ABSTRACT

Today's mobile professionals need to stay in regular contact with important

sources of information such as the Internet, email, corporate networks and remote
databases. As demand for Wide Area Networking (WAN) connectivity continues to
grow, users and organizations are seeking ways to make it more efficient and
productive. One of the most promising new technologies for this purpose is General
Packet Radio Service (GPRS). GPRS is a packet-switching data network that is
overlaid on the existing cellular voice network, using the same radio frequencies and
cellular towers. When combined with the existing Global System for Mobile
communication (GSM), GPRS offers a complete voice and data solution with
significant advantages over other solutions.

GPRS offers the flexibility and throughput of packet switching. GPRS uses
packet switching to transfer data from the mobile device to the network and back. On a
packet switched network a device can be always connected and ready to send
information without monopolizing the channel. Channels are shared in packet-switched
network, but in circuit-switched each channel is dedicated to one user. There are no call
up or suspend delays.

By overlaying the GSM network, GPRS is able to take advantage of the world's
leading digital phone system with a global subscriber base of over 646.5
million.Theoretical maximum speeds of up to 171.2 kilobits per second (kbps) are
achievable with GPRS. This is about three times as fast as the data transmission speeds
possible over today's fixed telecommunications networks and ten times as fast as
current Circuit Switched Data services on GSM networks.
INTRODUCTION

Wireless wide area cellular network solutions have been around for many years.
Widespread adoption has been slow due to issues with coverage, cost, performance,
and secure remote access to business networks. The deployment of the Global System
for Mobile Communications (GSM) based General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) has
the potential to change this situation and to provide connectivity any time and any
where. GPRS is a packet based radio service that enables always on connections,
eliminating repetitive and time consuming dial up connections. It will also provide real
throughput in excess of 40 Kbps, about the same speed as an excellent land line analog
modem connection.

Need For a Wireless WAN Solution

Mobile workers who need to access information while they travel can do so
using one of two Wide Area Networking methods - wired or wireless. In the past, they
relied mainly on wired methods such as analog modems to connect over the public
switched telephone network (PSTN). However, users realized that using a dial up
method to get a connection were relatively tedious and time consuming, and
connections were sometimes difficult to maintain. In addition, as networking has
progressed, the circuit- switched phone network has proved to have limitations for data
transmission compared to packet-switched networks such as the Internet and corporate
LANs. And finally, wired methods do not provide the same degree of mobility as
wireless solutions. The advent of wireless data communication through the use of
mobile phones and alphanumeric pagers have provided a higher degree of flexibility
over wired mobile connections. Today, users are able to connect their notebook and
handheld computers to data sources using mobile phone connection kits, and the data is
sent over the mobile phone network. However, mobile phones are still relatively slow
in terms of data throughput, and pagers can only display small amounts of information.
Manufacturers are rapidly developing a wide variety of new client devices, and
advanced transmission capabilities are also required. Mobile data users, businesses and
other organizations have asked for the freedom of wireless, but with the performance of
wired connections. One of the most promising technologies for meeting these needs is
General Packet Radio Service (GPRS). This wireless data transmission technology can
be used to send data over large geographic areas to create the next evolution of wireless
WANs (WWANs).

Advantages of GPRS
 GPRS provides faster data transfer rates, always on connection, robust
connectivity, broad application support and strong security mechanisms.

Fast Data Transfer Rates

GPRS currently supports an average data rate of 115 Kbps, but this speed is
only achieved by dedicating all eight time slots to GPRS. Instead, carriers and terminal
devices will typically be configured to handle a specific number of time slots for
upstream and downstream data. For example, a GPRS device might be set to handle a
maximum of four slots downstream and two slots upstream. Under good radio
conditions, this yields speeds of approximately 50 Kbps downstream and 20 Kbps
upstream. This is more than three times faster than current 14.4-Kbps GSM networks
and roughly equivalent to a good land line analog modem connection. The aggregate
cell site bandwidth is shared by voice and data traffic. GPRS operators will vary in how
they allocate the bandwidth. Typically, they will configure the networks to give
precedence to voice traffic; some may dedicate time slots to data traffic to ensure a
minimum level of service during busy voice traffic periods. Unused voice capacity may
be dynamically reallocated to data traffic. With its faster data transfer rates, GPRS
enables higher bandwidth applications not currently feasible on a GSM network.

Always-On Connection

An always on connection eliminates the lengthy delays required to reconnect to

the network to send and receive data. Information can also be pushed to the end user in
real time. GPRS allows providers to bill by the packet, rather than by the minute, thus
enabling cost effective always on subscriber services.

Robust Connectivity

GPRS improves data transmission integrity with a number of mechanisms.

First, user data is encoded with redundancies that improve its resistance to adverse
radio conditions. The amount of coding redundancy can be varied, depending on radio
conditions. GPRS has defined four coding schemes CS1 through CS4. Initially, only
CS1 and CS2 will be supported, which allows approximately 9 and 13 Kbps in each
time slot. If an error is detected in a frame received in the base station, the frame may
be repeatedly retransmitted until properly received before passing it on to the GPRS
core network.

Broad Application Support

Like the Internet, GPRS is based on packet-switched data. This means that all
native IP applications, such as email, Web access, instant messaging, and file transfers
can run over GPRS. In addition, its faster data transfer rates enable GPRS to
accommodate higher-bandwidth applications (such as multimedia Web content) not
suited to slower GSM dial-up connections. GPRS is particularly well suited for
applications based on the Wireless Application Protocol (WAP). WAP has gained
widespread acceptance in a new breed of micro browser enabled phones.

Security Support

GPRS builds on the proved authentication and security model used by GSM. At
session initiation, a user is authenticated using secret information contained on a smart
card called a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM). Authentication data is exchanged and
validated with records stored in the HLR network node. GPRS enables additional
authentication using protocols such as RADIUS before the subscriber is allowed access
to the Internet or corporate data networks. GPRS supports the ciphering of user data
across the wireless interface from the mobile terminal to the SGSN. In addition, higher
level, end to end VPN encryption may take place when a user connects to a private
corporate network.
 A BIT OF HISTORY

First Generation Wireless Technology

The first generation of wireless mobile communications was based on analog

signaling. Analog systems, implemented in North America, were known as Analog
Mobile Phone Systems (AMPS), while systems implemented in Europe and the rest of
the world were typically identified as a variation of Total Access Communication
Systems (TACS). Analog systems were primarily based on circuit-switched technology
and designed for voice, not data.

Second Generation Wireless Technology

The second generation (2G) of the wireless mobile network was based on low
band digital data signaling. The most popular 2G wireless technology is known as
Global Systems for Mobile Communications (GSM). GSM technology is a
combination of Frequency Division Multiple Access (FDMA) and Time Division
Multiple Access (TDMA). The first GSM systems used a 25MHz frequency spectrum
in the 900MHz band. FDMA is used to divide the available 25MHz of bandwidth into
124 carrier frequencies of 200kHz each. Each frequency is then divided using a TDMA
scheme into eight time slots. The use of separate time slots for transmission and
reception simplifies the electronics in the mobile units. Today, GSM systems operate in
the 900MHz and 1.8 GHz bands throughout the world with the exception of the
Americas where they operate in the 1.9 GHz band. While GSM technology was
developed in Europe, Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) technology was
developed in North America. CDMA uses spread spectrum technology to break up
speech into small, digitized segments and encodes them to identify each call. The
Second Generation (2G) wireless networks mentioned above are also mostly based on
circuit-switched technology. 2G wireless networks are digital and expand the range of
applications to more advanced voice services, such as Called Line Identification. 2G
wireless technology can handle some data capabilities such as fax and short message
service at the data rate of up to 9.6 kbps, but it is not suitable for web browsing and
multimedia applications.
Second Generation Plus (2G+) Wireless Networks

The effective data rate of 2G circuit-switched wireless systems is relatively

slow for today's Internet. As a result, GSM and other TDMA-based mobile system
providers and carriers have developed 2G+ technology that is packet- based and
increases the data communication speeds to as high as 384kbps. These 2G+ systems are
based on the following technologies High Speed Circuit-Switched Data (HSCSD),
General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) and Enhanced Data Rates for Global
Evolution (EDGE) technologies. HSCSD is one step towards 3G wide band mobile
data networks. This circuit-switched technology improves the data rates up to 57.6kbps
by introducing 14.4 kbps data coding and by aggregating 4 radio channels time slots of
14.4 kbps. GPRS is an intermediate step that is designed to allow the GSM world to
implement a full range of Internet services without waiting for the deployment of full
scale 3G wireless systems. GPRS uses a multiple of the 1 to 8 radio channel time slots
in the 200kHz-frequency band allocated for a carrier frequency to enable data speeds of
up to 115kbps. EDGE technology is a standard that has been specified to enhance the
throughput per time slot for both HSCSD and GPRS.

KEY NETWORK FEATURES OF GPRS

Packet switching

GPRS involves overlaying a packet based air interface on the existing circuit switched
GSM network. This gives the user an option to use a packet-based data service. .With
GPRS, the information is split into separate but related "packets" before being
transmitted and reassembled at the receiving end. Packet switching is similar to a
jigsaw puzzle- the image that the puzzle represents is divided into pieces at the
manufacturing factory and put into a plastic bag. During transportation of the now
boxed jigsaw from the factory to the end user, the pieces get jumbled up. When the
recipient empties the bag with all the pieces, they are reassembled to form the original
image. All the pieces are all related and fit together, but the way they are transported
and assembled varies.
Spectrum efficiency
 Table 1 Circuit switching vs Packet switching

Packet switching means that GPRS radio resources are used only when users
are actually sending or receiving data. Rather than dedicating a radio channel to a
mobile data user for a fixed period of time, the available radio resource can be
concurrently shared between several users. This efficient use of scarce radio resources
means that large numbers of GPRS users can potentially share the same bandwidth and
be served from a single cell. The actual number of users supported depends on the
application being used and how much data is being transferred. Because of the
spectrum efficiency of GPRS, there is less need to build in idle capacity that is only
used in peak hours. GPRS therefore lets network operators maximize the use of their
network resources in a dynamic and flexible way, along with user access to resources
and revenues.

Internet aware

For the first time, GPRS fully enables Mobile Internet functionality by allowing
interworking between the existing Internet and the new GPRS network. Any service
that is used over the fixed Internet today- File Transfer Protocol (FTP), web browsing,
chat, email, telnet- will be as available over the mobile network because of GPRS. In
fact, many network operators are considering the opportunity to use GPRS to help
become wireless Internet Service Providers in their own right.. There is a trend away
from storing information locally in specific software packages on PCs to remotely on
the Internet .Each GPRS terminal can potentially have its own IP address and will be
addressable as such.
 GPRS ARCHITECTURE

GSM Network Overview

At a high level, GSM is a mobile telephony network based on the cellular

concept. Users can place and receive calls without being fixed to a specific location or
wired to a physical connection. To supply this capability, a GSM network consists of
three basic components:

Subscriber Terminal Devices

Today, these devices are typically cell phones, but there are other devices such
as personal digital assistants (PDAs) with various input/output capabilities. All have
integrated radio transceivers.

Types of devices : GPRS devices are also classified by their ability to handle voice and
data calls. There are three such classifications:

• Class A devices provide complete support of simultaneous voice and GPRS.

• Class B devices can be registered on both the GSM (voice) and GPRS (data)
networks, but only one connection can be active at a time. The user can select to put
data delivery on hold while they receive phone calls and vice versa.

• Class C devices require that voice calls must be cleared before GPRS can be used
and vice versa. Thus, the device will not automatically switch between voice and data,
a hard switchover is required.
Radio Base Station Network

Cellular networks are composed of small, low powered, terrestrial radio cells
that typically range in coverage area from tens of kilometers in sparsely populated rural
areas to less than 500 meters in densely populated urban areas. The frequencies used by
the network are reused again and again in different cells throughout the network to
increase network capacity.

Network Switching and Services Infrastructure

The traffic to and from the radio network is concentrated at a set of switching
nodes that interface to other fixed public or private networks. These nodes handle the
call setup, channel resource allocation, and the administration of subscriber services.
These components allow the GSM network to provide coverage as a user moves from
an area covered by one cell to an area covered by another cell. The network terminates
the old cell connection and immediately establishes a new cell connection. This process
is designed to be transparent to the user. In addition, users can roam or travel outside of
a home coverage area to a new city, region, or country. The arrival of the visitor is
detected by the new system through an automatic registration process. The new system
informs the user's home system of the new location so that calls can be delivered.

Many registers are also maintained which contain information necessary for the
smooth functioning of the network. The HLR (Home Location Register) stores
information about the current location of all subscribers of the network. This
information is necessary for routing all calls/messages to their intended destinations. A
VLR (Visitor Location Register) covers one or more cells and stores information about
the subscribers currently under its area of influence.
 Fig 1 : GPRS Network Architecture

Additional Network Functionality

Although GPRS reuses existing GSM network elements, some new protocols,
interfaces and other network elements are required (see Figure 1 ). These include two
major core network elements, the Serving GPRS Support Node (SGSN) and the
Gateway GPRS Support Node (SGSN).

Serving GPRS Support Node (SGSN): The SGSN is responsible for tracking the state
of the mobile station and its movements as it roams in a geographical area. It also
handles the data connection between the mobile device and the network. SGSNs send
queries to Home Location Registers (HLRs) to obtain profile data of GPRS subscribers.
SGSNs detect new GPRS mobile stations in a given service area; and, finally, SGSNs
process registration of new mobile subscribers and keep a record of their location
inside a given service area.

Gateway GPRS Support Node (GGSN): The GGSN handles the link
between the GPRS network and other data networks, i.e. the Internet and enterprise
networks. Each of those networks is given an Access Point Name
(APN).
 GPRS IN ACTION

When a user turns on a GPRS device, typically it will automatically scan for a local
GPRS channel. If an appropriate channel is detected, the

device will attempt to attach to the network. The SGSN receives the attach request,
fetches subscriber profile information from the subscriber's HLR node, and
authenticates the user. Ciphering may be established at this point. The SGSN uses the
profile information (including the access point name, which identifies the network and
operator) to determine which GGSN to route to. The selected gateway may perform a
Remote Authentication Dial In User Service (RADIUS) authentication and allocate a
dynamic Internet Protocol (IP) address to the user before setting up connections to
outside networks. This process is called the packet data profile context activation and
the setup may vary from one carrier to the next. It may include additional functions like
QoS management. When the mobile device is powered off or moved out of a GPRS
coverage area, its context is deactivated and the device is detached from the network.

How does a GPRS work?

Attachment and Detachment Procedure

Before a mobile station can use GPRS services, it must register with an SGSN

Table 2 Modifications on GSM Network

of the GPRS network. The network checks if the user is authorized, copies the user
profile from the HLR to the SGSN, and assigns a packet temporary mobile subscriber
identity (PTMSI) to the user. This procedure is called GPRS attach. For mobile stations
using both circuit switched and packet switched services it is possible to perform
combined GPRS/IMSI attach procedures. The disconnection from the GPRS network is
called GPRS detach. It can be initiated by the mobile station or by the network (SGSN
or HLR).

Session Management
To exchange data packets with external PDNs after a successful GPRS attach, a
mobile station must apply for one or more addresses used in the PDN, e.g., for an IP
address in case the PDN is an IP network. This address is called PDP address (Packet
Data Protocol address). For each session, a so called PDP context is created, which
describes the characteristics of the session. It contains the PDP type (e.g., IPv4), the
PDP address assigned to the mobile station (e.g., 129.187.222.10), the requested QoS,
and the address of a GGSN that serves as the access point to the PDN. This context is
stored in the MS,
the SGSN, and the GGSN.

With an active PDP context, the mobile station is "visible" for the external PDN
and is able to send and receive data packets. The mapping between the two addresses,
PDP and IMSI, enables the GGSN to transfer data packets between PDN and MS. A
user may have several simultaneous PDP contexts active at a given time. The allocation
of the PDP address can be static or dynamic. In the first case, the network operator of
the user's home PLMN permanently assigns a PDP address to the user. In the second
case, a PDP address is assigned to the user upon activation of a PDP context. The PDP
address can be assigned by the operator of the user's home-PLMN (dynamic home-
PLMN PDP address) or by the operator of the visited network (dynamic visited-PLMN
PDP address). The GGSN is responsible for the allocation and the activation/
deactivation of the PDP addresses.
MSSGSNGGSN

Fig 2 : PDP Context Activation Procedure

Figure shows the PDP context activation procedure. Using the message
"activate PDP context request," the MS informs the SGSN about the requested PDP
context. If dynamic PDP address assignment is requested, the parameter PDP address
will be left empty. Afterward, usual security functions (e.g., authentication of the user)
are performed. If access is granted, the SGSN will send a "create PDP context request"
message to the affected GGSN. The latter creates a new entry in its PDP context table,
which enables the GGSN to route data packets between the SGSN and the external
PDN. Afterward, the GGSN returns a confirmation message "create PDP context
response" to the SGSN, which contains the PDP address in case dynamic PDP address
allocation was requested. The SGSN updates its PDP context table and confirms the
activation of the new PDP context to the MS ("activate PDP context accept").

GPRS also supports anonymous PDP context activation. In this case, security
functions as shown in Figure are skipped, and thus, the user (i.e., the IMSI) using the
PDP context remains unknown to the network. Anonymous context activation may be
employed for pre-paid services, where the user does not want to be identified. Only
dynamic address allocation is possible in this case.
Data Packet Routing

The main functions of the GGSN involve interaction with the external data
network. The GGSN updates the location directory using routing information supplied
by the SGSNs about the location of a MS and routes the external data network protocol
packet encapsulated over the GPRS backbone to the SGSN currently serving the MS. It
also decapsulates and forwards external data network packets to the appropriate data
network and collects charging data that is forwarded to a charging gateway.

In Figure 3 , three different routing schemes are illustrated: mobile-originated

message (path 1), network-initiated message when the MS is in its home network (path
2), and network-initiated message when the MS has roamed to another GPRS operator's
network (path 3). In these examples, the operator's GPRS network consists of multiple
GSNs (with a gateway and serving functionality) and an intra-operator backbone
network.

GPRS operators will allow roaming through an inter-operator backbone

network. The GPRS operators connect to the inter-operator network via a boarder
gateway (BG), which can provide the necessary interworking and routing protocols (for
example, Border Gateway Protocol [BGP]). It is also foreseeable that GPRS operators
will implement QoS mechanisms over the inter-operator network to ensure service-
level agreements (SLAs). The main benefits of the architecture are its flexibility,
scalablility, interoperability, and roaming.
 Fig 3 Routing of Data Packets between a Fixed Host and a GPRS MS

Location Management

The main task of location management is to keep track of the user's current
location, so that incoming packets can be routed to his or her MS. For this purpose, the
MS frequently sends location update messages to its current SGSN. If the MS sends
updates rather seldom, its location (e.g., its current cell) is not known exactly and
paging is necessary for each down link packet, resulting in a significant delivery delay.
On the other hand, if location updates happen very often, the MS's location is well
known to the network, and the data packets can be delivered without any additional
paging delay. However, quite a lot of up link radio capacity and battery power is
consumed for mobility management in this case. Thus, a good location management
strategy must be a compromise between these two extreme methods. A state model
shown in Figure 4 has been defined for location management in GPRS . A MS can be in
one of three states depending on its current traffic amount.
 In idle state the MS is not reachable. Performing a GPRS attach, the MS gets
into ready state. With a GPRS detach it may disconnect from the network and fall back
to idle state. All PDP contexts will be deleted.

The standby state will be reached when an MS does not send any packets for a
longer period of time, and therefore the ready timer (which was started at GPRS attach)
expires.In idle state, no location updating is performed, i.e., the current location of
theMS is unknown to the network.
An MS in ready state (active state) informs its SGSN of every movement to a
new cell. For the location management of an MS in standby state, a GSM location area
(LA) is divided into several routing areas (RA). In general, an RA consists of several
cells. The SGSN will only be informed when an MS moves to a new RA; cell changes
will not be disclosed. To find out the current cell of an MS in standby state, paging of
the MS within a certain RA must be performed . For MSs in ready state, no paging is
necessary.
INTERFACE AND PROTOCOLS

The channel allocation in GPRS is different from the original GSM. GPRS
allows a single mobile station to transmit on multiple time slots of the same TDMA
frame (multislot operation). GPRS can combine multiple slots in a single transmission,
the effective bandwidth is increased The theoretical limit for GPRS is eight time slots.
GPRS assigns a .5-millisecond time slot to each data packet. The system is notified at
the time of transmission as to how many time slots or kbps are needed on both the
sending and receiving devices. The ability to combine only the required number of time
slots for each transmission gives GPRS the flexibility to support both low-speed and
highspeed data applications in a single network.

Time Slot Aggregation

In conventional GSM, a channel is permanently allocated for a particular user

during the entire call period (whether data is transmitted or not). In contrast to this, in
GPRS the channels are only allocated when data packets are sent or received, and they
are released after the transmission. For bursty traffic this results in a much more
efficient usage of the scarce radio resources. With this principle, multiple users can
share one physical channel. A cell supporting GPRS may allocate physical channels for
GPRS traffic. Such a physical channel is denoted as packet data channel (PDCH). The
PDCHs are taken from the common pool of all channels available in the cell. Thus, the
radio resources of a cell are shared by all GPRS and non-GPRS mobile stations located
in this cell. The mapping of physical channels to either packet switched (GPRS) or
circuit switched (conventional GSM) services can be performed dynamically (capacity
on demand principle, depending on the current traffic load, the priority of the service,
and the multislot class. A load supervision procedure monitors the load of the PDCHs
in the cell. According to the current demand, the number of channels allocated for
GPRS (i.e., the number of PDCHs) can be changed. Physical channels not currently in
use by conventional GSM can be allocated as PDCHs to increase the quality of service
for GPRS. When there is a resource demand for services with higher priority, PDCHs
can be de-allocated.

Logical Channels in GPRS

On top of the physical channels, a series of logical channels are defined to

perform a multiplicity of functions, e.g., signaling, broadcast of general system
information, synchronization, channel assignment, paging, or payload transport. They
can be divided into two categories

• traffic channels
• signaling (control) channels.

The packet data traffic channel (PDTCH) is employed for the transfer of
user data. It is assigned to one mobile station (or in the case of PTM to multiple mobile
stations). One mobile station can use several PDTCHs simultaneously.
The packet broadcast control channel (PBCCH) is a unidirectional point-to-
multipoint signaling channel from the base station subsystem (BSS) to the mobile
stations. It is used by the BSS to broadcast specific information about the organization
of the GPRS radio network to all GPRS mobile stations of a cell. Besides system
information about GPRS, the PBCCH should also broadcast important system
information about circuit switched services, so that a GSM/GPRS mobile station does
not need to listen to the broadcast control channel (BCCH).

The packet common control channel (PCCCH) is a bidirectional point-to-

multipoint signaling channel that transports signaling information for network access
management, e.g., for allocation of radio resources and paging. It consists of four sub-
channels:
1. The packet random access channel (PRACH) is used by the mobile to
request one or more PDTCH.
2. The packet access grant channel (PAGCH) is used to allocate one or more
PDTCH to a mobile station.
3. The packet paging channel (PPCH) is used by the BSS to find out the
location of a mobile station (paging) prior to downlink packet transmission.
4. The packet notification channel (PNCH) is used to inform a mobile station of
incoming PTM messages (multicast or group call).

Channel Coding

Channel coding is used to protect the transmitted data packets against errors.
The channel coding technique in GPRS is quite similar to the one employed in
conventional GSM.. The selection of coding schemes is transparent to the user and
determines the level of error correction the network uses to send the data. The better
the link is between the user and the network, the less error correction is needed. Less
error correction means higher throughput. (Coding scheme 1 has the highest level of
error correction.)

Scheme Data rate (Kbps)

CS-1 91)5
CS-2 13.4
CS-3 15.G
CS-4 21.4

Table 3 : Channel Coding Schemes

 101seminartopics.com

Protocol Architecture

Transmission Plane

GPRS Backbone: SGSN GGSN As mentioned earlier, user data packets are
encapsulated within the GPRS backbone network. The GPRS Tunneling Protocol
(GTP) tunnels the user data packets and related signaling information between the
GPRS support nodes (GSNs). The protocol is defined both between GSNs within one
PLMN (Gn interface) and between GSNs of different PLMNs (Gp interface). The
signaling is used to create, modify, and delete tunnels. In the GPRS backbone we have
an IP/X.25- over-GTP-over-UDP/TCP- over-IP transport architecture.

Sub network Dependent Convergence Protocol The Subnetwork Dependent

Convergence Protocol (SNDCP) is used to transfer data packets between SGSN and
MS. Its functionality includes:
o Multiplexing of several connections of the network layer onto one
virtual logical connection of the underlying LLC layer. o Compression and
decompression of user data and redundant header information.

Signaling Plane

The protocol architecture of the signaling plane comprises protocols for control
and support of the functions of the transmission plane. Between MS and SGSN the
GPRS Mobility Management and Session Management (GMM/SM) protocol supports
mobility and session management when performing functions such as GPRS
attach/detach, security functions, PDP context activation, and routing area updates.
101seminartopics.com

GPRS SECURITY

GPRS is secure. It is an overlay on the existing GSM network. Hence it uses all
security features of the GSM network, along with it's on options.

Subscriber Identity Confidentiality

The purpose of this function is to avoid an intruder to identity a subscriber on

the radio path (e.g. Traffic Channel or signaling resources) by listening to the signaling
exchanges . This function can be achieved by protecting the subscriber's IMSI
(International Mobile Subscriber Index) and any signaling information elements.
Therefore, a protected identifying method should be used to identify a mobile
subscriber instead of the IMSI on the radio path. The signaling information elements
that convey information about the mobile subscriber identity must be transmitted in
ciphered form. And also a ciphering method is used.

Identifying method

The TMSI (Temporary Mobile Subscriber Index ) is used in the method. I t s a

local number and only valid in a given location area. The TMSI must be used together
with the LAI to avoid ambiguities. The network manages the databases (e.g. VLR) to
keep the relation between TMSIs and IMSIs. When a TMSI is received with an LAI
that does not correspond to the current VLR, the IMSI of the MS must be requested
from the VLR in charge of the indicated location area if its address is known; otherwise
the IMSI is requested from the MS. A new TMSI must be allocated in each location
updating procedure. The allocation of a new TMSI corresponds implicitly for the
mobile to the de-allocation of the previous one . In the fixed part of the network, the
cancellation of the record for an MS in VLR implies the deallocation of the
corresponding TMSI. When a new TMSI is allocated to an MS, it is transmitted to the
MS in a ciphered mode. The MS stores its current TMSI in a non-volatile memory
together with the LAI so that these data are not lost when the MS is switched off.

GPRS Authentication
 The GPRS authentication procedure is handled in the same way as in GSM with
the distinction that the procedures are executed in the SGSN. In some cases, the SGSN
requests the pairs for a MS from the HLR/AUC corresponding to the IMSI of the MS.

GSM confidentiality

The signaling information elements related to the user, such as IMSI, and
Calling subscriber directory number (mobile terminated or originated calls) need to be
protected after connection establishment . The user information such as short messages,
is transferred in a connectionless packet mode over a signaling channel. It should be
protected. And also User information on Physical Connections (voice and non-voice
communications) on traffic channels over the radio interface should be protected. In
order to achieve those confidentiality, a ciphering method, key setting, the starting of
the enciphering and deciphering processes, and a synchronization are needed.
A key setting completes a process that allows the MS and the network to agree
on the key Kc using in the ciphering and deciphering algorithms .It is triggered by the
authentication procedure and initiated by the network. Key setting must occur on a
DCCH not yet encrypted and soon after the identity of the mobile subscriber is known
by the network.

The transmission of Kc to the MS is indirect. A Kc is generated on both sides

using the key generator algorithm A8 and the authentication process. At the network
side, the values of Kc are calculated in the AUC/HLR. At the MS side, the Kc is stored
by the mobile station until it is updated at the next authentication. The encryption of
signaling and user data is performed at the MS as well as at the BSS. This is a case
called symmetric encryption, i.e. ciphering and deciphering are performed with the
same Kc and the A5 algorithm and start on DCCH and TCH. This process can be
described as follows: First, the network (i.e. BSS) requests the MS to start its
(de)ciphering process and starts its own deciphering process. The MS then starts its
ciphering and deciphering.The first ciphered message from the MS, which reaches the
network and is correctly ciphered leads to the start of the ciphering process on the
network sides. The enciphering stream at one end and deciphering stream at the other
end must be synchronized. GPRS confidentiality GPRS network still needs this security
feature. However the ciphering scope is different. The scope of GSM is between BTS
and MS. The scope of GPRS is from the SGSN to the MS. A new ciphering algorithm
GPRS-A5 is used because of the nature of GPRS traffic. The ciphering is done in the
101seminartopics.com

Logical Link Control (LLC) layer. The GPRS-Kc is handled by the SGSN
independently from MSC .
IMPLEMENTATION

There are a number of different ways the mobile professional can be connected
to the corporate network via a notebook computer, using the GPRS network. It will be
up to the IS manager and telecom manager to decide which option serves their needs
best. The following section provides information on the two most common scenarios:
enterprise controlled connection, and connection through an ISP.

Enterprise Controlled Connection

Enterprise Centric Model

Fig 5 Enterprise Controlled Connection

This scenario allows for strong authentication and seamless allocation of IP

addresses from the corporate network. The GGSN is configured with the IP address of
the Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) server, the IP address of the Remote
Access Dial-In User System (RADIUS) server, and the required radius key. The user's
device will need to be configured with the desired APN and any relevant information
about the DNS and Windows Internet Name (WINS) server. To become connected, the
user provides all credentials required at the logon screens. The user will then be
allocated an IP address and can gain access to the corporate network. The link between
the corporate network and the GPRS network can be physically implemented using a
variety of common methods such as leased T1/E1 lines.

Connecting Through an ISP

ISP Centric Model

•JPH Link
 Fig 6 Connection Through ISP

Like the enterprise controlled connection, this method requires authentication

before gaining access to the corporate network. The difference is that the connection is
made by way of an Internet Service Provider (ISP). After connecting to the ISP by
selecting its APN, and completing the ISP authentication process successfully, the user
is allocated an IP address and obtains PDP context. Through this link to the Internet,
the user is able to connect to the corporate network. Configuration of the DNS and
WINS may involve client software tools. Once PDP context is activated, access is
similar to any other link from the Internet to the corporate network.
 GPRS APPLICATIONS

GPRS will enable a variety of new and unique services to the mobile wireless
subscriber. These mobile applications contain several unique characteristics that
enhance the value to the customers. First among them is mobility , the ability to
maintain constant voice and data communications while on the move. Second is
immediacy, which allows subscribers to obtain connectivity when needed, regardless of
location and without a lengthy login session. Finally, localization allows subscribers to
obtain information relevant to their current location.

Communications

Communications applications include all those in which it appears to the users

that they are using the mobile communications network purely as a pipe to access
messages or information.

Intranet Access

The first stage of enabling users to maintain contact with their office is through
access to e-mail, fax, and voice mail using unified messaging systems. Increasingly,
files and data on corporate networks are becoming accessible through corporate
intranets that can be protected through firewalls, by enabling secure tunnels.

Internet Access
As a critical mass of users is approached, more and more applications aimed at
general consumers are being placed on the Internet. The Internet is becoming an
invaluable tool for accessing corporate data as well as for the provision of product and
service information. More recently, companies have begun using the Internet as an
environment for carrying out business, through e-commerce.

E-Mail and Fax

 E-mail on mobile networks may take one of two forms. It is possible for e-mail
to be sent to a mobile user directly, or users can have an e-mail account maintained by
their network operator or their Internet service provider
(ISP).

Unified Messaging

Unified messaging uses a single mailbox for all messages, including voice mail,
faxes, email, short message service (SMS), and pager messages. With the various
mailboxes in one place, unified messaging systems then allow for a variety of access
methods to recover messages of different types. Some will use text-to-voice systems to
read e-mail and, less commonly, faxes over a normal phone line, while most will allow
the interrogation of the contents of the various mailboxes through data access, such as
the Internet. Others may be configured to alert the user on the terminal type of their
choice when messages are received.

Value-Added Services

Value-added services refer strictly to content provided by network

operators to increase the value of their service to their subscribers.
E-Commerce

E-commerce is defined as the carrying out of business on the Internet or data

service. This would include only those applications where a contract is established over
the data connection, such as for the purchase of goods, or services, as well as online
banking applications because of the similar requirements of user authentication and
secure transmission of sensitive data.

Banking

Specific banking functions that can be accomplished over a wireless

connection include balance checking, moving money between accounts, bill payment,
and overdraft alert.
Location-Based Services

Location-based services provide the ability to link push or pull information

services with a user's location. Examples include hotel and restaurant finders, roadside
assistance, and city-specific news and information.

Advertising

Advertising may be offered to customers to subsidize the cost of voice or other

information services. Advertising may be location sensitive where, for example, a user
entering a mall would receive advertising specific to the stores in that mall.
CONCLUSION

In summary, GPRS presents an intermediate step in bring high speed Internet

access to GSM users as the industry moves towards implementing 3 rd Generation
mobile services, known as UMTS (Universal Mobile Telephone Service). GPRS will
thrive in both vertical and horizontal markets where highspeed data transmission over
wireless networks is required. The deployment of GPRS networks will enable a
plethora of new applications ranging from mobile e-commerce to mobile corporate
VPN access. Deployment of GPRS will also have a great impact on the wireless data
traffic volume by generating new sources of revenue for the service providers,
especially since any current GSM network user can upgrade services to include high-
speed data. The only question is how soon it takes off in earnest and how to ensure that
the technical and commercial features do not hinder its widespread use.
GLOSSARY
2G Second generation; generic name for second generation of
digital mobile networks (such as GSM, and so on)
3G Third generation; generic name for next-generation mobile
networks (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System
[UMTS], IMT-2000)
BG Border gateway
BGP Border Gateway Protocol
BSC Base Station Controller
BTS Base transceiver station
CS Circuit switched
DCCH Dedicated control channel
DHCP Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol
DNS Domain Name System
EDGE Enhanced data rates for GSM evolution; upgrade to GPRS
systems that requires new base stations and claims to
 increase bandwidth to 384 kbps
EIR Equipment Identity Register
GGSN Gateway GPRS Support Node
Gi Reference point between GPRS and an external packet data
network
Gn Interface between two GSNs within the same PLMN
Gp Interface between two GSNs in different PLMNs
GPRS General Packet Radio Service; upgrade to existing 2G digital
mobile networks to provide higher-speed data services
GSM Global System for Mobile Communications; most widely
deployed 2G digital cellular mobile network standard
GSN GPRS Support Node (xGSN)
GTP GPRS Tunneling Protocol
GW Gateway
HDLC High-Level Data Link Control
HLR Home location register
HSCSD High-speed circuit-switched data; software upgrade for cellular
networks that gives each subscriber 56K data
IMSI International Mobile Subscriber Index
IP Internet Protocol
ISP Internet service provider
LA Local Area
LLC Logical Link Control
MAC Medium Access Control
MM Mobility management
MS Mobile station
MSC Mobile services switching center
NAS Network access server
PCU Packet control unit
PDA Personal digital assistant
PDN Packet data network
PDP Packet Data Protocol
PLMN Public Land Mobile Network; generic name for all mobile
wireless networks that use earth base stations rather than
satellites;
PSPDN Packet Switched Public Data Network
PSTN Public Switched Telephone Network
PVC Permanent virtual circuit
QoS Quality of service
RADIUS Remote Authentication Dial-In User Service
RLP Radio Link Protocol
SGSN Serving GPRS Support Node
SLA Service-level agreement
SMS Short message service
SMSC Short message service center
TCP Transmission Control Protocol
TCH Traffic channel
TE Terminal equipment
TDMA Time Division Multiple Access
TMSI Temporary Mobile Subscriber Index
TS Time slot
Um Interface between the MS and the GPRS fixed network part
UMTS Universal Mobile Telecommunications System
VAS Value-added services
VLR Visitor location register
VPN Virtual private network
WAP
Wireless access Protocol; important protocol stack (Layers 4
through 7 of the OSImodel), used to send simplified Web pages to
wireless devices; uses IP but replaces TCP and
Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) with UDP and WTP,
and requires pages to be written in WML rather than in
HTML
 REFERENCES

[1] PCQUEST February2003

It contains a brief description of GSM - GPRS network and its
architecture.

[2] Yes To GPRS, Simon Buckingam

This report shows how to make mobile data a success by maximizing
the use of, and therefore the revenue from, the General Packet Radio
Service (GPRS). "YES 2 GPRS" explains and interprets both the
existing and future aspects of GPRS. It provides both an explanation of
these developments, and analysis to help interpret them.

[3] http://www.cisco.com
Cisco's Whitepaper on GPRS has many important points about the
GPRS system. It is a very dependable whitepaper that talks about
different points like marketing, applications, core items in the GPRS
systems.

[4] http://www.gsmworld.com/technology/gprs/intro.shtml
GSM world is a good site that talks about the GPRS technology like
Speed, Immediacy New Applications , Better Applications and Service
Access

[5] http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/G/GPRS.html
This is a site that has information on meanings about GPRS and
explains the different parts.

[6] http://www.ee.oulu.fi/~fiat/gprs.html
This is a whitepaper that has many good points. Title is: "Lecturer:
Dr. Hannu H. Kari, Helsinki University of Technology"

[7] http:// www.nokia.com

[8] http://www.trillium.com
[9] http://www.mobileGPRS.com
[10]http://www.devzone.aethersystems.com
[11]http:// www.hssworld.com
101seminartopics.com

[12]http://: www.adax.co.uk
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I thank God Almighty for the

successful completion of my seminar. I
express my sincere gratitude to Dr. M N
Agnisharman Namboothiri, Head of the
Department, Information Technology. I
am deeply indebted to Staff-in-charge,
Miss. Sangeetha Jose and Mr. Biju, for
their valuable advice and guidance. I am
also grateful to all other members of the
faculty of Information Technology
department for their cooperation.

Finally, I wish to thank all my

dear friends, for their whole-hearted
cooperation, support and
encouragement.

Jalin.J
CO
NT
EN
TS

1. Introduction 1

2. A bit of history 5

3. Key network features of

GPRS 7

4. GPRS architecture 9

5. GPRS in action 13

6. Interface and protocols 19

7. GPRS security 23

8. Implementation 26
9. GPRS applications 28

10. Conclusion 31

11. Glossary 32

12. References 35