General Packet Radio Service

(GPRS)
 Contents of Presentation
● GPRS and its Features
● GPRS Network Architecture
● GPRS Protocol Architecture
● GPRS Backbone Network
● GPRS interworking with External Network
● Call routing in GPRS
● Session Management in GPRS
● Location Management in GPRS
● Mobility Management in GPRS
● Logical Channels of GPRS
● GPRS Applications
 Constraints with existing
network
• Data Rates too slow – about 9.6 kbps
• Connection setup time too long
• Inefficient resource utilization for bursty
traffic
• Proves expensive for bursty traffic
utilization
• No efficient method for packet transfers
 Comparison of GSM &
GPRS
GSM GPRS
Data Rates 9.6 Kbps 14.4 to 115.2
Kbps
Modulation GMSK GMSK
Technique
Billing Duration of Amount of
connection data
transferred
Type of Circuit – Switched Packet -
Connection Technology Switched
Technology
 GPRS in INDIA

● BPL Mobile
● Bharti Cellular

● Hutchison Max

● Hutchison Essar

● Idea Cellular
 What is GPRS ?
● General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) is a
new bearer service for GSM that greatly
improves and simplifies wireless access to
packet data networks

● GPRS applies packet radio principal to

transfer user data packets in an efficient way
b/w MS & external packet data network
 Benefits of GPRS
● New Data Services
● High Speed (Data Rate 14.4 – 115 kbps)
● Efficient use of radio bandwith (Statistical
Multiplexing)
● Circuit switching & Packet Switching can be
used in parallel
● Constant connectivity
Statistical Multiplexing
 Salient Features of GPRS
● Important step on the path to 3G
● Standardized by ETSI
● GPRS is an overlay network over the GSM
● Provides Data Packet delivery service
● Support for leading internet communication
protocols
● Billing based on volume of data transferred
● Utilizes existing GSM authentication and
privacy procedures.
 High Data Rate
● GPRS uses radio channel i.e. 200 kHz wide
● Radio channel carries digital data stream of
271 kbps
● This rate is divided into 8 time slots each
carrying 34 kbps per time slot
● Data rate 14 kbps per time slot achieved after
corrections
● GPRS can combine upto 8 time slots giving
data rate of 114 kbps
 GPRS Services
• Offers end-to-end packet switched data transfer
• Bearer Services
• PTP - Point-To-Point service (CLNS mode)
• PTM - Point-To-Multipoint service(CONS Mode)
• PTM-M Multicast service
• PTM-G Group call service
• Supplementary Services
• SMSShort Message Service
• CFU Call Forwarding Unconditional
 GPRS Services (Contd.)
• CFNRc Call Forwarding on mobile subscriber
not reachable
• CUG Closed User Group
• Tele action, access to data bases
• Quality of Service
• GPRS allows defining QoS profiles
• Service precedence, reliability,
delay,throughput
 GPRS Terminals
● Class A
– MS supports simultaneous operation of
GPRS and GSM services
● Class B
– MS able to register with the n/w for both
GPRS & GSM services simultaneously.
It can only use one of the two services
at a given time.
● Class C
- MS can attach for either GPRS or GSM
services
GPRS Network Elements
GPRS Architecture is same as GSM except
few hardware modifications :
▪ GPRS includes GSNs
SGSN : Serving GPRS Support
Node
GGSN : Gateway GPRS Support
Node
▪ GPRS Register
 GSM SYSTEM ARCHITECTURE
PSTN
ISDN
BSC PDN
MS BTS
MSC/VLR

GMSC

BTS BSC

MS

BTS EIR
AUC
MS HLR
 GPRS SYSTEM ARCHITECTURE
Other
GPRS
PLMN

SMS-GMSC Gd
SMS-INMSC SGSN Gp
GGSN
Gb Gn
GGSN
Gf
BTS BSC Gr
Gs PDN
Gc Gi

BTS
EIR
MS HLR+GPRS
D Register

MSC/VLR
 Interfaces
● Gb – Connects BSC with SGSN
● Gn – SGSN – SGSN/GGSN (in the same
network)
● Gp – SGSN –GGSN (in different networks)
● Gf – For equipment querying at registering
time
● Gi – Connects PLMN with external Packet
Data Networks (PDNs)
● Gr – To exchange User profile between HLR
& SGSN
● Gs – To exchange Database between
SGSN & MSC
● Gd – Interface between SMS & GPRS
 SGSN – Serving GPRS
Support Node
• Delivers data packets to mobile stations &
vice-versa

• Detect and Register new GPRS MS in its

serving area

• Packet Routing, Transfer & Mobility

Management

• Authentication, Maintaining user profiles

• Its location register stores location info. &

user profiles
 GGSN – Gateway GPRS
Support Node
• Interfaces GPRS backbone network & external
packet data networks
• Converts the GPRS packets from SGSN to the
PDP format
• Converts PDP addresses change to GSM
addresses of the destination user
• Stores the current SGSN address and profile of
the user in its location register

• Performs authentication

• Many-to- many relations among SGSNs & GGSNs

 GPRS Register

● GPRS Register is integrated with GSM-HLR.

● Maintains the GPRS subscriber data and
Routing information.
● Stores current SGSN address
 GPRS Backbone Network
● GSNs are connected through IP based backbone
● Two Backbones:
– Intra PLMN backbone networks that connects
GSNs of the same PLMN & are private IP
networks
– Inter PLMN backbone networks that connects
GSNs of the different PLMN. Roaming agreement
is necessary
● GPRS Tunneling protocol (GTP)
● PLMN- Inter PLMN interconnect are called Border
gateways (performs security functions to protect
Intra- PLMN backbone against unauthorized users
and attacks).
 GPRS BACKBONE NETWORK

BSC
BSC
BTS BTS
MS
inter-PLMN
GPRS backbone
PLMN1
Gn SGSN Gp
Gp Gn SGSN
Border
intra-PLMN Border
gateway intra-PLMN
GPRS backbone gateway
GPRS backbone
Gn Gn
Gn
PLMN2
Gi
Gi
GGSN
GGSN
External Packet
Data Network (PDN)
SGSN Host
Router
LAN
 GPRS Protocol Stack

SNDCP: Subnet Dependent Convergence Protocol L1: physical Layer

LLC: Logical Link Control L2: Data Link Layer
RLC: Radio Link Control GTP: GPRS Tunneling Protocol
MAC: Medium Access Control UDP: User Datagram Protocol
BSSGP: BSS GPRS Protocol RF: Radio Frequency
 SNDCP - Sub Network Dependent
Convergence Protocol
● Used to transfer data packets between SGSN
and MS

● Multiplexing of several connections of network

layer onto one logical connection of
underlying LLC layer

● Compression and decompression of user

data and header information
 Data Link layer
● Divided into two sub layers :

• LLC layer (between MS-SGSN)

• RLC/MAC (between MS-BSS)

 LLC-Logical Link Control
● Establishes highly reliable logical link
between MS & its assigned SGSN

● Works either in acknowledged or

unacknowledged modes

● Data confidentiality is ensured by ciphering

functions
 RLC/MAC Layer
▪ Radio Link Control(RLC)
▪ Establish a reliable link between MS & BSS
▪ Segmentation and reassembly of LLC frames
into RLC data blocks

▪ Medium Access Control(MAC)

▪ Controls access attempts of an MS on radio
channels shared by several MSs
▪ Employs algos. for contention resolution,
multiuser multiplexing on PDTCH

▪ Both ack and unack. Modes of operation are

supported in RLC/MAC layer
 Physical Layer
● Divided into two sub layers :
● Physical Link Layer (PLL)
● Physical RF Layer (RFL)

● PLL – Provides a physical channel between

MS and BSS
● Channel coding, interleaving, detection
of physical link congestion

● RFL - Operates below PLL

 BSSGP-(BSS GPRS
Application Protocol)

● Delivers routing & Quality of Service

related information between BSS and
SGSN
 GTP – GPRS Tunneling
Protocol
● GTP tunnels user data packets and related
signaling information between GSNs
● Signaling is used to create, modify and delete
tunnels
● Defined both at Gn and Gp interface
● Below GTP, TCP or UDP are employed to
transport the GTP Packets within backbone
network
 Inter working with IP
networks
● GPRS n/w can be interconnected with an
IP-based packet data network
● GPRS supports both IPv4 and IPv6
● GPRS n/w looks like IP sub network and
GGSN looks like a IP router
● DHCP, DNS servers are installed
GPRS –Internet Connection
 CALL ROUTING

● DATA CALL ORGINATING

● DATA CALL TERMINATING

 DATA CALL ROUTING

BSC
BSC
BTS BTS
MS
inter-PLMN
GPRS backbone
Gn SGSN Gp SGSN
Border
intra-PLMN Border
gateway
GPRS backbone gateway Intra-PLMN
GPRS backbone
PLMN1 Gn
Gn PLMN2
Gi

GGSN
GGSN
External Packet
data network(PDN) Host
SGSN
Router
LAN
SESSION MANAGEMENT IN
GPRS
 Attachment & Detachment
Procedure
● GPRS attach
- User is registered in SGSN, after authentication
check from HLR
- SGSN assigns P-TMSI to MS

•GPRS detach
- Disconnection of MS from GPRS network is called
GPRS detach
- It can be initiated by MS or by network(SGSN or
HLR)
 Session Management
● Mobile Station applies for PDP address
● For each session PDP context is created & it
contains
– PDP type
– PDP addressed assigned to MS
– Address of GGSN that servers access point
to PDN
● With active PDP context MS able to send or
receive data packets
● Allocation of PDP address can be static or
dynamic
PDP Context Activation
LOCATION MANAGEMENT
IN GPRS
State Model of GPRS MS
 Location Management
Mobile station can be in 1 of the 3 states
depending on traffic amount
– Idle : MS is not using GPRS service

– Ready : Performing GPRS Attach,

MS gets into READY State

– Standby : When MS does not send any

packets for longer period of time,
Ready timer Expires
 Routing Area Update
● GSM Location Area(LA) is divided into several
Routing Areas(RA)
● RA consists of several cells
● SGSN is informed when MS moves to a new
RA
● MS sends a “Routing Area Update Request”
to its assigned SGSN
 Types of Routing Area
Update

• Intra SGSN Routing Area Update

• Inter SGSN Routing Area Update

Routing Area Update
 Mobility Management
Consists of two levels:
● Micro mobility management :
- Tracks the current RA or cell of MS
- It is performed by SGSN
● Macro mobility management :
- Keep tracks of MS’s current SGSN
- Stores it in HLR, VLR, and GGSN
 Channels in GPRS

● Logical Channel
– Traffic Channels
– Signaling Channels (Control Channels)
● Physical Channels
Logical Channels
 Packet Data Channel(PDCH)
● Physical Channel for GPRS Traffic
● PDCH are taken from all channels available in
the cell
● Depending on current traffic load and priority
of service, the physical channel are allocated
to either GPRS or GSM services.
● Physical channels not currently used by GSM
can be allocated as PDCH to increase the
QOS for GPRS
 Multiframe Structure of
PDCH

Four consecutive TDMA frame forms one block - B0 – B11

Two TDMA frames for transmission of PTCCH - T
Two Idle frames - X
 Billing
MSC
PSTN MSC

SGSN
GPRS GGSN
Network
BSC

Charging Gateway

Mediation

Billing
 Applications of GPRS
● Web browsing
● Corporate & Internet Email
● Vehicle Positioning
● Remote LAN Access
● Home Automation
● Document Sharing/Collaborative
working
THANK YOU