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13
13.2 Introduction
The evolution of GSM towards 3G Systems is described in the diagram below:
The main driving force behind this evolution is the requirement for increased data rates.
The four technologies, classed as 2.5 Generation, covered within this session are:
HSCSD:
ECSD:
GPRS:
EGPRS:
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Transparent
Non-transparent
Transparent connection means that the number of the timeslots is fixed during the entire connection.
This gives a constant bitrate and transmission delay. There is no error correction made by the network
so the end application must take care of error correction.
Non-transparent connection allows the number of allocated timeslots to be changed during the call.
More timeslots can be allocated if some resources are released from other calls. The number of
timeslots can be decreased for example if traffic load is high and there are not enough free timeslots
left for speech traffic (speech traffic should have priority over data traffic). Increasing and decreasing
the number of timeslots are called resource upgrading and resource downgrading procedures,
respectively. Error correction (i.e. retransmission of the frames) is conducted by the network so the
data rate seen by the end application can vary.
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13.4.1
Or, in the C/I(dB) column, define the C/I, and in the coding scheme (throughput) column define the y
axis values, for example between 0 and 15 kb/s.
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Click on the Commit button to save the scheme to the permanent database tables.
13.4.1.2 ECSD Channel Coding Schemes
Or, in the C/I(dB) column, define the C/I, and in the coding scheme (throughput) column define the y
axis values.
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Click on the Commit button to save the scheme to the permanent database tables.
13.4.2
Timeslot Distribution
A Channel to Transceiver map is used to define timeslot distribution by specifying how many carriers
are needed to provide a required number of traffic channels.
To set up a channel to transceiver map for HSCSD, from the Options menu, click on Channel
Maps
Within the Channel to Transceiver Setup window, click on the Add Map button and enter an
appropriate name for the map (e.g. HSCSD Map), clicking on the OK button to continue.
The following message will now appear: -
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Within the blank HSCSD Channel to Transceiver Setup window enter the number of traffic channels
that can be supported per carrier (e.g. 8), in the box labelled Default Number of Channels Per
Transceiver and click on the Apply button.
Click on the Add Transceiver button, which will populate your blank setup window with default
figures.
To change the information in the table, select the row, and click the Edit Map button.
The columns within the Channel to Transceiver Set-up window refer to the following information:
TRX:
No:
NGPRS:
NCTRL:
NGPRSCTRL:
NHSCSD:
NCS:
Having entered the relevant figures, for NHSCSD, click the OK button to close the GPRS Map Editor
window.
Click on the Apply button in the HSCSD Channel to Transceiver Set-up window to save your changes.
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13.4.3
Cell Layers
In the Cell Layer window re-configure the existing GSM cell layer for HSCSD. Access the Cell
Layer Configuration window from the ENTERPRISE Main Menu by selecting Options Cell
Layers.
In the Cell Layer Configuration window highlight the GSM cell layer. Under the Coverage Type tab,
using the drop down menu, select the HSCSD Channel to Transceiver Map created earlier.
Click on the Apply button followed by the Commit button.
13.4.4
There can only be one HSCSD and one ECSD terminal type. Each of these terminal types has a value
for the traffic per terminal (in User Erlangs).
To define the HSCSD Terminal Types, from the Options menu, click Terminal Types
In the Terminal Types dialogue box, click on the Add button to create a new terminal type. Select the
newly created Terminal Type and change its name, under the General tab.
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Select the switching type from Circuit Switched (default setting) to High Speed Circuit Switched
(HSCSD).
Click on the Cell Layers tab and move the appropriate cell layer from the Available column to the
Selected column.
On the Clutter, Vectors and Polygons tabs, define how the terminal type is distributed over the Map
View.
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On the HSCSD/ECSD tab set the Traffic per Terminal figure, which is common for the HSCSD and
ECSD terminal type.
Note: If you have both HSCSD and ECSD terminal types then the Timeslot Weightings are shared
between the two. Any changes made for one of these Terminal Types will affect the other.
Both transparent and non-transparent data types have dynamic allocation of timeslots and coding
schemes used by the network, however:
For transparent data a constant data rate is maintained provided that the maximum number of
supported timeslots is not exceeded.
For non-transparent data there is a variable data rate depending on the service quality.
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You can define the distribution of different data rates for transparent and non-transparent data by
specifying the weights you require for the predefined data rate. Weights, total traffic, traffic
distribution and C/I are then used to determine how traffic is distributed over timeslots.
To change the data rate weighting, on the HSCSD/ECSD tab
Click on the Apply button, followed by the Commit button for other users to see your newly created
HSCSD Terminal Type.
13.4.5
In ENTERPRISE, ECSD information is stored on the Cell Layer level. The subcell is considered to
provide ECSD service when you have selected the Enable ECSD check box within the
HSCSD/ECSD tab.
To do this:
Select the required GSM cell layer (subcell) in the Site Database window.
Select the Enable ECSD check box. You can also enter a Total HSCSD + ECSD Traffic
figure and % of ECSD 8-PSK figure.
Note: If all cells within one filter are to be ECSD Enabled this can be achieved using the Global
Edit facility.
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The ECSD modulation scheme puts new requirements on the linearity of the power amplifier: as
opposed to GMSK, 8-PSK does not have a constant envelope.
For this reason the average transmit power when transmitting 8-PSK, compared to GMSK, must be
reduced by between 2 and 5 dB (average power decrease APD).
Within ASSET the APD value can be entered on the Cell
Layer Level of each subcell under the Antenna/TRX tab:
Note: If all cells within one filter have the same APD value it can be set using the Global Edit
facility, under the 2.5G tab.
13.4.6
Having configured ASSET for HSCSD/ECSD we can now follow the normal coverage planning
process, that is:
From the Tools menu, point to Coverage/Interference and click Predictor, this will run the prediction
tool to calculate Coverage Predictions.
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Choose to calculate the Best Server array to visualise on the 2D Map View window the service areas
of the cells and display the array in the Map View Window.
13.4.7
Within the first screen of the Traffic Raster Wizard choose the desired view for the traffic raster
wizard to use.
Either leave the default figures, which were calculated on initial project creation (Map data extents), or
click the Select View button, which will calculate the co-ordinates of the current view. Click the
Next> button to continue.
The second screen of the wizard allows you to select one or more terminal types from the list. For each
terminal type selected, a separate traffic array is created.
Note: If you wish to spread traffic to polygons and use the clutter weights you will define, ensure
this check box is selected.
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Note: If you wish to restrict the traffic spread to Best Server coverage then the resolution must be
set the same.
Click the Next> button to continue.
Choose whether to restrict the traffic spread over an area with either CS Circuit Switched coverage
by selecting the box.
Note: If this option is unavailable (greyed out) either the resolution selected for the traffic raster is
different from that used in the coverage prediction, or there is no coverage array in memory.
Click the Next> button to continue.
Choose how you wish to spread the traffic. Either Live Traffic, Terminal Traffic or a combination of
both.
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13.4.8
To start HSCSD/ECSD Capacity Planning, from the Tools menu, point to Traffic Analyse
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Once traffic arrays have been created, click on the Capture Traffic button to collect the traffic
information per map pixel in the cells service area.
A report is produced, in Microsoft Excel, showing the Traffic Captured per Cell:
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If the traffic amount is acceptable, apply it to the subcells by clicking on the Traffic button.
Within the HSCSD/ECSD tab the five values are the proportions of HSCSD traffic which is
handling transparent and non-transparent data. The proportions for transparent data are subdivided into
proportions using only one timeslot, two timeslots, three timeslots and all four timeslots.
These values are entered as weightings, which need not add up to 100.
The inputs required to calculate the Timeslot Distribution (before clicking on the Calculate Now
button) include:
Best Server Array (Circuit Switched)
Average Connection Array
Traffic Raster for HSCSD or ECSD Terminals
HSCSD Throughput vs. Average Connection curve
ECSD Throughput vs. Average Connection curve
Data Rate requirements for both Transparent and Non-Transparent data
Having ensured these prerequisites have been done, click on the Calculate Now button. The
calculation is taken from the data requirement of the terminal type for the latest created traffic raster.
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Having entered a QoS level and chosen a capacity calculation (Erlang B or Erlang C), click on the
Analyse button.
A report will be produced (in Microsoft Excel) showing Average Timeslot Erlangs per User Erlang,
HSCSD/ECSD Blocking:
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If you are satisfied with the results click on the Apply Carriers Required on SubCells button.
Having completed capacity planning, the HSCSD/ECSD planning process follows the normal radio
network planning process, that is, Neighbour Planning and Analysis, Interference Tables, Frequency
Planning and Analysis.
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GPRS allows many users to share the same timeslot, and also allows a single user to use more than
one time slot. It uses an error detection and retransmission scheme to ensure that data packets are
correctly delivered to the receiver.
Within this session we will look at the stages in the GPRS Capacity process. The following diagram
gives an overview of the GPRS Planning process: -
13.5.1
The aim of this phase is to identify the existing sites and new sites where GPRS is to be enabled and
get some idea of the required modifications that you need to make to the existing network before you
can implement the desired GPRS Service.
In a dimensioning tool, decide:
9 What kind of data services will be provided?
9 Where the service is required?
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13.5.2
The information from the current frequency plan is needed when planning for GPRS networks.
Therefore, before you continue, you must update the plan to meet the actual networks site/cell
structure, element identity, neighbours and frequency information.
13.5.3
From the Tools menu, point to 2.5G and click Coding Schemes
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You can populate these tables with default values by clicking on the Defaults button. Having
populated the table you may edit the values by highlighting and re-typing.
-or-
In the C/I(dB) column, define the C/I, for example between 0 and 30 dB and in the coding scheme
(throughput) column define the x axis values, for example between 0 and 15 kb/s.
Note: The C/I versus data rate values are dependent on the nature of the network, for example, how
fast the mobiles are expected to move, whether RF hopping is used in the GPRS cells, and so on.
Click the Show Graph button to see a plot of C/I against data rate per timeslot.
Click the Remove All button to delete all the values in the columns.
Note: If you select a row with data in it, except the last row, you can then click the Add Row button
to add another row.
Click the Commit button to save the scheme to the permanent database tables.
Repeat the above steps to add a further coding scheme up to a maximum of four.
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Coding schemes are optimised, that is, the best one is chosen. The data contained within these tables
can be scaled for any number of timeslots, that is, the data rate for three timeslots is three times the
data rate for one timeslot for a given C/I.
13.5.3.2 Defining Timeslot Distribution
Use the Channel to Transceiver mapping tables to define timeslot distribution. These mapping tables
enable you to specify how many carriers are needed to provide a required number of traffic channels.
You need to set the amount of Circuit Switched and Packet Switched control channels as well as the
amount of dedicated GPRS traffic channels.
To set up a channel to transceiver map for GPRS, from the Options menu, click on Channel Maps
Within the Channel to Transceiver Setup window, click on the Add Map button and enter an
appropriate name for the map. Click the OK button to continue.
The following message will now appear: -
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Within the blank GPRS Channel to Transceiver Setup window enter the number of traffic channels
that can be supported per carrier (e.g. 8), in the box labelled Default Number of Channels Per
Transceiver and click on the Apply button.
Click on the Add Transceiver button, which will populate your blank setup window with default
figures.
To change the information in the table, select the row, and click the Edit Map button.
The columns within the Channel to Transceiver Set-up window refer to the following information:
TRX:
No:
NGPRS:
NCTRL:
NGPRSCTRL:
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NHSCSD:
NCS:
Having entered the relevant figures, click the OK button to close the GPRS Map Editor window.
Click on the Apply button in the Channel to Transceiver Set-up window to save your changes.
13.5.3.3 Set the Occupancy Table
Channel Occupancy is used to estimate the efficiency with which GPRS data packets can be packed
into the available timeslots. This is most useful in GPRS when you come close to using full network
capacity. The greater the number of available timeslots means the better the efficiency with which
GPRS data packets can be packed.
To set the Occupancy Table, from the Tools menu point to 2.5G and then select Occupancy.
Populate the columns with default values by clicking on the Set to Defaults button.
Note: If you want to populate columns with your own values, click the Remove Graph button to
remove the default values and then click on the Add Graph button to add an empty column. Manually
add values, using between 0 and 100 in the Occupancy column, where 100 means full capacity.
You can edit any value by clicking on it and then changing it. When you have selected a row with data
in it, except the last row, you can click on the Add Row button and add another row.
Click on the Show Graph button to see a plot of the values, clicking on the Commit button to save the
information to the database.
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13.5.4
Cell Layers
In the Cell Layer window we can either define a different cell layer for GPRS or we can use the
existing GSM cell layer. For the purpose of this training course we will keep the existing GSM cell
layer. Under the Options tab select Cell Layers.
In the Cell Layer Configuration window highlight the relevant GSM cell layer. Under the Coverage
Type tab, using the drop down menu, select the GPRS Channel to Transceiver Map created earlier.
Click on the Apply button followed by the Commit button.
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13.5.5
In ENTERPRISE, GPRS information is stored on the Cell Layer level. The subcell is considered to
provide GPRS service when you have selected the Enable GPRS check box on the (E)GPRS tab.
To do this:
Select the required GSM cell layer (subcell) in the Site Database window.
Select the Enable GPRS check box and choose at least one supported Channel Coding
Scheme and set the Total GPRS + EGPRS Traffic in Kbit/s.
Note: One Coding Scheme must always be selected, so if you want to change to another Coding
Scheme, select it then deselect the first check box.
If the Dedicated PBCCH check box is unchecked the tool ignores NGPRSCTRL in the channel map.
This means that the time slots that have been reserved for GPRS control will become available for
circuit switched traffic.
Note: If all cells within one filter support the same coding schemes the above configuration can be
done using the Global Edit facility.
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In the Terminal Types dialogue box, click on the Add button to create a new terminal type. Select the
newly created Terminal Type and change its name, under the General tab.
Select the switching type from Circuit Switched (default setting) to GPRS.
Click on the Cell Layers tab and move the appropriate cell layer from the Available column to the
Selected column.
On the Clutter, Vectors and Polygons tabs, define how the terminal type is distributed over the Map
View.
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On the GPRS/EGPRS tab choose the mean busy hour capacity (kb/s) of the terminal.
Note: This figure should include any overhead related to the characteristics of the device, for
example average packet size, TCP/IP protocol and so on, up to a limit of 9999.999. This is an estimate
of the traffic going through in a busy hour, per terminal type.
Also enter the maximum number of timeslots supported by the terminal (dependant on the class of
handset - theoretically up to 8 but realistically up to 4).
Click on the Apply button, followed by the Commit button for other users to see your newly created
GPRS Terminal Type.
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Within the first screen of the Traffic Raster Wizard choose the desired view for the traffic raster
wizard to use.
Either leave the default figures, which were calculated on initial project creation (Map data extents), or
click the Select View button, which will calculate the co-ordinates of the current view. Click the
Next> button to continue.
The second screen of the wizard allows you to select one or more terminal types from the list. For each
terminal type selected, a separate traffic array is created.
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Note: If you wish to spread traffic to polygons and use the clutter weights you will define, ensure
this check box is selected.
Click the Next> button to continue.
Choose the required resolution for the raster. The memory required to create the selected resolution of
raster is shown.
Note: If you wish to restrict the traffic spread to GPRS Best Server coverage then the resolution
must be set the same.
Click the Next> button to continue.
Choose whether to restrict the traffic spread over an area with either CS Circuit Switched or GPRS Packet Switched coverage by selecting the box.
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Note: If this option is unavailable (greyed out) either the resolution selected for the traffic raster is
different from that used in the coverage prediction, or there is no coverage array in memory.
Click the Next> button to continue.
Choose how you wish to spread the traffic. Either Live Traffic, Terminal Traffic or a combination of
both.
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The Traffic Raster can now be viewed within the 2D Map View window by selecting the Terminal
Type name from the Traffic category of the Show Data Types list:
Note: The display properties of the Traffic Raster can be changed by double clicking with the left
mouse button on the Terminal Type name.
13.8.1
Calculating the GPRS Data Rate, Average Data Rate and Service
Area Data Rate
The GPRS data rate is calculated as the date rate per one timeslot for each pixel. This calculation is
capacity independent.
To produce a GPRS Data Rate array, from the Tools Menu, point to Coverage/Interference
Coverage Wizard or click on the create arrays button
In the Create Coverage/Interference window select the GPRS Data rate array option, clicking on the
OK button to produce the array.
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When the GPRS Data Rate array has been created you can choose to display it on the 2D View by
selecting GPRS Data Rate from the Show Data Types list. By double clicking with the left mouse
button on the GPRS Data Rate category, the display properties can be modified.
The average data rates per timeslot and service area data rate can also be visualised by selecting the
categories in the Show Data Types menu. The Map Information bar can also be used to aid the
visualisation of GPRS associated information.
When you calculate the data rate array, the average data rate for each subcell array is simultaneously
calculated.
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13.8.2
Note: Because Traffic Analysis uses the average data rate values, you must calculate the GPRS
data rate array before performing Traffic analysis. The average data rate for each subcell is
calculated at the same time.
To start GPRS Capacity Planning, from the Tools menu, point to Traffic Analyse
Once traffic arrays have been created, click Capture Traffic to collect the traffic information per map
pixel in the cells service area.
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If the traffic amount is acceptable, apply it on to the subcells by clicking on the Traffic button.
The Capacity Estimation Algorithm requires GoS criteria for each service type. Set the Quality of
Service Acceptable blocking probability to speech, and the minimum data rate requirement for GPRS.
Click the Analyse button, which also produces a report.
As a result of the capacity calculation, the report that is produced shows statistics of the current TRX
configuration, QoS level and the required TRX amount.
If you are satisfied with the results click on the Apply Carriers Required on SubCells button.
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13.8.3
After capacity planning, the GPRS planning process follows the normal radio network planning
process, that is, frequency planning and analysis and plan tuning. Coding schemes 1 and 2 provide
relative low data rates and are not considered to cause extra interference to neighbouring non-GPRS
cells. As planning is an iterative process, for GPRS planning, you may want to check the requirements
and tune the plan again if there appears to be too much interference in some areas.
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13.10.1
The first phase of planning is to identify the existing sites and new sites where EGPRS is enabled to
get some idea of the required modifications needed before implementing the desired EGPRS service.
In a dimensioning tool, the following questions should be answered:
13.10.2
The information from the current Frequency Plan is needed when planning for EGPRS Networks.
Therefore, before you continue, you must update the plan to meet the actual networks site/cell
structure, element identity, frequency and neighbour information. This is also important for the
EGPRS plan implementation back to the network.
To do this, use the appropriate File Import option in ENTERPRISE.
13.10.3
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The EGPRS Calculation algorithm is an extension of the GPRS algorithm. As in GPRS the user has to
specify the available Link adaptation families, and therefore MCS codes, that the base station
supports. The MCS codes are organised in Link adaptation families and one or more of these can be
selected. Individual MCS codes cannot be included.
ASSET supports three link adaptation families (A, B and C) and a user can select one of them, two of
them or all of them. A different set of families can be assigned to different subcells.
To set EGPRS Modulation/Coding Schemes using the ENTERPRSISE Main Menu select Tools
2.5G EGPRS Modulation/Coding Schemes
Within the EGPRS Average Data Throughput per TS vs Average Connection C/I window you can
populate the tables with default values by clicking on the Set to Defaults button.
EGPRS Default Figures
Note: Having populated the tables with default values you can then edit these values should you
wish.
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