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User Description, Adaptive Multi Rate

Contents Page

1 Introduction . .. ... ... .. ... .. ... ... .. ... .. ... ... .. ... ... .. ... .. ... ... .. ... .. ... ... .. 2

2 Glossary .. ... .. ... ... .. ... .. ... ... .. ... .. ... ... .. ... ... .. ... .. ... ... .. ... .. ... ... .. 2
2.1 Concepts .. ... .. ... ... .. ... .. ... ... .. ... .. ... ... .. ... ... .. ... .. ... ... .. ... .. ... ... .. 2
2.2 Abbreviations and acronyms . ... .. ... .. ... ... .. ... ... .. ... .. ... ... .. ... .. ... ... .. 2

3 Capabilities . .. ... ... .. ... .. ... ... .. ... .. ... ... .. ... ... .. ... .. ... ... .. ... .. ... ... .. 3

4 Technical description .. .. ... ... .. ... .. ... ... .. ... ... .. ... .. ... ... .. ... .. ... ... .. 3
4.1 General . ... ... .. ... ... .. ... .. ... ... .. ... .. ... ... .. ... ... .. ... .. ... ... .. ... .. ... ... .. 3
4.2 Inband Signalling . ... .. ... .. ... ... .. ... .. ... ... .. ... ... .. ... .. ... ... .. ... .. ... ... .. 4
4.3 Codec Mode Adaptation . .. ... ... .. ... .. ... ... .. ... ... .. ... .. ... ... .. ... .. ... ... .. 5
4.4 Multirate Configuration .. .. ... ... .. ... .. ... ... .. ... ... .. ... .. ... ... .. ... .. ... ... .. 7
4.5 DTX ... .. ... ... .. ... ... .. ... .. ... ... .. ... .. ... ... .. ... ... .. ... .. ... ... .. ... .. ... ... .. 10
4.6 Handover .. ... .. ... ... .. ... .. ... ... .. ... .. ... ... .. ... ... .. ... .. ... ... .. ... .. ... ... .. 10
4.7 Related Statistics . ... .. ... .. ... ... .. ... .. ... ... .. ... ... .. ... .. ... ... .. ... .. ... ... .. 10
4.8 Main changes in Ericsson GSM system R10 / BSS R10 ... ... .. ... .. ... ... .. 11

5 Engineering Guidelines . ... ... .. ... .. ... ... .. ... ... .. ... .. ... ... .. ... .. ... ... .. 11

6 Parameters .. .. ... ... .. ... .. ... ... .. ... .. ... ... .. ... ... .. ... .. ... ... .. ... .. ... ... .. 11
6.1 Main controlling parameters . ... .. ... .. ... ... .. ... ... .. ... .. ... ... .. ... .. ... ... .. 11
6.2 Parameters for special adjustments . .. ... ... .. ... ... .. ... .. ... ... .. ... .. ... ... .. 12
6.3 Value ranges and default values .. ... .. ... ... .. ... ... .. ... .. ... ... .. ... .. ... ... .. 13

7 References .. .. ... ... .. ... .. ... ... .. ... .. ... ... .. ... ... .. ... .. ... ... .. ... .. ... ... .. 13

A4 XSEIF R2
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1 Introduction
Adaptive Multi Rate (AMR) is a new speech and channel codec for both half
rate and full rate channels. By adapting the codec rate to the radio conditions
the speech quality is enhanced. At low C/I, a large amount of channel coding is
applied and less speech coding. When the C/I increases the speech coding is
increased and the channel coding is decreased.

Both the BTS (uplink ) and the MS (downlink) continuously measures the radio
quality (C/I) and based on these measurements the codec rate is changed.
AMR requires support in all network nodes, i.e. MSC, BSC, BTS and MS and
AMR is only supported in cells where all TRUs are AMR capable.

2 Glossary

2.1 Concepts
Active A set of up to 4 different codec modes (all using the same
Codec Set channel rate).

Adaptive Speech and channel codec capable of operating at gross bit

Multi Rate rates of 11.4 and 22.8 kbps. The codec can operate at various
combinations of speech and channel coding bit rates.

Channel Full rate (gross bit rate of 22.8 kbps) or half rate (gross bit rate of
Rate 11.4 kbps) operation.

Codec Mode A codec rate used within a codec set is called a codec mode.

C/I The ratio between signal strength and interference signal

strength (expressed i dB).

TFO Tandem Free Operation is a feature that removes unnecessary

speech encoding/decoding in the transcoders for mobile to
mobile calls. Speech encoding/decoding is then only done in the
mobiles, see 3GPP TS 28.062.

2.2 Abbreviations and acronyms

ACS Active Codec Set

AMR Adaptive Multi Rate

BSC Base Station Controller

BTS Base Transceiver Station

DL Downlink
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DTX Discontinuous Transmission

FER Frame Erasure Rate

FR Full Rate

HR Half Rate

ICM Initial Codec Mode

MRR Measurement Result Recording

MS Mobile Station

MSC Mobile Services Switching Center

RATSCCH Robust AMR Traffic Synchronized Control CHannel

STS Statistic and Traffic Measurement Subsystem

TFO Tandem Free Operation

TRU TRanceiver Unit

UL Uplink

3 Capabilities

The feature AMR makes it possible to offer an enhanced speech quality for
AMR mobiles in a network. The enhanced speech quality also provides
better coverage at the edges of the cell, thus making it possible to increase
the coverage area. AMR also tolerates more interference than the old speech
codecs. This enables higher traffic loads which leads to higher capacity. The
speech quality enhancement is divided in two parts and can therefore be
of different interest to the operator. The first is the robust FR channel that
provides high speech quality at low C/I. This makes it possible to tighten the
cell planning in a network with only AMR mobiles. The second is an audible
better HR codec than the ones on the market today. This will increase the
capacity in the networks and reduce transmission costs.

4 Technical description

4.1 General

AMR makes it possible to change codec rate during a call. There are 8 different
codec rates available in the AMR transcoder:
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• 12.2 kbps

• 10.2 kbps

• 7.95 kbps

• 7.40 kbps

• 6.70 kbps

• 5.90 kbps

• 5.15 kbps

• 4.75 kbps

According to the standard, 12.2 kbps and 10.2 kbps can only be used in FR
channels and the other six can be used in both FR and HR channels, on the
air interface.

Note Since 7.95 kbps is not specified for 8 kbps sub-multiplexing

on the Abis interface this codec mode will not be supported
for HR channels.

At call setup and handover an Active Codec Set (ACS) and a channel rate is
selected. The ACS is a subset of the 8 (5 for AMR HR) codecs above and may
contain up to 4 codec modes, all with the same channel rate.

There are four codec sets for each channel rate in the system and it is possible
to decide, by command, which codec set that shall be used for each channel
rate. The decision is done by the operator per BSC.

Two of these codec sets are pre-defined and two can be defined by the operator.

Since Tandem Free Operation is not supported the RATSCCH protocol is

not supported.

AMR FR is also referred to as Full Rate Speech version 3 and AMR HR is also
referred to as Half Rate Speech version 3.

4.2 Inband Signalling

To be able to perform the codec mode adaptation the receiving side performs
quality measurements on the incoming link. This measurement results in a
Quality Indicator. The Quality Indicator produced on the MS side is converted
to a Mode Request that is sent to the BTS using inband signalling. There, a
codec mode control entity selects the codec mode to be used on the downlink,
based on the Mode Request sent by the MS.

The codec mode control entity also selects the codec mode to be used on the
uplink, based on the Quality Indicator produced in the BTS. The selected uplink
mode is sent inband to the MS. The presently applied codec mode is also sent
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in band both uplink and downlink. This mode indication is sent every second
speech frame and the Mode Request (uplink)/Mode Command (downlink) is
sent in the speech frames in between, see 3GPP TS 45.009.

Transcoder BTS MS

Speech data
Speech Channel Channel Speech
Encoder Encoder Decoder Decoder
UL Mode Command
DL codec mode DL codec mode
DL UL (received)
Mode Ctrl Mode Ctrl DL UL Mode Command
(received)
UL Quality Indicator Meas.
UL DL Quality Indicator

Meas DL
DL Mode Request
UL codec mode (received) Req. gen.
(received) DL Mode Request

Speech Channel Channel Speech

Decoder Decoder Encoder Encoder
Speech data

Figure 1 AMR Functional Diagram

In band messages:

UL: Mode Request (2 bits per speech frame, giving a suggestion of a DL

codec mode)

UL: Mode Indication (2 bits per speech frame, giving the present UL
codec mode)

DL: Mode Command (2 bits per speech frame, telling the MS which UL
codec mode to use)

DL: Mode Indication (2 bits per speech frame, giving the present DL
codec mode)

4.3 Codec Mode Adaptation

At call setup a channel rate is selected by the network. The codec set for that
channel rate is communicated to the MS and the BTS. The codec set can
consist of up to 4 different codec modes, all using the same channel rate. It is
not possible to have different channel rates within the same codec set. The
selection of codec mode within the codec set is based on measurements of the
uplink and downlink radio channel.

The codec modes in an Active Codec Set is defined as follows:

CODEC_MODE_1 - Represents the codec mode with the lowest bit rate
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CODEC_MODE_2 - Represents the second lowest mode (if the ACS includes
more than one mode)

CODEC_MODE_3 - Represents the third lowest mode (if the ACS includes
more than two modes)

CODEC_MODE_4 - Represents the highest mode (if the ACS includes four
modes)

For each of the predefined codec sets (two for HR channels and two for FR
channels) there is an associated set of decision thresholds that determine
which codec mode that should be used for a certain C/I (channel quality). To
avoid continuous rapid changes between 2 codec modes a hysteresis is used
for the decision thresholds.

A threshold (THR) is given as an absolute value between 0 and 63 which

represent normalized C/I values as follows:

THR 0 = 0.0 dB

THR 1 = 0.5 dB

THR 2 = 1.0 dB

::

THR 62 = 31.0 dB

THR 63 = 31.5 dB

1,2 or 3 thresholds needs to be defined depending on the number of codec

modes in ACS.

The hysteresis values (HYST) are given as an absolute value between 0 and
15 and are coded as follows:

HYST 0 = 0.0 dB

HYST 1 = 0.5 dB

HYST 2 = 1.0 dB

::

HYST 14 = 7.0 dB

HYST 15 = 7.5 dB

1,2 or 3 hysteresis values needs to be defined depending on the number of

codec modes in ACS.
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C/I

CODEC_MODE_4
THR_3 + HYST_3
THR_3
CODEC_MODE_3
THR_2 + HYST_2
THR_2
CODEC_MODE_2
THR_1 + HYST_1
THR_1
CODEC_MODE_1

Figure 2 Definition of thresholds and hysteresis

The figure above illustrates the definition of decision thresholds, hysteresis

and the operational range of codec modes. The lower decision threshold
for switching from a higher codec rate to a lower is given by one of THR_1,
THR_2 or THR_3. As an example, when C/I drops below decision threshold
THR_3, codec mode 3 (CODEC_MODE_3) will be in operation instead of
codec mode 4 (CODEC_MODE_4). The sum of the decision threshold and
hysteresis constitutes the upper threshold between two codec modes, e.g
when C/I exceeds THR_3 + HYST_3 codec mode 4 (CODEC_MODE_4) will
be in operation instead of codec mode 3 (CODEC_MODE_3). It is possible to
change codec mode every second speech frame but only to the closest higher
or lower codec rate in the set. Different codec modes (within the ACS) can be
used on the uplink and downlink. The change of codec mode within a set is
called fast codec mode adaptation.

4.4 Multirate Configuration

At setup and handover the codec set to be used is sent from the BSC to the MS
and the BTS together with the decision threshold and hysteresis values. The
codec set (including its thresholds and hysteresis values) is the same for the
uplink and downlink. There are two full rate codec sets and two half rate codec
sets pre-defined in the BSC. These codec sets with their associated threshold
and hysteresis values are hardcoded and can not be changed.

The two pre-defined full rate codec sets are defined as follows:
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Table 1 Full Rate Codec set 1

CODEC_MODE_1 4.75 kbps

CODEC_MODE_2 5.9 kbps
CODEC_MODE_3 6.7 kbps
CODEC_MODE_4 10.2 kbps

This codec set has been selected because extensive evaluations have shown
that it provides a good overall speech quality during all radio conditions (both
for clean speech and with different background noise), i.e. it provides a very
small deviation from optimum AMR performance (when all 8 codec modes are
used). At the same time it also allows the operator to take full advantage of the
possibility to use AMR as a capacity booster in the network.

A future introduction of TFO has also been taken into consideration. This codec
set, together with the Half Rate Codec set 1, see below, satisfies the AMR FR
and AMR HR interoperation in an optimal way when TFO is introduced. With
these two codec sets it will be possible to run TFO on the three lower modes
(6.7 — 5.9 — 4.75) since they are common.

Table 2 Decision thresholds and hysteresis values for full rate codec set 1

Threshold Value Hysteresis Value

THR_1 12 (6 dB) HYST_1 2 (1 dB)
THR_2 21 (10.5 dB) HYST_2 3 (1.5 dB)
THR_3 21 (10.5 dB) HYST_3 3 (1.5 dB)

Note This setting bypass the 6.7 mode. This is done since the
6.7 mode does not give any advantage except when TFO is
introduced, see above.

Table 3 Full Rate Codec set 2

CODEC_MODE_1 4.75 kbps

CODEC_MODE_2 5.9 kbps
CODEC_MODE_3 7.95 kbps
CODEC_MODE_4 12.2 kbps

This codec set provides basically the same overall speech quality as full rate
codec set 1 but offers a slightly better speech quality under clean speech
conditions.

This codec set is not optimized for a future introduction of TFO.

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Table 4 Decision thresholds and hysteresis values for full rate codec set 2

Threshold Value Hysteresis Value

THR_1 12 (6 dB) HYST_1 2 (1 dB)
THR_2 17 (8.5 dB) HYST_2 3 (1.5 dB)
THR_3 25 (12.5 dB) HYST_3 3 (1.5 dB)

The two pre-defined half rate codec sets are defined as follows:

Table 5 Half Rate Codec set 1

CODEC_MODE_1 4.75 kbps

CODEC_MODE_2 5.9 kbps
CODEC_MODE_3 6.7 kbps
CODEC_MODE_4 7.4 kbps

This codec set has been selected since extensive evaluations have shown that
it provides a good overall speech quality during all radio conditions (both for
clean speech and with different background noise), i.e. it provides a very small
deviation from optimum AMR performance (when all 6 codec modes are used).

A future introduction of TFO has also been taken into consideration.

Table 6 Decision thresholds and hysteresis values for half rate codec set 1

Threshold Value Hysteresis Value

THR_1 25 (12.5 dB) HYST_1 3 (1.5 dB)
THR_2 31 (15.5 dB) HYST_2 4 (2 dB)
THR_3 36 (18 dB) HYST_3 4 (2 dB)

Table 7 Half Rate Codec set 2

CODEC_MODE_1 4.75 kbps

CODEC_MODE_2 5.9 kbps
CODEC_MODE_4 7.4 kbps

This codec set provides basically the same overall speech quality as half rate
codec set 1 but offers a slightly better speech quality under noisy speech
conditions.

This codec set is not optimized for a future introduction of TFO.

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Table 8 Decision thresholds and hysteresis values for half rate codec set 2

Threshold Value Hysteresis Value

THR_1 25 (12.5 dB) HYST_1 3 (1.5 dB)
THR_2 33 (16.5 dB) HYST_2 4 (2 dB)

The Initial Codec Mode (ICM) is also sent from the BSC to the BTS and MS at
setup and handover. The ICM is determined by the following rule:

• If the ACS contains 1 codec mode, then this codec shall be the ICM.

• If the ACS contains 2 or 3 codec modes, then the ICM shall be the most
robust codec mode in the set.

• If the ACS contains 4 codec modes, then the ICM shall be the second
most robust mode.

This means that 5.9 kbps will be the ICM for both full rate codec sets and for
half rate codec set 1. 4.75 kbps will be the ICM for half rate codec set 2.

4.5 DTX
The radio network feature Discontinuous Transmission (see User Description,
Discontinuous Transmission) is supported for the AMR codec as well as for
the other codec types.

The DTX operation has been slightly changed for AMR because of the inband
signalling, which needs to be carried out as part of the codec mode adaptation.
The Codec Mode Indication or Codec Mode Command/Request are transmitted
in the SID_FIRST frames and both Codec Mode Indication and Codec Mode
Command/Request are sent in every SID_UPDATE frame.

4.6 Handover
AMR is handled in the same way as all other speech versions at handover
except for the parameter AMRSPEECHVERUSED (see User Description
Channel Administration).

4.7 Related Statistics

There is a number of STS counters related to AMR:

• SQI counters (speech quality uplink)

• Codec mode utilization counters (uplink and downlink)

• FER counters (uplink)

• Dropped call counters

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• Traffic level counters

Additional information on counters can be found in User Description, Radio

Network Statistics.

Measurement Result Recording (MRR) is a feature that can be used in

troubleshooting, in periodic monitoring of the network performance and in
determining the impact of changes to the network. If AMR is used in the system
an extra ’AMR Connection Filter’ is available at the Recording Definition in
MRR. Using this it is possible to specify:

• ’No Filter’, i.e. all connections will be recorded.

• ’Record Only Measurement Reports from non AMR full rate Connections’.
• ’Record Only Measurement Reports from AMR full rate Connections’.

This enables targeted optimization activities when AMR FR mobile stations are
introduced in the network.

4.8 Main changes in Ericsson GSM system R10 / BSS R10

AMR HR is a new feature in Ericsson GSM system R10/BSS R10. Statistics
and codec mode administration have been added to the existing AMR feature.

5 Engineering Guidelines
Besides the two pre-defined codec sets for both AMR FR and AMR HR codec
set 3 and 4 are available. These codec sets can be configured by the operator
giving the possibility to fine tune AMR parameters, based on statistics, and
optimize the different codec rates within a codec set.

6 Parameters

6.1 Main controlling parameters

AMR FR and AMR HR are activated by changing BSC exchange properties.
Transcoder pools for AMR FR and AMR HR must also be defined in order
for AMR to work. Note if AMR HR shall be activated the feature Half Rate
Channels must have been purchased by the operator.

The following exchange properties is set by the BSC command RAEPC:

• AMRFRSUPPORT

Indicates if AMR FR is turned ON or OFF and also which full rate codec
set that shall be used within the BSC.

• AMRHRSUPPORT
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Indicates if AMR HR is turned ON or OFF and also which half rate codec
set that shall be used within the BSC.

6.2 Parameters for special adjustments

Codec sets 3 and 4 for both FR and HR channels can be defined per BSC using
the command RLADC. The following parameters are set using this command:

• SET

Indicates which of the codec sets for a specific channel rate that shall be
modified.

• MODE

Specifies the codec modes that shall be included in the codec set. For Full
Rate all 8 codec modes can be used, expressed as a numeral between 1
and 8, and defined in ascending order.

1 = 4.75 kbps

2 = 5.15 kbps

8 = 12.2 kbps

For Half Rate only the 5 lower codec modes can be used.

1 = 4.75 kbps

5 = 7.4 kbps

• THR

Specifies the thresholds between the codec modes in the codec set,
expressed as a numeral between 0 and 63, in steps of 0.5 dB.

• HYST

Specifies the hysteresis values for the threshold in the codec set. It is
expressed as a numeral between 0 and 15, in steps of 0.5 dB.
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6.3 Value ranges and default values

Table 9 Parameters for AMR

Parameter name Default Recommended Value Unit

value value range
AMRFRSUPPORT 0 — 0 to 4 0=off,

1=Fullrate codec set

1,

2=Full rate codec

set 2,

3=Full rate codec

set 3,

4=Full rate codec

set 4
AMRHRSUPPORT 0 — 0 to 4 0=off,

1=Half rate codec

set 1,

2=Half rate codec

set 2,

3=Half rate codec

set 3,

4=Half rate codec

set 4
SET — — FR3, FR4, Codec Set
HR3, HR4
MODE — — 1 to 8 Codec Mode
THR — — 0 to 63 Threshold
HYST — — 0 to 15 Hysteresis

7 References

1 User Description, Discontinuous Transmission

2 3GPP Technical Specification 45.009
3 3GPP Technical Specification 28.062
4 User Description, Channel Administration
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5 User Description, Radio Network Statistics