GPRS Basics

Zhang Chunping
 Agenda

GPRS Network Structure

GPRS Interface and Protocol
GPRS Address ， Identity
GPRS Radio Interface Technology
GPRS Mobility Management
GPRS Session Management
 What’s GPRS

GPRS － General Packet Radio Service

High spectrum efficiency for data
application
 provide data service based on existing
GSM
 GPRS can keep long connection with
network ， charge based on data flow
 Low Speed Circuit Switching Data Service
internet
 Support connecting with PSTN/ISDN/PDN
 Provide Data & Fax Service
 Most Data rate is just 9600bps
 Support transparent & non-transparent Data Service
IWF
 Demands increase IWF Function Module in MSC

 Disadvantages for Circuit Switching Data Service

 Low Spectrum efficiency
 Long Time for Call Setup
 Narrow Bandwidth & Low Data Rate
 High Cost
 GSM Revolution
2M

384K

171.2K

57.6K

9.6K
 GPRS Network Structure

MSC/VLR HLR

SS7
A Gs
Gr IP
Gi
Network
BTS BSC PCU SGSN GGSN
Abis Gb

Gn Gn

GPRS
Gn Backbone
BG
BG Gp

SGSN BG
BG
Gn
Other
GGSN PLMN
 GPRS Composition

 SGSN-Serving GPRS support Node

 GGSN-Gateway GPRS Support Node
 BG- Border Gateway
 PCU- Packet Control Unit
 GPRS Mobile Station
 SGSN Function
Network access control
Authentication
Charging information collection
MM and SM
Routing and tunnel transmission
Encryption and decryption
Subscriber data storage and forwarding
Route selection
Encapsulation and tunnel transmission
 GGSN Function
Network access control (external PDN side)
Message filtering
Charging information collection

SM
Route selection and forwarding
Storage and forwarding
Route selection
Address translation and mapping
Encapsulation and tunnel transmission

Dynamical IP address allocation( optional)

BG function, GPRS Backbone Network

BG realize the interworking between operators

Based on router
Safety protocol and route protocol Embedded

GPRS backbone network based on IP protocol

Consist of backbone router
Interworking with each NE, SGSN, GGSN…
Every NE occupy unique IP address
 HLR Function

Save GPRS subscription data

Provide location/route information for MM and
route selection, such as:
Save and update user SGSN number and
address
GPRS user location deletion indicator
MS reachable tag
 HLR GPRS user information
Domain Description
IMSI User identifier
MSISDN User basic MSISDN
SGSN Number Registered SS7 number of SGSN
SGSN Address Registered SGSN IP address
SMS Parameters 短消息有关的用户签约数据
MS Purged for GPRS 用户 GPRS 清除标志
MNRG 用户 GPRS 不可及标志
GGSN-list 列表，每一项包含某一 GGSN 的 SS7号码和 IP地址
PDP Context Identifier PDP上下文索引
PDP Type PDP 类型
PDP Address PDP 地址
Qos Profile Subscribed 用户登记的 Qos 过滤
VPLMN Address Allowed 是否允许用户使用 VPLMN的 APN
Access Point Name 外部分组数据网接入点
 MSC/VLR Additional Function
SGSN connect with MSC via Gs interface( optional)

Combined IMSI/GPRS attach/detach

Combined location area/routing area updating

 Improve radio resource

 GPRS support SMS

SGSN connect with SMSC via Gd

interface
 capable of sending SM by GPRS, thus
decrease the influence to voice service
Share the existing short message
information source
Transfer SMS by MSC or SGSN upon
decision of operator
 Agenda

GPRS Network Structure

 GPRS Network interface and
protocol
GPRS address and identity
GPRS radio interface technology
GPRS Mobility Management
GPRS Session Management
 GPRS Network Structure

MSC/VLR HLR

SS7
A Gs
Gr IP
Gi
Network
BTS BSC PCU SGSN GGSN
Abis Gb

Gn Gn

GPRS
Gn Backbone
BG
BG Gp

SGSN BG
BG
Gn
Other
GGSN PLMN
 Data Transmission Platform

Appli- Appli-
cation Relay cation

IP IP
Relay

SNDCP SNDCP GTP GTP

IP IP
UDP/ UDP/
LLC LLC
Relay TCP TCP

RLC RLC BSSGP BSSGP IP IP

Network Network
MAC MAC Service Service L2 L2 L2 L2
L1bi s
GSM RF GSM RF
L1 L1 L1

MS Um BSS Gb SGSN Gn GGSN Gi ISP

 MS-BSS-SGSN Signaling Platform
GMM: GPRS Mobility Management
SM: Session Management

GMM/SM GMM/SM

LLC LLC
relay
RLC RLC BSSGP BSSGP

MAC MAC Network Network

Service Service
GSM RF GSM RF L1bis L1bis
Um Gb
MS BSS SGSN
 Gb Interface

BTS BSC PCU SGSN

Abis Gb

L1bis ： physical transmission layer, based on E1or T1

NS ： transmit BSSGP PDU based on frame
BSSGP ： provide link without connection for data
transmission without acknowledgement ；
For signaling platform, transmit radio related
information ， such as QoS 、 routing ；
Process paging request ， flow control to data
transmission
 Gn/GP interface
BTS BSC PCU SGSN GGSN
Abis Gb

Gn Gn

GPRS
Gn Backbone Other
BG
BG PLMN
Gp

SGSN BG
BG

L1/L2 ： lower layer transmission networks :ATM,Ethernet,DDN

IP ： backbone protocol, routing selection for data and control ；
UDP/TCP ： UDP bear PDU no requiring reliable transmission;
TCP provide flow control and loss, error protection to bear PDU
requiring reliable transmission
GTP ： data and protocol transmission between GSN
 No.7 Signaing Interface

MAP MAP
TCAP TCAP
SCCP SCCP
MTP3 MTP3
MTP2 MTP2
L1 L1

SGSN Gr HLR
Gd SMC
Gr : Authentication, MM
Gd: transmit SM via GPRS network
 Submit SMS

 SMSC check destination address of SMS,request location

information of relevant HLR

 HLR return information include the current SGSN or MSC

number ,or both to SMS.
if no SGSN number ,means MS not reachable via SGSN;
SGSN is given priority to be chosen for SMS delivery
 Agenda

GPRS Network Structure

GPRS Network Interface and Protocol
GPRS Address and Identity
GPRS Radio interface technology
GPRS Mobility Management
GPRS Session Management
 Address, Identity
TLLI/ NSAPI

SGSN GGSN IP
PDP address TID=IMSI+NSAPI
Network
P-TMSI
IMSI IP address GPRS Backbone IP address
No.7 No.7 signaling
signaling address
address

 TLLI/NSAPI used to uniquely identify PDP PDU of MS between

MS and SGSN ;
 TID used to uniquely identify PDP PDU of MS between GSNs;
used to forward user data with tunnel transmission mechanism, is
composed of IMSI/NSAPI, existed in head of GTP
 Address, Identity
 P-TMSI ： assigned by SGSN for attached GPRS user used
in
PS, correspond to TMSI in CS;
 TLLI ： Identify logical link between MS and SGSN, deduct
from P-TMSI
 NSAPI ： used to specify specific PDP Context for MS
IMSI/NSAPI or NSAPI/TLLI in routing cell can be used
to uniquely identify specific PDP context for specific
user.
 TID ： IMSI+NSAPI, used to uniquely identify a PDP context
between SGSN and GGSN, or new SGSN and old SGSN
 Address ,Identity

 GSN address ： every GSN has one or more IP address ,

internal
address , each one has one or more domain name for
communication
 GSN Number ： Each SGSN has a SS7 numbering to
communicate with HLR and MSC.
GGSN shall have a SS7 numbering as well if GGSN connect with
HLR via Gc interface
 PDP Address ： IP address （ IP4 or IP6 ） or X.121 address
（ for X.25 service ）
 IP Address Allocation
 In GPRS network, SGSN, GGSN,CG,DNS is communicated with
each other by IP address, each NE shall be allocated one IP.
 The IP address of SGSN,GGSN,DNS is private or public, which
need to be planned in whole GPRS network.
CG usually use private IP for safety purpose.
 MS shall be allocated IP address, IP address allocation :
Static address assigned to MS when subscription; or

dynamic address allocated to MS when PDP context activation;

 IP address can be private or public;

 If MS use private address, address mapping and conversion need to

be implemented by network when MS visit external IP network.
 IP Address Allocation
 IP for NE interface （ Gn ， Gi ） is public address ；
Mobile Terminal is allocated as private address
（ dynamic ）
DNS
FireWare
202.1.1.4

GPRS Backbone Internet

10.2.1.1
BSS
SGSN GGSN
202.1.1.1
202.1.1.2 202.100.1.1

10.2.1.2

10.2.1.1 <-> 202.100.1.1:1001

10.2.1.2 <-> 202.100.1.1:1002
 Agenda

GPRS Network Structure

GPRS Network Interface and Protocol
GPRS Address ， Identity
GPRS Radio Interface Technology
GPRS Mobility Management
GPRS Session Management
 Radio Channel Allocation

 GPRS share the physical channel of radio

interface with GSM

 Radio resource allocation ：
Dynamic allocation
Fixed allocation
 PS/CS Channel Dynamic Allocation

时隙7 P2 P1 P3 P3 P3 P3 P3 P3 P3
时隙6 P2 P1 P3 P4 P4 P5 C8 C8 C8
时隙5 P1 P1 P1 P4 P4 P5 C9 C9 C9
时隙4 P1 P1 P1 P1 P5 P5 P5 P5 P5
时隙3 C4 P1 P1 P1 P1 P1 P1 C10 C10
时隙2 C3 C3 C3 C3 C3 C3 C3 C3 C3
时隙1 C2 C2 C2 C6 C6 C6 C6 C6 P1
时隙0 C1 C1 C5 C5 C5 P5 C7 C7 C7
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 时间
 P: Packet channel ， C ： voice channel
 Coding Scheme For Radio Channel
 Higher data transmission rate of each timeslot is compensated
by lower error-tolerance.

Scheme Code USF Pre- Radio BCS Tail Coded Punctured Data
Rate bits coded Block bits bits bits Rate
USF (excl. (kbps)
bits USF
and BCS)
CS-1 1/2 3 3 181 40 4 456 0 9.05
CS-2 ~2/3 3 6 268 16 4 588 132 13.4
CS-3 ~3/4 3 6 312 16 4 676 220 15.6
CS-4 1 3 12 428 16 0 456 0 21.4
 Steps for GPRS coding

Effective Add BCS Add precoded USF

(
load

Add tail bits Coding Puncture 456

bits

• BCS : Block Check Sequence

• USF : Uplink State Flag

Radio block structure from CS1 to CS3

Radio Block

USF BCS

rate 1/2 convolutional coding

puncturing

456 bits
*Interleaving
52 TDMA Frames

B0 B1 B2 T B3 B4 B5 X B6 B7 B8 T B9 B10 B11 X

12 Radio Block Periods = 240 ms

 Radio Block Structure for CS4

Radio Block

USF BCS
block
no coding
code

456 bits
*Interleaving
52 TDMA Frames

B0 B1 B2 T B3 B4 B5 X B6 B7 B8 T B9 B10 B11 X

12 Radio Block Periods = 240 ms

 Channel Data Flow Rate
25

Typical city area, moving speed at 3km/h

20

15 CS1
CS2
CS3
10 CS4

0
0 4 8 12 16 20 24
C/I 载干比 (dB)
•CS1 and CS2 least influenced by carrier-to-interference radio
•CS3 and CS4 has low efficiency for low C/I, used when C/I >10 DB
 Data flow for Packet Transmission
Packet
PH User data Network layer
(PDU)
SNDCP layer
Segment ... Segment
SNDCP layer
FH Info FCS LLC frame LLC layer
LLC layer
Segment Segment Segment RLC / MAC layer
...
RLC block
BH Info BCS Tail
456 bits RLC / MAC layer
Convolutional encoding Physical layer
114 bits 114 bits 114 bits 114 bits
Normal Burst
Burst Burst Burst Burst
PH : Packet Header BH : Block Header FCS : Frame Check Sequence
FH : Frame Header BCS : Block Check Sequence LLC:Logic Link Control, RLC:Radio Link Control
 Agenda

GPRS Network Structure

GPRS Network interface and protocol
GPRS Address, Identity
GPRS Radio Interface Technology
GPRS Mobility Management
GPRS Session Management
 MS Attach

Attach Type ：
When MS turn-on, initiate attach procedure,
Attach Type included in Attach Request indicates the type

Log on GPRS only

Log on GPRS/ Non-GPRS, SGSN initiate location update
procedure to MSC/VLR
MM Context ：
PMM has three states , can be converted under the trigger of
different event , each state corresponds to certain
functionality and a series of relevant information, which
constitute MM context; one user corresponds to a unique MM
context, which existed in MS and SGSN.
 MS State Model

n
it o
ell a Idle
c

G
n

PR
ca

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n
io

PD

co
t
ca

nn
P
o

G
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r

PR

ac
o

tio n
t

tiv
S
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eo

at
de

io
im

ta
t

ch
e r
m
Ti Timer Timeout
Standby Ready
Send or receive PDU

RAI is known CI is known

 Location Management

In GPRS, location management is based on RA. RA is a subset

Of location area, a location area can be viewed as a RA, can
also be defined as several RA.
Every RA is served by one SGSN, location update includes:

Cell update; CI changes, RA unchanged;

RA update: RAI changes,
Intra-SGSN RA update
Inter-SGSN RA update
Combined RA/LA update
Intra-SGSN Combined RA/LA update
Inter-SGSN Combined RA/LA update
Periodical Location Update
 Mobility Management Function

Mobility Management enable the system acquire the user

state info and location info.
Includes:

GPRS Attachment: establish MM context, MM state changed

to Standby state.
GPRS Detachment: Delete MM context, MM state changed
to Idle
Can be initiated by MS or Network side
Safety function: authentication, encryption,identification
check, etc.
Location Management: RA update, periodical update,
Cell update
Inter-SGSN Update
MS BSS new SGSN old SGSN GGSN HLR

1. Routeing Area Update Request

2. SGSN Context Request

2. SGSN Context Response

3. Security Functions

4. SGSN Context Acknowledge

C1
5. Forward Packets

6. Update PDP Context Request

6. Update PDP Context Response

7. Update Location

8. Cancel Location

8. Cancel Location Ack

9. Insert Subscriber Data

9. Insert Subscriber Data Ack

10. Update Location Ack

C2

11. Routeing Area Update Accept

C3
12. Routeing Area Update Complete
GPRS MS Attachment Procedure

MS SGSN HLR
Attach Request Triplet request

Authentication

. Update Location
Insert Subscriber Data
Insert Subscriber Data Ack
Update Location Ack
Attach Accept
 Agenda

GPRS Network Structure

GPRS Network Interface and Protocol
GPRS Address, Identity
GPRS Radio Interface Technology
GPRS Mobility Management
GPRS Session Management
   Session Management-PDP Context

If GPRS service applied by a user involved in one

or more than one external PDN( e.g. Internet,X.25),
GPRS subscribed data shall include 如果一个用户所申
请的 GPRS 业务涉及一个或多个外部 PDN
（如等），则在其 GPRS 签约数据中就将包括一个或多个
与这些 PDN 对应的 PDP 地址。每个 PDP 地址对应有一个
PDP 上下文。每个 PDP 上下文由 PDP 状态及相关信息来
描
述，存在于 MS 、 SGSN 、 GGSN 中。一个用户的所有
PDP 上下文都与该用户唯一的一个 MM 上下文相关联。
 PDP Activation - 1
MS send “PDP activation request”
to SGSN
HLR APN
PDP type (IP)
BTS BSC PDP address request
SS7
1. QoS and others
SGSN
SGSN check user data
DNS
APN
Access Dynamic or static IP address
GPRS
Core Point
Network Intranet
GGSN

Internet
 Definition of APN Structure

www.zte.com.cn.mnc<MNC>.mcc<MCC>.gprs

APN Network APN

Identification Operator
Identification

APN Network Identification define the external network GGSN

connected (mandatory )
APN Operator Identification define the GPRS Network where
GGSN located (optional)
APN correspond to a GGSN domain name
 PDP Activation - 2
(1) SGSN obtain GGSN IP
address from DNS
 APN mapping GGSN IP
BTS BSC address

(2) SGSN send “ create PDP

SGSN
context” request to GGSN
DNS
1.  PDP type （ e.g.IP ）
 PDP address （ dynamic or
GPRS Access
Core Point static ）
2. Network  APN
Intranet

GGSN  QoS and other parameters

Internet
 PDP Activation - 3

 APN identify external data network the user

want to use
 Dynamic address allocation: allocated by
GGSN address pool or external DHCP server
BTS BSC  GGSN return “create PDP context response”
2. to SGSN
 SGSN return “PDP context activated”to MS
SGSN
 SGSN can establish routing between MS
and GGSN
GPRS
Core
Network
GGSN Intranet
1.

Internet
PDP Activation on Network side (1)
MS SGSN HLR GGSN

1. PDP PDU

2. Send Routeing Info for GPRS

2. Send Routeing Info for GPRS Ack

3. PDU Notification Request

3. PDU Notification Response

4. Request PDP Context Activation

5. PDP Context Activation procedure

PDP Activation on Network side(2)

Visiting Network Home Network

MS SGSN PLMN HLR GGSN

Backbone
Network PDP PDU

Send Routeing Info for GPRS

Send Routeing Info for GPRS Ack

PDU Notification Request

PDU Notification Response

Request PDP Context Activation

PDP Context Activation procedure

 GPRS MS Classification

Class A
Can Attache GPRS and non-GPRS network, and
implement the CS and PS service simultaneously.

Class B
Can Attache to GPRS and GSM network, but can’t
implement CS and PS service simultaneously.

Class C
Can’t attach to GPRS and GSM network
simultaneously, only one of them can be selected,
unselected service state is in off state, which can be
connected.
 Procedure for MS Access to Internet

Procedure: 3 steps
 Attach
 PDP activation
 Access to Internet
 GPRS MS Attach

SGSN HLR

Attach_request (IMSI)
Triplet request
Authentication
Update_location
 GPRS MS Attach

SGSN HLR
Insert_subscriber_data

Update_location_ack

Attach_accept (TLLI)

MS  TLLI
 PDP Activation

SGSN DNS

Activate_PDP_context_req
(NSAPI1,type [+ @ of PDP] , APN, QoS)

DNS_query (APN)

DNS_response (IP of GGSN)

 PDP Activation

SGSN GGSN

Create_PDP_context_req
(type, APN, QoS)

GGSN IP TID1 Create_PDP_ctxt

Create_PDP_context response (IP )

Activate_PDP_context_accept (IP )
 GPRS MS Data Transmission

SGSN GGSN

TLLI  IMSI PDP network

NSAPI  TLLI
(IP/X.25)
NSAPI + IMSI  TID

TLLI NSAPI User packet

GGSN TID User packet

User packet
 Roaming － Connected to Home GGSN

Home PLMN
ISP
Network
MS SGSN GGSN

HLR BG

Subscription IPSec
data GTP addres- tunnel
sing hop-by-hop
Roaming
MS BG
Re-attach SGSN GGSN
MS
Visiting PLMN
 Roaming-Connected to Visiting
GGSN

Home PLMN
Home ISP
Network
MS SGSN GGSN
RADIUS
HLR BG

Roaming
agreement
between ISP’s
Roaming
MS BG Visiting ISP
Re-attach SGSN GGSN Network
MS
RADIUS
Visiting PLMN
Thank You