Packet Data Convergence Protocol

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PDCP

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PDCP Protocol
The main services provided by the Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP)
are:
For the user plane:
IP header compression and decompression with the RobusHeader
Compression (ROHC) method only
Ciphering
Transfer of user data
In-sequence delivery of upper layer PDUs at HO in the uplink
For the control plane:
Ciphering and Integrity Protection to secure the transmission of
core network signaling

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PDCP Functions
Header compression and decompression of IP
data flows using the ROHC protocol
Transfer of data (user plane or control plane)
Maintenance of PDCP SNs
In-sequence delivery of upper layer PDUs
at re-establishment of lower layers
Duplicate elimination of lower layer SDUs
at re-establishment of lower layers
for
radio bearers mapped on RLC AM;
Ciphering and deciphering of user plane
data and control plane data;
Integrity protection and integrity
verification of control plane data
Timer based discard
Duplicate discarding

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LTE PDCP Layer View

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PDCP Layer Functions

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PDCP Layer Functions

The main services and functions of the PDCP sublayer for the user plane include:
Header compression and decompression: ROHC only;
Transfer of user data;
In-sequence delivery of upper layer PDUs at PDCP re-establishment procedure for RLC
AM;
Duplicate detection of lower layer SDUs at PDCP re-establishment procedure for RLC
AM;
Retransmission of PDCP SDUs at handover for RLC AM;
Ciphering and deciphering;

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PDCP Layer Functions

The header of an IP packet is 20 octets.

For example, during an FTP transfer, a lot of IP packets are sent over the air interface and
the IP headers are almost always the same. They represent a significant amount
of
data which can be reduced thanks to a compression method.
The PDCP header is 1 (or 2) octet.
The Robust Header Compression (ROHC) is a standardized method used to compress IP,
UDP, TCP and RTP headers.
RFC 4995

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RoHC Modes

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RoHC Compressor States

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RoHC Compressor States in Unidirectional Mode (U-Mode)

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RoHC Compressor States in Bidirectional Optimistic Mode

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RoHC Compressor States in Bidirectional Reliable Mode

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RoHC Decompressor States

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PDCP Control PDU Format

Control Plane PDCP PDUs

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PDCP Control PDU Format

The PDCP Control PDU consists of a 1-bit D/C field, a 3-bit PDU Type field, and a
variable length of control information. The D/C field is used to distinguish between
PDCP Data PDUs and PDCP Control PDUs, and the PDU Type field is used to
indicate what kind of control information is carried by the PDCP Control PDU.
Currently, two kinds of control information are defined: ROHC feedback and
PDCP status report.
The ROHC feedback itself is generated by the ROHC protocol, but is carried by the
PDCP Control PDU.
The PDCP status report consists of a 12-bit FMS field, and a variable-length
BITMAP field. FMS stands for First Missing SN, indicating the PDCP SN of
the first missing PDCP SDU. The BITMAP field indicates whether or not the
PDCP SDU with PDCP N=(FMS + bit position ) is missing in the PDCP receiver. If
there are no missing PDCP SDUs, the BITMAP field is not included.

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PDCP Data PDU Formats

User Plane PDCP PDUs

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PDCP Data PDU Formats

The PDCP Data PDU consists of a PDCP Sequence Number (SN) field and a Data field.
The PDCP SN field is used to identify each PDCP SDU, and the Data field is used to
carry one PDCP SDU.
For SRBs, where integrity protection is applied, a 4-byte MAC-I field is attached at the
end of the PDCP Data PDU. The length of the PDCP SN field is 5 bits .
For DRBs, the MAC-I field is not attached because integrity protection is not applied.
Instead, a 1-bit identifier is attached in order to distinguish between a PDCP Data
PDU and a PDCP Control PDU. The 1-bit identifier is called D/C, and is attached
at the front of the PDCP PDU.
The length of the PDCP SN field is either 12 bits or 7 bits. The 12-bit SN is used for
normal IP packet transmission.The 7-bit SN is an optimized length for VoIP
transmission, and thus can only be used for UM DRBs.

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PDCP PDU Fields 1

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PDCP PDU Fields 2

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PDCP Variables

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