NodeB Enhanced Viterbi

Decoding
Feature Guide
 NodeB Enhanced Viterbi Decoding

NodeB Enhanced Viterbi Decoding

Version Date Author Reviewer Notes

V1.00 2015/3/30 Wen AnPing Zhang Haiqing First edition

2015 ZTE Corporation. All rights reserved.

ZTE CONFIDENTIAL: This document contains proprietary information of ZTE and is not to be disclosed or used
without the prior written permission of ZTE.
Due to update and improvement of ZTE products and technologies, information in this document is subjected to
change without notice.

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 NodeB Enhanced Viterbi Decoding

TABLE OF CONTENTS
1 Feature Attributes ............................................................................................. 4

2 Overview ............................................................................................................ 4
2.1 Feature Introduction ............................................................................................. 4
2.2 License Control .................................................................................................... 5
2.3 Correlation with Other Features ........................................................................... 5

3 Technical Descriptions ..................................................................................... 5

4 Parameters......................................................................................................... 7

5 Related Counters and Alarms .......................................................................... 7

5.1 Related Counters ................................................................................................. 7
5.2 Related Alarms .................................................................................................... 7

6 Engineering Guide ............................................................................................ 8

6.1 Application Scenario ............................................................................................ 8
6.2 Feature Activation Procedure ............................................................................... 8
6.3 Feature Validation Procedure .............................................................................. 9
6.4 Feature Deactivation Procedure........................................................................... 9
6.5 Network Impact .................................................................................................. 10

7 Abbreviations .................................................................................................. 11

8 Reference Documents..................................................................................... 11

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FIGURES

Figure 3-1 Structure of Enhanced Viterbi Decoder ................................................................ 6

Figure 6-1 Parameter Configuration Page 1 .......................................................................... 8
Figure 6-2 Parameter Configuration Page 2 .......................................................................... 9
Figure 6-3 Parameter Configuration Page 3 .........................................................................10
Figure 6-4 Parameter Configuration Page 4 .........................................................................10

TABLES

Table 2-1 License Control List ............................................................................................ 5

Table 4-1 Parameters List ................................................................................................... 7

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1 Feature Attributes
BSC/RNC version: [V3.14.10, V4.14.10]

BTS/NodeB version: [V4.14.10.10]

Attribute: [optional]

Related network elements:

NE Name Related or Not Special Requirements

MS/UE -

BTS/Node B

BSC/RNC

iTC -

MSC -

MGW -

SGSN -

GGSN -

HLR -
: Related, -: Irrelevant

2 Overview

2.1 Feature Introduction

The AMR voice service uses convolution coding and Viterbi decoding. To optimize
Viterbi decoding, ZTE has introduced an Enhanced Viterbi decoding Algorithm (EVA),
which improves the decoding performance of convolution coding. Compared with
common Viterbi decoding, EVA has a performance gain of 0.20.5 dB.

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2.2 License Control

This feature is under license control. Authorization on the OMC is required before the
configuration of the feature.

Table 2-1 License Control List

Feature ID Feature Name License Control Configured Unit

Item NE

ZWF21-05-031 Enhanced Viterbi Enhanced Viterbi Node B Node B

decoding decoding
Algorithm (EVA) Algorithm (EVA)

2.3 Correlation with Other Features

1. Required features

None.

2. Mutually exclusive features

None.

3. Affected features

None.

3 Technical Descriptions
The Viterbi Algorithm (VA) is a maximum likelihood decoding method based on a trellis
diagram. First, all possible sequences (paths) are compared for each section of input,
and the local optimal path of each state is saved. Then local optimal paths are chosen
backward. Finally, the globally optimal path is obtained.

The Enhanced Viterbi decoding Algorithm (EVA) has steps similar to those of VA, but its
number of global optimal paths (optimal and suboptimal paths) is L. For every section of

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every state in the trellis diagram, there are 2L input paths. EVA needs to calculate the
weight of each path, and choose L local optimal paths from the 2L paths. Finally, the
local optimal paths are selected backward to obtain L globally optimal paths.

The structure of EVA is shown in Figure 3-1. AMR contains several Traffic Channels
(TCHs), The first TCH is the most important, and contains 12 bits for a Cyclic
Redundancy Check (CRC). EVA only decodes TCH1. After Viterbi decoding, if an CRC
error is detected, TCH1 uses Enhanced Viterbi Decoding.

Power control still uses the results of VA. The introduction of the EVA does not influence
power control. The EVA reduces the uplink block error rate (BLER) and raises voice
quality to the maximume extent.

The processing policies of the RNC for EVA frame decoding are follows: (1) OLPC:
OLPC only uses CRCI, rather than EVA results; (2) Macrodiversity: Frames decoded
correctly by using the EVA are combined as CRCI-correct frames, and the combination
priorities are: CRCI-correct > EVA-correct > QE; (3) BLER: Frames decoded correctly by
using the EVA are treated as CRCI-correct frames; (4) IU frames: Frames decoded
correctly by using the EVA are sent as proper FQC frames.

Figure 3-1 Structure of Enhanced Viterbi Decoder

Speech Codec

Power Enhanced
Contor Viterbi Decoding

Viterbi Viterbi Viterbi

Decoding Decoding Decoding

TCH 1 CRC TCH 2 TCH 3

Compared with the VA, the EVA has a performance gain of 0.20.5 dB. The EVA only
improves the performance of TCH 1, and does not change the performance of other
TCHs.

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This feature is only applicable to Node B BPK series boards.

4 Parameters

Table 4-1 Parameters List

Recom
Managed Value Default mende
Logic Name Parameter Description Unit
Object Range Value d
Value

Voice
enhanced
URncFunct Voice enhanced VA (EVA) 0: Off
VA (EVA) None 0: Off 1: On
ion.evaSw switch of RNC 1: On
switch of
RNC

Voice
UIurLink. enhanced
Voice enhanced VA (EVA) 0: Off
RncFeatSwi VA (EVA) None 0: Off 1: On
switch of RNC Iur 1: On
tchBit31 switch of
RNC

Voice
NodeBFun
enhanced Voice enhanced VA (EVA) 0: Off
ction.voice None 0: Off 1: On
VA (EVA) switch 1: On
EVASwitch
switch

5 Related Counters and Alarms

5.1 Related Counters

Counter Number Counter Name
C314197208 Number of TB of correct EVA

5.2 Related Alarms

This feature has no related alarm.

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6 Engineering Guide

6.1 Application Scenario

This feature effectively enhances the demodulation performance of the uplink AMR voice
service, reduces the error block rate of uplink voice packages, and thus improves voice
quality.

6.2 Feature Activation Procedure

OMMR: In the configuration resource tree, select Modify Area > UMTS logical
Function Configuration and set the Switch of EVA to on[1].

Figure 6-1 Parameter Configuration Page 1

OMMB: In the configuration resource tree, select Modify Area > Radio Parameter >
UMTS and set the Voice enhanced VA (EVA) switch to yes[1].

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Figure 6-2 Parameter Configuration Page 2

6.3 Feature Validation Procedure

Test Item EVA

Preconditions 1. The cell is operating properly.

2. UEs are ready.
3. The radio environment is operating properly.

Test Steps 1. Disable the EVA feature, set several types of fading
channels, run the uplink AMR voice service, and record
the BLER.
2. Enable the EVA feature, set several types of fading
channels, run the uplink AMR voice service, and record
the BLER.

Expected Results Compared with the VA, the EVA has a lower BLER.

6.4 Feature Deactivation Procedure

OMMR: In the configuration resource tree, select Modify Area > UMTS logical
Function Configuration and set the Switch of PLVA to off[0].

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Figure 6-3 Parameter Configuration Page 3

OMMB: In the configuration resource tree, select Modify Area > Radio Parameter >
UMTS and set the Voice enhanced VA (EVA) switch to no[0].

Figure 6-4 Parameter Configuration Page 4

6.5 Network Impact

The EVA does not reduce KPIs.

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7 Abbreviations
Abbreviation Full Name

AMR Adaptive Multi-Rate

BLER BLock Error Ratio

CRC Cyclic Redundancy Check

EVA Enhanced Viterbi decoding Algorithm

FQC Frame Quality Classification

A logical node responsible for radio transmission/reception in

Node B
one or more cells to/from the User Equipment

OLPC Out-Loop Power Control

RNC Radio Network Controller

TCH Traffic CHannel

VA Viterbi decoding Algorithm

8 Reference Documents
[1] 3GPP TS 25.101, User Equipment (UE) radio transmission and reception (FDD)

[2] 3GPP TS 25.212, Channel Coding and Multiplexing

[3] 3GPP TS 26.090, AMR Speech Codec; Speech transcoding

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