HSUPA Principle

-UMTS Radio Network Planning & Optimization Dept

Contents

HSUPA Basic Principle

HSUPA Key Technologies

HSUPA Performance Analysis

HSUPA Evolution Strategy

HSUPA Basic Principle

HSUPA Protocol Architecture

HSUPA new MAC Entity

HSUPA new Physical Channel

HSUPA Working Process

HSUPA Protocol Architecture

DTCH DCCH

DCCH DTCH

MAC-d

MAC-d

MAC-es

MAC-es /
MAC-e
MAC-e

MAC-e EDCH FP

PHY

UE

PHY

Uu

EDCH FP

TNL

NodeB

TNL

Iub

TNL

TNL

DRNC

Iur

SRNC

UE: New MAC entity MAC-es/MAC-e is introduced under MAC-d, in charge of HARQ rapid
retransmission, scheduling, data multiplexing and E-TFC (E-DCH TFC) selection.
Node B: New MAC entity MAC-e is introduced, in charge of HARQ re-transmission, scheduling,
and MAC-e de-multiplexing.
SRNC: New MAC entity MAC-es is added to provide re-ordering and macro diversity
combination in case of soft handover

HSUPA Technical Features

In UE, dedicated physical data channels (E-DPDCH, at most 4 for each
UE) and a dedicated physical control channel (E-DPCCH) to be added in

the uplink. Common physical channels (E-HICH, E-AGCH and E-RGCH)

to be added in the downlink.
E-DPDCH bears uplink data with SF=2 or 4, QPSK modulation and 2ms
TTI, it remains 10 ms TTI.
E-DPCCH, E-HICH, E-AGCH and E-RGCH accomplish the HARQ and
information exchange (including ACK/NACK, uplink grants, and signaling
control related to E-DCH)

The maximum rate of each E-DPDCH is 1.92 Mbps (2ms TTI, QPSK,
SF=2). The maximum traffic rate of each UE is 5.7Mbps.

HSUPA Basic Principle

HSUPA Protocol Architecture

HSUPA new MAC Entity

HSUPA new Physical Channel

HSUPA Working Process

MAC layer Architecture in UE side

PCCHBCCHCCCHCTCHSHCCH
( TDD only )

MAC ControlDCCH DTCH DTCH

MAC-d

MAC-es /
MAC-e

E-DCH
Associated
Downlink
Signalling

MAC-hs

MAC-c/sh

HS-DSCH

PCH FACH FACH RACH CPCHUSCHUSCHDSCHDSCH DCH

( FDD only )( TDD only () TDD only )
Associated Associated Associated
Uplink
Downlink
Uplink
Signalling Signalling Signalling

DCH

New MAC-es/MAC-e entity is introduced to control E-DCH in UE side.

in charge of HARQ rapid retransmission, scheduling, data multiplexing and E-TFC (EDCH TFC) selection.

Structure of MAC-e/MAC-es entity in

UE side
To MAC - d

MAC Control

MAC - es/e
E - TFC Selection

Multiplexing and TSN setting

HARQ

Associated Scheduling
Downlink Signalling
( E - AGCH / E - RGCH(s) )

Associated ACK/NACK
signaling
( E - HICH )

Associated Uplink
Signalling E - TFC
( E - DPCCH )

Functions of MAC-e/MAC-es entity in

UE side
HARQ entity: control the re-transmission of MAC-e PDU. The copy of MAC-e
PDU is saved in the buffer of HARQ entity. The copy of MAC-e PDU will be resend when the NACK is received from the peer HARQ entity. HARQ protocol is
configured by the MAC-Control SAP of RRCHARQ provides E-TFC,
retransmission serial number (RSN) and the power offset used by L1.
Multiplexing and TSN setting entity: in charge of multiplexing multiple MAC-d
PDUs into one MAC-es PDU, and multiplexing multiple MAC-es PDUs into one
MAC-e PDU. Which is processed under the guide of E-TFC selection. It is also in
charge of setting and management of the TSN of logical channel.
E-TFC selection entity: select the E-TFC according to the scheduling indication
(Relative Grants and Absolute Grants) of Node B, and control the Multiplexing.
consequently decide the mapping relationship from different MAC-d to E-DCH. ETFC is configured by the MAC-Control SAP of RRC.

PDU Processing of MAC layer in UE

side
RLC

DCCH

DTCH

DTCH

RLC PDU:

MAC-d

Header

DATA

DATA

MAC-d PDU:

MAC-d Flows

Numbering

MAC-es/e

Numbering

Numbering

Multiplexing

MAC-es PDU:

TSN

DATA

MAC-e PDU:
DDI

DDI

MAC-e header

DDI

DATA
MAC-es PDU

HARQ
processes

L1

DATA

Mapping info signaled over RRC

PDU size, logical channel id, MAC-d flow
id => DDI

DATA

DATA

Padding
(Opt)

Structure of MAC layer in UTRAN side

MAC Control

MAC Control

PCCH BCCH CCCH CTCH SHCCH

MAC Control

MAC Control MAC ControlDCCH DTCH

TDD only

DTCH

MAC-es

MAC-d
Configuration
without MAC-c/sh

MAC-e

E-DCH
Associated Downlink Associated Uplink
Signalling
Signalling

MAC-hs

Configuration
with MAC-c/sh

HS-DSCH HS-DSCH
Associated Downlink
Signalling

PCH FACH FACH

Iub
Associated Uplink
Signalling

Configuration
with MAC c/sh

MAC-c/sh

RACH CPCH USCH USCH DSCH DSCH Iur or local

FDD only

TDD only

DCH

DCH

TDD only

In UTRAN side, MAC-e is located in Node B, MAC-es is located in SRNC.

MAC-e of Node B is in charge of HARQ retransmission, scheduling, MAC-e de-multiplexing
MAC-es of SRNC is in charge of re-ordering and macro diversity combination.
MAC-e controls the access of E-DCH, connecting to MAC-es, connecting from MAC-es to MAC-d.
New connection is defined in MAC-e and MAC Control SAP, also in MAC-es and MAC Control SAP.

Function and Structure of MAC-es in

UTRAN side

Function entity of MAC-es in SRNC side:

To MAC-d

MAC-es

Disassembly

Disassembly

Disassembly

Reordering/
Combining

Reordering/
Combining

Reordering/
Combining

Reordering Queue
Distribution

MAC-d flow #1

From
MAC-e in
NodeB #1

Reordering Queue
Distribution

MAC-d flow #n

From
MAC-e in
NodeB #k

MAC Control

Re-ordering queue distribution

entity: routing MAC-es PDU to the
correct re-ordering buffer according
to the configuration of SRNC.
Re-ordering entity: re-ordering the
received MAC-es PDU according to
the received TSN and Node B ID.
Macro diversity selection entity:
selective combining for MAC-es
PDU from multiple Node B in case
of soft handover.
MAC-es PDU disassembling
entity: disassemble MAC-es
header, transmit MAC-d PDU to
MAC-d layer.

Function and Structure of MAC-es in

UTRAN side

Function entity of MAC-e in Node B side:

E-DCH scheduling and control entity:

MAC-d Flows

base on the scheduling request SR

(Scheduling Request) from UE,

MAC-e

allocate resource for UE, and notify UE

MAC Control

E-DCH
Scheduling

E-DCH
Control

De-multiplexing

though downlink resource indication.

De-multiplexing entity: de-

multiplexing MAC-e PDU, and save the

de-multiplexed SI which is referenced
by E-DCH scheduling entity.

HARQ entity

HARQ entity: processing multiple

stop-wait HARQ processes, produce
ACK or NACK, indicate if the data
transmitted on E-DCH is correct, count
the times of re-transmission which is

Associated Associated
Uplink
Downlink
Signalling Signalling

E-DCH

referenced by Scheduling entity.

HSUPA Basic Principle

HSUPA Protocol Architecture

HSUPA new MAC Entity

HSUPA new Physical Channel

HSUPA Working Process

HSUPA new transmission channel EDCH

E-DCH attributes
E-DCH and DCH use separated CCTrCHs.
Each UE only has one CCTrCH with E-DCH type.

Each CCTrCH with E-DCH type only has one corresponding E-DCH.
Each TTI only has one transmission block.
E-DCH supports 2ms TTI and 10ms TTI, 10ms TTI is mandatory to all UE, 2ms
TTI is optional.

Adopts Turbo 1/3 coding method.

After E-DCH is allocated, the data rate of original uplink DCH will be restricted
in 64kbps.

Both uplink logical channel DCCH and DTCH can be mapped to E-DCH

HSUPA new physical channel

Five physical channels are added in radio interface to support rapid retransmission, soft combination and Node B distributing scheduling in
physical, these five physical channels all support 10ms TTI and 2ms TTI.
E-DPDCH: E-DCH Dedicated Physical Data Channel (uplink).
E-DPCCH: E-DCH Dedicated Physical Control Channel (uplink).
E-HICH: E-DCH HARQ acknowledgement Indicator Channel (downlink).
E-AGCH: E-DCH Absolute Grant Channel (downlink).

E-RGCH: E-DCH Relevant Grant Channel (downlink).

Uplink dedicated physical channel EDPDCH and E-DPCCH

E-DPDCH is a uplink dedicated physical data channel to bear the data of E-DCH
Bear HSUPA uplink data.

Alterable SF2256.
Adopt QPSK modulation.
Support 10ms TTI and 2ms TTI.
Each radio link has one or multiple E-DPDCH.
E-DPCCH is a uplink dedicated physical control channel bearing control information of E-DCH
Bear HSUPA uplink control information.
Fixed SF256.
Adopt QPSK modulation.
Support 10ms TTI and 2ms TTI.
Each radio link has one E-DPCCH.

Downlink common physical channel

E-AGCH

E-AGCH is a downlink common physical channel to bear the absolute grant of E-DCH
Adopt fixed SF=256, the channel speed is 30kbps.
E-AGCH is only existing in serving E-DCH cell.
Absolute Grant of E-DCH is only transmitted in serving E-DCH cell.
Absolute Grant ban be transmitted in one sub-frame (2ms TTI) or one radio frame (10ms TTI).

E-AGCH

20 bits

Tslot = 2560 chips

Slot #0

Slot #1

Slot #2

Slot #i

1 subframe = 2 ms
1 radio frame, Tf = 10 ms

Slot #14

Downlink dedicated physical channel

E-RGCH

E-RGCH is a Downlink dedicated physical channel to bear the relative grant of E-DCH
Adopt fixed SF=128.
A relative grant can be transmitted in 3, 12 or 15 continuous time slots. 3 and 12 time slots
are corresponded to 2ms TTI and 10ms TTI in serving E-DCH cell, 15 time slots is used in
non-serving E-DCH cell.

bi,0

bi,1

bi,39
Tslot = 2560 chip

Slot #0

Slot #1

Slot #2

Slot #i

1 subframe = 2 ms
1 radio frame, Tf = 10 ms

Slot #14

Downlink dedicated physical channel

E-HICH

E-HICH is a Downlink dedicated physical channel to bear the HARQ acknowledgement Indicator of E-DCH
Adopt fixed SF=128.
A HARQ acknowledgement Indicator can be transmitted in 3 or 12 continuous time slots, which are
corresponded to 2ms TTI and 10ms TTI.
E-HICH and E-RGCH have the same SF and radio frame structure, they are differentiated by

different signature sequence.

bi,0

bi,1

bi,39
Tslot = 2560 chip

Slot #0

Slot #1

Slot #2

Slot #i

1 subframe = 2 ms
1 radio frame, Tf = 10 ms

Slot #14

HSUPA Basic Principle

HSUPA Protocol Architecture

HSUPA new MAC Entity

HSUPA new Physical Channel

HSUPA Working Process

Basic Concept
E-DCH active set:
A set of cells that have E-DCH bearer between the UE.

Serving E-DCH cell:

The cell where the UE receives AGs (absolute grants). One UE has only one
serving E-DCH cell.
Serving E-DCH RLS or Serving RLS:
A set of cells that have E-DCH serving cell, one UE has only one serving RLS,

UE can receive and combine a relevant grant under serving RLS.

Non-serving E-DCH RLS or Non-serving RLSE-DCH RLS

A set of cells that have no E-DCH serving cell, One UE can has zero, one or
multiple non-serving RLS, UE can only receive a relevant grant under serving
RLS.

HSUPA basic principle

SRNC

DRNC

MAC-d
FP

MAC-es

Iur/Iub FP

1 TNL bearer per MAC-d flow

NodeBs

Iur/Iub FP

NodeBd

MAC-e

Serving RLS

FP

E-DCH
Active Set

MAC-e

Scheduler
MRC

MRC

E-HICH (ACK/NACKs)
E-RGCH (relative grants)
(ChCode, signature -> UE)

serving cell
E-DCH Serving
Cell

E-AGCH
(Absolute Grants,
"E-RNTI" -> UE)

Non-serving
RLS

E-DPDCH
E-DPCCH

UE

HSUPA working
principle under
soft handover

MAC-e/
MAC-es
MAC-d

DTCHs

Only one cell is in charge of E-DCH

scheduling under the state of non-soft
handover, that is E-DCH serving cell.

HSUPA basic working process (1)

Establishing process of dedicated channel E-DCH
UE sends service request to network side as the same process of R99/R4.

Upon receiving RAB establishment request, the SRNC determines to select

uplink E-DCH according to service attributes and sends the RL SETUP message
to NodeB. The RL SETUP message indicates which RL is the E-DCH RL and
which RL is the serving E-DCH RL.

After establishing RL, the NodeB sends RL SETUP response to RNC. The
response message contains the E-AGCH/E-RGCH/E-HICH scramble and
channelization code, and E-RGCH/E-HICH signature sequence. If the RLs
contain the serving RL, the NodeB allocates E-RNTI to the UE. The response
message also contains the E-RNTI.
The RNC sends UE the RB SETUP message, carrying E-RNTI, mapping
relationship between RB and Mac-d Flow, E-TFCS, Mac-d Flow, E-AGCH/ERGCH/E-HICH code resource and signature information.

HSUPA basic working process (2)

E-DCH scheduling process
UE has a E-DCH serving cell, the scheduling is processed by the Node B which
the E-DCH serving cell belongs to. E-DCH serving cell sends scheduling command
to UE by E-AGCH, that is Absolute Grant, AG limits the maximal resource that UE
can use, AG includes the E-RNTI of UE, and the maximal transmitting power that

UE allows, etc.
E-DCH serving cell and E-DCH non-serving cell send Relative Grant though
downlink channel E-RGCH, Relative Grant is a offset to Absolute Grant (tiny
tuning), its value can be Up, Hold, or Down. Serving E-DCH RLS can sends all

these 3 values. Non-Serving E-DCH RLS can only send HOLD or DOWN.
Usually, the reason of sending DOWN by non-Serving E-DCH RLS is uplink
overload.

HSUPA basic working process (3)

E-DCH data transmission and retransmission process
According to the grant information received, the UE selects E-TFC. It sends data (including
data resent) in E-DPDCH, and E-TFC information, HARQ RV information (RSN), and a Happy
bit in E-DPCCH. The Happy bit notifies Node B whether the UE is satisfied with the current
resources (grant) allocated, that is, whether higher grant is required.
Firstly, the E-DCH data received from the different cells under the same Node B of E-DCH Set
is combined (MRC Combination), and then the data is sent to Mac-e for processing. Each UE
has a Mac-e in each Node B. The Mac-e de-multiplexes the Mac-e PDU to MAC-es PDU and
sends it to RNC. The Mac-e also sends E-DCH scheduling information and the ACK/NACK of
HARQ.
Each UE has a Mac-es entity in SRNC. When receiving MAC-es PDUs from different Node Bs,
the Mac-es performs macro diversity combination, re-sorts their order, divides them into Mac-d
PDUs, and sends them to Mac-d.
HARQ process: The UE sends HARQ RV (retransmission serial number, RSN) through uplink
E-DPCCH. The Node B sends the ACH/NACH through downlink E-HICH.

HSUPA physical channel forming

process
E-DPDCH Fixed reference channel 3 (FRC3)
Information Bit Payload

NINF = 8100

CRC Addition

NINF = 8100

Code Block Segmentation

(8100+24)/2 = 4062

Turbo Encoding (R=1/3)

3 x (NINF+24)/2 = 12186

RV Selection
Physical Channel Segmentation

24
(8100+24)/2 = 4062
12

3 x (NINF+24)/2 = 12186

11520
3840

3840

2ms subframe

SF=2

1920

1920

2ms subframe

SF=2

SF=4

SF=4

12

HSUPA UE Category
TTI

Max. Transmission Block

Size (bit)
(10ms/2ms)

Data Rate
(10ms/2ms)

1SF4

10ms

7110

0.71Mbps

Category 2

2SF4

10ms, 2ms

14484/2798

1.45Mbps/1.42Mbps

Category 3

2SF4

10ms

14484

1.45Mbps

Category 4

2SF2

10ms, 2ms

20000/5772

2Mbps/2.9Mbps

Category 5

2SF2

10ms

20000

2Mbps

Category 6

2SF22SF4

10ms, 2ms

20000/11484

2Mbps/5.76Mbps

E-DCH
Category

Codes X
Spreading

Category 1

Remark: Data Rate = (Max. Transmission Block Size + 36bit CRC) / TTI

Contents

HSUPA Basic Principle

HSUPA Key Technologies

HSUPA Performance Analysis

HSUPA Evolution Strategy

HARQ Fast Hybrid Automatic Repeat

Request

HARQ is an error correction technology. The "hybrid" is the combination of forward

error correction (FEC) and automatic repeat request (ARQ)
HARQ function is located in MAC-e entity of Node B and UE.
The fast HARQ of HSUPA is implemented by adding an HARQ functional entity in
Node B. If data is not received correctly, the Node B will request the UE to resend
the uplink packet data.
In uplink, HARQ adopts the N channel Stop And Wait (NSAW) protocol.
In HSUPA, 10ms TTI corresponds to 4 HARQ processes, and 2ms TTI to 8 HARQ
processes.

HARQ - Reduce transmission delay and improve throughput of UE and system

HARQ retransmission combination

The forward error correction of uplink HARQ provides two modes, namely,
Chase Combining (CC) and Incremental Redundancy (IR)
The information resented by CC mode has the same content as the original information, which is
processed with maximal ratio combining before UE decodes it. Thus, the decoding grain is increased.
The IR retransmission supports two retransmission modes:

The IR enables different redundancy information to be sent in retransmission. Thus, the data
cannot be decoded unless the data sent by the first time and that retransmitted are
combined.

The IR also enables the same redundancy information to be sent in retransmission. However,
that information can be self-decoded. With incremental redundancy given in each HARQ
retransmission, the forward error correction capability is enhanced.

Node B uses different ways to combine the multiple retransmissions of a single packet,
decrease the receive Ec/No of each transmission. With HARQ, HSUPA can effectively
increase data transmission rate and shorten transmission delay.

Retransmission comparing between

HSUPA HARQ and R99 RLC

The fast HARQ may cause higher target block error rate (BLER) in the first transmission,
because it enables shorter delay in resending the packets that are not correctly received
previously compared with RLC retransmission.
The higher BLER target can reduce the transmit power that is required by the UE in
transferring the data of certain rate. Therefore, for the same cell load, the fast HARQ can
increase the cell capacity.
When the data rate is fixed, the energy decreasing of each bit can improve the coverage.

Uplink HARQ Soft Handoff

In CDMA system, the software handoff gain is
generated when a Node B receives packets
correctly, while another Node B cannot decode.
In the soft handoff of HSUPA HARQ, one Node
B sends acknowledgement (ACK) to the UE,
while the other one sends negative
acknowledgement (NACK). In this case, the
network already receives the packet, and the
UE should not sent the same packet.
Accordingly, the HARQ process of the Node B
that receives packet incorrectly can resume
from the reception failure. The RNC must
ensure the sequence of the packet and send it
to the upper layer, and performs selective
combination of the packets received from
different Node Bs.
In the process of SHO, UE can perform retransmission only when all Node Bs in the active set
cant decode correctly, otherwise, UE will not perform retransmission if there is one ACK.
SHO enables link diversity gain, improves throughput effectively, and reduces retransmission
times.

Fast Packet Scheduling

To R99/R4/R5, packet
scheduling is based on RNC.
In HSUPA, the scheduling is
located in Node B, and the

scheduling period can be 2ms,

to implement fast scheduling
strategy, thus, the uplink air
interface capacity can be
effectively utilized.

The packet scheduling controlled by RNC will cause some delay, so the change of current
channel can not be reflected quickly, thus, the fast link self-adaptation and fast packet
scheduling can not be performed.
In HSUPA, the packet scheduling entity of Node B can directly use real-time measurement
information of physical layer, inner statistic information and the information reported by UE to
perform scheduling, thus, to reduce the system transmission delay by utilizing the situation of
channel and fading attribute of different users.

Fast Uplink Packet Scheduling

Uplink and downlink radio packet scheduling have the different
complication of resource controlling.
In downlink: Node B can easily get the information of buffer occupation of each
service streaming, and the downlink power is central controlled, so Node B can
allocate and free the power resource accurately, thus to control the system load
efficiently and ensure the QoS of each service.
In Uplink: the time delay and uncertainty are existed in uplink service streaming cause
the information of it need to be reported to Node B by radio channel. In uplink, each
UE has its own power source, because of the time variability of radio channel and the
limitation of code resource, the accurate control of uplink system resource (total uplink
power) became more complicated, so as to the uplink packet scheduling.

The function of Node B scheduler:

As serving Node B, Allocate uplink resource to the UEs under serving E-DCH cell.

As non-serving Node B, detect the interference of other cells and send relative grant
information to UEs.
Notify SRNC while there is short of processing resource.

Uplink Packet Scheduling Model

Service
queue of
user 1

Service
queue of
user 1

Radio Channel

Service
queue of
user 1

Code resource
management
Resource
allocation
Link quality
detection

In order to confirm the uplink transmission rate and transmitting power, some information
of user must be known like the situation of serving streaming and available power, etc.
which is named SI (Scheduling Information).
SI is periodically reported in HSUPA, and the period of report is integral times of TTI, SI is
multiplexed with packet data.
Node B allocates uplink resource to user according to the SI information multiplexed from
received data, that is, Node B sends resource indication of scheduling Absolute Grant by
downlink AGCH channel.

Scheduling Resource Compensation

Mechanism
The shortage of SI transmission
The error of SI transmission is unavoidable and the report is unreliable
cause of being transmitted by the radio channel.
Node B adopts periodical scheduling, but the SI may be not accurately
reflect the UE situation at real time.
While the situation of radio channel is bad, the SI will not be received
correctly before it has been multiple retransmitted. That causes time delay.

Compensation Mechanism
In HSUPA, Node B performs tiny tuning to the resource

allocated to UE by sending Relative Grant through RGCH

channel

Scheduling Resource Compensation

Process
UE reports Happy bit to Node B in E-DPCCH, Happy bit has 1 bit to indicate if UE is
satisfied with the allocated resource. After UE received the resource indication, it will make
a judgment according to the following principle:
UE has surplus power for the scheduling resource.
The required time for transmitting all the data in buffer will exceed 1 TTI by using
the allocated power resource.
UE will express its un-satisfaction to Node B by Happy bit, and will require more
resource to be allocated.
If UE report satisfy, then Node B will indicate to keep the current allocated resource.

Packet scheduling is not simply adjust the resource of UE according to the

situation of UE, it will integrate with the system load, channel state and
QoS of different service, etc. its a balance between system indices
(system throughput, fairness) and service QoS (time delay, packet missing
rate).

Packet Scheduling Priority Allocation

In the process of packet scheduling, the most important thing is how to decide the

sequence for the users who are striving for resources, so the system resource can
be efficiently utilized, the system throughput will reach its maximum state, and try
best to make every user satisfied.
In 3GPP, there are two arithmetic that determine the performance boundary.

One is base on C/I, it provides maximal system throughput while lost its
fairness.
Another is RR, it provides equal chance to every user, but the system
throughput is bad.

The popular scheduling arithmetic include Round Robin, Max C/I and Proportional
Fair, they all can be regarded as scheduling base on Priority, but their allocation
strategy is different.

Uplink Noise Rising probability

Comparison of Uplink Noise Rising probability between RNC scheduling and Node B scheduling

When UE stop transmitting

or reduce transmission
data rate, Node B
scheduler can allocate the
released capacity to other
UE quickly and effectively.

The obvious reduction in scheduling period enables the uplink air interface capacity to be better
controlled dynamically, and the resource of air interface will be effectively utilized.
The potential advantage is that the running target of uplink load can be more approached to the
maximal level of load, but it will not improve the probability of overload, thus, the probability of uplink
noise rising is lower than that caused RNC scheduling.

Effect of Fast Packet Scheduling on

Maximum Expected Load

The probability of uplink load target is

much more near that of maximum
load limit when the marginal load area
becomes smaller (The Prx_target is
more closer to the Prx_threshold. The
Prx_threshold is the overload
threshold).
The Node B-based scheduling
requires the information related to UE
uplink transmission demand. The UE
should be informed of the current data
rate allowed through fast signaling
within specified time.
To RNC, these operations are
implemented through RRC signaling,
the response speed of which is
restricted obviously.

2ms TTI
E-DCH type

Max.
E-DCH
channels

Min.
Spread
Factor

TTI type

Max. transmission
block size
(10ms TTI)

Max. transmission
block size
(2ms TTI)

Category 1

SF4

10 ms TTI only

7110

Category 2

SF4

10 ms and
2 ms TTI

14484

2798

Category 3

SF4

10 ms TTI only

14484

Category 4

SF2

10 ms and
2 ms TTI

20000

5772

Category 5

SF2

10 ms TTI only

20000

Category 6

SF2

10 ms and
2 ms TTI

20000

11484

As a option, a shorter 2ms TTI is described in uplink of HSUPA to decrease the HARQ
retransmission delay.
When each TTI contains the same amount of data, the energy transmitted in 2 ms is less than that
in 10 ms possibly, and the interleaving gain decreases. Therefore, to ensure normal operation in cell
edge, 10 ms TTI must be used.
when there is no other constraint like link coverage, 2ms TTI helps increase system capacity. In
favorable radio environment, 2ms TTI can bring higher peak rate.

Contents

HSUPA Basic Principle

HSUPA Key Technologies

HSUPA Performance Analysis

HSUPA Evolution Strategy

HSUPA Performance Analysis

HSUPA Impacts to the Original Network

HSUPA Link Performance Analysis

HSUPA Cell Performance Analysis

Influence of the Introduced HSUPA on

Original Network
Influence of HSUPA on Network includes:
Occupy downlink code resource.
Occupy downlink power resource.
increase the uplink interference of network, impact on link
budget, capacity and coverage.
impact on terrestrial transmission bandwidth.

Influence of the Introduced HSUPA on

R99/R4/R5

The new function, new physical channel and new MAC entity are added. The data rate in the
uplink is enhanced. It is necessary to upgrade the software of Node B and RNC. It also
requires the new terminal to support the HSUPA.
Higher data rate may require higher baseband capacity and function. It may be necessary to
change the hardware in Node B and RNC, but not compulsory.

Influence on Iu* Interface:

Influence on Iub/Iur Interface:
Control plane: Add the IEs that are related to configuring and controlling EDCH channel and resource, and the Node B scheduling operation and MAC
Multiplexing, etc.
User plane: Add new frame structure for E-DCH, support 2ms and 10ms TTI.
Influence on Iu Interface: there is no influence on Iu interface.

Influence of HSUPA on Network

Planning Coverage and Link Budget
In consideration of the fact that the HSUPA provides the uploading service for VIP

customers in core urban areas, it is advisable to select the dense urban area model to
conduct HSUPA link budget.
In order to conduct the planning comparison with R99, here we compare the typical uplink
service of the independent R99 planning with the link budget of the HSUPA uplink service

and analyze them.

There is sufficient reservation for the shadow margin and the penetration margin in the
table in order to reflect the dense urban area model. The COST231 path loss model is
also used in calculating the coverage radius.
4 modes are set by HSUPA, the detail information of HUSPA of each mode is:
HSUPA
mode

Bitrate kbps

Spread Factor

Eb/No (dB)

Coding
Efficiency

Remark

Mode1

64

SF1 = 16

0.8

0.267

coverage situation at the edge of low

speed HSUPA service

Mode2

480

SF1 = 4

0.95

0.5

Medium and low speed

Mode3

960

SF1 = 4SF2 = 4

1.05

0.5

Medium and high speed

Mode4

1920

SF1 = 2SF2 = 2

1.1

0.5

coverage situation of high speed

HSUPA service coverage

Uplink Link Budget Comparison

between HSUPA and R99
R99

Transmission
end

Receiving
end

HSUPA

cs12.2k

cs64k

ps64k

mode1

mode2

mode3

mode4

Maximal transmission power (dbm)

21

24

24

24

24

24

24

Antenna gain (dbi)

Human body loss (db)

Effective transmission power

18

24

24

24

24

24

24

Thermal noise power spectrum density

(dbm/HZ)

-174

-174

-174

-174

-174

-174

-174

Thermal noise power (dbm)

-108.157

-108.157

-108.157

-108.157

-108.157

-108.157

-108.157

Receiver noise coefficient (db)

Receiver noise (dbm)

-105.157

-105.157

-105.157

-105.157

-105.157

-105.157

-105.157

Interference margin (db)

Code channel quantity

Bit rate (kbit)

12.2

64

64

64

480

960

1920

Processing gain (db)

24.97971

17.78151

17.78151

17.78151

9.0309

9.0309

6.0206

Receiving Eb/No (db)

4.2

2.87

1.6

0.8

0.95

1.05

1.1

Receiver sensitivity

-122.936

-117.068

-118.338

-116.138

-107.238

-107.138

-104.077

Antenna gain (dbi)

18

18

18

18

18

18

18

Power control margin

Soft handover gain

Shadow fading margin

10

10

10

10

10

10

10

Penetration loss

20

20

20

20

20

20

20

Maximal allowed path loss

127.9364

128.0682

129.3382

127.1382

118.2376

118.1376

115.0773

Coverage radius (km)

0.447171

0.45104

0.490083

0.424437

0.23721

0.235665

0.192937

Others

Uplink Link Budget Comparison and

Analysis between HSUPA and R99
The interference margin of R99 link budget that the prior table corresponds
to is 3dB, and that of HSUPA is 6dB (HSUPA can more effectively control
system overload probability under the same average interference margin
requirement).
As shown in the prior table, the 12.2k, 64k service of R99 almost have the
same coverage, the radius of dense urban is about 450m, the distance

between two sites is about 780m. The low speed HSUPA service (mode1) can
have the same coverage as 12.2k.
In mode2, it is very hard to bear 480kbps, because there is only one SF code.
And the radius of coverage is shrunk to about 240m.

In mode3, for the bearing speed is improved and the SF code is increased to 2,
the radius of coverage can be kept in about 240m.
For the high speed uplink service (mode4), the bearing speed is improved to
2Mbps with 2 SF codes, And the radius of coverage is shrunk to about 190m.

Link Budget Comparison of HSUPA/R99

in
Co-frequency Networking Mode
R99

Maximal allowed
path loss
Coverage
radius (km)

HSUPA

cs12.2k

cs64k

ps64k

mode1

mode2

mode3

mode4

124.9364

125.0682

126.3382

127.1382

118.2376

118.1376

115.0773

0.367542

0.370722

0.402812

0.424437

0.23721

0.235665

0.192937

According to link budget, under the co-frequency situations, the introduction of the relatively high
interference margin threshold causes R99 service coverage radius shrinkage. The 12.2k service
radius shrinks by 10% ~ 20%. In this network planning, HSUPA 64k service, or service whose rate is
slightly higher than 64k can reach the whole network coverage. The peak 1,920 kbps service coverage
radius can reach 50% of the planned cell radius, that is, it can cover about 25% of the area of the
whole cell.
Through the above analysis, it can be known that the low speed HSUPA service (Mode 1) can
basically guarantee to maintain the same coverage relation with planned R99 coverage range when
HSUPA and R99 jointly conduct the uplink planning. When HSUPA user rate rises, its service
coverage shrinks. At the same time, as the HSUPA is introduced, in co-frequency construction,
planned R99 range will somewhat shrink.

Summary of HSUPA impacting on

Network Planning and Analysis

HSUPA impacting on Network Planning and Analysis includes:

HSUPA network construction strategy: Cover the whole network with relatively low rate. Focus on the
coverage of dense urban areas, to ensure the high rate of uplink transmission in hotspot areas. It is
recommended that for the planning the initial stage, it is advisable to refer to HSDPA coverage range,
conduct key coverage in hotspot areas, and just conduct the low speed coverage in the edge areas
of common cell.
In HSUPA planning, under the conditions that the same overload probability is ensured, and RRM
control algorithm is further optimized, in order to enhance uplink throughput, in setting uplink
interference margin, it is recommended not to use the common R99 uplink 3dB as the noise raise
threshold, and the value 5 ~ 6dB is recommended.
In the co-frequency planning of HSUPA and R99, if the interference margin threshold is raised, it will
cause the previous R99 uplink planned budget radius to shrink. As to how much it will shrink
specifically, it is necessary to conduct subsequent and further study. From link budget analysis, it
shrinks by about 10 ~ 20%. In inter-frequency networking, there is basically no influence on R99
uplink planning.
Via the link budget, it can be known that HSUPA 64k service budget radius is slightly smaller than
R99 12.2k and 64k service radiuses under the inter-frequency HSUPA networking conditions;
HSUPA 64k service budget radius is slightly bigger than R99 12.2k and 64k service radiuses under
the co-frequency networking conditions. Analyzed in a comprehensive manner, the low speed
HSUPA service can implement the same coverage with the planned R99 range.

HSUPA Performance Analysis

HSUPA Impacts to the Original Network

HSUPA Link Performance Analysis

HSUPA Cell Performance Analysis

HSUPA theoretic data rate

HSUPA Enhanced Uplink Dedicated Physical Channel E-DPDCH supports SF=2256,

and multiple channels. Adopts QPSK modulation and coding rate 1/3 (turbo). If the
coding rate is 1, then the maximal transmission capacity of Enhanced Uplink Dedicated
Physical Channel is up to 5.76Mbit/s by data rate matching arithmetic
Fixed Ref
Channel

TTI [ms]

NINF

SF1

SF2

SF3

SF4

NBIN

Coding
rate

Max inf bit

rate [kbps]

FRC1

2706

3840

0.705

1353.0

FRC2

5412

7680

0.705

2706.0

FRC3

8100

11520

0.703

4050.0

FRC4

11484

11520

0.99

5742.0

FRC5

10

5076

9600

0.529

507.6

FRC6

10

9780

19200

0.509

978.0

FRC7

10

19278

38400

0.502

1927.8

FRC8

10

690

16

2400

0.288

69.0

RemarkCoding rate=NINF/ NBIN

NBIN=3840 / SF x TTI sum for all channels

HSUPA data rate transmission

efficiency (1)
HARQ Influence
HSUPA complies with the HARQ protocol, generating performance gain for EDCH via link level
retransmission and retransmission times. As the fast feedback retransmission of the physical layer
reduces the RLC retransmission and the corresponding delay, it is possible to effectively improve
the service experience of end users. It can enable HSUPA physical channel to work in the channel
whose bit error ratio is relatively high, thus improving the system capacity.
When the uplink uses the inner loop power control, the retransmission ratio of the initial
transmission can reach 10-30% to maintain the given quality grade. A large quantity of
retransmission will lead to the decline of the throughput of end users, while excessively low
retransmission ratio will not generate any gain of any relatively previous version for the HARQ
controlled by Node B. Soft combination can further improve the system performance of HARQ
mechanism controlled by Node B.
The HSUPA adopts the synchronous HARQ, and there are strict timing relations for the operations
of different HARQ processes. The synchronous HARQ effectively lowers the signaling overhead
caused by HARQ operation, thereby improves system capacity.
HARQ is mainly used in interactive, background and streaming services. Therefore, to adopt
HARQ in HSUPA, attention should be focused on the following:
Delay reduction
More users and improvement of system throughput

HSUPA data rate transmission

efficiency (2)
Throughput comparison under PA 3km/h Conditions
Soft Combining Influence of HARQ

Ped A 3km/h, 144kbps/480kbps, real CE, 4% TPC error

500
CC(480kbps)
NC(480kbps)
CC(144kbps)
NC(144kbps)

Throughput [kbps]

400

300

200

100

-22

-20

-18

-16

-14

-12

received Ec/No [dB]

-10

-8

-6

In the HARQ protocol, it is necessary to retransmit the data that can not be correctly received. And it
is possible to generate the gain in throughput for the UE whose transmission power is limited by
using Soft Combining, and the retransmission times can be effectively reduced.
The algorithm which adopts the soft combining brings much more gain than that which does not
adopt the soft combining. This is because that the soft combing fully utilizes the bit information of the
previous transmission. Therefore, the gain is more remarkable when the Ec/No is relatively low.

-4

HSUPA data rate transmission

efficiency (3)
Throughput comparison under PA 3km/h & no soft handover
Macro Diversity Influence

CC, SHO (2 links), PA 3kmph, 144kbps, 0dB imb

Throughput [kbps]

150

100

50
w/ div
w/o div
0
-22

-20

-18

-16
-14
-12
-10
-8
-6
Total received Ec/No in the active set [dB]

-4

-2

When macro diversity technology is adopted, the UE will conduct the retransmission only
when no Node B in all the activated sets can correctly decode the data. Otherwise, the UE will
not execute the retransmission as long as there is one ACK.
Adopting macro diversity brings remarkable performance gain, effectively improves throughput,
and reduces the retransmission times.

HSUPA Performance Analysis

HSUPA Impacts to the Original Network

HSUPA Link Performance Analysis

HSUPA Cell Performance Analysis

HSUPA cell performance analysis

HSUPA cell performance analysis is evaluated in the following aspects: The
average throughput of cell, average throughput of a single user, UE
scheduling fairness, service delay and RoT overload rate
HSUPA cell throughput demonstrates the function relationship between the average RoT of the cell
and the system throughput. Besides being influenced by such factors as the UE quantity, the
geographical position where the UE is located and the wireless propagation condition, UE data
transmission request, and the uplink interferences of the cells around it, it is also influenced by
different wireless and packet scheduling polices and scheduling algorithm.
The fairness curve refers to the density accumulation distribution function of the normalization of
user throughput by the average throughput of each user, and it reflects the scheduling fairness.
The service delay includes the packet call delay and packet delay. The packet call delay refers to the
time period between two consecutive packet transmission requests. For the FTP user, the packet call
delay refers to the time the FTP uploads the file. The packet delay refers to the time necessary for
the reception of the packet message at Node B.

RoT overload ratio reflects the ratio of RoT when it exceeds a certain designated RoT threshold
value

Influence of 2 ms TTI on system

performance

Average Packet Delay for FTP Users

Comparison of 2ms and 10ms Cell Throughput- Mixed Channel

Packet Delay for FTP Users

35
30

Packet Delay [s]

Throughput Gain (%)

2ms vs. 10ms, mixed channel, PF

40
30
20

25
20
15
10

10

5
0
3.5

0
3

3.5

4.5

5.5

6.5

Avg. RoT (dB)

In HSUPA, the shorter frame structure

frame structure can increase the
retransmission times of Layer 1 within the
designated time, thereby improving the link
efficiency and throughput. Corresponding
to the same physical layer delay, the
shorter frame structure can effectively
lower the delay of the upper-layer
transmission

6.5

Average Packet Delay for Video Users

Packet Delay for Video Users
1.8
1.6
1.4
1.2
1
0.8
0.6
0.4
0.2
0
3.5

Packet Delay [s]

whose TTI is 2ms is adopted. The shorter

4.5
5
5.5
Average RoT [dB]
TTI=2ms
TTI=10ms

4.5

5.5

Average RoT [dB]

TTI=2ms
TTI=10ms

6.5

Influence of HARQ on system

performance
Influence of HARQ on Cell Throughput

We conduct the simulated analysis on the influence of HARQ on the average throughput of the
cell when HARQ is on and when it is off. It can be seen that due to the adoption of HARQ and
the soft combining technology, the link spectrum efficiency is improved, and the cell throughput
is improved by at least 200kpbs. This corresponds to the improvement of HARQ to link
performance.

Influence of Soft Handover on System

Performance
Influence of Soft Handover on Cell Throughput

We analyze, via simulation, the influence on the average throughput of the cell in the system
when there has soft handover (includes softer handover) and when there is no soft handover.
It can be seen that due to the adoption of soft handover technology, the link diversity gain is
generated, and the cell throughput is improved by at least 120 kpbs.

Contents

HSUPA Basic Principle

HSUPA Key Technologies

HSUPA Performance Analysis

HSUPA Evolution Strategy

Radio Communication Technology

Development Overview
The radio communication development process from 2G, 3G to 3.9G, is that of

developing from mobile voice service to high speed data service.

Nowadays the radio communication technology is evolved to 3.5G, to

WCDMA, it can provide commercial R5 version and trial R6 version.

The R7/HSPA+ and R8/LTE standards are being consummated by 3GPP,

it is forecasted that the R7 will be frozen in 2007, R8 will be frozen in

2008.
To the development of radio communication technology, more attention should

be paid to the requirement of operators the development target of system

from NGMN group

Radio Communication
Technology Evolution
2G

GSM

2.5 G

2. 75 G

3G

WCDMA
R99

GPRS

3.5 G

HSDPA

3. 75 G

3.9 G

LTE

HSUPA

EDGE
HSPA+

IS-95

CDMA
2000 1X

CDMA2000
1X EV-DO

CDMA2000
1X EV-DV

EV-DO
Rev. A

EV-DO
Rev. B

AIE

Year

WCDMA Technology Evolution

Roadmap
2002-3
64-144kbps

2003-4

2005-6

64-384kbps

2007-9

384kbps-4Mbps

After 2009

384kbps-7Mbps

20-50Mbps

Downlink
Throughput

GSM
GPRS/EDGE

3G
R99

3G
HSDPA/HSUP
A

3G+HSDPA
Downlink
Enhanced

Downlink/Uplink
Enhanced

NGMN
LTE,
Broadband radio
IP based wideband
Peer to Peer

NGMN
Optimized UMTS
Enhanced UMTS
3G

GSM(GPRS/EDGE)