LTE Evolved Packet System

Network Architecture
Moderator: Yair Shapira AccessPoint,

LTE Technology Course

Yair Shapira

Bio - Highlights
Since 2006 AccessPoint Engineering - Wireless communications: 3G, WiFi, WiMAX and LTE technologies. Networks and system architecture deign. 2000-2006 VP R&D at Mobile Access In Building wireless systems 1995 -2000 CDMA Group Manager at Motorola Cellular Infrastructure Division 1985-1995 - Motorola Communications Wireless communications products development: HF SSB, iDEN and Tetra Technologies

yairs@accesspoint.co.il

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LTE Network Architecture

LTE Network architecture is structured to provide:
Natural IP connectivity to IP based networks, services and applications Easy integration of network elements from different vendors Smart platform for 4G services and applications Easy integration of third party services and applications Allows sophisticated charging schemes Scalability Tight QoS control Build in QoS mechanisms and interfaces

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3G Vs. LTE Network Architecture

3rd Generation
Circuit Switch Networks Circuit Switch Core Packet Data Networks Circuit Switch Networks IMS Packet Switch Core Packet Switch Core

LTE
Packet Data Networks

Radio Network Controller

Radio Access Network - RAN

NodeB

NodeB

eNodeB LTE Technology Course

eNodeB

LTE/SAE Terminology
EPS- Evolved Packet System The EPS provides access to external packet IP networks and performs CN (Core Network) related functions. The EPS is sometimes called: SAE System Architecture Evolution EPC- Evolved Packet Core No circuit switched components Direct connection between the base station (eNB) and the Core Network (No RNC) eUTRAN LTE Radio Access Network
UE UE

IMS/PDN

EPC

eNB eUTRAN

eNB

UE User Equipment

EPS/SAE

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LTE Architecture Elements and Interfaces

E-UTRAN Evolved Packet Core-EPC
HSS Home Subscriber Server

eNB

MME

SPR S6a Sp

Policy and Charging Rule Function

PCRF Rx+

Uu

X2

S1-MME Gxa S11 S1-U S1-U S5/S8 Serving Gateway SAE Gateway PDN Gateway Gx

Uu
eNB

SGi

PDN

X2

Packet Data Network

Separation between control and data entities and interfaces Allows separate scale up for data increase and for increase in subscriber number Allows distribution of data supporting entities while centralizing control supporting entities
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A UE May Connect to Multiple PDNs

A PDN connection is established when the UE attaches to the network The UE uses APN (Access Point Name) to define the required PDN Otherwise, the network assigns the default APN of the UE (stored in the HSS) For each APN connection the UE have different IP address
Facebook

Each PGW serves a single PDN A PDN may be served by multiple PGWs
PDN Gateway

PDN# 1 Internet

YouTube Others

IP Address #1 IP Address #2 Serving Gateway PDN# 2 Operator Portal PDN Gateway Video Music Games

UE

E-NodeB

IP Address #3 PDN# 3 IMS PDN Gateway LTE Technology Course

Voice SMS Others

LTE IP Connectivity Between Network Entities

E-UTRAN
HSS
Home Subscriber Server MME

SPR
eNB PCRF Serving Gateway

X2

AF X2
eNB PDN Gateway PCRF Packet Data Network 1

PDN 1

X2 Uu

AF Uu
eNB Serving Gateway MME PDN Gateway

PDN 2

1. Most system elements are not hard nailed to each other but can be routed to support different portions of the system. 2. Supports Pooling, weight factoring, load balancing
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Packet Data Network 2

PDN Connectivity and the Transport Layer

Two IP layers: PDN connection IP layer (EPS entities as UE, PDN GW etc.) Transport IP layer (routers, switches etc.) The PDN connection is not aware to the transport IP layer network QoS techniques as required (Diffserv etc.)
Application layer PDN Connection layer IP UE Transport layer Application layer UE IP Connection IP Layer2 Layer1 Serving GW
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IP IP Layer2 Layer1 PDN GW 9 PDN

IP Layer2 Layer1 Router

Permanent User Identifiers

Subscriber identifiers MSISDN - Mobile Station International Subscriber Directory Number IMSI - International Mobile Subscriber Identity The IMSI is uniquely associated to an subscribers SIM, while the MSISDN can change in time Equipment Identifier IMEI - International Mobile Equipment Identity

Mobile Station International Subscriber Directory Number MSISDN

IMSI
International Mobile Subscriber Identity

IMEI
International Mobile Equipment Identity

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MME Identifiers
GUMMEI MCC MNC MMEI MMEGI Mobile Country Code Mobile Network Code MMEC

Global Unique MME Identity Network Unique MME Identity Group Unique MME Identity

MME Group Identity (pool)

GUMMEI (Global)

MMEI (Operator, Country)

MMEI (Operator, Country)

MMEGI - MME Group identity refers to the name of the pool which the MME belongs to. For every eNB there is assigned MMEGI (pool)

MMEC (group)

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MME and User Identifiers

Global Unique Temporary ID

During ATTACH the UE provides a GUTI to the eNodeB. The GUTI includes: GUMMEI - Global Unique MME Identity. The MME may be the default MME or the last serving MME. M-TMSI : MME Temporary Subscriber Identity - Identifies the UE context* within the MME .
GUMMEI MCC MNC

GUTI M-TMSI MMEI MMEGI MMEC

MMEC

M-TMSI

S-TMSI

* The MME holds the UE context (terminal capabilities, user subscription information downloaded from the HSS, dynamic information such as the list of bearers that are established)
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MME Selection
*

If the MME is not the GUTI MME, it informs the HSS that the UE is served by another MME. The HSS stores the new MME address

HSS

The Attach Request 3 MME includes the required Selected MME ID as part of the 2 GUTI The eNodeB is responsible for routing the request to the most The selected MME appropriate MME. uses the GUTI to find the GUTI MME and MME is selected based on: retrieves UE Context 1) GUTI (if possible) 2) Pool/Geography (closeness) 4 3) Minimal MME changes 5 during UE movement 4) Load balancing MME in considerations The HSS instructs the the GUTI GUTI MME to cancel the UE context
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P-GW Selection
1) Use data on the requested APN (either received from the UE or retrieved from the HSS) 2) Based on the APN the MME receives a list of candidate P-GWs connected to the requested PDN 3) MME decision criteria Which S-GW is used by the user (if already used for another APN connection) Does the P-GW need to be collocated with the S-GW ?

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S-GW Selection
For S-GW selection, the TAI is used as specified in TS 23.003, since TAI provides information about where the UE is being served. S-GW Selection Based on: Closeness TAI and network topology (minimal S-GW change)

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