GPRS

GPRS General Packet

Radio Service

Digital Dream Service

GPRS

Course Objectives
Understand and describe the basic of GPRS
data transmission.
Describe how a GPRS phone works under
GPRS network.
Name the requirements needed for GPRS
services.

Digital Dream Service

GPRS

GPRS Content
GSM-Evolution
Voice
Data
Development
Data Rates and Speed
Circuit vs. Packet Switched Network
Higher Data Transfer Rates through
New coding schemes
Timeslot packaging (Multislot Classes)
Mobile Classes
Packet switched Data Transfer ( Comparing to HSCSD)
Using GPRS services
How GPRS phone works
How data sent/received over GPRS
Benefits of GPRS
GPRS FAQs
GPRS Q&A

Digital Dream Service

GPRS

GSM - Voice Communication

Customers need to verbally communicate ...
Speech

Basic service of GSM network or any telephone

network system.

Digital Dream Service

GPRS

GSM - Data Communication

Basic Service
- Short Message Services (SMS)
Popularity of INTERNET and EMAIL Access
- Large amount of data transmission
- Transmission speed critical
Limitation of 9600kbps on GSM

GPRS - General Packet Radio Service

Digital Dream Service

GPRS

GSM Development
Co
d
r
wa

ility
b
i
t
a
mp

n
Dow

Phase 2+
New Services
High Data Rates
Closed User Groups

Phase 2

Phase 2

ISDN-Features
CLIP

ISDN-Features
CLIP

Call Waiting a.s.o.

Call Waiting a.s.o.

Phase 1

Phase 1

Phase 1

Speech +
Data

Speech +
Data

Speech +
Data

1991
Digital Dream Service

1995

1997

UMTS

Content

Year

GPRS

DATA Rates and Speed

Speed

EDGE

Packed switched

Modified modulation technique: 8 PSK

Bundling of up to 8 physical channels
up to 345,6 kbps (ECSD)
up to 473,6 kbps (EGPRS)

GPRS

Packed switched
Bundling of up to 8 physical channels
Channel coding: up to 21,4kbps >>max. 171,2kbps

HSCSD

Depends on
coding scheme

Circuit switched
Bundling of up to 8 physical channels
Channel coding: up to 14,4kbps >>max. 115,2kbps

GSM

Circuit switched
one physical channel
0,3 to 9.6 kbps

Digital Dream Service

Reduced
error protection

Time

GPRS

DATA Rates and Speed

GSM
Traffic channel

Information

Error protection

Time slots

Total

>Voice (full rate)

13,0 kbit/

9,8 kbit/s

max. 1

22,8 kbit/s

>Data

2,4 kbit/s
4,8 kbit/s
9,6 kbit/s

20,4 kbit/s
18,0 kbit/s
13,2 kbit/s

max. 1

Traffic channel

Information

Error protection

Time slots

Total

>Voice (full rate)

13,0 kbit/

9,8 kbit/s

max. 1

22,8 kbit/s

>Data

14,4 kbit/s

8,4 kbit/s

up to 8
max. Data

115,2 kbit/s

HSCSD

Digital Dream Service

GPRS

DATA Rates and Speed

GPRS
Time slots
1

Time slots
2

Time slots
8

9,05 kbit/s
13,4 kbit/s
15,6 kbit/s
21,4 kbit/s

18,1 kbit/s
26,8 kbit/s
31,2 kbit/s
42,8 kbit/s

72,4 kbit/s
107,2 kbit/s
124,8 kbit/s
171,2 kbit/s

Time slots
1

Time slots
2

Time slots
8

ECSD

43,2 kbit/s

86,4 kbit/s

345,6 kbit/s

EGPRS

59,2 kbit/s

118,4 kbit/s

473,6 kbit/s

CS- 1
CS- 2
CS- 3
CS- 4

EDGE (8 PSK modulation)

Digital Dream Service

GPRS

GPRS General Packet Radio Service

New Standard in GSM world allowing high data
transfer rate for data communication
Achieve by splitting data into small packets size
Always online concept for instant access to data

Digital Dream Service

GPRS

GPRS Circuit vs. Packet Switched

Circuit switched vs. Packet switched networks
Circuit switched Network
There is a fixed allocation from frequency channel and timeslot during the complete
duration of connection.

Packed switched Network

There is no fixed allocation from frequency channel and timeslots within a 52
Multiframe.
Only within a Radio-Block
The information transfer is done via packets. Every packet contains the receiver
information.
The frequency channel and the time slots are only engaged if the capacity is required.

Digital Dream Service

GPRS

GPRS Circuit vs. Packet Switched

Circuit switched Network
Fixed allocation from frequency channel and timeslot during connection.

Downlink
5

Uplink

33

Digital Dream Service

GPRS

GPRS Circuit vs. Packet Switched

Packed switched Network
No fixed allocation of frequency channel and timeslots. Only within a Radio-Block

Downlink
6

0-5

0-5

0-5

0-5

0-4

0-4

0-4

Uplink
0-6

0-6

0-6

0-6

Digital Dream Service

0-5

0-5

0-5

0-5

GPRS

GPRS Capacities and Parameters

Capacity on demand: Provides Circuit Switched Channels
and Packet Switched Channels in a dynamic manner

Signalling: BCCH + FCCH + SCH + CCCH

Example: 1 Slot for signalling

4 Slots circuit switched
3 Slots packed switched

Circuit switched slots

Digital Dream Service

Packet switched channels

PDCH

GPRS

GPRS Coding Schemes

Higher Data Transfer through new Coding Scheme

GPRS
(Coding Scheme)
Data rate per
Timeslot

Data rate with 3 RX

Timeslots
(MS Class 4)
Data rate with 4 RX
Timeslots
(MS Class 8)

Digital Dream Service

9,05
kbps

13,4
kbps

15,6
kbps

21,4 kbps

27,15
kbps

40,2
kbps

46,8
kbps

64,2 kbps

36,2
kbps

53,6
kbps

62,4
kbps

85,6 kbps

GPRS

GPRS Multislot Classes

M S M ultislot Classes
Multislot cla ss
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29

Digital Dream Service

RX
1
2
2
3
2
3
3
4
3
4
4
4
3
4
5
6
7
8
6
6
6
6
6
8
8
8
8
8
8

Ma x imum no. of slots

TX
SUM
1
2
1
3
2
3
1
4
2
4
2
4
3
4
1
5
2
5
2
5
3
5
4
5
3
6
4
8
5
10
6
12
7
14
8
16
2
8
3
9
4
10
4
10
6
12
2
10
3
11
4
12
4
12
6
14
8
16

Multislot - classes of MS
in GPRS network

GPRS

GPRS Multislot Classes

Multislot Classes
Multislot Classes

RX

TX

Sum

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
...

1
2
2
3
2
3
3
4
3
4
...

1
1
2
1
2
2
3
1
2
2
...

2
3
4
4 Step1
4
4
4
5 Step2/Step3
5
5
...

...
29

...
8

...
8

...
16

Digital Dream Service

GPRS

GPRS Packet Data Transfer

Data transfer of split data packets via Internet server

CSD / HSCD
Digital Dream Service

GPRS

GPRS Comparison to HSCSD

Comparing: HSCSD - GPRS
HSCSD
Transmission

GPRS

Line-oriented

Packet-oriented

Speed
( 05 / 2001 )

Up to 38,4 kbps

Up to 53,6 kbps

Rating

Connected time

Amount of data

Applications

Transmission of
huge data
amount
Data transfer,
transmission of
pictures

Dialogueoriented
applications
WAP, E-Mail,
Information
desk /
Information

Examples

Digital Dream Service

GPRS

GPRS Using GPRS Services

What you need in order to use GPRS Services?
Mobile phone that supports GPRS e.g. G5200 or G7020

Subscription to GPRS services

GPRS services must be enabled. Auto access to GPRS may be

allowed by some network, others will require a specific opt-in

Destination to send or receive information through GPRS; e.g.

Internet address, since GPRS is designed to make the Internet

fully available to mobile users

Digital Dream Service

GPRS

GPRS How GPRS Phone Works?

The Black Box indicates the upgrade

from the existing GSM networks

The Black Box consists of the

following components:
GGSN (Gateway GPRS Support Node)
SGSN (Server GPRS Support Node)
PCU (Packet Control Unit)

Source from T3 magazine (June 2001)

Digital Dream Service

GPRS

GPRS How GPRS Phone Works?

Network Architecture and differences
ERI

VLR

MSC

BTS

BSC

GMSC

PSTN
ISDN

GGSN

Internet
IP/X25

PCU

SGSN

Additional GPRS Network-Components

Digital Dream Service

HLR

GPRS

GPRS How GPRS Phone Works?

PCU

SGSN

Packet Control Unit

> Channel access control
> Access request management
> Control and management of TCH, PCL
> Structuring of the PDCH

Serving GPRS Support Node

> Control of MS position
> Coding of data and authentification
> Diverting of Data packets

> Mobility management

GGSN

Gateway GPRS Support Node

> Interface between PLMN and Packet Data Network (e.g. Internet)
> Providing Screening Filters (not wanted information)
> Can act as a firewall
> Data / Packet counting (for charging purpose)

Digital Dream Service

GPRS

GPRS How GPRS Phone Works?

Network and Cell Selection
M

d
PR

G
S

Digital Dream Service

ea

Pointer to GPRS

New

:R
ep

GSM
System
Information

St

GS

2.

ep:

t
1. S

d
Rea

GPRS
System
Information

GPRS

GPRS How GPRS Phone Works?

Operation Modes of a MS in GSM/GPRS-Service
Initialisation

GPRS Cell found

Cell Selection
GPRS IDLE State
GSM attach

GSM IDLE Mode

GPRS attach

GPRS detach

GPRS READY State

READY Timer expiry

GSM DEDICATED Mode

GSM States

Digital Dream Service

PDU transmission

GPRS STANDBY State

GPRS States

GPRS

GPRS How GPRS Phone Works?

Mobility Management States
MS in IDLE State
GPRS
attach

GPRS
detach

MS in STANDBY State

PDU
Transmit

MS not GPRS attached

Cell Selection

MS is GPRS attached
Perform Routing area Update
Listen to Paging Channels

Ready timer
Expires

MS in READY State

Digital Dream Service

MS transmit/receives data
Perform Cell area update
read signalling to keep communication established

GPRS

GPRS How GPRS Phone Works?

GPRS Attachment Procedure
An attach is performed, when a mobile indicates its presence to the network for the purpose
of using the services provided by that network.
Depending on the class of mobile, this may be an IMSI attach for GSM circuit switched (CS)
services, a GPRS attach, or a combined IMSI/GPRS attach.
A GPRS attach is made to the SGSN and includes information like:
The mobiles identification (IMSI or Packet -TMSI)
the mobiles position - indicated by the Routing Area Identification (RAI)
The opposite of an attach is the so called detach.

Digital Dream Service

GPRS

GPRS How GPRS Phone Works?

Routing Area

LAI = Location Area Identity

Mobile has to do a location update,
if the mobile station leaves the location area
RAI = Routing Area Identity
Mobile has to do a routing area update,
if the mobile station leaves the routing area
!!Important for paging!!!
CI = Cell Identity
If mobile station is in ready mode (receiving
or transmitting data), the MS has to report a
change to an other cell to the network.

Digital Dream Service

GPRS

GPRS Data Sent / Received

Illustrated under Class 4 conditions

Each timeslot is highly dependent
on the coding scheme(CS) used
e.g. CS-4 (21.4kbps)
After each download, connection
to network will become virtual
(always on-line, data can be
downloaded anytime)

Source from T3 magazine (June 2001)

Digital Dream Service

GPRS

GPRS Benefits
Improves the Utilisation of Radio Resources
Higher Data capacity
Data rates from 21.4kbps using one Timeslot
and up to 171.2kbps (8 Timeslot)
Transmit and Receive allocated separately
Shorter access time ( below 1 second )
Consumption/Volume based billing

Digital Dream Service

GPRS

GPRS Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to apply for GPRS at my network provider?
Yes, you always have to apply for a SIM card with GPRS enabled.
I do not get the highest data rate capacity !
The data transfer rates depend on the radio cell and
the network workload.
Please contact your network provider.
Will the GPRS mobile be an integration in an existing
mobile or a new mobile phone?
It will be a new mobile phone. The current mobile phones cannot
support this new technology.

Digital Dream Service