service analysis results and policies, the UGW9811 redirects some traffic to the
portal server.
Application example: roaming reminding
When functioning as an S-GW or P-GW, the UGW9811 supports policy and charging
control (PCC) functions.
With the rapid development of IP-based networks, packet networks will become basic
platforms for services. Therefore, carriers impose higher requirements for service
awareness, service control, and charging on the packet networks. The PCC function is
developed to satisfy the requirements.
The UGW9811 supports the PCC architecture; therefore, the UGW9811 can perform QoS
control, charging, and dynamic policy adjustment at the server level.
When being used on LTE/SAE networks, the UGW9811 supports the PCC function on the
S5 and S8 interfaces on which the GTP or PMIP protocol runs.
When the GTP protocol runs on the S5 and S8 interfaces, the PCRF delivers the
QoS policy and charging policy to the P-GW. The P-GW implements the policies.
When the PMIP protocol runs on the S5 and S8 interfaces, the PCRF delivers the
QoS policy and charging policy to the S-GW and P-GW respectively. The S-GW
implements the QoS policy and the P-GW implements the charging policy.
The UGW9811 supports the following PCC functions:
Static QoS control: When no PCRF is deployed, the policy and charging
enforcement function (PCEF) implements all policies based on the local static
configuration.
Dynamic PCC control: when the PCRF and AF are deployed on the network, PCC
rules are dynamically generated for services based on QoS requirements and
subscription data of the services. The rules are for service scheduling and charging.
When being used as an S-GW or P-GW, the UGW9811 supports the access of the
following network subscribers:
GPRS network subscribers
UMTS network subscribers
LTE network subscribers
Non-3GPP network (HRPD) subscribers
This function meets the requirement for the evolved LTE/SAE architecture.
When functioning an S-GW, the UGW9811 supports the standard R8 DT function defined
in 3GPP TS 23.060 and TS 23.401.
The S4-SGSN is responsible for forwarding signaling-plane packets over the Iu
interface.
The UGW9811 can serve as an S-GW. When the R8 DT function is enabled, the
RNC can communicate with the user plane of the S-GW over the S12 interface.
The S4 interface is used for the interworking between the S4-SGSN and the
UGW9811. The GTP-C v2 protocol runs on the S4 interface.
The GTP-U v1 protocol runs on the S12 interface.
One UGW9811 can perform the functions of the S-GW and P-GW at the same
time to flat networks.