GPRS

Introduction
The General Packet Radio System (GPRS) is a new service that
provides actual packet radio access for mobile Global System for
Mobile Communications (GSM) and time-division multiple access
(TDMA) users.
The main benefits of GPRS are that it reserves radio resources only
when there is data to send.
Theoretical up to 171.2 kbps transmission speed are achievable.
No dial-up connection is necessary, GPRS facilitates instant
connections whereby information can be sent or received immediately.
GPRS facilitates several new applications that have not previously
been available over GSM networks due to the limitations in speed and
message length.
GPRS fully enables Mobile Internet functionality by allowing
interworking between the existing Internet and the new GPRS
network.
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 GPRS applications
Communications
Use the mobile communications network purely as a pipe to access messages
or information.
— E-mail; fax; messaging; intranet/Internet access
Value-added services (VAS)
Refer strictly to content provided by network operators to increase the
value of their service to their subscribers.
— E-commerce; banking; financial trading; Retail; ticket purchasing;
Location-based applications
Provide the ability to link push or pull information services with a user's location.
— Navigation; traffic conditions; airline/rail schedules; location finder
Vertical applications
Apply to systems utilizing mobile architectures to support the
carrying out of specific tasks within the value chain of a company.
— Freight delivery; fleet management; sales-force automation
Advertising 3
 GPRS normal service procedure (continue)
Provision
— GPRS services: Point To Point (PTP) and Point To Multipoint (PTM).
— Quality of Service (QoS):
1) priority; 2) reliability; 3) delay; 4) user data throughput;
5) scheduled repeated transmission.
Withdrawal
GPRS-Attach and GPRS-Detach
— Attach: MS indicates its presence to the PLMN (public mobile network) for the purpose
of using the GPRS services.
— Detach: MS indicates to the PLMN that the MS will no longer be using the GPRS services
Registration
By registering the service parameters, the subscriber optimizes its present.
Erasure
The subscriber erases previously registered service parameter values
from the service profile. 4
 GPRS normal service procedure
Interrogation
The subscriber interrogates the status/value of registered service parameters as defined
in the current service profile.
Activation
The subscriber activates each of the registered interworking profiles independently within
the limitations of the subscription profile.
De-activation
The subscriber de-activates the previously activated interworking profiles independently
within the limitations of the subscription profile.
Invocation and operation
The GPRS service is invoked upon transmission or reception of GPRS data by subscribers.
PIN and Password Management
— Correct subscriber identification has been confirmed by entry of the
current GSM PIN when GPRS-Attach operates.
— GPRS services is offered to a subscriber with the subscription option of
using a password to control the services. 5
Services

• Bearer services for GPRS offer end-to-end packet-

switched data transfer. Two types:
• Point-to-point (PTP)
• Internet access
• SMS messages
• Point-to-multipoint (PTM)
• Unidirectional distribution of information (e.g. weather, news)
• Conferencing services between multiple users
Quality of Service (1)

• QoS profiles can be defined using parameters derived

from service precedence, reliability, delay and
throughput.
• QoS profiles can be negotiated between the mobile
user and the network, per session, depending on
current resources, and can affect billing
Quality of Service (2)

• Three priorities: High, Medium, Low

• Three reliability classes that guarantee maximum
values of loss, duplication, mis-sequencing and
corruption of packets
• Delay defines maximum mean delay and 95-
percentile delay
• Throughput specifies peak and mean bit-rate
Air Interface Um
• Is one of the central aspects of GPRS
• Concerned with communication between MS and BSS at
the physical, MAC and RLC layers
• Physical channel dedicated to packet data traffic is called a
packet data channel (PDCH)
• Capacity on Demand:
• Allocation/Deallocation of PDCH to GPRS traffic is dynamic
• BSC controls resources in both directions
• No conflicts on downlink
• Conflicts in uplink are resolved using slotted ALOHA

Sridhar Iyer IIT Bombay 9

 GPRS reference architecture
GPRS can be thought of as an overlay network onto a GSM network.

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 GPRS elements
New terminals (mobiles):
— Required to handle the enhanced air interface and packetize traffic.
— A GPRS terminal can be one of three classes: A, B, or C.
BSC/BTS:
— BSC is required to provide a physical and logical data interface out of
the base station subsystem (BSS) for packet data traffic.
GPRS Network:
— Gateway GPRS Service Node (GGSN) performs mobility management
functions such as mobile subscriber attach/detach and location management.
— Serving GPRS Service Node (SGSN) are interfaces to external IP
networks such as the public Internet, other mobile service providers'
GPRS services, or enterprise intranets.
GPRS Mobility Management:
Mobility management builds on the mechanisms used in GSM networks.
— Home location register (HLR)
— Visitor location register (VLR) 11