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Connecting femtocells to existing operator networks requires a network architecture that addresses the security needs of operators and mobile users, while supporting the scalable deployment of millions of femtocells. In addition, it must allow ordinary consumers to install them with plug-and-play simplicity and ensure that critical services such as emergency calling are also supported with the same reliability and accuracy as fixed-line emergency calling. The femtocell network architecture describes the major nodes and connections in a femtocell network, and how they achieve the objectives of mobile subscribers and operators. The femtocell network architecture supports the following key requirements: Service Parity: Femtocells support the same voice and broadband data services that mobile users are currently receiving on the macrocell network. This includes circuit-switched services such as text messaging and various voice features, such as call forwarding, caller ID, voicemail and emergency calling. Call Continuity: Femtocell networks are well-integrated with the macrocell network so that calls originating on either macrocell or femtocell networks can continue when the user moves into or out of femtocell coverage. Femtocell network architecture needs to include the necessary connectivity between the femtocell and macrocell networks to support such call continuity. Security: Femtocells use the same over-the-air security mechanisms that are used in macrocell radio networks. But additional security capabilities need to be supported to protect against threats that originate from the Internet or through tampering with the femtocell itself. Femtocell network architecture provides network access security, and includes subscriber and femtocell authentication and authorization procedures to protect against fraud. Self-Installation & Simple Operational Management: Femtocells are installed by end-users. Therefore, the femtocell network architecture must support an extremely simple installation procedure with automatic configuration of the femtocell and automated operational management with zero-touch by the end-user.
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Scalability: Femtocell networks can have millions of access points. Therefore the femtocell network architecture must be scalable to grow into such large networks, while at the same time maintaining reliability and manageability.
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Femtocell Access Point is the primary node in a femtocell network that resides in the user premises (e.g., home or office). The FAP implements the functions of the base station and base station controller and connects to the operator network over a secure tunnel via the Internet. A FAP can be introduced into a home in multiple ways. A standalone FAP can be directly connected to the home router. In some applications, the FAP may also include a built-in router, which is useful in prioritizing FAP voice traffic over other Internet traffic in the home network. More advanced FAPs include an Analog Terminal Adapter (ATA) to connect a fixed-line phone. In some cases, FAPs are full-blown residential gateways with built-in Wi-Fi and a broadband modem (xDSL, cable).
Security Gateway
The security gateway is a network node that secures the Internet connection between femtocell users and the mobile operator core network. It uses standard Internet security protocols such as IPSec and IKEv2 to authenticate and authorize femtocells and provide encryption support for all signaling and user traffic. The security gateway supports a large number of femtocells connecting to the operators network. While similar to traditional VPN gateways used in enterprises, femtocell security gateways are designed for use in carrier networks and meet carrier-grade requirements such as scalability, high availability, and network management.
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FCS or FNG
The FCS or FNG enables femtocells to connect to the operator core network. This is important for the operation of femtocells as this is what allows femtocells to communicate with the core elements in the operators networks and allow seamless service for the mobile. For example, basic call setup requires communicating with the MSC and PSTN of the operator core. The FCS or FNG allows this to happen. As will be shown below, depending on the specific architectural model used to support Circuit-Switched Services the FCS /FNG can be used.
PDSN /xGSN
The PDSN / xGSN enable femtocell users to receive packet data services over the mobile operators core. In most cases, these will be the same as those used by the mobile operators macro network.
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the SIP/IMS model, femtocells connect into an overlay SIP/IMS core network. In the alternate so-called legacy model, femtocells connect directly into the mobile operators legacy core network (MSCs). In the remainder of this section, we will review these models in detail.
Figure 3 : Femtocell Netw ork Architectures for Supporting Voice (Circuit Sw itched Serv ices)
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and to support handoffs to/from the macrocell network, which exclusively uses the legacy core network.
The main components in the SIP/IMS architecture are as follows: Femtocell Access Point with SIP/IMS Client SIP/IMS Core Network Femtocell Convergence Server (FCS) The SIP/IMS core network can be a full-blown IMS network or it can be a basic SIP-based VoIP network. An IMS core network would have the IMS nodes, such as the Call Signaling Control Function (CSCF) nodes for call control, Home Subscriber System (HSS) to manage subscriber data, and Media Gateway (MGW)/Media Gateway Control Function (MGCF) nodes to connect to the Public Telephone Network (PSTN). In a more basic SIP network, the functionality of the CSCF and MGCF functions may be integrated into a SIP soft switch, and the HSS function may be handled by a Radius server. FCS is the key component in this architecture. It fits into an IMS core network as an Application Server (AS) that connects to the CSCFs using the standard ISC interface. FCS connects to the legacy core network like an MSC using standard IS-41 network interfaces. The SIP/IMS model is a forward-looking approach for delivering services over femtocells. It offers not only a scalable approach for delivering services, but can also be used to offer converged fixed-mobile services to both mobile devices and fixed-line phones. In the SIP/IMS model, support of active handoff is done through the FCS. As the FCS essentially acts as a peer MSC in the mobile core network, the handoff uses the well known inter-MSC active handoff mechanisms using existing core network interfaces, as defined in IS-41. When a user moves from femtocell coverage to macro network coverage, the femtocell sends and receives messages that correspond to the handoff request messages sent in the macro network in handoff scenarios.
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Although the legacy network model is currently not supported in CDMA femtocell standards, it is supported by Airvanas CDMA femtocell. As shown in Figure 6, in this architecture the FNG uses the 3GPP2 standard A1p/A2p interfaces to connect to the MSC in the legacy network and a SIP-based interface to connect femtocells to the FNG. Using the SIPbased interface between the femtocell and the FNG makes the FNG more scalable and also creates a natural migration
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Local Breakout
Femtocells also support a feature known as local breakout, which allows a femtocell user to connect their mobile devices to the local home or office network without traversing the mobile operators core network. For traffic destined to the global Internet, local breakout also bypasses the operator core network, thus reducing the network load. This is shown conceptually in figure 7
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From an end user perspective the potential benefits include Access to in-home multimedia devices and content Improved data performance with direct access to the Internet From an operator perspective the potential benefits include Avoiding costly packet data core capacity upgrades by offloading Internet web/streaming and corporate VPN traffic
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Summary
As shown above, femtocells are not simple standalone devices. They must be integrated into the mobile operators network to enable seamless service and to ensure optimal performance across both femtocell and macrocell networks. The architectures for the UMTS and CDMA solutions have been defined by their respective standards bodies (3GPP and 3GPP2). Both architectures enable a better experience, with service parity for users, while ensuring security and scalable solutions for operators. Back to top Printed From: http://www.airvana.com/technology/femtocell-network-architecture Airvana LP | 19 Alpha Road | Chelmsford, MA 01824 | USA | +1 978 250 3100 | Copyright 2010. Airvana LP
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