PACKET ABIS OVER TDM

PRESENTED BY
MAYIGA STEPHEN ALEXANDER
 Contents
• Introduction
• Mode of operation
• Super channel concept
• Architecture
• Benefits to the operator
• Implementation guidelines
• Software requirements
• Hardware requirements
• Implementation DT
• Fallback DT
• Macros
• Challenges/lessons learnt
• Acronyms
• References
 Introduction

• Packet Abis Over TDM is referred to as Abis

optimization from release G10B and below.
• It is a feature that achieves bandwidth savings
on the Abis interface.
• Bandwidth savings are achieved by removal of
redundant information and packing of frames
in both uplink and downlink.
 Mode of operation
• This solution is based on the fact that traffic and signaling on the Abis interface are
sent as LAPD frames on super channels instead of using dedicated timeslots. As
normal E1/T1 links are used, synchronization of the radio base stations is kept.
• In the uplink direction, the TRX handles removal of redundant information in order
to save bandwidth. Each “compressed” traffic frame is sent as one LAPD frame to
the DXU every 20 ms. The DXU is configured so that a number of TRXs are
dedicated to a specific Abis link or part of an Abis link (super channel).
• The Packet Gateway (PGW) in the BSC handles the LAPD frames in the same way as
the base station. Up to 31 timeslots for E1 and up to 24 timeslots for T1 can be
used. The minimum super channel size is 8 timeslots.
• At implementation, define which TRXs shall use a specific super channel. The CF
link is automatically configured to the first super channel in a TG. The CF link can
be automatically moved to another super channel (if available) in case of a fault
while the TRXs are statically defined.
• The delay within BSS can be up to 20 ms one way for CS connections using BSC
Group Switch and BSC transcoders. This impacts the speech quality slightly. But for
CS connections using BSC AGW and no BSC transcoders the delay will be
considerably lower (up to 20 ms one way).
• Speech quality may also be impacted at high load on the super channels due to
discarded frames. The amount of discarded frames at traffic peaks are less than
1x10-4 since this is the level when new connections are rejected to maintain a high
speech quality.
 Super Channel Concept
• The super channel concept accomplishes
bandwidth savings .
• A super channel is one E1 or one T1 link, or a
fraction of one E1 or one T1, where 64 kbit/s
consecutive Abis timeslots can be used as a
wideband connection for sending signalling and
payload as LAPD frames between BSC and BTS. As
all traffic and signalling share the same wideband
connection, statistical multiplexing gains are
achieved.
• The maximum number of super channels allowed
per TG is four (4)
 Illustration
Example of an E1 divided into super channels
 Benefits to the operator
• Ensures optimal use of Abis resources. The operator can then reduce the amount of
transmission to the base stations or use the existing transmission more efficiently by
expanding the number of TRXes or by cascading with more RBSes. Packet Abis over TDM
takes benefit of statistical multiplexing and removes redundant information on the Abis
interface to optimize the bandwidth usage. This is achieved by, for example, removal of TRAU
frames during silence speech periods and removal of spare bits in CS and PS frames.
• Packet Abis over TDM gives significant bandwidth savings on the Abis interface.
• Fullrate AMR on 8 kbps Abis is supported. 8 kbps Abis timeslots are not used for Packet Abis
over TDM. Instead, this feature reduces codec set to maximum 7.4 kbps, which will reduce
the required bandwidth on Abis.
• Improvement in the data KPIs as throughput is higher
• Since a checksum is added on each frame sent on the super channel, the GPRS/EGPRS packet
data throughput will be improved. A bit error detected by the checksum will result in that the
frame is discarded and a retransmission will be performed by the RLC protocol. This will give
better performance compared if the bit error was detected by higher protocol layers like TCP.
• An Ethernet based interface between PGW and AGW is introduced. This interface is used by
A over IP when no transcoder resources are needed in the BSC for a speech call. Main benefit
is decreased speech delay.
• It is also possible for the operator to monitor the utilization of the Abis links to each base
station in order to determine when new Abis resources need to be added or when resources
can be removed. This is by use of the counters.
 Implementation guidelines
• Maximum number of super channels per TG is four (4).
• The minimum super channel size is 8 timeslots.
• DIP supervision is supported in packet Abis over TDM.
• Flexible Abis cannot be used together with Packet Abis over TDM
for the same TG. ABISALLOC is hence set to FIXED.
• LAPD Concentration and LAPD Multiplexing are not used. Instead
we super channel concentration is used (SIG=SCCONC).
• PACKALG- This parameter sets the packing algorithm used in TG.
For Packet Abis over TDM, this parameter shall always be set to 1 to
achieve optimal bandwidth savings.
• Semipermanent connected transcoders are not supported together
with Packet Abis over TDM.
• With Packet Abis over TDM, all traffic and signalling share the same
super channel between the BSC and the BTS. This means that there
is no dedicated resource for a packet data channel on the Abis
interface. Therefore, there is no guarantee that a dedicated or
semi-dedicated Packet Data Channel gets an Abis resource at Abis
overload.
 Software requirements

BSS software G11B onwards

 Hardware requirements
• The hardware requirement for this feature is
the PGW. It can be on PGWB (ROJ 208 326/1)
or PGW on GARP-2 (ROJ 208 459/1).
Automatic PGW redundancy is supported.
• The Gigabit Ethernet Switch Board (GESB) can
be used to connect Ethernet of multiple GEM
magazines of packet gateways and multiple
magazines of PCU on GPH RP.
 Implementation DT
!*********************************!
!***** AXE FEATURE ACTIVATION *****!
!*********************************!
DBTSP:TAB=AXEPARS,NAME=ABISOPT;
SYPAC:ACCESS=ENABLED,PSW=PSW2PAR;
DBTRI;
DBTSC:TAB=AXEPARS,NAME=ABISOPT,SETNAME=CME20BSCF,VALUE=1;
DBTRE:COM
SYPAC:ACCESS=DISABLED;
!------------------------------HALT CELLS----------------------------------------------!
RLSTC:CELL=306DA,STATE=HALTED;
RLSTC:CELL=306DB,STATE=HALTED;
RLSTC:CELL=306DC,STATE=HALTED;
!------------------------- SUPER CHANNEL GROUP INITIATE ---------------------!
RRSGP:SCGR=ALL;
RRSGI:SCGR=308,MODE=SCM; !
RRSGP:SCGR=308;
!----------------CONNECTING TO TG------------------------------------------------------!
RXMSP:MO=RXOTG-308;
RXBLI:MO=RXOTG-308,SUBORD,FORCE;
RXESE:MO=RXOTG-308,SUBORD;
 Implementation DT
!--------CHECK THE ACTIVATION OF FLEXIBLE ABIS----------------------------!
RXMOP:MO=RXOTG-308;
RXMOC:MO=RXOTG-308,ABISALLOC=FIXED;

!------------ACTIVATE FULL RATE AMR ON 8 kbps ABIS------------------------!

RXMOC:MO=RXOTG-308,DAMRCR=ON;!Depends on commercial agr!
!CHECK PARAMETER TRACO FROM RXMOP. STATE SHOULD BE POOL!

!----------------------DISCONNECT DIGITAL PATHS---------------------------------------!

BLODI:DEV=RBLT2-1248&&-1279;

!---------------DELETE ABIS PATH-----------------------------------------------------------!

DTBLI:DIP=39RBL2;
DTDIE:DIP=39RBL2;

!----------------------DELETE ABIS PATHS--------------------------------------------------!

RXAPE:MO=RXOTG-308,DCP=ALL;
RXAPP:MO=RXOTG-308;

!----------------------DEFINE SUPER CHANNEL-------------------------------------------!

RRSCI:SCGR=308,SC=0,DEV1=RBLT2-1249,DCP=1,NUMDEV=31;
RRSCP:SCGR=308;
 Implementation DT
!----------------------DISCONNECT DIGITAL PATHS---------------------------------------!
BLODI:DEV=RBLT2-1248&&-1279;

!---------------DELETE ABIS PATH------------------------------------------------------!

DTBLI:DIP=39RBL2;
DTDIE:DIP=39RBL2;

!----------------------DELETE ABIS PATHS----------------------------------------------!

RXAPE:MO=RXOTG-308,DCP=ALL;
RXAPP:MO=RXOTG-308;
 Implementation DT
!----------------------DEFINE SUPER CHANNEL-------------------------------------------!
RRSCI:SCGR=308,SC=0,DEV1=RBLT2-1249,DCP=1,NUMDEV=31;
RRSCP:SCGR=308;
!----------------------CHECK CON DEFINITION-------------------------------------------!
RXMOP:MO=RXOCON-308;
RXMOE:MO=RXOCON-308; !Delete CON !

!-------------------------CHANGE CF SIGNALLING TYPE-----------------------------------!

RXMOP:MO=RXOCF-308;
RXMOC:MO=RXOCF-308,SIG=SCCONC;
RXMOP:MO=RXOCF-308;
 Implementation DT
!-------------------------CHANGE TRXC DATA -------------------------------------------!
RXMOC:MO=RXOTRX-308-0,SIG=SCCONC;
RXMOC:MO=RXOTRX-308-1,SIG=SCCONC;
RXMOC:MO=RXOTRX-308-2,SIG=SCCONC;
RXMOC:MO=RXOTRX-308-3,SIG=SCCONC;

RXMOC:MO=RXOTRX-308-4,SIG=SCCONC;
RXMOC:MO=RXOTRX-308-5,SIG=SCCONC;
RXMOC:MO=RXOTRX-308-6,SIG=SCCONC;
RXMOC:MO=RXOTRX-308-7,SIG=SCCONC;

RXMOC:MO=RXOTRX-308-8,SIG=SCCONC;
RXMOC:MO=RXOTRX-308-9,SIG=SCCONC;
RXMOC:MO=RXOTRX-308-10,SIG=SCCONC;
RXMOC:MO=RXOTRX-308-11,SIG=SCCONC;
RXMOP:MO=RXOTRX-308-0&&-11;
 Implementation DT
!-------------CONNECT TG TO SCGR & CHANGE TG TRANSMISSION MODE --------!
RXMOC:MO=RXOTG-308, TMODE=SCM,SCGR=308;
RXMOP:MO=RXOTG-308;
!-----------------------ABIS THRESHOLDS------------------------------------------------------!
RXATP:MO=RXOTG-308;
RXATC:MO=RXOTG-
308,SDAMRREDABISTHR=74,SDHRAABISTHR=77,SDFRMAABISTHR=82;

!-----------------------DEFINE CON--------------------------------------------------------------!
RXMOI:MO=RXOCON-308,DCP=350&&581;
RXMOP:MO=RXOCON-308;
 Implementation DT
!----------------------------CONNECT TRXCS TO SCs---------------------------------!
RXMOC:MO=RXOTRX-308-0,SC=0;
RXMOC:MO=RXOTRX-308-1,SC=0;
RXMOC:MO=RXOTRX-308-2,SC=0;
RXMOC:MO=RXOTRX-308-3,SC=0;

RXMOC:MO=RXOTRX-308-4,SC=0;
RXMOC:MO=RXOTRX-308-5,SC=0;
RXMOC:MO=RXOTRX-308-6,SC=0;
RXMOC:MO=RXOTRX-308-7,SC=0;

RXMOC:MO=RXOTRX-308-8,SC=0;
RXMOC:MO=RXOTRX-308-9,SC=0;
RXMOC:MO=RXOTRX-308-10,SC=0;
RXMOC:MO=RXOTRX-308-11,SC=0;
RXMOP:MO=RXOTRX-308-0&&-11;
 Implementation DT
!-------------------------------CONNECT DIGITAL PATHS ---------------------------------!
DTDII:DIP=39RBL2, SNT=ETM2-1,DIPP=39;
DTFSC:DIP=39RBL2, FAULT=1&2&3&4, ACL=A2 ;
DTFSI:DIP=39RBL2, FAULT=1&2&3&4;
DTBLE:DIP=39RBL2;
DTSTP:DIP=39RBL2;

!CELL TUNING!
RXMOC:MO=RXOTG-308,PACKALG=1;
RLDAC:CELL=306DA,ATHABIS=ON,DAMRCRABIS=ON;!ATHABIS & DAMRCRABIS to be kept ON!
RLDAC:CELL=306DB,ATHABIS=ON,DAMRCRABIS=ON;
RLDAC:CELL=306DC,ATHABIS=ON,DAMRCRABIS=ON;

!-------------------------------------DEBLOCK & IN SERVICE TG-----------------------!

RXESI:MO=RXOTG-308,SUBORD;
RXBLE:MO=RXOTG-308,SUBORD;

!-----------------------------------------------ACTIVATE CELLS----------------------------!
RLSTC:CELL=306DA,STATE=ACTIVE;
RLSTC:CELL=306DB,STATE=ACTIVE;
RLSTC:CELL=306DC,STATE=ACTIVE;
FALLBACK DT

MACRO
 Challenges \ Lessons learnt
<RRSCI:SCGR=103,SC=0,DEV1=RBLT2-993,DCP=1,NUMDEV=31;
NOT ACCEPTED
FAULT CODE 172
NO MORE SCS ALLOWED FOR THE TG DUE TO HARDWARE LIMIT

• Put the PGW RPS into the RPSRPIRPS group

• Prepost service initiate for PGW devices (if not done)
• Deblock the RTPGD devices(if not done)
• Only the first device of the PGW is MBL
 ACRONYMS
• Abis - Interface between BSC and BTS (Abis-interface)
• AMR- Adaptive Multirate
• BSC- Base Station Controller
• DIP – Digital Path
• DXU- Distribution Switch Unit
• GARP- Generic Application Resource Processor
• GESB- Gigabit Ethernet Switch Board
• LAPD- Link Access Procedure on the D-channel
• PGW- Packet Gateway
• PGWB- Packet Gateway Board
• TDM- Time Division Multiplexing
• TG- Transceiver Group
• TRAU- Transcoder and Rate Adapter Unit
 References
1.User Description, Abis Optimization, 264/1553-HSC 103 12/16 Uen

2.User Description, Channel Allocation Optimization, 332/1553-

HSC 103 12 Uen

3.BSC/TRC and BSC Hardware Dimensioning Handbook, 1555-AXE

105 07

4.Packet Abis Dimensioning Guideline, 227/100 56-HSC 103 12 Uen