Logical, Transport, Physical channels

As shown in the figure, there are three types of UMTS channels viz. logical channels(RLC
layer),transport channels(MAC layer) andphysical channels(PHY layer). As they tranverse between
layers they map to other layer frames. For example logical channels are mapped to transport
channels and transport channels are mapped tp physical channels.

UMTS logical channels

As shown in the figure, UMTS/WCDMA logical channels are divided into control channels and traffic
channels(DTCH,CTCH). As the name suggests traffic channels carry information(voice) annd control
channels carry signalling information useful to establish and maintain connection between UE and
network(NodeB).Following are the functions of each of these logical channels. Pls. note that DL
stands for Downlink from network to UE and UL stands for Uplink from UE to Network.
DTCH(DL and UL, point to point)- Dedicated Traffic channel,carry user information.
CTCH(unidirectional point to multi-point)-Common traffic channel.
BCCH(DL broadcast)- Broadcast Control Channel, carry SYSTEM INFORMATION
CCCH(Bidirectional)- Common Control Channel
DCCH(Dedicated Control Channel, point to point bidirectional)
PCCH(Paging Control Channel,DL)-carry paging information
SHCCH(Shared Channel Control Channel,Bidirectional)
UMTS/WCDMA Logical
Duplex
Function
Direction
Channel
Mode
Dedicated traffic
carry user plane data
Uplink(UL)/Downlink(DL) FDD/TDD
channel(DTCH)
(speech/packet data)
Dedicated control
carry signalling messages used for
Uplink/Downlink
FDD/TDD
channel(DCCH)
control operations
Shared control
carry control messages
Uplink/Downlink
TDD
channel(SHCCH)
Common control
It is used to carry control messages Uplink/Downlink
FDD/TDD
channel(CCCH)
Common traffic
It is used to carry user traffic(e.g.cell
Downlink
FDD/TDD
channel(CTCH)
broadcast SMS)
Paging control
It is used to carry paging messages
Downlink
FDD/TDD
channel(PCCH)
directed towards UE
Broadcast control
It is used to carry broadcast
Downlink
FDD/TDD
channel(BCCH)
messages towards UE

UMTS Transport channels

Following are the transport type of UMTS channels.
BCH(DL broadcast) - SYSTEM/Cell related INFORMATION
FACH(DL/Forward Access Channel)- carry control information from network to UE
PCH (DL)- Paging Channel

DCH (UL or DL) - Dedicated Channel

DSCH(DL) - Downlink Shared Channel
USCH(UL)- Uplink Shared Channel
RACH(UL)- Random Access Channel
UMTS/WCDMA Transport
Duplex
Function
Direction
Channel
Mode
It is used for initial access of the
Random access channel(RACH)
Uplink
FDD/TDD
network by UE
It is used as contention channel for
Common packet channel(CPCH)
Uplink
FDD/
bursty data
It is used to transfer user data/control
Forward access channel(FACH)
Downlink
FDD/TDD
signalling messages
It is used as shared channel carrying
Downlink sharedchannel(DSCH) dedicated user data/control messages Downlink
FDD/TDD
in the downlink
It is used as shared channel carrying
Uplink sharedchannel(USCH)
dedicated user data/control messages Uplink
TDD
in the uplink
Broadcast channel(BCH)
Broadcast channel to all UEs in a cell Downlink
FDD/TDD
Broadcast of paging & notification
Paging channel(PCH)
messages,also allows UE to make use Downlink
FDD/TDD
of sleep Mode
It is used as dedicated channel to
Dedicated Channel(DCH)
transfer traffic/control messages in
Uplink/Downlink FDD/TDD
both the direction

UMTS Physical channels

Following are physical type of UMTS channels for 3.84Mcps case.
P-CCPCH- Primary Common Control Physical Channel
SCH- Synchronization Channel
S-CCPCH- Secondary Common Control Physical Channel
PICH- Paging Indicator Channel
DPCH(DL)- Dedicated Physical Channel in the downlink
PDSCH-Physical Downlink Shared Channel
DPCH(UL)-Dedicated Physical Channel in the uplink
PUSCH- Physical Uplink Shared Channel
PRACH- Physical Random Access Channel
PNBSCH- Physical Node B Synchronization Channel

Mapping between channels