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GPRS System Survey

Contents
1
1.1
1.2
1.3
1.4
2
2.1
2.2
2.3
2.4
3
3.1
3.2
3.3
3.4
4
4.1
4.2
4.3
4.4
5
5.1
5.2
5.3
5.4

Chapter 1 Introduction
Preparation
Chapter 1 Guide
Exercise Guide
Summary
Chapter 2 Air Interface
Preparation
Chapter 2 Guide
Exercise Guide
Summary
Chapter 3 Traffic Cases
Preparation
Chapter 3 Guide
Exercise Guide
Summary
Chapter 4 SGSN and GGSN
Preparation
Chapter 4 Guide
Exercise Guide
Summary
Chapter 5 BSS Architecture for GPRS
Preparation
Chapter 5 Guide
Exercise Guide
Summary

Chapter 1 Introduction

1.1

Preparation

1
1
2
3
3
3
3
4
5
5
5
5
6
8
8
8
8
9
10
10
10
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Objectives of Chapter 1
After this chapter the participant will be able to:
1.

Describe the evolution of GSM data services

2.

Explain the principle and advantages of GPRS data

communication

3.

List the functions of the nodes of the GPRS network

Objectives
1.1.1

Learning Material
The learning material consists of Chapter 1 in Student Text and the following
OH-slides.
OH 1/03813-LZU108 876/1-1 to 1-9

1.1.2

Learning Methods
This chapter has the form of an instructor-led lecture. Do not forget to ask
students if they have GSM pre-requisites and what are their knowledge in GSM.
It will be useful mainly in chapter 2 and 3 to interact with the students and ask
them questions so that they feel free to discuss the GPRS system and ask you
questions back.

1.1.3

Time Needed
Approximately 45 min.

1.1.4

Reference Literature
1551-AXB 250 04 Uen System Description

1.1.5

Necessary Tools
An overhead projector with a screen and a whiteboard with board markers in
different colors.

1.2

Chapter 1 Guide
OH 1-1: Stress on fact main evolution with GPRS is packet switching on the air
interface.
OH 1-2, 1-3: Explain the differences between circuit switching and packet
switching. After that, explain what are the advantages to use packet switching in
GPRS.

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R2A

03810.doc

OH 1-4, 1-5: Give some examples of applications by stressing GPRS is a

bearer capable to support different kind of applications. Show those
applications can be distinguished according to burstiness and bandwith
requirements.
OH 1-6, 1-7, 1-8, 1-9: Introduce the hardware:
Subscriber needs a GPRS MS to access to data network via GPRS
network. GPRS MS can be only a MT (Mobile Terminal) including an
application part or a MT connected to a non specific multimedia computer.
Underline that GPRS network is based on GSM network. It allows a faster and
less expensive roll out than deploy directly an UMTS network. Describe nodes
reused from GSM and what are the software and hardware impacts on those
nodes. Introduce briefly functionalities of new nodes SGSN and GGSN. GSN G
2.0 and 2.1 does not support Gs and Gf interfaces.
Do not forget to specify UMTS roll out is cut in several phases. Only first
phase is represented on the figure 1-8 and mainly consists of BSS change. The
new nodes (node B and RNC) will allow to manage a new air interface based on
WCDMA.

1.3

Exercise Guide
No exercises are provided for chapter 1.

1.4

Summary
This chapter introduce principle and advantages of GPRS system. It
describes GPRS MS and network architecture.

Chapter 2 Air Interface

2.1

Preparation

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Objectives of Chapter 2
After this chapter the participant will be able to:
1.

Describe the GPRS radio resources features

2.

Explain how packet switching is implemented on the

air interface

3.

Describe what impacts GPRS data throughput

4.

Describe cell reselection in GPRS

Objectives
2.1.1

Learning Material
The learning material consists of Chapter 2 in Student Text and the following
OH-slides.
OH 1/03813-LZU108 876/2-1 to 2-15

2.1.2

Learning Methods
This chapter has the form of an instructor-led lecture.

2.1.3

Time Needed
Approximately 1 hour.and half

2.1.4

Reference Literature
GSM 03.64 (Overall description of the GPRS radio interface)
GSM 04.60 (RLC/MAC: For more detailed information)

2.1.5

Necessary Tools
An overhead projector with a screen and a whiteboard with board markers in
different colors.

2.2

Chapter 2 Guide
OH 2-1, 2-2, 2-3: Describe GPRS radio resources features. OH
2-4 to 2-9: Describe GPRS radio resources use.
Stress on fact packet switching on the air interface is implemented using the
following mechanisms:
- radio resources are allocated to an MS only when is needed

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- the same resource can be shared by several MSs at one time, using TFI
(Temporary Flow Identifier) and USF (Uplink State Flag).
OH 2-10: Show GPRS data rate depends on reliability of data transfer on the air
interface.
OH 2-11: Clarify that the indicated data rate are data rate at the interface
between RLC/MAC layer and GSM RF layer.
OH 2-12 to 2-15: Ask students to remind principle of cell change in GSM.
Compare cell change in GSM versus cell change in GPRS

2.3

Exercise Guide
No exercises are provided for chapter 2.

2.4

Summary
This chapter explain mechanisms implemented on the air interface for packet
switching.

Chapter 3 Traffic Cases

3.1

Preparation

Objectives of Chapter 3
After this chapter the participant will be able to:
1.

Describe the Mobility Management procedures

2.

List GPRS Mobility states

3.

Describe PDP Context Activation principle

Objectives
3.1.1

Learning Material
The learning material consists of Chapter 3 in Student Text and the following
OH-slides.
OH 1/03813-LZU108 876/3-1 to 3-11
Exercises 1 and 2 (Collection of Exercises 03814 EN/LZU 1080876)

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3.1.2

Learning Methods
This chapter has the form of an instructor-led lecture with two exercises.

3.1.3

Time Needed
Approximately 2 hours.

3.1.4

Reference Literature
GSM 03.60 (Service Description)

3.1.5

Necessary Tools
An overhead projector with a screen and a whiteboard with board markers in
different colors.

3.2

Chapter 3 Guide
OH 3-1: Describe the figure and explain that radio resource management has
been studied in chapter 2.
Stay on this slide and ask students to remind you the different GSM mobility
management procedures (IMSI attach/detach, Location Area Update, GSM
paging). Write their answers on the white board.
Now show the next slide.
OH 3-2: This slide is a

Powerpoint animation:

First step:

Explain that the GSM Location Area (LA) corresponds to the Routing Area
(RA) in GPRS. The RA can be smaller or equal to the LA but always included in
the LA. Add that as for LA, the RA is composed of a set of cells and MS notify the
network at each RA change.
Second step:

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Reference

Specify that MS knows when it changes RA thanks to RA identifier (RAI)

which it broadcasts in all the cells.
Third step:

Explain that GPRS Attach is performed in GPRS instead of IMSI Attach in

GSM. Add that MS can perform combined procedure if Gs interface is
implemented. Explain briefly Combined IMSI/GPRS Attach.
Fourth step:

Explain that RA Update is performed in GPRS instead of LA Update in GSM.

Explain briefly Combined RA/LA Update.

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Now explain that students are going to make an exercise on the mobility
management procedures using their knowledge in GSM. Indeed there are
some similarities between GSM and GPRS mobility management procedures.
I think it is less boring to do exercises before to see the slides presentation.
OH 3-3 to 3-8: Try to not spend too much time on those slides.
OH 3-9: Just underline IDLE means MS is detached, READY means transfer is in
progress or finished for a few seconds and STANDBY means MS is attached but
there is no transfer in progress.
OH 3-10, 3-11: Take time to explain PDP Context Activation. Stress on fact
that once PDP Context is activated (i.e. the blue tunnel between MS and
GGSN) of number of applications like web, ftp or mail can be carried through the
tunnel.

3.3

Exercise Guide
Two exercises are provided for chapter 3. The purpose is to introduce GPRS
Attach for the former and RA Update for the latter. what means some
students will experience difficulties to achieve the exercises but I think they
will be more interested and concentrated during the mobility management
procedures. Show GPRS Attach and Inter SGSN RA Update slides as the
correction of exercises.
Ask students to close their student book before to give the exercises.

3.4

Summary
This chapter describes mobility and session management traffic cases.

Chapter 4 SGSN and GGSN

4.1

Preparation

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Objectives of Chapter 4
After this chapter the participant will be able to:
1.

List the Ericsson GSN functionalities

2.

Describe the Ericsson GSN architecture

Objectives
4.1.1

Learning Material
The learning material consists of Chapter 2 in Student Text and the following
OH-slides.
OH 1/03813-LZU108 876/4-1 to 4-6

4.1.2

Learning Methods
This chapter has the form of an instructor-led lecture.

4.1.3

Time Needed
Approximately 20 min

4.1.4

Reference Literature
1551-AXB 250 04 Uen System Description
ETO/S/G-01:0042, CGSN G 2.1 Technical Description
ERV/G/P-00:152 Rev. D, Instructions for Dimensioning & Selection

4.1.5

Necessary Tools
An overhead projector with a screen and a whiteboard with board markers in
different colors.

4.2

Chapter 4 Guide
OH 4-1: Say Mobility Management, Session Management and Payload
handling have been studied in chapter 3. Explain the others items.
OH 4-2: Say Session Management and Payload handling have been studied in
chapter 3. Explain the others items.
OH 4-3: Underline traffic do not cross application boards.
OH 4-4, 4-5: You can identify interface boards and application boards on the
figure.

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OH 4-6: Underline additional boards allow to increase GSN capacity (up to
80000 PDP Context, see document Instructions for Dimensioning & Selection)

4.3

Exercise Guide
No exercises are provided for chapter 4.

4.4

Summary
This chapter describe Ericsson GSN architecture.

Chapter 5 BSS Architecture for GPRS

5.1

Preparation

Objectives of Chapter 5
After this chapter the participant will be able to:
1.

List the BSS functionalities for the GPRS

2.

Describe briefly the Ericsson PCU architecture

Objectives
5.1.1

Learning Material
The learning material consists of Chapter 2 in Student Text and the following
OH-slides.
OH 1/03813-LZU108 876/5-1 to 5-3

5.1.2

Learning Methods
This chapter has the form of an instructor-led lecture.

5.1.3

Time Needed
Approximately 10 min

5.1.4

Reference Literature
BSS Operation course

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5.1.5

Necessary Tools
An overhead projector with a screen and a whiteboard with board markers in
different colors.

5.2

Chapter 5 Guide
OH 5-1: Detail BSS functionalities.
OH 5-2: Underline that in Ericsson solution, one PCU is integrated in one
BSC.
OH 5-3: Describe briefly PCU architecture.

5.3

Exercise Guide
No exercises are provided for chapter 5.

5.4

Summary
This chapter describe Ericsson BSS architecture for GPRS.