TEL4215: Broadband & Advanced Communications

(Adapted from .tw similar course materials)

Overview of Modern
Wireless Communication
Systems

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 Overview

This lecture provides an overview of

developments in wireless communications
including:
cellular
fixed wireless
wireless local area networks

It focuses on the various standards and the

migration paths from 1G to 2G to 3G systems.
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 I. Introduction
Cellular subscription rates
Beyond expectations note that the
below y-axis is on a log scale.

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 Many countries see 40% increase per year
Projected to exceed 2 billion subscribers worldwide by
2006 (30% of world's population)
Wireless communication is robust.
Viable voice transport mechanism
Viable data transport mechanism
High speed data communications in addition to voice
calls.
Fixed wireless
To replace fiber optic or copper lines between two points.
Inside buildings and homes
Wireless local area networks (WLANs) to connect
between computers.
Bluetooth to connect between devices and peripherals.
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 Possible competition area: Inside
buildings
1. WLANs and Bluetooth
2. Cellular Carriers (including femtocells)

What ideas do you have of using the

benefits of both approaches? Then
there would not need to be a choice
of one or the other.
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II. Second Generation (2G) Cellular
Networks

First Generation
Analog
Frequency Division Multiple Access
(FDMA)
Multiple users are provided access to a
system by dividing the spectrum up into
frequency bands.
Different users use different frequency bands.
AMPS standard
30 kHz voice channels

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 Second Generation
Digital modulation
TDMA/FDD or CDMA/FDD
Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) 3
popular standards use this.
Signal is digitized.
Users occupy different time slots.
Example from wired telephone: Each user needs
to send an 8-bit block of digitized voice every 125
microseconds (8000 times per second).
Requirement is for 64 kbps.
One type of channel can support a data rate
of 1.544 Mbps (a "T1" telephone circuit).

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So 24*64kbps = 1.536 Mbps, which means 24
users can be supported (with a little bit of
bandwidth used for the framing bit).
As seen in figure above, each user takes a turn
each 125 microseconds to send a burst of 8
bits.
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 Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA)
Instead of using a different time slot or frequency to
differentiate users, CDMA uses a different code.

These codes are used for Spread Spectrum Modulation.

The Tx multiplies the signal with a special code and then

the signal is transmitted. This expands (spreads) signal
BW many times. Then the signal is multiplied at the Rx
with the same code.

This then collapses (despreads) the signal back to its

original signal BW.
Other signals created with other codes just appear at
the Rx as random noise.

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 Advantages
Resistant to narrowband interference - can only
reasonably try to affect part of the signal.

Allows multiple users with different codes to share

same range of frequencies.

The system can operate effectively at lower

Signal-to-Noise ratios, so more users can be
supported than for a non-CDMA system.
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 Signal spreading done by using a
pseudo-noise (PN) code or sequence
Pseudo-noise means it looks like noise to
all except those who know how to
recreate the sequence.

Others cannot decode the signal

They cannot even recognize the signal

because it just looks like noise

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Two types of Spread Spectrum Modulation
(SSM)
1) Direct Sequence (DS)
Multiply baseband data by a high rate signal created
with the PN code.
New signal has much higher rate.
This spreads the baseband spectrum over a wide range
of frequencies.

2) Frequency Hopping (FH)

Randomly change channel frequency with time, following
the PN code.
Spread the frequency values that are used over a wide
range.
In effect, this signal stays narrowband but moves around
a lot to use a wide band of frequencies over time.

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 TDMA/FDD versus CDMA/FDD

Use TDMA or CDMA to separate users

Use different frequencies for forward

and reverse voice channels (FDD).

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4 popular standards for 2G

1.Global System for Mobile (GSM)

Eight time-slotted users for each 200 kHz
radio channel.

Deployed widely in Europe, Asia, Africa,

Australia, South America, and some parts
of the U.S. in the PCS band of spectrum.

GSM uses SIM (Subscriber Identity

Module) cards that can be transferred
from phone-to-phone. Phones for other
types of technologies must be
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programmed.
2. Interim Standard 136 (IS-136)

Also called North American Digital

Cellular (NADC)

Three time-slotted users per 30 kHz

channel

Popular in North America, South

America, and Australia.

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 3. Pacific Digital Cellular (PDC)
Japanese standard
Similar to IS-136

4. Interim Standard 95 (IS-95)

CDMA
Also known as cdmaOne
64 users in a 1.25 MHz channel.
Can be used in 800 MHz and 1900
MHz bands.
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 III. Evolution to 2.5G
2G Data Transmission Capabilities
2G transmits data over voice circuits
Just like a modem
Data is sent in place of voice over the same
channel bandwidth, just like voice coding rates
in the table above.
Capabilities around 10 kbps.
Applications possible
Limited Internet Browsing
Short messaging
Short messaging service (SMS) in GSM.
Can send a short message to another subscriber's
phone.
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 New standards for data over 2G
Called 2.5G technology
Allows existing 2G equipment to be
modified for higher data-rate
transmissions.
More advanced applications are
possible.
Web browsing
Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) that allows
standard web pages to be viewed in a
compressed format.
E-mail
Mobile commerce 20
 Japan: First country to have a
successful widespread mobile data
service.
From NTT DoCoMo
I-mode
Proprietary data service
Games
Color graphics
Interactive web page browsing at 9.6 kbps.
Surprisingly popular: 25 million subscribers

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 Upgrade Path
A 2.5G technology must match an
upgrade path from the 2G technology
that is in place.

Same air interface

Do not want to require wholesale RF
equipment changes at the base stations.

Only require upgrades to software.

Plus addition of more equipment to work

with base station equipment.
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 TDMA upgrades

Three upgrade paths for GSM

Two are also upgrades for IS-136

1. High Speed Circuit Switched Data (HSCSD) for

GSM
Allows subscriber to use consecutive time slots in
TDMA.
Up to 57.6 kpbs
Four 14.4 kbps channels.
Ideal for "voice-like" services.
Since it still uses voice channel capabilities.
Streaming voice or low quality video
Interactive web sessions.
Only requires a software change at GSM base stations.
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2. Generalized Packet Radio Service
(GPRS) for GSM and IS-136
Good for data applications
E-mail, faxes, web browsing

Sets aside groups of TDMA channels as

shared data channels.

Assumes users download much more

than they upload.
Slower data rate upload than download

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 GPRS (cont)
Shares individual radio channels and time
slots.
All data is sent as packets.
Can support many more users, since user traffic is
usually bursty.
Users transmit in short bursts and then are idle.

Completely redefined air interface to handle

packet data.

GPRS units tune into GPRS radio channels and

are "always on" to send data at any time.
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If all 8 time slots are taken by one user, can
achieve 171.2 kbps.
8 times 21.4 kbps (rate with error coding)

Applications must provide their own error

correction bits.
Add additional bits (like CRC codes) to be able to
detect errors.
As part of the carried data payload in GPRS.

Also cannot achieve 171.2 kbps when other

users are also sending data, since users
share the channel.
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 Upgrade requirements
Need connections of base stations into
a data network through routers and
Internet gateways.
New software in base station.
No change to RF hardware.

Originally designed for GSM but

upgraded to also support IS-136.

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3. Enhanced Data Rates for GSM
Evolution (EDGE) for GSM and IS-
136
More advanced upgrade to GSM than
GPRS.
Additional new hardware and software at
base stations.
Supports a technology path to 3G.
Uses new modulation schemes (8-PSK)
that is used in addition to GSMs standard
(GMSK).

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Adaptive modulation uses the best
 Much higher data rates from the new
modulation schemes and the adaptation.
Practical raw data rates up to 384 kbps.
For a single user taking a full 200 kHz GSM
channel.
Can achieve several megabits per second by
using multiple GSM channels.

Although some consider it a 2.5G service,

some service providers call EDGE 3G.

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 Upgrade path from IS-95A to IS-95B for 2.5G
CDMA
Only one upgrade path for IS-95
Users can use up to 8 CDMA codes simultaneously.
14.4 kpbs * 8 = 115.2 kbps
Practical throughput is 64 kbps that can actually be
achieved.
Also changes the method of handoff between base
stations.

What summarizes the difference between 2G and 2.5G?

What is not different between 2G and 2.5G?

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 V. Third Generation (3G) Wireless
Networks

Unparalleled new capabilities

Multi-megabit Internet access
Voice communication over Internet protocols
Voice-activated calls
"Always on" access
Receiving live music
Videoconferencing
Virtual home entertainment
Broadcasting
Games
Interactive video
Simultaneous voice and data
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For which of these applications do you believe
a great market exists and why?

Competing spectrum allocations for 3G.

Two major competing camps
Based on what 2G technology is used already
by each camp.
From GSM/IS-136/PDC (by the 3G Partnership
Project for Wideband CDMA 3GPP) versus
coming from IS-95/IS-95B (by the 3G
Partnership Project for cdma2000 3GPP2).
Recall the following figure.

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1. Wideband-CDMA (W-CDMA) or the Universal
Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS)
From GSM/IS-136/PDC.
Evolved since 1996.
From European Telecommunications Standards
Institute (ETSI)
Backwards compatible with GSM, IS-136, PDC,
HSCSD, GPRS, and EDGE
Equipment for the previous technologies will work in
UMTS.
Network structure same as GSM.
Bit level packaging same as GSM.

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 Up to 2.048 Mbps per user.
If user is stationary.
Up to 8 Mbps in the future.
Needs a minimum spectrum allocation of 5
MHz
Instead of 200 kHz for GSM
Requires complete change of RF equipment at
each base station.
6 times more efficient use of spectrum than GSM
Uses CDMA

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 2. cdma2000
From IS-95/IS-95B
Works within original 2G CDMA channel
bandwidth of 1.25 MHz.
Allows wireless carriers to introduce 3G
in a gradual manner.
Can introduce 3G capabilities at each cell
Do not have to change out entire base
stations
Do not have to use different spectrum.
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 First air interface: cdma2000 1xRTT
1X = one times the original IS-95 (cdmaOne) channel
bandwidth.
RTT = Radio Transmission Technology
Commonly just referred to as cdma2000 1X.
Instantaneous data rate of 307 kbps.
Typical rates up to 144 kbps
Depends on number of users.
Depends on velocity of the user.
Depends on the propagation conditions.
Uses rapidly adjusting rates.
No additional RF equipment is needed.
All changes made in software or with additional hardware.

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 cdma2000 1xEV
EV = Evolutionary enhancement
High data rate packet standard overlaid on existing IS-
95, IS-95B, and cdma2000 networks.
1xEV-DO
Data only channel
Restricts a shared 1.25 MHz channel strictly to data
users.
Supports greater than 2.4 Mbps throughput per user.
Actual data rates usually much lower.
Typical: Several hundred kbps.
Highly dependent on number of users, propagation
conditions, and velocity of mobile.
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 1xEV-DV
Data and voice channel
144 kbps with twice as many voice channels
as IS-95B.

EV-DO can have average speeds ranging

from 300 kpbs to 1 Mbps.
Highly dependent on number of users,
propagation conditions, and velocity of
mobile.

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 Ultimate 3G CDMA
Multicarrier 3x and beyond.

3xRTT uses three adjacent 1.25 MHz

channels.

Three channels can be operated

simultaneously in parallel.

What summarizes the differences in

2.5G and 3G? 41
 VI. Wireless Local Loop (WLL)

Rapid growth of demand for Internet connectivity

Can use wireless connections where there is inadequate
telecommunications infrastructure.
Particularly in developing countries
Inexpensive
Rapidly deployable
One broadband Internet connection could handle all needs
for a home or office.
Voice, data, cable, Internet, etc.
Local loop
Old telephone term for a loop of copper to connect a
telephone to a telephone central office.
Now used to mean a "last-mile" connection to a home or
office.

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 Fixed wireless
Much more predictable wireless channel.
No mobility.
Time-invariant
Uses high frequencies
28 GHz and higher
Allows very high gain directional antennas to be used.
Antennas can be of small physical size.
Tens or hundreds of megabits per second are possible
without distortion.
Line-of-sight
Much like light.
Cannot have any obstructions in between Tx and Rx.
Can be affected by weather.

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The IEEE 802.16 Standard developed for
WLL
Aka Broadband Wireless Access

Aka WirelessMAN for a Wireless

Metropolitan Area Network.

WiMax 802.16e Mobility for Data

can create city-wide networks, incomparison
with WLANs with ranges of only 100 meters.
See
http://grouper.ieee.org/groups/802/16/index.html
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 VII. Wireless Local Area Networks
(WLANs)
Local Area Networks on the order of 100 meters
or less in diameter.
Use unlicensed spectrum

So owner does not need a license to set up a

WLAN.

Unlicensed use has been encouraged through

lots of spectrum allocation at several
frequency levels .

ISM band: 902-928 MHz, 2.4-2.4835 GHz,

5.725-5.825 GHz
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 IEEE 802.11
Uses CDMA

802.11 2 Mbps in 2.4 GHz band

802.11b 11 Mbps, 5.5 Mbps, in addition to 2

Mbps in 2.4 GHz band
Named Wi-Fi by the Wireless Ethernet
Compatibility Alliance (www.wi-fi.com)
Goal is to promote interoperability between
vendors (interoperability between one vendors
wireless card and a different vendors wireless
access point).

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 802.11a 54 Mbps in 5 GHz band with much
shorter range (only about 1/3 the range of
802.11b).
Uses OFDM

802.11g 54 Mbps at 2.4 GHz

Called Further Higher Data Rate Extension
in the 2.4 GHz Band.
Uses OFDM (Orthogonal Frequency Division
Multiplexing) to achieve much higher rates.
Equipment is less expensive to produce for
2.4 GHz.
More WLAN equipment being sold for
802.11g. 50
 802.11n Supports much higher data
rates
802.11b and 802.11g only actually achieve
of their raw data rates.

Goals are in excess of 100 Mbps.

Uses Multiple Input-Multiple Output (MIMO)

technology (more than one TX antenna,
more than one RX antenna)

MIMO Makes use of the concept of diversity

to overcome propagation impairments.
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 And 802.11i is addressing an important
non-radio issue - security.

Also 802.11e (quality of service),

802.11f (roaming) and 802.11x
(security keys)!

HIPERLAN
High Performance Radio Local Area
Network
European standard
Current standard: Up to 20 Mbps 52
WLAN performance depends heavily
on how well the WLAN is installed.
Needs good placement of equipment.

What tools are available for easy and

effective installation based on a building
floor plan?
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VIII. Bluetooth and Personal Area Networks
(PANs)
Removing the Wire
Ability to replace cumbersome cords
Printer cables
Headphone cables
Mouse cables
Ability to move equipment throughout an office.

Bluetooth
Open standard
Embraced by several manufacturers
Uses an Ad-hoc network approach
Important concept in wireless communication.
Seen in WLANs, military applications, etc.

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In "ad hoc networks" devices talk to whatever
other devices they can talk to.
Ad hoc - Formed for or concerned with one
specific purpose (usually also considered
temporary).
Networks of devices that are all peers and talk to
whoever is near enough.
As devices move, they change their connections
with other devices.

Why would Bluetooth want to use an ad-hoc

approach?

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 May have to send data through a sequence of
neighbors to reach and end destination.
No "base station" concept.
Ad hoc networking is a very popular research topic ad
hoc routing, quality of service, sensor networks, power
management, etc.

Bluetooth is named after King Harold Bluetooth,

the 10th century Viking who united Denmark and
Norway.
Goal is to unify the connectivity chores of appliances.

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 Within 10 meter range.
Uses 2.4 GHz ISM unlicensed band
Uses frequency hopping spread spectrum (1600hops/sec).
Symbol rate 1Mbps using GFSK modulation

Wearable computers
New opportunities for computers that are worn.
PDAs, cell phones, smart cards, position location devices
all could be wireless.
In a Personal Area Network (PAN)
In the Internet of Things

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