WCDMA/UMTS Network

Advanced Mobile Communication

Lec-6
HSDPA Overview

High Speed Downlink Packet Access

4.8 Mbps
5 Codes
16 QAM

14.4 Mbps
15 Codes
16 QAM

21.6 Mbps
15 Codes
64 QAM

28.8 Mbps
15 Codes
MIMO

42.2 Mbps
2x15 Codes
64 QAM

2007

2008

2009

2005

Offers enhanced data rate for Best Effort Packet Data.

Increases system capacity and spectrum efficiency.

Lowers the latency/Round Trip Time

Thus HSDPA brings benefit to both the Operators and end users.

HSDPA Mechanisms

HSDPA employ the following key technologies to achieve high data rates;

HSDPA also utilizes the following enhancements;

Shared Channel Transmission

Higher Order Modulation Scheme (16 QAM)
Link Adaptation
Radio Channel Dependent Scheduling
Hybrid ARQ with Soft Combining.

Shorter TTI
Dynamic Power Allocation

In order to further increase the data rates, following technologies have

been incorporated into the standard and are already deployed in 3G
networks on large scale;

64 QAM
Dual Carrier
Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO 2x2)

In order to support last three technologies more

efficiently and with minimum delay, MAC layer
functionality is added to Node B. This new entity is called
MAC-hs. (In R99 , transport channels are handed by RNC,
since MAC layer was not implemented in Node B). MAChs reduces the transmission delay for hybrid ARQ and
allow up-to-date channel quality estimates for link
adaptation and channel dependent scheduling.

Shorter TTI (2msec)

Shorter TTI to reduce the air interface delay by reducing the Round Trip Times

Less probability of an error due to outage of the channel conditions.

More efficient when packet transmission is necessary

Decreased Buffer size

Short TTI is also necessary to benefit from other functionalities such as fast link adaptation, fast scheduling
and fast hybrid ARQ

Shared Channel Transmission

A new DL Transport Channel (HS-DSCH) is introduced.

Part of total downlink code resource is dynamically shared between a set of packet-data users. The codes
are allocated when they are actually be used for transmission. This leads to efficient code and power
utilization.

Maximum 15 channelization with SF=16 can be used for this new channel. Per cell configurable.

Code sharing is also possible through the use of different subsets of complete channelization code set for
different users. With code multiplexing, several users can be scheduled within one TTI.

Node B allocates the codes to the users every 2 msec.

Dynamic Power Allocation

After serving common and dedicated channel, remaining cell power can be assigned to HS-DSCH. Resulting
in more efficient use of cell power.

No fast power control on HS-DSCH. Instead, user data rate is varied according to the instantaneous radio
conditions and the available power in the cell.

Higher Order Modulation Schemes

R99 uses QPSK for downlink transmission. To support higher data rates, higher order modulation schemes 16QAM
and 64 QAM can be used.

16QAM is more bandwidth efficient i.e. can carry more bits per Hz.

Higher order modulation schemes require greater receive energy per bit (i.e. useful in better radio conditions e.g.
close to cell).

The modulation scheme is part of the Transport Format Resource Combination (TFRC)

Fast Link Adaptation

Radio link conditions keep on varying for a user.

Path loss and Shadowing

Interference level variations
Fast multipath fading

The goal is ensure sufficient Eb/No for all communication links despite variations in channel conditions.
Bit Energy = Power x (1/Data Rate)

Power Control achieves this by adjusting Tx power while keeping data rate constant. This works well for
constant data rate services but not a very efficient method for services that do not require a fixed data
rate e.g. best effort services. Power control is used in R99.

This gives another option to compensate for varying radio conditions i.e. data rate adjustment. This is also
referred to as (fast) link adaptation. This is achieved by;

Adjusting channel coding rate (R = 1/3 to 1)

Adjusting Modulation Scheme (QPSK, 16QAM and 64QAM)
The link adaptation is done on 2 msec TTI basis => fast.

Fast Hybrid ARQ with Soft Combining

In a conventional ARQ scheme, received data blocks that cannot be correctly decoded are discarded and
retransmitted data blocks separately decoded.

In case of hybrid ARQ with soft combining, received data blocks that cannot be correctly decoded are not
discarded. Instead the corresponding received signal is buffered and soft combined with later received
retransmissions of the same set of information bits. Decoding is then applied to the combined signal.

The use of hybrid ARQ with soft combining increases the probability for correct decoding of
retransmissions, compared to conventional ARQ.

Fast Channel Dependent Scheduling

Scheduling is about deciding which UE to transmit at a given time and what at rate;

Formally part of MAC-hs (in Node B)

Might include QoS and priorities per service and user.

The basic idea is to transmit at the fading peaks of the channel in order to increase the capacity and to use
resources more efficiently.

Following three scheduling algorithms are implemented;

Round Robin: Radio resources allocated to users on sequential basis.

Proportional Fair: Schedules all users in the cell but prioritizes users with better channel quality, ensuring that
nonetheless all users receive a guaranteed minimum throughput.
Maximum CQI: Users with the best instantaneous channel conditions are allocated as much as possible.

HSDPA Transport and Physical Channels

High Speed Downlink Shared Channel (HS-DSCH): Transport channel that carried user data

High Speed Physical Downlink Shared Channel (HS-PDSCH): Physical Downlink Channel that carries the
user data and layer 2 overhead bits over the air interface.

High Speed Shared Control Channel (HS-SCCH): Physical DL channel that carries control information
necessary to decode the HS-PDSCH.

High Speed Dedicated Physical Control Channel (HS-DPCCH): Physical Uplink Channel for sending
ACK/NACK reports and Channel Quality reports.

HS-DSCH: High Speed Downlink Shared Channel

HS-DSCH is a Transport channel used to carry user data.

HS-DSCH is never in soft handover.

HS-DSCH is mapped to one or several HS-PDSCH (SF=16) which are simultaneously received by the UE i.e.
HS-DSCH uses a common channelization code resource dynamically shared among several users.

The dynamic allocation of channelization codes is done on 2msec TTI basis.

There is at most one HS-DSCH per UE and there is at most one HS-DSCH transport block of dynamic size.

HS-DSCH is always associated with an UL/DL DPCH called Associated DCH (A-DCH). Downlink A-DCH is used
for Layer 3 Control signaling.

Downlink signaling information necessary to operate HS-DSCH is carried by shared channel HS-SCCH.
Uplink related signaling information is carried by HS-DPCCH.

HS-DSCH: High Speed Downlink Shared Channel

HS-PDSCH: High Speed Physical Downlink Shared

Channel

Downlink Physical Channel with SF = 16.

15 consecutive OVSF codes can be used for the set of HS-DSCH. Thus, up to 15 HS-PDSCHs can be used to
carry HS-DSCH.

HS-PDSCH is not power controlled.

It carries user data and layer 2 overhead bits mapped from the transport channel: HS-DSCH.

HS-SCCH: High Speed Shared Control Channel

Downlink channel used to carry Physical Layer Control Channel.

If no data is carried by HS-DSCH then no HS-SCCH is transmitted.

1 HS-SCCH can carry signaling for 4 UEs. This imply that 4 users can be code division multiplexed in one
TTI.

HS-SCCH spans 3 slots for each TTI and uses SF = 128. However, channelization code is not fixed.

HS-SCCH consists of 2 parts;

Slot 1: Contains Modulation Type and Channelization code. Scrambled with UE ID. The first part is needed prior to HSPDSCH demodulation. UE ID is needed to determine if an HS-SCCH or which HS-SCCH contains control information for
the UE.
Slot 2 and Slot 3: Contains transport block size and HARQ parameters (ARQ process number, redundancy version and
new data indicator)

HS-PDSCH is transmitted with a delay of 2 slots in relation to its associated HS-SCCH.

HS-DPCCH: High Speed Downlink Physical Control

Channel

Uplink Physical channel for HSDPA. It spans 3 time slots of 2 msec with a fixed SF = 256.

1 HS-DPCCH per user in the cell.

HS-DPCCH consists of 2 parts;

Slot 1: Contains ACK/NACK information. Channel coded using (10,1) repetition code.

Slot 2 and 3: Carry the CQI information i.e. information reflecting the instantaneous down-link radio channel
conditions to assist the node B in transport format selection (fast link adaptation) and the scheduling. This is based on
channel quality measurements based on CPICH. Channel coding is done using (20,5) repetition code.

A-DCH: Associated Dedicated Channel

1 R99 DCH Downlink/Uplink is associated with each HSDPA user.

A-DCH Downlink

DCH channel used to transmit power control information for the UL associated DCH and other
potentially needed Layer 3 signalling (e.g. bearer reconfigurations, RRC Measurement Control
Messages etc.)

A-DCH Uplink

DCH channel used to send UL user data (64, 128, 384kbps), RLC and TCP ACKs, HTTP requests etc.

Overall Timing Relation

Node B transmits control information on HS-SCCH relating to how to decode and which UE shall decode
the next transport block on HS-PDSCH.

After transport block is received on HS-PDSCH, the UE will process the data and measure quality on CPICH
over 5 msec (7.5 slots).

After data is processed, UE sends ACK/NACK and CQI on HS-DPCCH. ACK/NACK is based on CRC of the
transport block and CQI is based on measurements on the CPICH.

When ACK/NACK and CQI report is received at the Node B, it takes 2.5 sec (2.5 slots) to process the data
and make a scheduling decision based on report received on HS-SCCH.

This gives RTT of 12 msec per HARQ process.

Hybrid ARQ Processes

One Hybrid ARQ (HARQ) entity per user.

Each HARQ entity consist of up to several HARQ processes.

There can be 8 HARQ processes active for a UE. (If MIMO is used then there will be 2x6 HARQ processes)

Multiple HARQ processes allow continuous transmission to a single user.

Separate re-ordering function needed to support in-order delivery.

HSDPA Deployment Strategies

HSDPA can be introduced to the network with shared or with dedicated carrier

Carrier shared between HSDPA and R99

Operator definable or dynamic resource sharing between HSDPA

and R99

Preferred in low loaded/pre-launch networks

Can cause performance degradation to R99 users. Increased
interference due to HSDPA power will reduce R99 coverage
(lower CPICH Ec/No).

Dedicated HSDPA carrier

HSDPA UE directed to HSDPA carrier based on 3GPP Release or UE

capability and QoS request

Preferred in loaded networks

Can provide high HSDPA throughput

Measurement Handling in HSDPA

HSDPA introduces 2 new measurements;

Periodic Measurements - used in Serving HS-DSCH Cell Selection Procedure

Event 1d HS - used to evaluate and trigger HS-DSCH Cell Change when UE is on a PS Interactive 64/HS or 384/HS
channel.

These are complementary measurements to normal 1a, 1b, 1c and 1d measurements, which are used for
soft/softer HO on A-DCH.

Event triggered measurements and mobility on A-DCH will be an input to take HSDPA mobility decisions.

HSDPA Cell Selection

Before the PS Interactive Radio Bearer can be setup

on an HS-DSCH channel, a suitable serving HS-DSCH
cell shall be selected.

To make that accurate estimation, which is the best

serving cell, the RNC needs to have fresh information,
which is achieved by forcing the UE to send 2 periodic
measurement reports.

When the RRC message Initial Direct Transfer is sent

towards the PS domain the UE is ordered to report
CPICH RSCP and Ec/No for the cells in the active set.
This is achieved by sending a new Measurement
Control message, which will force the UE to send 2
reports for all cells in the Active Set.

The best cell is the cell in the active set that has the
best quality in terms of RSCP or Ec/No. HSDPA
connection is setup in the best cell.

Directed RRC setup for HSDPA layer

Directed RRC setup (Name of Nokia feature. A similar functionality is achieved by different vendors through their respective implementations )

Is the feature that is used to move only R5 UEs to the HSDPA layer.
DRRC setup works when UE starts call from idle state.
All idle mobiles are forced to camp on f1

Access stratum release indicator and establishment cause reported in RRC connection setup request

Any UE reporting Rel5 is directed to HSDPA layer, others to Rel99 layer

HS-DSCH Mobility: Serving HS-DSCH Cell Change

The HS-DSCH Cell Change procedures will try to

keep the best cell in the active set as the HSDSCH serving cell.

Serving HS-DSCH Cell Change - triggered

by change of "Best Cell" within the Active
Set. Event 1d hs.

Serving HS-DSCH Cell Change - triggered

by removal of the serving HS-DSCH cell
from the Active Set. Event 1b or 1c.

A serving HSDSCH Cell Change can only

be performed to an intra-RNC cell in the
active set that supports HSDPA.

HS-DSCH Mobility: Channel Switching

Coverage triggered downswitch to DCH

Throughput Triggered downswitch to DCH

The connection quality monitoring using events 2d, 2f, 6a and 6b is used to detect
bad quality in UL or DL when using HS-DSCH. Compressed mode and IF or IRAT
Handover is not supported for HSDPA, and instead a downswitch to DCH will be
made.

Based on inactivity. Transition to Cell_FACH

Throughput Triggered Upswitch

This is triggered by high channel utilization in the UL or DL as indicated by a

measured channel throughput that is close to the maximum capacity of the current
transport channel. The UE will be switched to a state with a higher rate in the link
that triggered the switch. The HS-DSCH is the preferred channel for the DL regardless
of whether the trigger is from the UL or the DL.

HS-DSCH Cell Selection can also be regarded as a throughput based upswitch. It can
be triggered at RAB establishment of a PS interactive connection, by an upswitch
attempt from FACH, or by a throughput-based activity trigger for an already
established PS interactive connection on DCH.

UE Categories

MIMO: Multiple Input Multiple Output

An optional feature in WCDMA UTRAN and UE in

3GPP Rel 7. The feature is enabled on RNC or cell
level.

It supports precoder based 2x2 SU MIMO. This

feature allows for transmission of one or two data
streams of HS-DSCH from 2 antenna arrays and
reception on 2 antenna arrays in the downlink.

Existing Dual polarized antenna can be used. For

each antenna port separate power amplifier is
required.

The weighting of streams and distribution over the

two antennas is called precoding. The choice of
precoder is based on the feedback from the UE,
(however, it is not binding).

This feedback is known as Precoding Control Info

(PCI) and is sent by UE along with CQI
measurements. PCI is based on pilot channel
measurements from the two antenna branches.

Multi-Carrier (MC)

An optional feature in WCDMA UTRAN and UE in

3GPP Rel 8. The feature is enabled on RNC or cell
level. This enables one UE to simultaneously use
the HS-DSCHs of two cells.

The frequency of serving HS-DSCH and the

secondary HS-DSCH are adjacent in order to enable
wideband (10 MHz) RF front ends.

Multi Carrier is supported using all HS-DSCH

modulation schemes, including 64-QAM.

MIMO and MC are not supported simultaneously

In connection to one UE. However, same cell may

simultaneous support UEs in MC mode and other
UEs in MIMO mode.

For a PS Interactive RAB, MC will take precedence

over MIMO.