GPRS & EDGE

GPRS-General Packet Radio Service.

EDGE(EGPRS)-Enhanced Data Rates for GSM Evolution.

GPRS
Why GPRS ?
Circuit switched transmission over GSM is ideal for voice
applications.
Inefficient for data transmission due to variable bandwidth
usage.
Hence Packet switched transmission over GPRS used for

Figure: Packet switched data

transmission

GPRS AIR INTERFACE

Smallest unit that can be assigned to a user is a block which consists f 4

bursts of PDTCH.
If there's more data , more blocks can be assigned in the same PDTCH.
Different subscribers can be assigned blocks in the same PDTCH.
If more timeslots are available a single user can be assigned several time sl
Modulation scheme used is GMSK.

GPRS Logic Channels on Air Interface

Used for transmitting user data and signaling data in the uplink & the
downlink direction.
Packet Data Traffic Channel(PDTCH)-used to send user data across the air
interface.
Packet Associated Control Channel(PACCH)-necessary to acknowledge
packets that are transported over the PDTCH. When a mobile device receives
data packets from the network via a downlink PDTCH, it has to acknowledge
them via the uplink PACCH. In addition, the PACCH is used for signaling
messages that assign uplink and downlink resources.
Packet Timing Advance Control Channel(PTCCH)-used for timing advance
estimation and control of active mobile devices.
(Timing advance-corresponds to the length of time a signal takes to travel
from BS to MS)

GPRS State Model

Figure:GPRS state model

Idle State-The mobile device is not attached to the GPRS network at

all.SGSN is not aware of the users location.
Ready State-The device enters the ready state as soon as the first
packet is sent. The device has to report cell
update so that the SGSN can update the users location in the
database.

 Standby State-In case no data is transferred for some time,

the ready timer expires and the mobile device changes into
the standby state. The mobile device only informs the
network of a cell change if the new cell belongs to a
different routing area than the previous one.

Elements

GPRS Network

Figure: GPRS network nodes

Packet Control Unit(PCU)

packet switched counterpart of BSC.
assignment of timeslots to subscribers in the uplink
direction when requested for by the mobile.
assignment of timeslots to subscribers in the downlink
direction for data arriving from the core network.
error checking and retransmission of lost or faulty
frames.

Serving GPRS Support Node(SGSN)

Packet switched counterpart of MSC.
responsible for user plane management and the
signaling plane management.
User Plane Management
combines all protocols and procedures for the
transmission of user data frames between the subscriber
and external networks like the Internet.
Signaling Plane Management
All protocols and procedures for user management are
handled

Gateway GPRS Support Node(GGSN)

connects the GPRS network to the external data
network(Internet).
Responsible for assigning an IP address to the user.
Internet is not aware of the mobility of the user due to
GGSN.

Figure: Subscriber changes location within the GPRS network

GPRS Interfaces
Apart from the PCU, other components in the network can be
selected freely from different manufacturers.
This is possible due to various interfaces used in the network.
Abis Interface-connects the BTS with the BSC or PCU.
Gb Interface-connects the SGSN with the PCU.
Gn Interface-interface between the SGSNs and GGSNs.
Gi Interface-connects the GPRS network to external packet network
like the Internet.
Gr Interface-connects the SGSN with the HLR.
Gc Interface-connects the GGSN with the HLR.

EGDE
Increased data transmission speeds.
Due to the usage of 8 PSK (8 Phase Shift Keying) as the
modulation scheme.
Transmits three bits in a single transmission step.
Data transmission can be up to three times faster
compared to GSM and GPRS.