ZXUN USPP

Universal Subscriber Profile Platform

Training Manual

HLR System Overview

ZTE UNIVERSITY
ZTE University, Dameisha
YanTian District, Shenzhen,
P. R. China
518083
Tel: (86) 755 26778800
Fax: (86) 755 26778999
URL: http://ensupport.zte.com.cn
E-mail: support@zte.com.cn
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Publishing Date (MONTH/DATE/YEAR) : 08/09/2010

Contents

System Overview ......................................................... 1

1 Product Description................................................... 2
1.1 Product Evolution .................................................................. 2
1.2 Product Role in Mobile Network ............................................... 3
1.3 Product Function ................................................................... 4
1.4 Product Features ................................................................... 4
1.4.1 Loose Coupling of Service and Data ................................. 4
1.4.2 Distributed System Architecture ...................................... 5
1.4.3 Overload Control ........................................................... 5
1.4.4 Online Upgrade ............................................................. 5
1.4.5 Hot Patches .................................................................. 6
1.4.6 Online Capacity Expansion.............................................. 6
1.4.7 High Reliability and High Performance .............................. 6
2 Product Applications ................................................. 9
2.1 Overview.............................................................................. 9
2.2 E1 and ATM over E1 Access Modes ........................................... 9
2.3 IP Access Mode ....................................................................13
3 Technical Specifications .......................................... 15
3.1 Physical Specifications...........................................................15
3.2 Power Specifications .............................................................16
3.3 Interface Specifications .........................................................16
3.4 Capacity Indices ...................................................................18
3.5 Performance Specifications ....................................................18
3.6 Clock Indices .......................................................................19
3.7 Reliability Specifications ........................................................19
Glossary ..................................................................... 21
USPP(HLR)_BT001_E1_0
System Overview
After you have completed this course, you

will be able to:

>> Master ZXUN USPP (HLR) System Role
>> Master ZXUN USPP (HLR) System
Function
>> Master ZXUN USPP (HLR) Technical
Implementation

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ZXUN USPP Training Manual

Chapter 1 Product Description

After you have completed this chapter, you will know:
>> Product Evolution
>> Product Role in Mobile Network
>> Product Function
>> Product Features

1.1 Product Evolution

ZXUN USPP is integrated with the HLR, AUC, and EIR functions.
The functions of HLR, AUC and EIR in the R4 network are similar
to that of the R99 network.
The HLR is the data center of the system. It stores the location
information, service data and account management data of all
registered subscribers. It allows real-time query and modifi-
cation of subscriber location information and the implementa-
tion of various services, including location update, call process-
ing, authentication and supplementary services, enabling sub-
scriber mobility management in the mobile communications
network.
One HLR manages subscribers under several MSCs. All im-
portant static data of mobile subscribers is stored in the HLR.
In addition, the HLR stores and provides to the MSC dynamic
information related to the actual roaming area of mobile sub-
scribers.
The AUC is used for the security management of GSM sys-
tem. It stores authentication information and encryption keys
to prevent illegal subscribers from accessing the system, thus
securing the communications of mobile subscribers through
mobile interfaces.
The Equipment Identity Register (EIR) stores the IMEI of mo-
bile equipment. It checks the white list, the black list and
the gray list, which contains allowed IMEIs, malfunctioning
IMEIs under supervision and prohibited IMEIs for stolen mo-
bile equipment. In this way, it enables operators to take timely
precautions against UEs (User Equipment) that may jeopar-
dize the normal operation of the works due to technical faults
or misoperations, to ensure UE uniqueness and security within
their networks
The R5 core network is similar to the R4 version in basic network
structure. An important change is that the IP Multimedia Sub-
system (IMS) is introduced centered around the CSCF in order to
transmit media streams (voice data and images) over the IP net-
work.

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 Chapter 1 Product Description

Home Subscriber Server (HSS) is used in the R5 network to replace

the HLR. Compared with HLR, HSS has a stronger capacity and
supports more interfaces, thus able to process more subscriber
information.

1.2 Product Role in Mobile Network

Position in System Figure 1 shows the location of the HLR in the UMTS network.

FIGURE 1 UMTS R4 CORE NETWORK STRUCTURE

1. Thick bold line: bearing interface through a bottom-layer network

2. Dotted line: signaling interface (SS7 or IP network).
3. In this example, different NEs are 4. One (G)MSC Server and its cor-
directly connected. In actual net- responding (G)MGW can be inte-
working, they may be connected grated into one node: (G)MSC.

Product Role ZXUN USPP meets the requirements on HLR service functions and
interface standards in the 3G network. The role of the HLR in the
R4 core network is described as follows:

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ZXUN USPP Training Manual

Authentication related data is transferred between the HLR and

AUC through the H interface.
Subscriber location information, subscriber subscription infor-
mation and subscriber current status are transferred between
the HLR and the VLR through the D interface.
Routing information is transferred between the HLR and GMSC
Server/SMS-IW/GMSC through the C interface.
Subscriber location information, subscribed GPRS information
and subscriber current status are transferred between the HLR
and GGSN through the Gr interface.
Subscriber routing information is transferred between the HLR
and GGSN through the Gc interface.

1.3 Product Function

The HLR is widely applied to GSM, WCDMA and TD-SCDMA net-
works. Its primary function is to store mobile subscriber data, in-
cluding all static and dynamic data. In addition, it also processes
all HLR related services, including location update, authentication,
subscriber data management, supplementary services, route pro-
visioning, and so on. Its major applications include: mobility man-
agement, call services, SMS, GPRS service, location service, mo-
bile intelligent service and EIR service.

1.4 Product Features

1.4.1 Loose Coupling of Service and
Data

ZXUN USPP system is designed to separate service logic from data.

The applications processing logic of ZXUN USPP are realized in
FE and Provision subsystems only.
The database does not have logical processing ability. It only
has database functions, including data logic processing flow,
data storage and management mechanism, and replication.
After a new application logic is added to ZXUN USPP, only the
data contents in the database system will change, and other
functions (data logic processing flow, data storage and man-
agement mechanism, and replication) are not impacted.
FE and Provision subsystems access data in the database sys-
tem through interfaces that are irrelevant to service logic.
FE and Provision subsystems and the database system can be
deployed at different geographical locations.

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 Chapter 1 Product Description

1.4.2 Distributed System Architecture

The ZXUN USPP system adopts the distributed architecture, which

enables functional subsystems to expand their volume and capac-
ity through adding internal processing units.
It supports multiple FE modules that can be physically deployed
in a centralized or distributed manner. System volume and
performance can be increased through adding internal service
processing units or FE modules.
Physically, the distributed database systems are separately de-
ployed; logically, they consist of inter-related data processing
units (database nodes).
The Provision Subsystem consists of service provisioning sub-
systems of the same function. These service provisioning sub-
systems can be deployed at different geographical locations,
and cooperate to complete service provisioning.

1.4.3 Overload Control

ZXUN USPP system can detect the current load, and take control
measures to reduce system load according to the preset overload
indices.
The overload control function of FE and Provision subsystems can
ensure the modules in the system work normally by means of dis-
carding part of the service when the system is impacted by the
traffic that exceeds the preset threshold, so that message conges-
tion, system breakdown or system reset will not occur.
The UDS subsystem performs overload control check upon receiv-
ing requests of any time, and take control measures to reduce
system load according to the preset overload indices (including
source load and the number of messages received in a time unit).

1.4.4 Online Upgrade

ZXUN USPP system supports online upgrade:

When the HLR system of ZXUN USPP upgrades to a differ-
ent version, service processing and provisioning are not in-
terrupted.
FE and UDS subsystems can be upgraded separately, after
which service functions before the upgrade are not impacted
in any way.
Subsystems at different geographical locations can be up-
graded during different periods, and upgraded functions at one
location do not affect other locations that have not performed
subsystem upgrade (service processing and provisioning are
not interrupted).

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1.4.5 Hot Patches

ZXUN USPP provides hot patches for Provision, FE and UDS sub-
systems so that the processing flow of applications can be modi-
fied, closed and opened without the need to restart. The system
provides patch loading, view and uninstallation functions, and al-
lows the local and remote operations of the applications.

1.4.6 Online Capacity Expansion

The database system of ZXUN USPP supports online capacity ex-

pansion without interrupting service processing and provisioning.
After capacity expansion, the FE and Provision subsystems of
ZXUN USPP should also have additional processing units to satisfy
performance requirements.

1.4.7 High Reliability and High

Performance

The signaling processing design guarantees the high reliability and

high performance of the system:
The distributed processing design allows different protocol pro-
cessing units to run independently, which guarantees the out-
standing overall performance. The fault of one processing unit
does not affect other units.
The product complies with ATCA standards, providing a devel-
opment platform with high availability, high performance, high
reliability and large capacity for telecom-level applications.
The product supports smooth upgrade and expansion: server
blades or concatenated shelves can be added to improve prod-
uct performance. With its modular design, processing units
can be added dynamically if necessary to increase its process-
ing ability, without interrupting normal system operation.
The shelf can be configured with multiple server blades or
switch boards to provide diversified service interfaces and net-
work interfaces, as well as a strong processing and switch
capacity. The server blades use high-performance and low-
consumption processors. The product also supports external
large-volume FC disk arrays. The topology of the backplane
adopts the dual-star high speed connectivity structure to pro-
vide multiple groups of high-speed backplane GE/FC buses. It
also provides a large-volume intra-system switch bandwidth
and a high I/O throughput.
The database system design guarantees the high reliability and
high performance of the system:
ZXUN USPP subscriber database adopts the distributed HLR
data storage structure, which greatly increases processing
speed and reliability.

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 Chapter 1 Product Description

It supports linear overlapping of volume/capacity so that all

FE and BE modules can share system load on a equal basis in
order to increase system performance. It provides a capacity
for 100 million level subscribers, and a subscription speed of
2500 times/second.
It stores subscriber data with a distributive N+K redundancy
mechanism. All data nodes can be separately deployed for the
purpose of disaster tolerance. Relying on the real-time data
synchronization, the backup nodes can stay online any minute,
which ensures system security.

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Chapter 2 Product Applications
After you have completed this chapter, you will know:
>> Overview
>> E1 and ATM over E1 Access Modes
>> IP Access Mode

2.1 Overview
The interfaces between the HLR and adjacent offices are classified
into three types: E1, ATM (over E1), and IP.

2.2 E1 and ATM over E1 Access

Modes
Interface Protocol The HLR is connected with adjacent offices such as MSC Server,
GMSC Server, MSC/VLR(R99), GMSC(R99), SGSN, GGSN, SCP and
SC, using MAP messages at the upper layer. The lower layer of MAP
messages is based on TDM connection.
In the current networking, the upper MAP messages usually use E1
connection; ATM over E1 also used on some occasions. Data traf-
fic between the HLR and the MSC Server is very large, so normally
the HLR connects with the MSC Server in the association mode.
However, the quasi-association connection can also be used. Sig-
naling exchanges are transferred by MGW between the HLR and
the MSC Server. This topic describes the association mode only.
Figure 2 shows the protocol stack based on E1 connection.

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ZXUN USPP Training Manual

FIGURE 2 INTERFACE AND PROTOCOL BETWEEN HLR AND ADJACENT OFFICE

BASED ON E1 ACCESS MODE

Figure 3 shows the protocol stack based on ATM connection.

FIGURE 3 INTERFACE AND PROTOCOL BETWEEN HLR AND ADJACENT OFFICE

BASED ON ATM ACCESS MODE

E1 Signal Traffic The SPB board provides E1/T1 interfaces. It processes MTP2 sig-
Direction naling packets and forwards MTP3 signaling packets to the signal-
ing MP board. Through the interfaces provided by the SPB, the
HLR can connect to the MSC server, the MSC and the SGSN.
SS7 signals from other NEs are E1/T1 signals. The signal traffic
flow is as shown in Figure 4.

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 Chapter 2 Product Applications

FIGURE 4 E1/T1 SIGNAL TRAFFIC DIRECTION

The signal traffic flow is described as follows:

1. E1/T1 signals from other NEs go through the RSPB interface;
HDLC signals and signals below the MTP2 layer are processed
on the SPB board.
2. Upper-layer SS7 signaling packets and processed lower-layer
messages (at present, E1/T1 messages are converted to IP
messages) are sent to the UIMC board through the backplane
from the control plane of the SPB.
3. Signals are transmitted to the SMP board of the local shelf
through UIMC.
4. The SMP board processes signals from MTP3, SCCP, TCAP and
ISUP layers.
5. Processed messages are sent to the UIMC board through the
backplane from the control plane network interface of SMP.
6. Signals are transmitted to the UIMC board in the shelf that
contains the USI board through the THUB.
7. The UIMC board sends messages to the USI/TIPI board through
the backplane.
8. The USI/TIPI board communicates with the the background
module or other physical offices through network cables to
complete SS7 data transmission.

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Signal Flow The HSL board provides E1/T1 interfaces. It processes MTP3-B
Direction for ATM signaling packets and forwards them to the signaling MP board.
over E1 Through the interfaces provided by the HSL, the HLR can connect
to the MSC server, the MSC and the SGSN.
SS7 signals from other NEs are E1/T1 signals. The signal traffic
flow is as shown in Figure 5.

FIGURE 5 ATM SIGNAL TRAFFIC DIRECTION

The signal traffic flow is described as follows:

1. Signals from other products enter the HSL board through the
E1/T1 interface, and are then assigned to the TDM interface on
the HSL board after timeslot exchange.
2. The HSL board transfers TDM signals into ATM cells, and then
performs the reassembling, reorganization and SSCS process-
ing of AAL5, after which it sends service related data from the
control plane of the SPB to the UIMC board through the back-
plane.
3. Signals are transmitted to the SMP board of the local shelf
through UIMC.
4. The SMP board processes signaling packets on the application
layer.
5. Processed messages are sent to the UIMC board through the
backplane from the control plane network interface of the SMP
board.
6. Signals are transmitted to the UIMC board in the shelf that
contains the USI board through the THUB.

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 Chapter 2 Product Applications

7. The UIMC board sends messages to the USI/TIPI board through

the backplane.
8. The USI/TIPI board communicates with the background mod-
ule or other physical offices through network cables to com-
plete signaling data transmission.

2.3 IP Access Mode

Interface The HLR is connected with adjacent offices such as the MSC Server,
Protocols GMSC Server, MSC/VLR(R99), GMSC(R99), SGSN, GGSN, SCP and
SC, using MAP messages at the upper layer. The lower layer of MAP
messages is based on IP connection. Its networking interfaces and
protocol stack structure are as shown in Figure 6.

FIGURE 6 INTERFACE AND PROTOCOL BETWEEN HLR AND ITS ADJACENT

OFFICE BASED ON IP ACCESS MODE

Signal Flow The SIPI board provides FE interfaces and processes bottom-layer
Direction SIGTRAN signaling interfaces. It forwards SCTP packets received
from the IP network to the Signaling MP board for processing.
Through the SIPI board, the HLR can be connected to other de-
vices.
Figure 7 shows the traffic direction of IP signals.

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ZXUN USPP Training Manual

FIGURE 7 IP SIGNAL TRAFFIC DIRECTION

1. The SIPI board provides FE interfaces and is responsible for

processing bottom-layer SIGTRAN signal interfaces and the
forwarding of IP packets. It receives IP packets from other
NEs and processes SIGTRAN bottom-layer signals.
2. SCTP bottom-layer packets are forwarded to the SMP board for
processing through the UIMC board.
3. After the SMP board processes SCTP packets, it forwards pro-
cessed information to UIMC through the backplane.
4. The UIMC board sends the information to the USI board, which
communicates with the background module or other physical
offices through network cables to complete IP data transmis-
sion.

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Chapter 3 Technical Specifications
After you have completed this chapter, you will know:
>> Physical Specifications
>> Power Specifications
>> Interface Specifications
>> Capacity Indices
>> Performance Specifications
>> Clock Indices
>> Reliability Specifications

3.1 Physical Specifications

Service Cabinet Table 1 shows the parameters of ZXUN USPP service cabinet.
Parameters
TABLE 1 ZXUN USPP SERVICE CABINET PARAMETERS

Index Value

Color The main body of the cabinet is

blue, with silver sectional bars on
both sides of the door.

Height Width Depth (mm 2000600800 (excluding the

mm mm) size of the side door, which is 25
mm)

Cabinet Weight (kg) 350 (full configuration of a single

cabinet)

Server Cabinet ZXUN USPP can share a server cabinet with the servers of other
Parameters NEs. Table 2 shows the parameters of the server cabinet.

TABLE 2 ZXUN USPP SERVER CABINET PARAMETERS

Index Value

Color The main body of the cabinet is

blue, with silver sectional bars on
both sides of the door.

Height Width Depth (mm 20006001000

mm mm)

Cabinet Weight (kg) Approximately 170 (single empty

cabinet)

Table 3 shows the parameters of the ATCA shelf in the cabinet.

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TABLE 3 ATCA SHELF PARAMETERS

Index Value

Height Width Depth (mm 575482.6415

mm mm)

Shelf Weight (kg) 88 (full configuration of a single

shelf)

3.2 Power Specifications

ZXUN USPP uses DC power.Table 4 shows the indices for the DC
power of ZXUN USPP.

TABLE 4 DC POWER INDICES

Index Value

Nominal voltage -48 V

Voltage fluctuation range -57 V -40 V

Maximum power consumption of 600

single FE shelf (W)

ATCA Shelf (W) 1780

3.3 Interface Specifications

SS7 Interface Table 5 shows the specifications of SS7 interfaces in the ZXUN
Capacity USPP system.

TABLE 5 ZXUN USPP SYSTEM SS7 INTERFACE SPECIFICATIONS

Parameter Value

Interface board SPB board

64K links Each SPB board supports up to four daughter

cards, each daughter card providing 64 64K
links.

2M links Each SPB board supports up to four daughter

cards, each daughter card providing four 2M
links.

Interface type E1

Number of interfaces Each SPB board supports up to 32 E1 links

IP Signaling Table 6 shows the specifications of IP signaling interfaces in the

Interface Capacity ZXUN USPP system.

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 Chapter 3 Technical Specifications

TABLE 6 IP SIGNALING INTERFACE SPECIFICATIONS OF ZXUN USPP

SYSTEM

Parameter Value

Interface board SIPI board

Interface type FE

Maximum SCTP 1024

associations (equivalent
to IP signaling links)

Number of interfaces Each SIPI board provides four FE

interfaces. The SIPI boards work in pairs.

Network Table 7 shows the network management interface specifications of

Management the ZXUN USPP system.
Interface Capacity
TABLE 7 NETWORK MANAGEMENT INTERFACE SPECIFICATIONS

Parameter Value Description

Interface Northbound CORBA/MML Interface with the NMS

Protocol interface

Southbound TCI/IP based Interfaces with NEs

interface internal
interfaces

Client F Port MML interface

interface

Interface type GE/FE

interface

Number of Northbound 1 Two physical network

interfaces interface interfaces: active and
standby

Southbound 1 100 The number of NEs

interface managed by OMM

Client 1 90 The number of clients that

interface visit the OMM

Interface Northbound > 64 Kbps It is greatly influenced by

bandwidth interface the physical networking
require- bandwidth link methods.
ment requirement

Southbound > 64 Kbps

interface
bandwidth
requirement

F interface > 128 Kbps

bandwidth
requirement

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3.4 Capacity Indices

Table 8 shows the capacity indices of the ZXUN USPP system.

TABLE 8 SYSTEM CAPACITY INDICES

Technical Features Parameter Value

Subscriber capacity BE subscriber capacity 100,000,000

index
Subscriber capacity 4000 million
for each Front-End
module

Signaling index The number of 6144

for each Front-End narrowband 64Kbps
module links

The number of 384

narrowband 2Mbps
links

The number of 1024

broadband SCTP links

The number of 256

multi-signaling point
codes

Interface index for Number of TDM E1 768

each Front-End interfaces
module
Number of Fast 10 pairs
Ethernet interfaces

3.5 Performance Specifications

Table 9 shows the performance specifications of ZXUN USPP.

TABLE 9 SYSTEM PERFORMANCE SPECIFICATIONS

Parameter Value

Message loss rate (90% 10-7

probability)

Message query delay (90% < 1000 millisecond

probability)

Location registration delay (95% < 2000 millisecond

probability)

BOSS processing capacity 2500 times/second

BOSS response delay (95% < 120 millisecond

probability)

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3.6 Clock Indices

ZXUN USPP supports the following clock references: 8kHz square
wave clock, 2 MBits clock and 2 MHz clock. Table 10 shows the
clock indices of ZXUN USPP.

TABLE 10 SYSTEM CLOCK INDICES

Parameter Value

Clock level Level 2 Class A

Lowest clock accuracy 410-7

Pull-in range 410-7

Maximum frequency deviation 10-9/day

Initial maximum frequency 510-10

deviation

Clock working mode Capture, trace, keep, free

3.7 Reliability Specifications

Table 11 shows the reliability specifications of ZXUN USPP.

TABLE 11 RELIABILITY SPECIFICATIONS

Parameter Value

Mean time between failures 559124 hours

(MTBF)

Mean Time to Repair(MTTR) < 30 minutes

System availability 99.99991

System average annual downtime < 3 minutes

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 Glossary

ATCA
Advanced Telecommunications Computing Architecture
AUC
Authentication Center
BE
Back End
EIR
Equipment Identification Register
FC
Fiber Channel
FE
Front End
GE
Gigabit Ethernet
I/O
Input/Output
IMEI
International Mobile Equipment Identity
MML
Man Machine Language
NE
Network Element
NMS
Network Management Subsystem
UDS
Universal Directory Server

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