Improving Wireless Network Flexibility Using CPRI Technology
Improving Wireless Network Flexibility Using CPRI Technology
RRH
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With this new flexible architecture came the necessity for an equally flexible interface between the BBU
and RRH. Many high speed serial communication standards were available, but without modification
none offered the high throughput, low latency and features required to support these cell site
architectures. Therefore new interface standards were developed to support them.
The two interfaces that lead this charge are the Open Base Station Architecture Initiative (OBSAI) and
Common Public Radio Interface (CPRI). OBSAI is the more complex of the two to implement and CPRI
technology is now used in the majority of new installations. CPRI pushes the complexity into the higher
layers of the system so a connection between the BBU and the RRH can be established with minimal
configuration. CPRI has become the more common standard, allowing manufacturers to tailor the
interface to their own requirements. Also, the high throughput potential of later CPRI releases enables
providers to futureproof their rollouts.
2
While the RRH based configuration has alleviated common
problems with the traditional cell site, it creates a new
requirement for test and measurement of these sites. The final RE
interface exists at radio frequencies (RF), but testing at RF
requires a tower climb. However, it is possible to perform a wide (s)
ink
range of performance tests on the site without a tower climb CP
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tic
by analyzing the data on the CPRI link instead. er
Op
REC Fib
CPRI has support for many different topologies. For star
configurations, a single BBU serves multiple RRHs and
potentially multiple towers. This allows the operation of all the Fib
er
RRHs to be observed from that one BBU site. For chain and Op
tic
CP
ring topologies, the operation of all the RRHs can be observed RI
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from a single CPRI link.
REC
REC
Figure 2. Star Topology
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3
RRH RRH RRH RRH
BBU
BBU
The move to RRH based cell sites has delivered flexibility, performance improvements and cost savings.
However the increased number and density of wireless networks combined with increasing congestion
of spectrum has greatly increased the vulnerability of such networks to RF interference and Passive
Intermodulation (PIM). Being able to perform RF measurements through the CPRI link provides a
powerful tool for hunting down interference and PIM without tower climbs and even without visiting
the cell site where the BBU is sited remotely.
4
All information flows are multiplexed onto a digital serial communication line using appropriate layer 1
and layer 2 protocols. Layer 1 handles the physical connection between the REC and RE. Once the link is
established at layer 1, the different information flows then have access to layer 2 via appropriate
service access points (SAP). These include the control and management (C&M), synchronization, and
in-phase and quadrature data (IQ) SAPs.
Control Control
and User and User
Mgmt Sync Plane Mgmt Sync Plane
Network Interface SAPCM SAPCM SAPCM SAPCM SAPCM SAPCM Air Interface
Layer 1 Layer 1
Fiber Optic
CPRI Link(s)
Layer 2 Layer 2
Layer 1
CPRI uses a digital serial communication link that can run at eight different line rates over an optical or
electrical connection.
The type of connection is controlled by the type of small form-factor pluggable (SFP) transceiver that is
used. CPRI has support for SFP, SFP+, and QSFP, allowing transceivers from standards such as Gigabit
Ethernet to be used.
The first seven line rates (614.4 mbps through 9830.4 mbps) use 8B/10B encoding, which is a line code
that maps 8-bit symbols to 10-bit symbols to achieve DC-balance and bounded disparity, and yet provide
enough state changes to allow reasonable clock recovery. 8B/10B encoding also provides a way of
gauging the quality of the link by detecting errors in the disparity calculations and illegal line codes.
Rate 8 (10137.6 mbps) in contrast uses 64B/66B encoding, which has less encoding overhead. In many
cases, the same transceivers and optical fibers used for 9830.4M bps can be used for 10137.6 mbps
CPRI, which results in a 25% higher throughput for the same equipment.
5
The serial data is broken down into structured frames. The main CPRI frame is 10ms long and it consists
of 150 smaller frames called hyperframes. Those are divided into 256 basic frames. The basic frame rate
(chip rate) is 3.84 MHz (period of 260.416667ns) and consists of 16 words where the width of the word
increases with line rate. So for example, figure 8 shows the basic frame for 614.4 mbps with 8 bits per word,
whilst figure 9 shows how this expands for higher bit rates by increasing the number of bits per word.
The first word of each basic W frame
= 0 1is 2
assigned
3 4 5 6as 7the8 control word.
9 10 11 12 13 14Each
15 of the 256 control words in a
hyperframe has a specific use and contains C&M, synchronization, and link maintenance information.
That pattern repeats every hyperframe. 1 chip = 1/3.84 Mhz
B = 0: A
B = 1: W B
= 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
... C
IQ Data Block
HD
Y=0 E Time
15 * 8 bits
F
1 control word G
H
15 * 8 bits
1 control word
W = 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
B = 0: A
B = 1: W B = 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
... C
BYTE #Z.X.0 BYTE #Z.X.0
DG
Y=1
EH
FA
GB
IQ Data Block
HC
Y=1 AD
E
F
AG
BH
CA
D
Y = (T/8-1) E
A
FB
BYTE #Z.X.(T/8-1)
GC
B = T-1: HD
Y = (T/8-1) E
15 * T bits
F
1 control word G
B = T-1: H
Figure 9. Generic Basic Frame Structure
15 * T bits
6 1 control word
There are four major alarms that are generated and are used to control the state of the layer 1 link
negotiation:
1. Loss of signal (LOS) indicates an issue with the physical link. It is raised if there is low signal
power indicated by the SFP or too many 8B/10B or 64B/66B encoding errors.
2. Loss of frame (LOF) is asserted if the node has lost hyperframe alignment, which is required if
control words can be properly decoded.
3. The remote alarm indication (RAI) is asserted in either the LOS or LOF cases.
4. The SAP defect indication (SDI) is used to indicate an error with one of the SAP information flows
where they should be ignored. The criteria for indicating a defect are defined by the vendor.
The layer 1 alarms map to specific bits in a control word and are used to communicate near end link
status to the far end.
Layer 2
All of the user information flows are combined together in layer 2 of the protocol.
Once layer 1 synchronization has been achieved the protocol version and C&M rates are negotiated. If
both the REC and RE support protocol version 2 and the line rate is above 4915.2 mbps, then
scrambling can be enabled. Scrambling ensures a more random signal that increases the performance
of the link at higher line rates.
With the protocol version negotiated the layer 2 C&M startup state is entered. There are two C&M
channels supported: the slow channel using HDLC and the fast channel using Ethernet. Both have
flexible throughputs that are selected as part of the layer 2 setup.
The last section of the control words that can be used directly by the user is the vendor specific subchannel
(VSS). Sixteen control words are reserved for the VSS for additional messaging that is predetermined by
the manufacturer. If the full throughput of the fast C&M channel is not utilized, then they can be
allocated for additional VSS space. The VSS is the last portion of link negotiation before it is considered
operational.
Synchronization Plane
Most air interface standards have guidelines for time alignment. Whether the interface uses FDD or
TDD, the system needs to be synchronized. The CPRI specification includes the necessary
measurements and delay compensation to meet these requirements.
The 10 ms CPRI frame is sent from the REC aligned with the airframe, which in most cases is the 1 pps
GPS tick. CPRI requires both the REC and RE to provide their internal delay values so that the delay over
the fiber can be compensated. Any processing delays in the RE are provided to the REC so that
alignment of the IQ data at the airframe can be done within the required specification for that air
standard. In chain or ring topologies, the process is repeated for each hop.
7
CPRI IQ Bit Mapping
A CPRI link transports digitized RF signals (antenna-carriers) in a complex baseband format. Each
sample has an in-phase (I) and quadrature (Q) component. The CPRI specification was specifically
created to handle the signal data in this format. The I and Q samples are interleaved together to create
a single word. Those words are put together in a pattern to satisfy the target sampling rate and bit
width of the signal.
CPRI allows different bit widths to be used depending on the requirements of the air interface and
whether the signal is in the uplink or downlink. In the downlink, the number of bits can range from 8 to
20. To allow for higher sampling rates in the uplink, it can use between 4 and 20 bits. Also, smaller
width IQ samples can be sign- extended or padded with reserve bits to fill the space of larger bit
widths. This is useful if the IQ sample processing in the downlink and uplink have different widths, but
the user prefers to have the same size for both when mapping the samples onto the CPRI link.
When dividing spectrum, RF carriers are given a specific frequency band in which to operate. Similarly, on
the CPRI link, a carrier is given a specific block in each basic frame, called an antenna container or AxC,
to populate with its IQ sample data. The size of the antenna container (NAxC) is based on the bit width
and sample rate of the IQ data. The size and structure of the AxCs is defined by the mapping method.
Mapping Methods
The CPRI specification outlines three different methods to map IQ samples into the user plane: (1) IQ
sample based, (2) WiMAX symbol based, and (3) Backward compatible. Methods 1 and 3 are the most
widely used for RRH based cell sites. The purpose of the different methods is to allow various
combinations of IQ sample rates and bit widths from different RRHs to be multiplexed into a single link.
The basic frame rate of CPRI is 3.84 MHz. For air standards that are integer multiples of that 3.84 MHz
rate (LTE and UMTS), the mappings are simple. In the case of WiMAX and GSM, stuffing bits are used
for alignment of the sample frequencies to the basic frame frequency. The equations for determining
the number of stuffing bits/samples and their placement are defined in [1]. The scope of this document
will mostly cover the common LTE and UMTS mappings. But the difference between the mapping
methods is most clearly seen if there are stuffing bits.
Mapping method 1 is intended for dense packing of IQ data and is optimized for low latency. One
AxC container can contain more than one IQ sample and the container size required NAxC is set by
the equation:
where M is the number of bits per I or Q sample, fs is the sample frequency, and fc is the basic frame
rate of 3.84 MHz.
If any stuffing bits are required for rate matching, they are sent as a single block first, followed by the
IQ sample data. In the case of UMTS and LTE (except for 1.4 MHz channel bandwidth), there are no
stuffing bits so each basic frame has a block of NAxC samples reserved for each carrier. For 1.4 MHz LTE,
every other basic frame contains sample data.
8
one AxC Container Block
# -1 # # +1 t
bits of S sample
Mapping method 3 (backward compatible) uses the definition from previous releases of the CPRI
specification where one AxC Container always contains one sample, so NAxC is 2∙M where M is the
number of bits per I or Q sample. Each antenna container is repeated within the basic frame to achieve
the target sample rate. The containers for one carrier can be sent as a single block, or if more than one
carrier is used it is possible for the containers to be interleaved.
In the case of WiMAX, GSM and LTE1.4 where the sampling rate is not a multiple of the basic frame
rate, stuffing bits are needed. Instead of having one block of stuffing bits like in mapping method 1,
stuffing samples of length NAxC are placed throughout the carrier’s IQ sample stream to achieve the
desired sample rate.
Common Uses
Since both LTE (above 1.4 MHz) and UMTS do not require any stuffing bits, there are only two scenarios
regardless of the mapping method: each carrier uses a single block of IQ samples with no space in
between, or the IQ samples for the carriers are interleaved together. Therefore, when configuring the
user plane for LTE or UMTS, one needs to know the bit width, the channel bandwidth, if IQ sample
interleaving is used, the starting antenna container position for each carrier, and any reserve bits that
can be ignored.
9
The payload portion of a basic frame that contains the IQ data consists of 15 words. Note that in most
cases both the number of LTE/UMTS samples per frame and the CPRI basic frame width are powers of
two. This means that using 15-bit IQ data usually makes the most efficient use of the space in the
payload. Most equipment vendors take advantage of this and use 15-bit IQ data. If smaller bit widths
are used, usually reserve bits are included to match the space taken by 15-bit IQ data.
614.4 4
1228.8 8
2457.6 16
3072.0 20
4915.2 32
6144.0 40
9830.4 64
10137.6 80
Examples
Figure 11 shows two LTE20 carriers with 15-bit IQ samples mapped onto a Rate 3 (2457.6 mbps, 32 bit
words) basic frame with no interleaving. For this scheme mapping methods 1 and 3 are in fact identical
in their result.
0
1
2
3
AxC#0 Sample 7
AxC#0 Sample 6
4
AxC#0 Sample 5
5
AxC#0 Sample 4
6
AxC#0 Sample 3
7
AxC#0 Sample 2
8
AxC#0 Sample 1
9
AxC#0 Sample 0
10
11
12
Control Word
AxC#1 Sample 7
13
AxC#1 Sample 6
14
AxC#1 Sample 5
15
AxC#1 Sample 4
16
AxC#1 Sample 3
17
AxC#1 Sample 2
18
AxC#1 Sample 1
19
AxC#0 Sample 0
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
Figure 11. 20 MHz LTE, 2 Carriers, 15 Bit Data, Mapping Method 1 or Mapping Method 3 with No Interleaving
10
Figure 12 shows the same configuration with samples interleaved according to Method 3. Again, the
two LTE20 15 bit antenna carriers exactly fit the 15 word x 32 bit capacity of the Rate 3 basic frame but
the ordering of the samples is different.
0
1
2
3
AxC#1 Sample 3
AxC#0 Sample 3
4
AxC#1 Sample 2
5
AxC#0 Sample 2
6
AxC#1 Sample 1
7
AxC#0 Sample 1
8
AxC#1 Sample 0
9
AxC#0 Sample 0
10
11
12
Control Word
AxC#1 Sample 7
13
AxC#0 Sample 7
14
AxC#0 Sample 6
15
AxC#0 Sample 6
16
AxC#0 Sample 5
17
AxC#0 Sample 5
18
AxC#1 Sample 4
19
AxC#0 Sample 4
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
Figure 12. 20 MHz LTE, 2 Carriers, 15 Bit Data, Mapping Method 3 with Interleaving
Figure 13 shows a different example. This is also a Rate 3 (2457.6 mbps link) but with 2 off LTE10
antenna carriers mapped onto it using mapping Method 1. Another difference is that in this case the
data is only 12 bits but there are 6 reserved bits configured so the position of the samples within the
frame is identical to if it were 15 bit data.
At 4 samples per basic frame each LTE10 gets 15.36 Msps throughput, which is exactly the required
number. In this case we can also see that the frame has spare capacity for two further LTE10 antenna
carriers of the same format.
0
AxC#1 Sample 3
1
AxC#1 Sample 2
AxC#1 Sample 1
2
3
AxC#1 Sample 0
AxC#0 Sample 3
4
5
AxC#0 Sample 2
AxC#0 Sample 1
6
AxC#0 Sample 0
8
9
10
11
12
Control Word
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
11
Analyzing Uplink RF Interference over CPRI
Once the IQ data is extracted from the link, signal and interference analysis can be performed using the
digital data as one would do with RF data. Modulation testing can be performed in the downlink direction
to verify correct BBU operation, CPRI levels and compliance of the digital signal with the RRH capability.
CPRI based RF testing is especially powerful in the uplink. Since user equipment (UE) has much lower
transmit power compared to an RRH, interference has the biggest system impact in the uplink, figure
16 shows actual Spectrum of the Uplink via the CPRI link. The uplink is also susceptible to interference
from passive intermodulation (PIM), figure 18 shows an actual PIM problem captured over CPRI. PIM
detection and distance to PIM source can all be readily analyzed in the digital domain using CPRI IQ
data. It is even possible under many circumstances to cancel PIM on the uplink using digital techniques.
Interference hunting using CPRI has also been aided by the installation of optical taps at cell sites. An
optical tap couples a percentage of the optical signal so an external device can monitor both the uplink
and downlink CPRI link with no disruption of the link itself. RF interference can then be analyzed on a
live system without locking or disabling the network. In chain or ring configurations, multiple RRHs can
be investigated simultaneously. PIM detection can be performed by connecting one fiber containing
the affected uplink data and another to potential PIM sources.
Combined with fewer tower climbs, reduced maintenance time, and lower operating expenses, uplink
testing over CPRI becomes an even more powerful tool.
12
Smart Phone
Optical
TAP
The uplink spectrum is displayed and in this case, a CW interferer is clearly visible.
13
The BTS Master is also able to display the Layer 2 alarms. This is a diagnostic aide used to confirm
the existence of a CPRI link to the passive link status when no spectrum is displayed.
PIM in LTE systems appears as wideband noise in the uplink band. A sloping increase in noise across
the uplink band is a strong indication of PIM. The noise level increases as you get closer to the LTE
downlink frequency that is generating the PIM. PIM can be caused by connectors, antennas or even
external sources which can act as a diode beyond the antenna. Full PIM analysis requires a PIM
analyzer such as Anritsu PIM Master.
References
[1] CPRI Interface Specification V6.1 (2014-07-01), Common Public Radio Interface (CPRI).
14
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