By

Manish Srivastava

Radio Resource Control (RRC)

Logical channels
RLC

RLC

RLC

(What is transmitted)

Medium Access Control (MAC)

Transport channels
(How it is transmitted)
Physical Layer

Physical channels
(Code,frequency,etc)

OSI reference model

WCDMA protocol stack is based on OSI (open system

interconnection) reference model
OSI reference model ,developed by ISO, is a set of seven
layers. Each of this layer performs certain tasks on the data
to make it travel from one device to another over a network.
These tasks at each layer, prepare it for the next layer.
Layer 7: Application - This is the layer that actually
interacts with the user. For example if the user chooses to
transfer files or read messages , application layer
interfaces with the operating system.
Layer 6: Presentation - Layer 6 takes the data provided
by the Application layer and converts it into a standard
format that the other layers can understand.
Layer 5: Session - Layer 5 establishes, maintains and
ends communication with the receiving device.

Layer 4: Transport - This layer maintains flow control of data ,

means that if data is coming from more than one application ,
transport layer integrates it into a single stream for the physical
network. It also provides error checking and recovery of data
between the devices.
Layer 3: Network This layer determines the way that the data will
be sent to the recipient. Logical protocols, routing and addressing are
handled here.
Layer 2: Data link-This layer transforms the physical layer from a
raw transmission facility to a reliable link..
Layer 1: Physical - This is the level of the actual hardware. It defines
the physical characteristics such as connections, voltage levels and
timing.

For WCDMA the lower 3 layers are most important:

Layer 1: Physical layer- This layer is responsible for transporting
data
across the available physical path (radio link). Main jobs of
physical layer are :
1. Forward error correction(FEC)
2. Interleaving
3. Transport channel multiplexing
4. Channel quality measurements
5. Synchronization
6. Spreading , scrambling, modulation

Layer 2 : Data link layer It is the upper neighbor of the

physical layer. 3GPP divides it into the radio link control (RLC)
and the medium access control(MAC) layer. It delivers data
block by block to layer 1 via transport channels (or fetches the
data when receiving).

In the other direction, layer 2 communicates with the adjoining

network layer via Logical channels.

The RLC and MAC layers have the following essential functions:

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
of

Mapping of logical channels on transport channels

Selection of the transport format based on current needs
Data encryption
Error protection as a function of the desired QOS
Acknowledgement of data blocks and requests for retransmission in case
errors

Layer 3 : Network Layer(RRC Layer): RRC layer is directly

above the layer 2 and is responsible for radio resource
control. The main RRC tasks include :
1. Broadcasting of system information
2. Establishment and clear down a RRC connection
3. Management of radio connections
4. Cell selection in IDLE mode
5. Querying and evaluation of physical layer measurements

WCDMA CHANNELS :

Channels are simply a tool for specifying and describing the

various communication and data related services. Various
type of data is exchanged between UE and base station over
the radio channel. To characterize this different type of
data , we refer to different channels.
The channels carried are categorized into three: logical,
transport and physical channels. The logical channels define
the way in which the data will be transferred, the transport
channel along with the logical channel again defines the
way in which the data is transferred, the physical channel
carries the payload data and govern the physical
characteristics of the signal.
There are 3 different types of channels in WCDMA

1. Logical channels : Used for communication between Layer 3

(RRC) & Layer 2 (RLC/MAC). Depending on the information
content ,logical channels are characterized into traffic & Control
channels.
Control Channel (Signaling)

Traffic Channel
(User Data)

Broadcast Control Channel (BCCH)

Paging Control Channel (PCCH)

Dedicated Control Channel (DCCH)

Common Control Channel (CCCH)

Dedicated Traffic
channels (DTCH)

Common Traffic
Channel (CTCH)

Control channels:

Broadcast control channel ( BCCH) : Point to multipoint ,DL

It is a broadcasting channel that supplies all the UEs with basic
cell and network parameters(eg. Frequency lists , code lists etc).
Paging control channel(PCCH) : Point to multipoint ,DL
It transports paging information.
All the UEs are required to regularly read the information on
the
BCCH and on the PCCH
Dedicated control channel (DCCH) : Point to point ,UL/DL
This channel is used to carry dedicated control information in
both directions. DCCH is provided in parallel to a DTCH for point
to point signaling during an active connection
Common control channel ( CCCH) : Point to multipoint ,UL/DL
This bi-directional channel is used to transfer control
information.

TRAFFIC CHANNELS:

Dedicated traffic channel (DTCH): Point to point ,UL/DL

DTCH is used to transport user data from Node B to a
specific UE and vice versa. This means it is dedicated to a
specific subscriber. This is a bidirectional channel used to
carry user data or traffic.
Common traffic channel (CTCH) : Point to multipoint ,DL
It transfers dedicated user information for all , or a group of
specified UEs

Transport Channels:

Characterizes HOW data is transported over the air

interface . Each transport channel is accompanied by the
Transport format indicator(TFI). The physical layer combines
the TFI information of different transport channels to the
Transport format combination indicator(TFCI).

Organize & Pack data from different services from the higher
layers for suitable transportation.

Unpack incoming data and sort for delivery to upper layers

Offers flexible data speeds and channel encoding Efficient

usage of radio resources. They are all unidirectional.

Transport channels are divided into common channels and

dedicated channels.

Dedicated Transport Channel

This is used to transfer data to a particular UE. Each
UE has its own DCH in each direction

DCH (Dedicated Channel)

BCH (Broadcast Channel)

Common Transport Channel

This channel broadcasts information to the UEs in

the cell to enable them to identify the network and
the cell.

FACH (Forward Access Channel)

Downlink; Transports small amount of data from

BCCH/CCCH/DCCH/CTCH to either a specific UE or over
the entire cell

PCH (Paging Channel)

Downlink; Transports data from PCCH to UE over entire

cell. This channel carries messages that alert the UE
to incoming calls, SMS messages, data sessions or
required maintenance such as re-registration.

RACH (Random Access Channel)

This channel carries requests for service from UEs

trying to access the system

CPCH (Common Packet Channel)

This channel provides additional capability beyond

that of the RACH and for fast power control.

DSCH (Downlink Shared Channel)

Mapping Logical To Transport Channels

In The UE
BCCH

BCH

PCCH

PCH

DCCH

CCCH

CTCH

DTCH

CPCH

RACH

FACH DSCH DCH

In The Node B
BCCH

BCH

PCCH

DCCH

CCCH

CTCH

DTCH

PCH

CPCH

RACH

FACH DSCH DCH

Physical Channels Overview

Chan
nel

Name

Uplink/
Downlin
k

Description

CPIC
H

Common CPICH
Channel

Downlin
k

Reference channel for estimation of received

signal strength & quality; Fixed bit pattern
which is stored in Physical layer; Determines
coverage of a cell

PPrimary Common
CCPC Control Physical
H
Channel

Downlin
k

This channel continuously

broadcasts system identification
and access control information.

SSecondary
CCPC Common Control
H
Physical Channel

Downlin
k

PRAC
H

Uplink

Physical Random
Access Channel

This channel carries the

Forward Access Channel (FACH)
providing control information,
and the Paging Channel (PACH)
with messages for UEs that are
registered on the network.
Used by the UE for call setup; UE sends a
preamble to Node B and on receipt, Node B
sends an immediate ACK or NACK on
downlink AICH or AP-AICH

PCPC
H

Physical Common
Packet Channel

Uplink

Used by UE for packet data transfer involving

small quantities

DPDC
H

Dedicated
Physical Data
Channel

Uplink /
Downlink

Used for dedicated mode transfer of user data

(from DCH) & associated control data (from
DCCH) to & from UE

DPCC
H

Dedicated
Physical Control
Channel

Uplink /
Downlink

Used for dedicated signaling to and from UE; To

ensure coherent detection it contains both
necessary pilot symbols & commands for fast
power control

P/S SCH

Primary /
Secondary
Synchronization
Channel

Downlink

Used for WCDMA cell search and timing

synchronization; Never spread or scrambled

PDSC
H

Physical Downlink
Shared Channel

Downlink

This channel shares control

information to UEs within the
coverage area of the node B.

PICH

Paging Indication
Channel

Downlink Paging messages are indicated to the

intended UE by use of bit masks; On
positive identification, UE starts reading
S-CCPCH to find page

AICH

Acquisition
Indication
Channel

Downlink Determines whether system can be

accessed or not; Uses simple bit
sequences for operation

AP-AICH

Access Preamble
- AICH

Downlink UTRAN uses this to confirm reception of

acquisition preamble sent by the UE on
the PCPCH

CSICH

CPICH Status
Indicator Channel

Downlink Channel informs UE about current

availability of CPCH uplink transport
channel for packet data use

CD/CA - ICH

Collision
Detection /
Channel
Assignment
Indicator Channel

Downlink UTRAN uses this channel to inform UEs

about any packet collisions on the uplink
& also about the current assignment of
the packet data channel.

Mapping Transport To Physical Channels

BCH

PCH

CPCH

RACH

FACH

DSCH

DCH

PHYSICAL

PCCPCH

SPICH PCPCH
CCPCH
AP-AICH
CSICH
CD/CA-ICH

PRACH
AICH

PDSCH
P/S SCH

DPDCH
DPCCH

Thank
you!