:

35-47pt



24-28pt

Internal Use Only
(E)GPRS Signaling Flow & Test
Suitable for staff with 1/2 year work experience in ZTE after probation
Issued by GSM Product Support Department
GSM Training Materials for Skill Certificates
Internal Use Only
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18pt

Version Introduction
Version Date Writer Assessor Translator Amendment Records
V1.0 2009-01-14 Bo Zongjun Zheng Hao,
Hou Shuai,
Yang Jiazhi,
Gan Wenjun
Wang Hangyan None
Internal Use Only
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18pt

Course Objectives
To be familiar with common (E)GPRS
signaling flow
To be familiar with (E)GPRS test content
To master (E)GPRS test techniques
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20-22pt

Contents
A Brief Introduction to (E)GPRS Signaling
Main (E)GPRS Signaling Flows
(E)GPRS Field Test
Main (E)GPRS Test Signaling Flow

Internal Use Only
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20-22pt

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18pt

A Brief Introduction to (E)GPRS Signaling
(E)GPRS Signaling Protocol Stack
Relay
Network
Service
GTP
Application
IP/X.25
SNDCP
LLC
RLC
MAC
GSMRF
SNDCP
LLC
BSSGP
L1bis GSMRF
BSSGP
L1bis
Relay
L2
L1
IP
L2
L1
IP
GTP
IP/X.25
Um Gb Gn Gi
Network
Service
UDP/
TCP
UDP/
TCP
RLC
MACNetwork
Service
L1bis
MS BSS SGSN GGSN
GPRS Protocol Stack of Data
Transmission Platform
Internal Use Only
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18pt

A Brief Introduction to (E)GPRS Signaling
( (E)GPRS Signaling Protocol Stack
GPRS Protocol Stack of
Control Platform
Um
Gb
MS BSS SGSN
GMM/SM
LLC
RLC
MAC
GSM RF
Relay
RLC
MAC
GSM RF
BSSGP
Network
Service
L1
LLC
BSSGP
Network
Service
L1bis
GMM/SM
Internal Use Only
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20-22pt

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18pt

A Brief Introduction to (E)GPRS Signaling
GSM RF Protocol
Physical layer can be divided into two sub-layers by functionphysical RF
sub-layer and physical link sub-layer:
Physical RF sub-layer is used to modulate the bit stream sent from upper
physical sub-layer and to demodulate the waveform coming from peer layer;
Physical link sub-layer provides information transmission on the physical
channel between MS and network, including: data delimitation, coding, error
detection and correction, on physical medium.
Internal Use Only
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18pt

A Brief Introduction to (E)GPRS Signaling
RLC/MAC Protocol
RLC/MAC layer is a lower-layer data link layer. The functions for RLC/MAC layer
are as follows:
MAC
1. Provide effective multiplexing of UL/DL data and control signaling.
2. Provide contention solution, including conflict detection & recovery, for channel
access initiated by MS.
3. Provide access scheduling, including the PS queuing, for the channel access
terminated by MS.
4. Priority processing.
RLC
1. Provide interface primitives for transmitting LLC-PDU between LLC and MAC.
2. Segment LLC-PDU and reorganize it into RLC data block.
3. The reverse error correction process for the selective retransmission of incorrect data.

Internal Use Only
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A Brief Introduction to (E)GPRS Signaling
LLC Protocol
LLC layer, i.e. Logical Link Control (LLC) layer, is used to transmit packet
data between MS and SGSN.
Functions of LLC:
1. Provide one or more logical link connections through DLCI.
2. Sequence control, guaranteeing the sequence of frames on logical link.
3. Check transmission, format and operation errors on logical channels.
4. Recover errors detected.
5. Notification of unrecoverable errors.
6. Flow control.
7. Encryption

Internal Use Only
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A Brief Introduction to (E)GPRS Signaling
SNDCP (Sub-Network Dependent Convergence Protocol )
Functions of SNDCP
1. Multiplex many PDPs;
2. Compress/extract user data and protocol control information;
3. Segment N-PDU into LL-PDU or desegment LL-PDU into N-PDU
Relay
The Relay in BSS is used to relay the LLC PDU between Um interface and
Gb interface. The Relay in SGSN is used to relay the PDP PDU between Gb
interface and Gn interface.
Internal Use Only
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A Brief Introduction to (E)GPRS Signaling
BSSGP (Base Station System GPRS Protocol )
This layer transmits routing-related and QoS-related information between BSS
and SGSN, and does not perform error correction. In BSS, this layer likes the
interface between LLC and RLC/MAC.
NS (Network Service Layer)
Functions of NS:
1. Provide NS SDU transmission
2. Provide network congestion indication
3. Provide status indication, e.g. changes of usable transmission capacity
Internal Use Only
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A Brief Introduction to (E)GPRS Signaling
Different Parts of NS Protocol
NSCtrl (Functions of NS Control layer)
1. Provide NS SDU transmission
2. Load splitting
3. NSVC management, including block, unblock, reset, and test.
Functions of SNS (Functions of Sub-network Service)
1. Provide the access to intermediate transmission network, i.e. NSVL
2. Transmit data sequentially on NS-VC
3. Detect and report errors in protocol, and errors such as failure of intermediate
transmission network, equipment fault, and link failure, etc.

Internal Use Only
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A Brief Introduction to (E)GPRS Signaling
GTP (GPRS Tunneling Protocol)
This protocol supports data and signaling transmission between the supporting nodes of
GPRS backbone network. All PTP PDU PDP need be encapsulated by GTP.
UDP/TCP
TCP carries the GTP PDU that need be supported by reliable data link (e.g. X.25) in
GPRS backbone network; UDP carries the GTP PDU that need not be supported by
reliable data link (e.g. IP). TCP provides flow control and protects GTP PDU from
being lost or damaged. UDP protects GTP PDU from being damaged.
IP
It is a GPRS backbone network protocol applied to router user data and control
signaling. GPRS backbone network was based on IP version 4 protocol initially, and
will use version 6 finally.

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20-22pt

Contents
A Brief Introduction to (E)GPRS Signaling
Main (E)GPRS Signaling Flows
(E)GPRS Field Test
Main (E)GPRS Test Signaling Flow


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Main (E)GPRS Signaling Flows
Summary of Main Signaling Flows
Categories Subcategories Signaling Flows
TBF Flow
Access flow in PIM
One-phase Access on CCCH
Two-phase Access on CCCH
One-phase Access on PCCCH
Two-phase Access on PCCCH
Access flow in PTM
Establishment of DL TBF with UL TBF
Establishment of UL TBF with DL TBF
Access flow (initiated by
network side)
Paging flow
TBF transmission & release
flow
UL RLC acknowledge transmission
DL RLC acknowledge transmission
Signaling
Flow
GMM flow
ATTACH
DEATTACH
Authentication
RAU (intra SGSN/inter SGSN/intra RA)
SM flow
PDP activation
PDP deactivation
Internal Use Only
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Main (E)GPRS Signaling Flows
One-phase Access on
PBCCH

Contention Solution
After receiving UL assignment
message, MS must send three RLC
blocks with TLLI. After receiving
the first RLC data block, network
will respond with PACKET
UPLINK ACK, in which TLLI
received should be set. If the TLLI
in the PACKET UPLINK ACK is
consistent with the one of MS, the
wireless resource for this message
is assigned to the MS. Otherwise,
MS should ignore the message.
Internal Use Only
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Main (E)GPRS Signaling Flows
Two-phase Access on CCCH
Contention Solution
After receiving the
second PACKET
UPLINK ASSIGN, MS
will compare the TLLI
contained in the message
with the one sent by
itself in PACKET
RESOURCE REQ. If the
two TLLIs are
consistent, the
contention solution is
successful.
Internal Use Only
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Main (E)GPRS Signaling Flows
Uplink TBF Establishment in PTM
MS
Network
Packet Downlink Assignment
RLC/MAC BLOCK
Internal Use Only
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Main (E)GPRS Signaling Flows
Downlink TBF Establishment in PTM
MS
Network
Packet Uplink Assignment
RLC/MAC BLOCK(USF)
RLC DATA BLOCK
Packet Downlink ACK/Nack (Channel Request)
Internal Use Only
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Main (E)GPRS Signaling Flows
Paging Flows
MS
Network
Packet Channel Request
Packet Immediate Assignment
Packet Paging Response (LLC frame)
PRACH or RACH
PAGCH or AGCH
PACCH
PPCH or PCH
Packet Paging Request
Internal Use Only
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Main (E)GPRS Signaling Flows
Uplink Data Transmission
Packet Uplink Ack/Nack
Data Block (CV=0)
Access and Assignment
MS BSS
PACCH
PDTCH
Packet Uplink Ack/Nack
PACCH
PACCH
Data Block
PDTCH
Data Block
PDTCH
Data Block (last in send window)
PDTCH
Data Block
PDTCH
Data Block
PDTCH
Data Block
final Packet Ack/Nack(FAI=1)
PACCH
LLC PDU
SGSN
Packet Control Ack
Internal Use Only
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Main (E)GPRS Signaling Flows
Downlink Data Transmission
Packet Downlink Ack/Nack
MS Network
PACCH
Packet Downlink Assignment
PACCH
PDTCH
PACCH
final Packet Ack/Nack
Data Block
PDTCH
Data Block
PDTCH
Data Block (polling)
PDTCH
PDTCH
Data Block
PDTCH
Data Block
Data Block
Data Block (last, polling)
PACCH
Immediate Assignment
AGCH
Packet Downlink Assignment
LLC PDU
SGSN
PACCH
Internal Use Only
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Main (E)GPRS Signaling Flows
Attach
Flow 1: MS initiates attach
request, if SGSN cannot
identify P-TMISI, New
SGSN will initiate
Identification Request;
Authentication and IMEI
Check are optional;
Flow 2: New SGSN
requests Subscriber data
from HLR; HLR sends back
Subscriber Data Ack and
delete the Subscriber data
on the old SGSN;
Flow 3: United IMSI/GPRS
attach procedure
Flow 4: Finish attach, if P-
TMSI changes, MS should
respond to Attach Accept.

1
2
3
4
Internal Use Only
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Main (E)GPRS Signaling Flows
Detach Signaling Flows
Upper left: Detach initiated by MS
Upper right: Detach initiated by SGSN
Lower left: Detach initiated by MSC
Internal Use Only
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Main (E)GPRS Signaling Flows
Signaling Flow of Subscriber Authentication
1. SendAuthenticationInfoAck
1. SendAuthenticationInfo
2. AuthenticationandCipheringRequest
2. AuthenticationandCipheringResponse
MSBSS HLR SGSN
If SGSN did not sa
ve the authenticatio
n triple, it will send
HLR the Send Aut
hentication Info m
essage, which conta
ins IMSI.

HLR responds with
Send Authentication I
nfo Ack that contains
authentication triple.
Each authentication tr
iple contains RAND,
SRES and Kc.
SGSN sends MS
Authentication Re
quest (including R
AND, CKSN, and
encryption algorit
hm)
MS sends back A
uthentication Res
ponse (SRES) to f
inish authenticatio
n process
Internal Use Only
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Main (E)GPRS Signaling Flows
RAU intra SGSN
1. Routing Area Update Request
3. Routing Area Update Accept
2. Security Functions
MS BSS SGSN
4. Routing Area Update Complete
Internal Use Only
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Main (E)GPRS Signaling Flows
RAU inter SGSN
MS BSS new SGSN HLR GGSN old SGSN MSC/VLR
2. SGSN Context Response
4. Security Functions
1. Routing Area Update Request
2. SGSN Context Request
5. Update PDP Context Request
5. Update PDP Context Response
6. Update Location
9. Update Location Ack
11. Routing Area Update Accept

10. Location Updating Request

10. Location Updating Accept
7. Cancel Location
7. Cancel Location Ack
8. Insert Subscriber Data Ack
8. Insert Subscriber Data
12. Routing Area Update Complete
3. Forward Packets
Internal Use Only
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Main (E)GPRS Signaling Flows
Cell Update (RAU intra RA)
BSC SGSN
1.
1.
RA1
1. Send LLC PDU
Move from one
cell to another
cell within the
same RAC

Internal Use Only
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Main (E)GPRS Signaling Flows
PDP Activation Signaling Flow (initiated by MS side)
GGSN
4. Activate PDP Context Accept
3. Create PDP Context
Response
3. Create PDP Context Request
1. Activate PDP Context Request
SGSN MS
2. Security Functions
GGSN uses the
information pro
vided by SGSN
to confirm the e
xternal PDN, al
locate dynamic
address, start ch
arging, and defi
ne QoS, etc.
Including NSAPI,
TI, PDP type, AP
N, the required Q
oS, and PDP confi
guration options
Create a TID (IMSI+N
SAPI), and send GGS
N Create PDP Contex
t Request (including
PDP type, PDP addres
s, APN, the negotiatin
g QoS, TID, selection
mode, and PDP config
uration options.)
Insert NSAPI, GG
SN address, dyna
mic PDP address,
the negotiating Q
oS, and wireless p
riority.
The negotiating QoS, and
the Charging ID
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Main (E)GPRS Signaling Flows
PDP Activation Signaling Flow (Initiated by network side)

MS SGSN GGSN
3. PDUNotificationRequest
HLR
1. PDPPDU
2. SendRouteingInfoforGPRS
4. Request PDPContext Activation
5. PDPContext Activationprocedure
3. PDUNotificationResponse
Internal Use Only
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Main (E)GPRS Signaling Flows
PDP Deactivation Signaling Flow
GGSN
4. DeactivatePDPContext Accept
3. DeletePDPContext Response
3. DeletePDPContext Request
1. DeactivatePDPContext Request
SGSN MS
2. SecurityFunctions
GGSN
1. DeletePDPContext Request
SGSN
1. DeletePDPContext Response
2. DeactivatePDPContext Accept
2. DeactivatePDPContext Request
MS
Initiated by Ms
Initiated by SGSN
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20-22pt

Contents
A Brief Introduction to (E)GPRS Signaling
Main (E)GPRS Signaling Flows
(E)GPRS Field Test
Main (E)GPRS Test Signaling Flow


Internal Use Only
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(E)GPRS Field Test
Test Purpose
To understand customers true feeling
To collect information unobtainable in OMCR, including:
service model specific to each region;
radio environment specific to each region;
service performance in moving state.
Major technical support in specific areas (e.g. large gathering, sports events)
To handle customers complaints
Internal Use Only
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(E)GPRS Field Test
Test Items
Categories Test Items Relevant NEs
CQT
ATTACH SGSN
PDP GSN
WAP login WAP gateway
WAP refresh WAP gateway
WAP picture & ringtone
download
WAP gateway
PING INTERNET gateway
FTP download INTERNET gateway
Email upload/download INTERNET gateway
KJAVA download WAP gateway
DT
WAP login WAP gateway
WAP refresh WAP gateway
WAP picture & ringtone
download
WAP gateway
FTP download INTERNET gateway
EGPRS coverage rate CELL
GPRS coverage rate CELL
Internal Use Only
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(E)GPRS Field Test
Points for Attention before Test
Test time: As PS service is influenced a lot by the number of users,
different test should be conducted at different time.
Cell reselection: As a result of the inherent defects in GSM system, cell
reselection will inevitably lead to TBF interruption; in CQT, there should
be no more than 4 cell reselections according to CMCC test protocol,
otherwise, the tests for this cell will be invalid.
Traveling speed for the test: CMCC requires that DT should not exceed
40km/h in urban districts, and should not exceed 70km/h on expressway.
In network optimization, the same traveling speed should be adopted in
the comparative tests before and after the optimization.
Test level: PS service needs high C/I value, taking MCS9 as an example,
to reach an ideal rate, C/I should be above 20, and the level should be
above -70dBm.

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(E)GPRS Field Test
Points for Attention about Test Equipment
Except test software, all software that may occupy bandwidth in the test PC
should be disabled;
Change the connection rate of testing handset to 115200 and disable the MMS
Auto Extract function; choose version R97 for GPRS test, and versions above
R97 for EGPRS test;
Points for attention about Modem setting:

Modify Modem
transmission rate to
115200; some mobile
phones need extra
initiation command.
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(E)GPRS Field Test
Points for Attention about Test Equipment
Setting of network connection;

Choose
correct
Modem
Modify Modem
transmission rate
to 115200
Disable
hardware
functions of
the Modem
Disable all PPP
functions in
network
connection
Internal Use Only
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(E)GPRS Field Test
Points for Attention in Test
Level: The mean RxLev in CQT should be above -70dBm, the mea
n RxLev in DT should be above -80dBm, and should not be lower t
han -90dBm.
Maximum TxPower: In PS service, MS does not perform power co
ntrol; during the test process, the maximum TxPower should be 33
for GSM network and 30 for GSM1800 network.
BEP value: BEP value is specific to EGPRS. These two values are u
sed to decide which coding rate should be adopted, the maximum v
alue for CV_BEP and MEAN_BEP is 7/31 respectively, the average
value should be above 6.5/27.
Whether to enable frequency-hopping: It is not recommended to en
able frequency-hopping in PS service, and it is recommended to ad
opt BCCH frequency in RF frequency-hopping cells.
Internal Use Only
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(E)GPRS Field Test
Points for Attention in Test
Number of channels & coding scheme: In a test, uplink sh
ould occupy a certain number of channels, e.g. CMCC pr
otocol requires that downlink should occupy 4 channels, a
nd uplink should occupy 1 channel; the higher level the en
coding mode, the better, and MCS9 encoding mode should
be over 90% during EGPRS test.
Block error rate: Occasional block error occurring under
high-level encoding mode is normal, but if there are contin
uous block errors, it needs to pay attention to wireless qual
ity and hardware.
Throughput: PS service test involves mainly RLC layer th
roughput and APP throughput. RLC layer throughput is t
he actual throughput on the Um interface, while APP thro
ughput is the user data throughput.
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(E)GPRS Field Test
Points for Attention in Test
C1/C2: At present, PS servi
ce shares the same C1/C2 a
lgorithm as CS service. A c
omparison between C2 and
RxLev can display those ce
lls with unreasonable resel
ection parameters. Conflict
s between CS service and
PS service should be avoid
ed during the adjustment to
unreasonable parameters.
CRH: In PS service,
CRH in GMM STA
NDBY state works
only when an MS is
crossing routing are
a and location area;
while CRH in GM
M READY state wo
rks all the time.
CRO: This paramet
er affects both CS s
ervice and PS servic
e greatly. As adjust
ment to this paramet
er tends to cause ch
anges to cell load an
d hence generate sid
e effect, the adjustm
ent should be avoid
ed as much as possi
ble.
PT & PO: These tw
o parameters can av
oid too fast the GPR
S reselection, but th
e step size is too lar
ge, e.g. the step size
is 10dBm for PT, an
d 20s for TO, which
should be paid close
attention to during a
djustment.
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20-22pt

Contents
A Brief Introduction to (E)GPRS Signaling
Main (E)GPRS Signaling Flows
(E)GPRS Field Test
Main (E)GPRS Test Signaling Flow



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(E)GPRS Field Test
Attach &Detach
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(E)GPRS Field Test
PDP active & deactive
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(E)GPRS Field Test
RAU
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(E)GPRS Field Test
FTP & Ping
Internal Use Only