ECE 8708 Wireless Communications : Introduction to Wireless Communication Systems

Chapters 1-2
Introduction to
Wireless Communication Systems

Yimin Zhang, Ph.D.

Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering
Villanova University
http://yiminzhang.com/ECE8708

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ECE 8708 Wireless Communications : Introduction to Wireless Communication Systems

Outlines
History
Examples of Mobile Radio Systems
Cordless Phone / Paging System / Cellular System
Cellular Process
To a mobile user / From a mobile user
Roaming
2G, 2.5G, 3G Technologies
Frequency Spectrum Allocations

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ECE 8708 Wireless Communications : Introduction to Wireless Communication Systems

A little History and Evolution of Mobile Radio

1897:
Marconi invented wireless concept

1960s & 1970s:

Bell laboratories developed the cellular concept

1970s:
Development of highly reliable, miniature solid state radio
frequency hardware
Wireless communication era was born

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ECE 8708 Wireless Communications : Introduction to Wireless Communication Systems

Wireless Communications

Cellular phone users

1984
- 25,000
1994
- 16 million
1997
- 50 million
2000
- Number of wireless users = Number of wired users

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ECE 8708 Wireless Communications : Introduction to Wireless Communication Systems

Worldwide Cellular Telephone Subscribers

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ECE 8708 Wireless Communications : Introduction to Wireless Communication Systems

The first portable units were really big and heavy.

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ECE 8708 Wireless Communications : Introduction to Wireless Communication Systems

Cellular Technologies
Analog Cellular Technologies
AMPS

Advanced Mobile Phone System. Developed by Bell Labs in the 1970s and
first used commercially in the United States in 1983. It operates in the 800
and 1900 MHz band in the United States and is the most widely distributed
analog cellular standard.
Digital Cellular Technologies

D-AMPS
(IS-54,
now
rolled into
IS-136)

Digital AMPS. Designed to use existing channels more efficiently, D-AMPS

(IS-136) employs the same 30 kHz channel spacing and frequency bands
(824-849 and 869-894 MHz) as AMPS. By using TDMA instead of
frequency division multiple access or FDMA, IS-136 increases the number
of users from 1 to 3 per channel. An AMPS/D-AMPS infrastructure can
support either Analog AMPS phone or digital AMPS phones. (The Federal
Communications Commission mandated that digital cellular in the U.S.
must act in a dual-mode capacity with analog). Operates in the 800 MHz
band and 1900 MHz.

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ECE 8708 Wireless Communications : Introduction to Wireless Communication Systems

Cellular Technologies
Digital Cellular Technologies
GSM

Global System for Mobile Communications. The first European digital

standard, developed to establish cellular compatibility throughout Europe.
Its success has spread to all parts of the world and over 80 GSM networks
are now operational. It operates at 900 and 1800 MHz in many parts of
Europe and in England. Works at 1900 MHz in some parts of the United
States. TDMA based.

PCS

Personal Communications Service. The PCS frequency band in America is

1850 to 1990 MHz, encompassing a wide range of new digital cellular
standards like N-CDMA and GSM 1900. Single-band GSM 900 phones
cannot be used on PCS networks. PCS networks operate throughout the
USA.

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ECE 8708 Wireless Communications : Introduction to Wireless Communication Systems

Cellular Technologies
Digital Cellular Technologies

CDMA

Code Division Multiple Access. Developed by Qualcomm characterized by

high capacity and small cell radius. It uses the same frequency bands as
AMPS and supports AMPS operation, employing spread-spectrum
technology and a special coding scheme. It was adopted by the
Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) in 1993.

cdmaOne Wide ranging wireless specification involving IS 95, IS-96, IS-98, IS-99, IS634 and IS-41.AT&T, Motorola, Lucent, ALPS, GSIC, Prime Co,
Qualcomm, Samsung, Sony, US West, Sprint, Bell Atlantic, Time
Warner are sponsors.

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ECE 8708 Wireless Communications : Introduction to Wireless Communication Systems

North America Goes to Digital: IS-54

In 1990 North American carriers faced the question -- how do we increase
capacity? -- do we pick an analog or digital method? The answer was digital. In
March 1990 the North American cellular network incorporated the IS-54B
standard, the first North American dual mode digital cellular standard. This
standard won over Motorola's Narrowband AMPS or NAMPS, an analog scheme
that increased capacity by cutting down voice channels from 30KHz to 10KHz. IS54 on the other hand increased capacity by digital means: sampling, digitizing,
and then multiplexing conversations, a technique called TDMA. This method
separates calls by time, placing parts of individual conversations on the same
frequency, one after the next. It tripled call capacity.
Using IS-54, a cellular carrier could convert any of its systems' analog voice
channels to digital. A dual mode phone uses digital channels where available and
defaults to regular AMPS where they are not. IS-54 was, in fact, backward
compatible with analog cellular and indeed happily co-exists on the same radio
channels as AMPS. No analog customers were left behind; they simply couldn't
access IS-54's new features. CANTEL got IS-54 going in Canada in 1992. IS-54
also supported authentication, a help in preventing fraud. IS-54, now rolled into
IS-136, accounts for perhaps half of the cellular radio accounts in this country.
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ECE 8708 Wireless Communications : Introduction to Wireless Communication Systems

The Rise of GSM

Europeans saw things differently. No new telephone system could
accommodate their existing services on so many frequencies. They
decided instead to start a new technology in a new radio band. Cellular
structured but fully digital, the new service would incorporate the best
thinking of the time. They patterned their new wireless standard after
landline requirements for ISDN, hoping to make a wireless counterpart
to it. The new service was called GSM.
GSM first stood for Groupe Speciale Mobile, after the study group that
created the standard. It's now known as Global System for Mobile
Communications, although the "C" isn't included in the abbreviation.

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ECE 8708 Wireless Communications : Introduction to Wireless Communication Systems

Key Specifications of 2G Technologies

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ECE 8708 Wireless Communications : Introduction to Wireless Communication Systems

Upgrade Paths

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ECE 8708 Wireless Communications : Introduction to Wireless Communication Systems

2.5G and 3G Data Communication Standards

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ECE 8708 Wireless Communications : Introduction to Wireless Communication Systems

Examples of Mobile Radio Systems

Garage door openers

Remote controllers for home entertainment

Cordless telephones

Hand-held walkie-talkies

Pagers/beepers

Cellular telephones

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ECE 8708 Wireless Communications : Introduction to Wireless Communication Systems

Mobile Communication Systems - Mobile Station

Required
Coverage
infraService
range
structure

Complexity

Hardware Carrier Functioncost

frequency
ality

TV
remote
control

low

low

low

low

infra-red

transmitter

Garage
door
opener

low

low

low

low

<100
MHz

transmitter

Paging
system

high

high

low

low

<1 GHz

receiver

Cordless
phone

low

low

moderate

low

<100
MHz

transceiver

Cellular
phone

high

high

high

moderate <1 GHz

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transceiver
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ECE 8708 Wireless Communications : Introduction to Wireless Communication Systems

Mobile Communication Systems - Base Station

Required
infraService Coverage
range
structure

Complexity

Hardware Carrier Functioncost

frequency
ality

TV
remote
control

low

low

low

low

infra-red

receiver

Garage
door
opener

low

low

low

low

<100
MHz

receiver

Paging
system

high

high

high

high

<1 GHz

transmitter

Cordless
phone

low

low

low

moderate

<100
MHz

transceiver

Cellular
phone

high

high

high

high

<1 GHz

transceiver

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ECE 8708 Wireless Communications : Introduction to Wireless Communication Systems

... Examples of Mobile Radio Systems

Mobile Describes a radio terminal attached to a high speed

mobile platform (e.g., A cellular phone in a fast moving vehicle).

Portable Describes a radio terminal that can be hand-held and

used by someone at walking speed (e.g., cordless telephone).

Subscriber Mobile or portable user.

Base stations Link mobiles through a backbone network.

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ECE 8708 Wireless Communications : Introduction to Wireless Communication Systems

Types of Mobile Radio Transmission Systems

Simplex Communication is possible only in one direction,

(e.g., paging systems).

Half Duplex Two way communication, but uses the same

radio channel for both transmission and reception.
User can only transmit or receive information.

Full Duplex Simultaneous two-way radio transmission and

reception between subscriber and base station.
Two simultaneous but separate channels (FDD) or
Adjacent timeslots on a single radio channel (TDD)

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ECE 8708 Wireless Communications : Introduction to Wireless Communication Systems

Cordless Telephone Systems

Full duplex communication

Few hundred meters

Public
Switched
Telephone
Network
(PSTN)

Fixed
Port
(Base
Station)

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wireless
link

cordless
handset

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ECE 8708 Wireless Communications : Introduction to Wireless Communication Systems

Paging Systems
Paging systems are communication systems that send brief
messages to a subscriber...
Numeric messages
Alpha-numeric message
Voice message
News headlines
Stock quotes
Faxes

Paging System Coverage Areas

2 to 5 km
Within individual buildings
Worldwide coverage
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ECE 8708 Wireless Communications : Introduction to Wireless Communication Systems

Paging System: Wide Area System

The paging control center dispatches pages received from the Public
Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) throughout several cities at
the same time.

PSTN

Landline link

City 1:
Paging
terminal

Landline link

City 2:
Paging
terminal

Paging
control
center

Satellite link

City N:
Paging
terminal

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ECE 8708 Wireless Communications : Introduction to Wireless Communication Systems

Cellular System
Base stations
(towers) provide radio
access between
mobile users and
Mobile Switching
Center (MSC).

Mobile Switching
Center

PSTN

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ECE 8708 Wireless Communications : Introduction to Wireless Communication Systems

Base Station - Mobile Network

RVC
RCC

FVC
FCC

Forward Voice Channel

Reverse Voice Channel
Forward Control Channel
Reverse Control Channel
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ECE 8708 Wireless Communications : Introduction to Wireless Communication Systems

Functions of Cellular System

Provides wireless connection to the PSTN for any user location

within the radio range of the system.

High capacity is achieved:

by limiting the coverage of each base station transmitter to a small
geographical area called a Cell, and
by the same radio channels being reused by another base station
located some distance away Frequency reuse.

Switching system, called handoff, enables call to proceed

uninterrupted when the user moves from one cell to another.

Typical MSC handles 100,000 cellular

simultaneous conversations at a time.

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users

and

5,000

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ECE 8708 Wireless Communications : Introduction to Wireless Communication Systems

Telephone Call Made To Mobile User

Incoming
Incoming
Telephone
Telephone
Call
Call to
to
Mobile
Mobile X
X

PSTN
PSTN
Step
Step 11
Mobile
Switching
Center

Base
Base Stations
Stations

2,
2, 66
55
44

3,
3, 77
Mobile
Mobile X
X

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ECE 8708 Wireless Communications : Introduction to Wireless Communication Systems

Brief Outline of Cellular Process:

Telephone Call Placed to a Mobile User

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ECE 8708 Wireless Communications : Introduction to Wireless Communication Systems

Brief Outline of Cellular Process:

Telephone Call Placed to a Mobile User
Step 1 The incoming telephone call to Mobile X is received at the
MSC.
Step 2 The MSC dispatches the request to all base stations in the
cellular system.
Step 3 The base stations broadcast the Mobile Identification Number
(MIN), telephone number of Mobile X, as a paging message over the
FCC throughout the cellular system.
Step 4 The mobile receives the paging message sent by the base
station it monitors and responds by identifying itself over the reverse
control channel.
Step 5 The base station relays the acknowledgement sent by the
mobile and informs the MSC of the handshake.
Step 6 The MSC instructs the base station to move the call to an
issued voice channel within in the cell.

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ECE 8708 Wireless Communications : Introduction to Wireless Communication Systems

Brief Outline of Cellular Process:

Telephone Call Placed to a Mobile User
Step 7 The base station signals the mobile to change frequencies to
an unused forward and reverse voice channel pair.
At the point another data message (alert) is transmitted over the
forward voice channel to instruct the mobile to ring.
Now the call is in progress. The MSC adjusts the transmitted power of
the mobile and changes the channel of the mobile end and base
stations in order to maintain call quality.

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ECE 8708 Wireless Communications : Introduction to Wireless Communication Systems

Telephone Call Placed by Mobile

Mobile
Switching
Center

33
22

PSTN
PSTN

11

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Telephone
Telephone
Call
Call Placed
Placed
by
by Mobile
Mobile X
X

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ECE 8708 Wireless Communications : Introduction to Wireless Communication Systems

Telephone Call Placed by Mobile

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ECE 8708 Wireless Communications : Introduction to Wireless Communication Systems

Telephone Call Placed by Mobile

Step 1 When a mobile originates a call, it sends the base station its
telephone number (MIN), electronic serial number (ESN), and
telephone number of called party. It also transmits a station class
mark (SCM) which indicates what the maximum power level is for
the particular user.
Step 2 The cell base station receives the data and sends it to the
MSC.
Step 3 The MSC validates the request, makes connection to the
called party through the PSTN and validates the base station and
mobile user to move to an unused forward and reverse channel pair
to allow the conversation to begin.

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ECE 8708 Wireless Communications : Introduction to Wireless Communication Systems

Roaming

All cellular systems provide a service called roaming.

This allows subscribers to operate in service areas other than
the one from which service is subscribed.

When a mobile enters a city or geographic area that is different

from its home service area, it is registered as a roamer in the
new service area.

Periodically, the MSC issues a global command over each

FCC in the system, asking for all mobiles which are previously
unregistered to report their MIN and ESN over the RCC for
billing purposes.

If a particular mobile user has roaming authorization for billing

purposes, MSC registers the subscriber as a valid roamer.

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ECE 8708 Wireless Communications : Introduction to Wireless Communication Systems

Frequency Spectrum for US Cellular Radio Service

Channel
Number

Center Frequency
(MHZ)

1 N 799

.03 N + 825

991 N 1023

.03 (N 1023) + 825

1 N 799

.03 N + 870

991 N 1023

.03 (N 1023) + 870

Channels 800-990 are unused.

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ECE 8708 Wireless Communications : Introduction to Wireless Communication Systems

Yimin Zhang, Villanova University

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ECE 8708 Wireless Communications : Introduction to Wireless Communication Systems

Outlines
History
Examples of Mobile Radio Systems
Cordless Phone / Paging System / Cellular System
Cellular Process
To a mobile user / From a mobile user
Roaming
2G, 2.5G, 3G Technologies
Frequency Spectrum Allocations

Yimin Zhang, Villanova University

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