By

Manish Srivastava
 Radio Resource Control (RRC)

Logical channels

RLC RLC RLC (What is transmitted)

Medium Access Control (MAC)

Transport channels
(How it is transmitted)
Physical Layer

Physical channels
(Code,frequency,etc)
 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
 WCDMA CHANNELS :
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
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) Traffic Channel

(User Data)

Broadcast Control Channel (BCCH)

Dedicated Traffic
channels (DTCH)
Paging Control Channel (PCCH)

Dedicated Control Channel (DCCH) Common Traffic

Channel (CTCH)

Common Control Channel (CCCH)

 Control channels:
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.
 TRAFFIC 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
 Transport 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.
 Dedicated Transport Channel
DCH (Dedicated Channel)
BCH (Broadcast Channel)
Common Transport Channel
FACH (Forward Access Channel)
PCH (Paging Channel)
RACH (Random Access Channel)
CPCH (Common Packet Channel)
DSCH (Downlink Shared Channel)
This is used to transfer data to a particular UE. Each
UE has its own DCH in each direction
This channel broadcasts information to the UEs in
the cell to enable them to identify the network and
the cell.
Downlink; Transports small amount of data from
BCCH/CCCH/DCCH/CTCH to either a specific UE or over
the entire cell
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.
This channel carries requests for service from UEs
trying to access the system
This channel provides additional capability beyond
that of the RACH and for fast power control.
 Mapping Logical To Transport Channels

In The UE

BCCH PCCH DCCH CCCH CTCH DTCH

BCH PCH CPCH RACH FACH DSCH DCH

In The Node B

BCCH PCCH DCCH CCCH CTCH DTCH

BCH PCH CPCH RACH FACH DSCH DCH

 Physical Channels Overview
Chan Name Uplink/ Description
nel Downlin
k

CPIC Common CPICH Downlin Reference channel for estimation of received

H Channel k signal strength & quality; Fixed bit pattern
which is stored in Physical layer; Determines
coverage of a cell
P- Primary Common Downlin This channel continuously
CCPC Control Physical k broadcasts system identification
H Channel
and access control information.

S- Secondary Downlin This channel carries the

CCPC Common Control k Forward Access Channel (FACH)
H Physical Channel
providing control information,
and the Paging Channel (PACH)
with messages for UEs that are
registered on the network.
PRAC Physical Random Uplink Used by the UE for call setup; UE sends a
H Access Channel preamble to Node B and on receipt, Node B
sends an immediate ACK or NACK on
downlink AICH or AP-AICH
PCPC Physical Common Uplink Used by UE for packet data transfer involving
H Packet Channel small quantities
DPDC Dedicated Uplink / Used for dedicated mode transfer of user data
H Physical Data Downlink (from DCH) & associated control data (from
Channel DCCH) to & from UE

DPCC Dedicated Uplink / Used for dedicated signaling to and from UE; To
H Physical Control Downlink ensure coherent detection it contains both
Channel necessary pilot symbols & commands for fast
power control
P/S - Primary / Downlink Used for WCDMA cell search and timing
SCH Secondary synchronization; Never spread or scrambled
Synchronization
Channel
PDSC Physical Downlink Downlink This channel shares control
H Shared Channel information to UEs within the
coverage area of the node B.
PICH Paging Indication Downlink Paging messages are indicated to the
Channel intended UE by use of bit masks; On
positive identification, UE starts reading
S-CCPCH to find page

AICH Acquisition Downlink Determines whether system can be

Indication accessed or not; Uses simple bit
Channel sequences for operation
AP-AICH Access Preamble Downlink UTRAN uses this to confirm reception of
- AICH acquisition preamble sent by the UE on
the PCPCH
CSICH CPICH Status Downlink Channel informs UE about current
Indicator Channel availability of CPCH uplink transport
channel for packet data use
CD/CA - ICH Collision Downlink UTRAN uses this channel to inform UEs
Detection / about any packet collisions on the uplink
Channel & also about the current assignment of
Assignment the packet data channel.
Indicator Channel
 Mapping Transport To Physical Channels

BCH PCH CPCH RACH FACH DSCH DCH

PHYSICAL

P- S- PICH PCPCH PRACH PDSCH DPDCH

CCPCH CCPCH AP-AICH AICH P/S - DPCCH
CSICH SCH

CD/CA-ICH
Thank
you!