BR8.

0
Network Assisted Cell Change

GERAN Enabling Workshop

ICM N PG NM NE A1
03.06.2004

Agenda
Introduction
General feature information
Offer dimensioning
Interdependencies with other features
Customer benefits

Siemens, 2004

Introduction
Cell reselection procedure allows (E)GPRS MSs to change
cell
Cell reselection (CR) = cell change
Cell reselection can be initiated:
by the MS mobile controlled cell reselection
by the network network controlled cell reselection
Possible cell reselection modes

Siemens, 2004

Introduction
In packet transfer mode (PTM, MS involved in a TBF) MS uses
allocated radio resources to transmit radio block
Selecting a new cell, a MS:
leaves the packet transfer mode
enters the packet idle mode
switches to the new cell
reads the system information of the new cell
resumes the packet transfer mode in the new cell

Cell re-selection in PTM => service interruption:

without this feature: service interruption time of 4 to 5 sec.

Siemens, 2004

General feature information

NACC feature reduces service
during CR

interruption time

System information of the target cell are partially

provided before cell change
CR is delayed, until the network sends the system
information about the target cell to the MS
After cell change, the NACC procedure in the target
cell provides the MS with the remaining system
information

Siemens, 2004

General feature information

BSS
MS

Cell A

Cell B

Packet transfer

Gathering SI/PSI

Cell reselect.

Standard cell reselection

Packet transfer

Packet transfer interruption

BSS
MS

Cell A

Cell B

NACC
Packet transfer NACC1 NACC2

Packet transfer

Packet transfer
interruption
time
Cell reselect.
decision

NACC procedures (main steps):

Before the cell change (NACC1)

When cell reselection criteria are fulfilled, MS notifies BSC asking for NACC support and proposes target cell for CR

BSC sends SI/PSI of the target cell to MS (proposed by MS or selected by network),

MS performs cell reselection

After the cell change (NACC2)

MS informs BSC about already received SI/PSI

BSC sends missing SI/PSI (if any)

Siemens, 2004

General feature information

NACC is supported in all cells mapped to
different PPXU cards inside the BSC
NACC server (TDPC) distributes
information (SI, congestion) to the NACC
clients
NACC client is located in every PPXU card (it
manages all cells belonging to PPXU)
Each client keeps the SI and congestion
information of their own cells and of all the
adjacent cells
In BR8.0 NACC between different BSC (inter
BSC) is not supported
NACC is applicable only to Release 4 or
newer MSs

Siemens, 2004

Offer dimensioning
Assumptions:

1 HO per 60 sec

For voice traffic:

voice = mean # of HOs per call: 1.5
mean holding time (call duration): 90 sec

for voice services one

handover per 60 sec. is
executed

by analogy with CS

=> 1 cell reselection per 60 sec.

2
3

Assumption:
standard CR outage time = 5 sec.
CR outage time with NACC support = 0.5 sec.

throughput reduction
standard cell reselection 5 / 60 8 %
cell reselection with NACC 0.5 / 60 0.8 %
Throughput reduction with NACC in relation to the case without cell
reselection can be neglected
Consequently no impact on Geran Offer Tool due to NACC foreseen
Siemens, 2004

Interdependencies with other features

In BR 8.0, coordination between NCCR and NACC is needed
Coexistence is based on managing the MSs according to MS Release and other special cases as described below:

NC mode of the MS in packet transfer mode

NACC and NCCR enabled:
NC2 for mobile stations of Release 99 or earlier
NC1 for newer mobile stations (MS Release R4)
NCCR from GSM/GPRS to UMTS due to sufficient UMTS coverage enabled:
NC2 for MS/UEs
Siemens, 2004

Interdependencies with other features

(E)GPRS Traffic Control Strategy
In BR7.0

Control of traffic distribution only possible between

cells belonging to the same PPXU
=> (E)GPRS Traffic Control Strategy only between
cells of same PCU
In BR 8.0

The server-client mechanism of NACC can be used to

distribute information about traffic in cells between the
PPXUs
=> (E)GPRS Traffic Control Strategy also between
cells of different PCUs => very big benefit!!
Siemens, 2004

Customer benefits
The main benefits of this feature:
reduction of the service outage time for an MS in
packet transfer mode during cell reselection
for intra-BSC cell change from 45 sec. down to
500700 msec.

improvement independent of the type of service but

especially relevant in case of streaming services
streaming services => quick execution of the CR
procedure to minimise break in the ongoing service

optimum usage of available network resources and

better quality of service for the end user

Siemens, 2004