LTE:

A feature based introduction

LTE Core Features

LTE Radio Primer

Irfan Ali

info@ikiteknoloji.com

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 Overview
• Downlink: How are control and data information sent to multiple mobiles?
Ø OFDM
Ø Downlink Radio Frame Structure
Ø In a sub-frame, how does a mobile know where to look for data.
Ø Logical Channels and Physical Channels
Ø Radio Protocol stack
Ø Channel signal strength measurement

• Uplink: How is control and data information received from multiple mobiles?
Ø SC-FDMA
Ø Uplink Radio Frame Structure
Ø Radio Frame Synchronization (Timing Advance)
Ø Physical Channels and Logical Channels
Ø Uplink Reference Signal Transmission

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 When does the base-station talk and when do the mobiles talk?
• The question is when and “where” in the time-frequency domain.
• LTE supports two duplexing modes:
Ø Frequency Division Duplexing (FDD)
Ø Time Division Duplexing (TDD)

Frequency (MHz)

2130
20 MHz
Downlink
2110

1940
20 MHz
Uplink
1920

Time

Frequency Division Duplexing

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 What if OFDM

• OFDM = Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing

• What are orthogonal functions?
Ø Two functions h1(t) and h2(t) are orthogonal over an interval
[0,T], if
*
ℎ" , ℎ$ = ' ℎ" 𝑡 ℎ$ 𝑡 𝑑𝑡 = 0
+

Ø Set of functions {h1(t) , h2(t) ,…, hn(t) } are mutually orthogonal, if

ℎ- , ℎ. = 0, if 𝑖 ≠ 𝑘, and ℎ- , ℎ- = 𝑚-

Ø If g(t) = a1h1(t) + a2h2(t) + … + anhn(t), for [0,T], then

𝑔, ℎ- = 𝛼- ℎ- , ℎ- = 𝛼- 𝑚- , for 𝑖 = 1. . 𝑛

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 Orthogonal cosine functions
g(t)
• Harmonics (multiples) of cosine functions of frequency f0 , are orthogonal over the base time-period, T = 1/f0
• Let f0 = 15 kHz , T = 66.67 µs

x(t)
1.4
15kHz
ℎ" = 2cos 2𝜋𝑓+𝑡
66.67 µs
Time

1.4
30kHz
ℎ$ = 2cos 2𝜋.2𝑓+ 𝑡
66.67 µs
Time

1.4
45kHz
ℎB = 2cos 2𝜋.3𝑓+ 𝑡
66.67 µs
Time

1.4
180kHz
ℎ"$ = 2cos 2𝜋.12𝑓+ 𝑡 g(t)h1(t)
66.67 µs
Time

𝑔, ℎ"
𝑔 = −1.5 ℎ" + 𝑟𝑎𝑛𝑑(1, −1)ℎ$ + ⋯ + 𝑟𝑎𝑛𝑑(1, −1)ℎ"$

𝑔, ℎ"

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 What is OFDM
• Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing
frequency
(kHz) 180

60

45

30

15
Frequency Domain
T 2T 3T 4T 5T 6T 7T 8T 9T 10T 11T 12T 13T 14T Time |X(f)|
Subframe
x(t) 1 ms
1.4
15kHz
66.67 µs
Time -75 -60 -45 -30 -15 15 30 45 60 75
Frequency (kHz)
1.4
30kHz
66.67 µs
Time -75 -60 -45 -30 -15 15 30 45 60 75
1.4
45kHz
66.67 µs
Time
1.4 -75 -60 -45 -30 -15 15 30 45 60 75
180kHz
66.67 µs
Time

-75 -60 -45 -30 -15 15 30 45 60 75

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 How is OFDM signal generated?
f0

2f0
Input bit stream Add
Serial to 3f0 Mix to
Modulate Cyclic PA
Parallel RF
Prefix
… Nf0

Add
Inverse Digital to
Cyclic
FFT Analog
Prefix

Remove
Analog
FFT Cyclic
to Digital
Prefix

f0

2f0
Output bit stream Remove
Parallel to 3f0 Mix to
De-Modulate Cyclic LNA
Serial Baseband
Prefix
… Nf0

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 Why OFDM?

• The OFDM symbols duration is relatively long (66.67 µs), which

allows one to add time-gap (preamble) to handle relatively long
delay-spread of the channel (5 µs ~ 1.5 km) without loosing much
capacity.
Ø Reduced inter-symbol interference

• Multiple sub-carriers (rather than a single carrier) over large

bandwidths (20 MHz) enable to handle channel-fades over these
large bandwidths.

• Increased processing capability.

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 LTE Downlink Frame Structure
Frequency

Channel # Resource Total

Bandwidth Blocks in Subcarrier
MHz Frequency Bandwidth
Domain MHz

1.4 6 1.095
MHz
3 MHz 15 2.715

5 MHz 25 4.515

10 Mhz 50 9.015

15 Mhz 75 13.515

20 Mhz 100 18.015

Subframe

1ms

Radio Frame Radio Frame

10 ms 10 ms

System Frame Number System Frame Number

SFN n SFN n+1
Time

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 Synchronizing to DL Radio Frame
Cell Reference Signal
Frequency

72 subcarriers

62 subcarriers
3 MHz

Primary Synchronization
Signal (PSS)

Radio Frame Radio Frame Secondary Synchronization

Signal (SSS)
10 ms 10 ms
Physical Broadcast
System Frame Number System Frame Number Channel (PBCH)
SFN n SFN n+1
MIB Time
• Downlink Bandwidth
• System Frame Number
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• PHICH Configuration
PHICH Physical Hybrid ARQ Indicator Channel
 Synchronization Signals

• The Primary Synchronization Signal is allocated to the central 62 subcarriers in the 1st and 6th
subframe of every Radio Frame. It’s in the 7th symbol in the subframe. Both transmissions are
identical.
• The Primary Synchronization Signal is used to:
Ø Achieve symbol, slot and subframe synchronization
Ø Determine the first part of Physical Layer Cell Identity (PCI): 3 values.

• The Secondary Synchronization Signal is allocated to the central 62 subcarriers in the 1st and 6th
subframe of every Radio Frame. It’s in the 6th symbol in the subframe.
• The 2 SSS transmissions within each radio frame use different sequences to allow the UE to
differentiate between the 1st and 2nd transmission, i.e. allowing the UE to achieve frame
synchronization.
• The Secondary Synchronization Signal is used to:
Ø Achieve frame synchronization
Ø Determine the second part of Physical Layer Cell Identity: 168 different values. This way the UE determines the
PCI of the cell, which is 1 of 504 different values

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 Downlink Physical Channels
Physical Control Format Physical Downlink Control
Indicator Channel (PCFICH) Channel (PDCCH)

Physical Hybrid ARQ Physical Downlink Shared

Indicator Channel (PHICH) Channel (PDSCH)
Frequency

72 subcarriers

62 subcarriers
3 MHz

Radio Frame Radio Frame

10 ms 10 ms
Physical Broadcast
System Frame Number System Frame Number Channel (PBCH)
SFN n SFN n+1
Time

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Physical Downlink Shared Channel (PDSCH)
• In the remaining 11 symbols of the
UE-2 RRC Message subframe
• Transfers :
Ø System Information Blocks (SIBs).
UE-3 Data Radio Bearer Ø Paging RRC message
Ø Other RRC messages
Ø Application data.

SIB-2 • QPSK (2 bits/RE), 16 QAM (4 bits/RE) or

64 QAM (6 bits/RE) modulation is used.
1.4 MHz

Paging UE-1

UE-3 Data Radio Bearer

Subframe (1ms)

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Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH)
• In the first 1-to-3 (configurable) symbols
UE-2 RRC Message of every subframe (1 ms)
• Transfers Downlink Control Information
(DCI).
UE-3 Data Radio Bearer • DCI messages consists of multiples
(i=1,2,3,4) of 36 resource elements.
• Three goals:
Ø Downlink resource allocation for
SIB-2
same subframe.
1.4 MHz

• Allocated as Resource Block Group

• RBG Size = 1, for 1.4 MHz,
• RBG Size = 4, for 20 MHz
Paging UE-1 • Bitmap used to indicate which RBG is
allocated to UE
Ø Uplink resource allocation
Ø Transmit Power Control
• QPSK modulation is used (2 bits/RE)
UE-3 Data Radio Bearer • DCI has a 16 bit CRC
Uplink
Resource
Allocation
for UE 2

Subframe (1ms)

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How does a mobile know if there is a message for it in a subframe?
• There are four identities that a mobile
UE-2 RRC Message searches for in the Downlink Control
SI-RNTI Information (DCI) in the PDCCH:
Ø UE’s unique cell-radio network
temporary identity (C-RNTI)
UE-3 Data Radio Bearer Ø Paging-RNTI, P-RNTI (0xFFFE) and
Ø System Information-RNTI, SI-RNTI
(0xFFFF).
Ø P-RNTI and SI-RNTI are the same for all
SIB-2 mobiles.
C-RNTI 2
1.4 MHz

Ø The check for P-RNTI and SI-RNTI are not

performed in every subframe, but on
selected/ “paging-occasion” subframes,
Paging UE-1 (once every DRX cycle).
P-RNTI Ø During Random access
1. Random Access-RNTI (RA-RNTI): For Random
access response message.
2. Temporary C-RNTI: For RRC Connection Setup
message
C-RNTI 3 • In the PDSCH, the MAC header tells the
Uplink UE-3 Data Radio Bearer mobile, if the message is an RRC message or a
Resource
Allocation
data packet
for UE 2 Ø Logical Channel ID = 0..2 -> SRB 0..2
C-RNTI 2 Ø Logical Channel ID = 3..10 -> DRBs
Subframe (1ms)

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 How does the mobile find out what information is being sent to it?
• If Logical Channel ID == 0 (SRB0) Common Control Channel (CCCH)
DL-CCCH-MessageType ::= CHOICE {
rrcConnectionReestablishment Sent before RRC Channel is setup
rrcConnectionReestablishmentReject
rrcConnectionReject
rrcConnectionSetup }
• If Logical Channel ID == 1, 2 (SRB1 and SRB2) Dedicated Control Channel (DCCH)
DL-DCCH-MessageType ::= CHOICE {
csfbParametersResponseCDMA2000
dlInformationTransfer
handoverFromEUTRAPreparationRequest
Sent after RRC Channel is setup
mobilityFromEUTRACommand
rrcConnectionReconfiguration
rrcConnectionRelease
securityModeCommand
ueCapabilityEnquiry
counterCheck
ueInformationRequest-r9
spare6 NULL, spare5 NULL, spare4 NULL,
spare3 NULL, spare2 NULL, spare1 NULL }
• If Logical Channel ID == 3-10 (DRBs): Dedicated Traffic Chanel (DTCH). Data traffic

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Downlink Protocol Layers and Channel Mapping in eNB
RRC/ RRC
Data
Page MIB SIB SRB0 SRB1 SRB2 DRB1 DRB2

Sequence Sequence Sequence Sequence

Number Number Number Number

ROHC ROHC
PDCP Integrity Integrity
Protection Protection

Encryption Encryption Encryption Encryption

Segmentation Segmentation Segmentation Segmentation

Transparent Transparent Transparent

Acknowledged Acknowledged UnAck UnAck
RLC Mode Mode Mode
Mode (ARQ) Mode (ARQ) Mode Mode
(Buffer) (Buffer) (Buffer)
PCCH BCCH CCCH DCCH DTCH
Logical Channels
LCID0 LCID1 LCID2 LCID3 LCID4

Priority Handling

Scheduling
MAC
Multiplexing of MAC SDUs

HARQ
Transport Channels/
PDSCH, P-RNTI PDSCH, Temporary C-RNTI PDSCH, C-RNTI
PHY PBCH PDSCH, SI-RNTI Physical Channels

RRC Radio Resource Control

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PDCP
RLC
Packet Data Convergence Protocol
Radio Link Control
MAC Medium Access Control
Downlink Protocol Layers and Channel Mapping in eNB
RRC/ RRC
Data
Page MIB SIB SRB0 SRB1 SRB2 DRB1 DRB2

Sequence Sequence Sequence Sequence

Physical Downlink Control Number Number Number Number
Channel (PDCCH)

Physical Downlink Shared

ROHC ROHC
PDCP Channel (PDSCH) Integrity Integrity
Protection Protection
Physical Broadcast
Channel (PBCH)
Encryption Encryption Encryption Encryption

Segmentation Segmentation Segmentation Segmentation

Transparent Transparent Transparent

Acknowledged Acknowledged UnAck UnAck
RLC Mode Mode Mode
Mode (ARQ) Mode (ARQ) Mode Mode
(Buffer) (Buffer) (Buffer)
Source: Netmanias
PCCH BCCH CCCH DCCH DTCH
Logical Channels
LCID0 LCID1 LCID2 LCID3 LCID4

Priority Handling

Scheduling
MAC
Multiplexing of MAC SDUs

HARQ
Transport Channels/
PDSCH, P-RNTI PDSCH, Temporary C-RNTI PDSCH, C-RNTI
PHY PBCH PDSCH, SI-RNTI Physical Channels

RRC Radio Resource Control

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PDCP
RLC
Packet Data Convergence Protocol
Radio Link Control
MAC Medium Access Control
Downlink Protocol Layers and Channel Mapping in eNB
RRC/ RRC
Data
Page MIB SIB SRB0 SRB1 SRB2 DRB1 DRB2

Sequence Sequence Sequence Sequence

Number Number Number Number

ROHC ROHC
PDCP Integrity Integrity
Protection Protection

Encryption Encryption Encryption Encryption

n n+1 n+2 n+3

RLC SDU
Segmentation Segmentation Segmentation Segmentation

Transparent
RLC Transparent Transparent
RLC
Acknowledged Acknowledged UnAck UnAck
RLC Mode
Header Mode HeaderMode
Mode (ARQ) Mode (ARQ) Mode Mode
(Buffer) RLC PDU(Buffer) (Buffer)
PCCH BCCH CCCH DCCH DTCH
Logical Channels
LCID0 LCID1 LCID2 LCID3 LCID4

Priority Handling

Scheduling
MAC
Multiplexing of MAC SDUs

HARQ
Transport Channels/
PDSCH, P-RNTI PDSCH, Temporary C-RNTI PDSCH, C-RNTI
PHY PBCH PDSCH, SI-RNTI Physical Channels

RRC Radio Resource Control

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PDCP
RLC
Packet Data Convergence Protocol
Radio Link Control
MAC Medium Access Control
Downlink Protocol Layers and Channel Mapping in eNB
RRC/ RRC
Data
Page MIB SIB SRB0 SRB1 SRB2 DRB1 DRB2

Sequence Sequence Sequence Sequence

Number Number Number Number

ROHC ROHC
PDCP Integrity Integrity
Protection Protection

Encryption Encryption Encryption Encryption

Segmentation Segmentation Segmentation Segmentation

Transparent Transparent Transparent

Acknowledged Acknowledged UnAck UnAck
RLC Mode Mode Mode
Mode (ARQ) Mode (ARQ) Mode Mode
(Buffer) (Buffer) (Buffer)
PCCH BCCH CCCH DCCH DTCH
Logical Channels
LCID0 LCID1 LCID2 LCID3 LCID4

Priority Handling

Scheduling
MAC
Multiplexing of MAC SDUs

HARQ
Transport Channels/
PDSCH, P-RNTI PDSCH, Temporary C-RNTI PDSCH, C-RNTI
PHY PBCH PDSCH, SI-RNTI Physical Channels

RRC Radio Resource Control

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PDCP
RLC
Packet Data Convergence Protocol
Radio Link Control
MAC Medium Access Control
 Example of IDs in the PDCCH and message in PDSCH
Info Content
Physical Downlink Control
MIB Channel (PDCCH)
Downlink Channel Bandwidth, PHICH Configuration, SFN
SIB 1 PLMN ID, Tracking Area Code, Cell Selection Parameters,
Physical Frequency band,
Downlink Shared
cell barring, Scheduling info for other SIBsChannel (PDSCH)
SIB2 Access Class Barring, Channel (RACH, BCCH,
Physical..)Broadcast
parameters, UE timers,
UL Carrier Frequency Channel (PBCH)

SIB3 Cell Selection Parameters

SIB4 Inter Frequency neighbour cell info MAC Packet
MIB ID in PDCCH
SIB5 Intra Frequency neighbour cell info
SIB-1
SIB-2 SI-RNTI SIB
…
SIB-5

Random Access Preamble

RRC Connection Request
UE-Identity rand
Establish-cause mo-data, Random Access Response
mo-signaling, RA-RNTI RAR
mt-Access, … RAPID, Uplink Grant, TC-RNTI
RRC Connection Request

RRC Connection Setup LCID LCID LCID UE Contention RRC Connection

TC-RNTI 28 0 31 Resolution ID Setup
Pad

RRC Connection Req Msg

RRC Connection Setup Complete

DL Info Transfer (NAS: Authn Req) LCID LCID Timing NAS Message
C-RNTI 29 1 Advance Authn Request

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 Cell Reference Signals (CRS)
• Cell Reference Signals
Ø Known reference signals are inserted at regular intervals within the OFDM time-
frequency grid.
Ø There are four resource elements per resource block that are dedicated to
Reference Signal.

Æ The location of Reference Signals depends

12 subcarriers = 180 kHz

on the Physical layer cell identity of the cell.
Æ The Primary and Secondary Synchronization
Signals the Physical Layer Cell Identity Resource Elements used
for Reference Signal

7 symbols = 0.5 ms
(Slot)

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 Reference Signal Received Power (RSRP)
• The RSRP is the average power (in watts) received from a single Reference Signal (RS)
resource element
• RSRP measures only the RS power and excludes all noise and interference power.
• Knowledge of absolute RSRP enables mobile to calculate downlink path-loss.
• The maximum RSRP is based on maximum input power to UE of -25dBm (0.0032
mWatts). In 1.4 MHz BW with 6 RBs (72 Resource Elements), max RSRP is -44 dBm.
• The minimum value is -140 dBm (has 6 dBm of margin from minimum possible
received power at UE).

12 subcarriers = 180 kHz

S
1 Resource Elements used
𝑅𝑆𝑅𝑃 = P 𝑃QR,. for Reference Signal
𝐾
.T"

where, Prs,k is the estimated received power (in Watts) of 7 symbols = 0.5 ms
the kth Reference Signal Resource element (Slot)

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 Measurement 2: Reference Signal Received Quality (RSRQ)
• RSRP does not give an indication of signal quality, i.e. the strength of the reference signal compared
to overall energy in the channel (aka received signal strength indicator (RSSI))
• The RSSI parameter represents the entire received power including the wanted power from the
serving cell as well as all co-channel power and other sources of noise.
• Measuring RSRQ becomes particularly important near the cell edge when decisions need to be
made, regardless of absolute RSRP, to perform a handover to the next cell.
• The maximum value of RSRQ is -3 dB. (One reference signal has 50% energy in the RB)
• The minimum value of reported RSRQ is -19.5 dB. (One reference signal RE has only 1% of energy in
RB)

12 subcarriers = 180 kHz

Resource Elements used
for Reference Signal
RSRQ = RSRP
(RSSI / NRB)

7 symbols = 0.5 ms
(Slot)
where NRB is the number of Resource blocks
(NRB= 6 for 1.4MHz Bandwidth)
RSSI is measured only in OFDM symbol
containing the RS

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 Summary: DL Radio Frame
Physical Control Format Physical Downlink Control
Indicator Channel (PCFICH) Channel (PDCCH)

Physical Hybrid ARQ Physical Downlink Shared

Indicator Channel (PHICH) Channel (PDSCH)
Frequency

Cell Reference Signal

72 subcarriers

62 subcarriers
3 MHz

Primary Synchronization
Signal (PSS)

Radio Frame Radio Frame Secondary Synchronization

Signal (SSS)
10 ms 10 ms
Physical Broadcast
System Frame Number System Frame Number Channel (PBCH)
SFN n SFN n+1
Time

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 OFDM in multi-color
Physical Control Format Physical Downlink Control
Indicator Channel (PCFICH) Channel (PDCCH)

Physical Hybrid ARQ Physical Downlink Shared

Indicator Channel (PHICH) Channel (PDSCH)
Frequency

Cell Reference Signal

72 subcarriers

62 subcarriers
3 MHz

Primary Synchronization
Signal (PSS)

Radio Frame Radio Frame Secondary Synchronization

Signal (SSS)
10 ms 10 ms
Physical Broadcast
Channel (PBCH)

Time

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 References

• Specifications:
Ø TS 36.300: RAN Architecture
Ø TS 36.331: RRC
Ø TS 36.323: PDCP
Ø TS 36.322: RLC
Ø TS 36.321: MAC
• Other References:
Ø LTE in Bullets
Ø www.sharetechnote.com
Ø www.youtube.com/lte4g

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