WCDMA CHANNELS

By
Manish Srivastava
WCDMA OSI MODEL
Physical channels
(Code,frequency,etc)
Logical channels
(What is transmitted)
Transport channels
(How it is transmitted)
Radio Resource Control (RRC)
Physical Layer
Medium Access Control (MAC)
RLC RLC
RLC
OSI reference model

WCDMA protocol stack is based on OSI (open system
interconnection) reference model
OSI reference model ,developed by ISO, is a set of seven layers.
Each of this layer performs certain tasks on the data to make it travel
from one device to another over a network. These tasks at each
layer, prepare it for the next layer.
Layer 7: Application - This is the layer that actually interacts with
the user. For example if the user chooses to transfer files or read
messages , application layer interfaces with the operating system.
Layer 6: Presentation - Layer 6 takes the data provided by the
Application layer and converts it into a standard format that the
other layers can understand.
Layer 5: Session - Layer 5 establishes, maintains and ends
communication with the receiving device.





Layer 4: Transport - This layer maintains flow control of data ,
means that if data is coming from more than one application ,
transport layer integrates it into a single stream for the physical
network. It also provides error checking and recovery of data
between the devices.
Layer 3: Network This layer determines the way that the data will
be sent to the recipient. Logical protocols, routing and addressing are
handled here.
Layer 2: Data link-This layer transforms the physical layer from a
raw transmission facility to a reliable link..
Layer 1: Physical - This is the level of the actual hardware. It defines
the physical characteristics such as connections, voltage levels and
timing.
For WCDMA the lower 3 layers are most important:
Layer 1: Physical layer- This layer is responsible for transporting data
across the available physical path (radio link). Main jobs of physical layer
are :
1. Forward error correction(FEC)
2. Interleaving
3. Transport channel multiplexing
4. Channel quality measurements
5. Synchronization
6. Spreading , scrambling, modulation


Layer 2 : Data link layer It is the upper neighbor of the physical
layer. 3GPP divides it into the radio link control (RLC) and the
medium access control(MAC) layer. It delivers data block by block to
layer 1 via transport channels (or fetches the data when receiving).

In the other direction, layer 2 communicates with the adjoining
network layer via Logical channels.

The RLC and MAC layers have the following essential functions:
1. Mapping of logical channels on transport channels
2. Selection of the transport format based on current needs
3. Data encryption
4. Error protection as a function of the desired QOS
5. Acknowledgement of data blocks and requests for retransmission in case of
errors

Layer 3 : Network Layer(RRC Layer): RRC layer is directly above the
layer 2 and is responsible for radio resource control. The main RRC
tasks include :
1. Broadcasting of system information
2. Establishment and clear down a RRC connection
3. Management of radio connections
4. Cell selection in IDLE mode
5. Querying and evaluation of physical layer measurements

Channels are simply a tool for specifying and describing the various
communication and data related services. Various type of data is
exchanged between UE and base station over the radio channel. To
characterize this different type of data , we refer to different channels.
The channels carried are categorized into three: logical, transport
and physical channels. The logical channels define the way in which
the data will be transferred, the transport channel along with the
logical channel again defines the way in which the data is
transferred, the physical channel carries the payload data and
govern the physical characteristics of the signal.
There are 3 different types of channels in WCDMA



WCDMA CHANNELS :
1. Logical channels : Used for communication between Layer 3
(RRC) & Layer 2 (RLC/MAC). Depending on the information
content ,logical channels are characterized into traffic & Control
channels.


Control Channel (Signaling)
Broadcast Control Channel (BCCH)
Paging Control Channel (PCCH)
Dedicated Control Channel (DCCH)
Common Control Channel (CCCH)
Traffic Channel
(User Data)
Dedicated Traffic
channels (DTCH)
Common Traffic
Channel (CTCH)
Broadcast control channel ( BCCH) : Point to multipoint ,DL
It is a broadcasting channel that supplies all the UEs with basic cell
and network parameters(eg. Frequency lists , code lists etc).
Paging control channel(PCCH) : Point to multipoint ,DL
It transports paging information.
All the UEs are required to regularly read the information on the
BCCH and on the PCCH
Dedicated control channel (DCCH) : Point to point ,UL/DL
This channel is used to carry dedicated control information in both
directions. DCCH is provided in parallel to a DTCH for point to point
signaling during an active connection
Common control channel ( CCCH) : Point to multipoint ,UL/DL
This bi-directional channel is used to transfer control information.

Control channels:
Dedicated traffic channel (DTCH): Point to point ,UL/DL
DTCH is used to transport user data from Node B to a specific UE
and vice versa. This means it is dedicated to a specific subscriber.
This is a bidirectional channel used to carry user data or traffic.
Common traffic channel (CTCH) : Point to multipoint ,DL
It transfers dedicated user information for all , or a group of specified
UEs
TRAFFIC CHANNELS:
Characterizes HOW data is transported over the air interface . Each
transport channel is accompanied by the Transport format
indicator(TFI). The physical layer combines the TFI information of
different transport channels to the Transport format combination
indicator(TFCI).

Organize & Pack data from different services from the higher layers
for suitable transportation.

Unpack incoming data and sort for delivery to upper layers

Offers flexible data speeds and channel encoding Efficient usage
of radio resources. They are all unidirectional.

Transport channels are divided into common channels and dedicated
channels.

Transport Channels:
DCH (Dedicated Channel)
This is used to transfer data to a particular UE. Each UE
has its own DCH in each direction
BCH (Broadcast Channel)
This channel broadcasts information to the UEs in the cell
to enable them to identify the network and the cell.
FACH (Forward Access Channel)
Downlink; Transports small amount of data from
BCCH/CCCH/DCCH/CTCH to either a specific UE or over
the entire cell
PCH (Paging Channel)
Downlink; Transports data from PCCH to UE over entire
cell. This channel carries messages that alert the UE to
incoming calls, SMS messages, data sessions or required
maintenance such as re-registration.
RACH (Random Access Channel)
This channel carries requests for service from UEs trying to
access the system
CPCH (Common Packet Channel)
This channel provides additional capability beyond that of
the RACH and for fast power control.
DSCH (Downlink Shared Channel)
This channel can be shared by several users and is used
for data that is "bursty" in nature such as that obtained from
web browsing etc.
Dedicated Transport Channel
Common Transport Channel
Mapping Logical To Transport Channels
PCCH DCCH CCCH CTCH BCCH DTCH
BCH
PCH CPCH RACH FACH DCH DSCH
In The UE
In The Node B
PCCH DCCH CCCH CTCH BCCH DTCH
BCH PCH CPCH RACH FACH DCH DSCH
Chan
nel
Name Uplink/
Downlin
k
Description
CPIC
H
Common CPICH
Channel
Downlin
k
Reference channel for estimation of received
signal strength & quality; Fixed bit pattern
which is stored in Physical layer; Determines
coverage of a cell
P-
CCPC
H
Primary Common
Control Physical
Channel
Downlin
k
This channel continuously broadcasts
system identification and access control
information.
S-
CCPC
H
Secondary
Common Control
Physical Channel

Downlin
k
This channel carries the Forward
Access Channel (FACH) providing
control information, and the Paging
Channel (PACH) with messages for
UEs that are registered on the
network.
PRAC
H
Physical Random
Access Channel
Uplink Used by the UE for call setup; UE sends a
preamble to Node B and on receipt, Node B
sends an immediate ACK or NACK on
downlink AICH or AP-AICH
Physical Channels Overview
PCPC
H
Physical Common
Packet Channel
Uplink Used by UE for packet data transfer involving
small quantities
DPDC
H
Dedicated
Physical Data
Channel
Uplink /
Downlink
Used for dedicated mode transfer of user data
(from DCH) & associated control data (from
DCCH) to & from UE
DPCC
H
Dedicated
Physical Control
Channel
Uplink /
Downlink
Used for dedicated signaling to and from UE; To
ensure coherent detection it contains both
necessary pilot symbols & commands for fast
power control
P/S -
SCH
Primary /
Secondary
Synchronization
Channel
Downlink Used for WCDMA cell search and timing
synchronization; Never spread or scrambled
PDSC
H
Physical Downlink
Shared Channel
Downlink
This channel shares control information to
UEs within the coverage area of the node
B.
PICH Paging Indication
Channel
Downlin
k
Paging messages are indicated to the
intended UE by use of bit masks; On
positive identification, UE starts reading
S-CCPCH to find page
AICH Acquisition
Indication
Channel
Downlin
k
Determines whether system can be
accessed or not; Uses simple bit
sequences for operation
AP-AICH Access Preamble
- AICH
Downlin
k
UTRAN uses this to confirm reception of
acquisition preamble sent by the UE on
the PCPCH
CSICH CPICH Status
Indicator Channel
Downlin
k
Channel informs UE about current
availability of CPCH uplink transport
channel for packet data use
CD/CA - ICH Collision
Detection /
Channel
Assignment
Indicator Channel
Downlin
k
UTRAN uses this channel to inform UEs
about any packet collisions on the uplink
& also about the current assignment of
the packet data channel.
Mapping Transport To Physical Channels
PCH CPCH RACH FACH DSCH DCH BCH
PHYSICAL
P-
CCPCH
S-
CCPCH
PICH PCPCH
AP-AICH
CSICH
CD/CA-ICH
PRACH
AICH
PDSCH DPDCH
DPCCH
P/S -
SCH