COMMUNICATIONS

ELECTRONICS FOR YOU MARCH 2003

CMYK
COMMUNICATIONS
C.K. SUNITH
W
ireless telecommunication infra-
structure is evolving fast to ac-
commodate high-speed data
traffic while simultaneously handling voice
traffic. New approaches in wireless com-
munication are intended to achieve voice-
to-data crossover as also voice-and-data
integration through realisation of third-gen-
eration (3G) systems.
To narrow the gap between 2G and
3G communication systems, general packet
radio service (GPRS in short), or the so-
called 2.5G, has been introduced as an
intermediary. GPRS allows high-speed data
transfer over conventional GSM and TDMA
networks. It is the outcome of continued
efforts to push high-speed data over exist-
ing mobile networks. GPRS signals are not
conveyed through GSM networks. Instead,
GSM network is used to obtain GPRS user-
profile data from location register data-
bases.
GPRS utilises 1 to 8 radio time slots
for multiple users to share. The user data
is put into packets and transported over
public land and mobile network
(PLMN) using the Internet protocol
(IP) backbone. GPRS offers high
speeds of 14,400 bps to 115,000
bps for wireless Internet access
and interfaces to the public
data networks (PDNs). It al-
lows short bursts of traffic, such
as e-mail, but can also handle large
volumes of data.
GPRS is based on a modulation tech-
nique called Gaussian minimum shift key-
ing (GMSK) and has fast connectivity,
without the need to dial through a net-
work. Service providers are now offering
selective services to their subscribers.
General packet radio service (GPRS) costs less than short
messaging service (SMS) but allows longer messages. You can
access Internet services such as chat, browsing, file transfer,
e-mail, and telnet on the move
GPRSDEMYSTIFIED
and charging. SGSN refers to a location
register that stores subscriber profile and
location information.
The gateway GPRS support node
(GGSN) converts GPRS packets coming
from SGSN into packet data protocol for
transmission through packet data net-
works. It acts as an interface for the GPRS
backbone to the packet data networks. The
packet data protocol (PDP) addresses of
incoming data packets are then converted
into GSM addresses of the proper
destinations.
GGSN stores the current SGSN
addresses and subscriber profile in
its location register and directs the
readdressed packets to the respon-
sible SGSN. GGSN also performs
charging and authentication. It acts
as an interface to external packet
data networks for several SGSNs.
SGSN may route its packets over dif-
ferent GGSNs to reach different packet
data networks. Connecting GSNs of dif-
The architecture
To avail of the GPRS facility, subscribers
need to have a GPRS-enabled mobile
phone or terminal. A subscriber should
know how to send and receive GPRS in-
formation. Data transfer cannot be
achieved without a destination to send or
receive information. While some service
providers guarantee automatic access to
GPRS, others treat it as an opt-in-to-use
service.
In order to integrate GPRS into the
existing GSM infrastructure and ensure
smooth interworking of PLMN, PDN, and
wireless networks, some additional com-
ponents need to be incorporated into the
system. These components, so-called GPRS
support nodes (GSNs), are responsible for
delivery and routing of packets between
mobile stations and external packet data
networks.
The serving GPRS support node
(SGSN) serves to deliver data packets to
mobile stations within the service area. It
performs mobility management, logical
link control, packet routing and
transfer, authenti-
cation,
Nokia 6800 GPRS-enabled phone
Philips Fisio 825 GPRS-enabled phone
COMMUNICATIONS
ELECTRONICS FOR YOU MARCH 2003
CMYK
ferent PLMNs through gateways requires
agreements between GPRS network pro-
viders.
Signalling and user data are transmit-
ted between GSNs through G
n
and G
p
in-
terfaces. If SGSN and GGSN are located in
the same PLMN, the G
n
interface is used.
If the PLMNs are different, a G
p
interface
is used. G
n
and G
p
interfaces permit GSNs
to exchange user profile when a mobile
station moves from one SGSN locality to
another. GSNs encapsulate PDN packets
and tunnel them using GPRS tunnelling
protocol (GTP), which operates on top of
TCP/ IP. All GSNs are connected through
IP-based GPRS backbone.
Connection between SGSN and base
station controller (BSC) is achieved
through the G
b
interface. G
i
interfaces con-
nect PLMN with PDNs. Home location
register (HLR) stores user profile, current
SGSN address, and PDP address of each
subscriber and communicates with SGSN
through G
r
interface. GGSN connects HLR
through G
c
interface. In order to update
its location register, GGSN queries HLR
of the user location and profile through
G
c
interface. To permit coordination be-
tween GPRS and the existing GSM ser-
vice, GSM networks must be functionally
upgraded to suit the requirements.
Features
GPRS is essentially a value-added service
tailored to carry non-voice information
across the mobile telephone networks. The
key features of GPRS include high
speed, immediacy, wider service
access, and adaptability to a
variety of applications. Tech-
nical features like high spec-
trum efficiency, packet
switching, internetworking,
and GSM/ TDMA support add
to its utility.
Transmission speeds of
up to ten times higher than
data transmission speeds over
circuit-switched data services
on GSM networks can be
achieved when all the eight
time slots are used simulta-
neously. Theoretically, a speed
of up to 171.2 kB/ s is pos-
sible. This is about three times
the data transmission speed
over fixed networks.
GPRS costs less than SMS
and circuit-switched data. This
always-on service facilitates
instant access to information without the
need for a dial-up modem. Immediacy is
critical for such applications as remote
credit card authorisation. GPRS
can be thought of as a sub-net-
work of the Internet that adds mo-
bility to the Internet. Each GPRS
terminal can own a unique IP ad-
dress and hence can be viewed as
a mobile host. Existing services
over the Internet such as chat,
browsing, file transfer, e-mail, and
telnet can be accessed on the
move.
GPRS overlays a packet-based
air interface over GSM networks.
The information is split into fixed
packets before transmission
through the network. At the re-
ceiving end, these packets,
which follow more than one
route, are reassembled. GPRS
users potentially share the
same bandwidth. The band-
width is utilised only when
users transfer data. There
is no dedicated radio chan-
nel, as in circuit switching, between end
users. Due to efficient utilisation of avail-
able resources, there is no need to build
in idle capacity and the chances of con-
gestion are less.
Limitations
As both voice and GPRS calls use the
same network resources, limited radio
resources can be deployed for dif-
ferent uses. In other words,
GPRS offers limited cell ca-
pacity for all users, the ex-
tent of which depends upon
the number of time slots re-
served for GPRS. A network
operator is unlikely to allo-
cate all the time slots for a
single user, and will allow
two or three time slots at the
maximum. The bandwidth
per GPRS user is thus se-
verely affected and the maxi-
mum speed cannot be
achieved by individual users.
GPRS packets are not al-
ways sent in the same direc-
tion. They may take on mul-
tiple paths to reach the desti-
nation. One or more of these
packets may get corrupted or
lost during transmissions. To
maintain data integrity, error
control approaches and retrans-
mission methods have to be de-
ployed, which, in turn, lead to
latency hiccups between end
users.
Unlike SMS, GPRS doesnt
incorporate store-and-forward
mechanism. This puts the us-
ers at a disadvantage. There is
probability of unsolicited and
unwanted information reaching
the user. This is absolutely un-
desirable, as the user will have
to pay for junk reception.
Applications
GPRS finds a wide range of cus-
tomer as well as corporate ap-
plications. Customer applica-
tions include home automation,
where remote security can be
combined with remote control. You
can monitor your home while away
and get alerted in the case of an
emergency. You can control the
oven or program a video in your
home from a remote location.
Sizeable data of any form can be
downloaded through the mobile network.
The source of information could be an-
other file or the Internet. e-mails could be
linked with alert mechanism to notify you
of the arrival of new e-mails. Corporate e-
mail applications allow employees to keep
in touch with the office while away from
their desks.
One major drawback of SMS is its in-
ability to convey messages exceeding 160
characters. This calls for extensive use of
abbreviations while messaging. GPRS has
the potential to carry long messages
through a channel.
Users can download visual and tex-
tual information to their terminals, and
stay informed about recent happenings.
Maps and important graphs can be made
available at hand. Images from digital cam-
eras connected to GPRS devices can be
uploaded to the Internet. Movie previews
and video messages can be downloaded
to the mobile equipment. Video
conferencing is also possible.
Prospects
With its high efficiency and speed, GPRS is
a massive boost to wireless data communi-
cations. Though the technology has not
reached its full swing yet, it has excellent
prospects in the days to come.
Samsung SGH-Q100
GPRS-enabled phone
Sony Ericssons R600
GPRS-enabled phone