2

4
6

WiMAX End-to-End Network Systems Architecture

(Stage 2: Architecture Tenets, Reference Model and Reference Points)
[3GPP – WiMAX Interworking]

This is a work-in-progress draft, subject to change.

August 8, 2006 Release 1 V&V DRAFT

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 NWG Stage 2 - 3GPP - WiMAX Interworking - Release 1

1 TABLE OF CONTENTS
2 1. INTERNETWORKING WITH 3GPP...............................................................................................................2
3 1.1 SCOPE .............................................................................................................................................................2
4 1.2 INTEGRATION OF WIMAX ACCESS NETWORK ACCORDING TO THE 3GPP TS 23.234 MODEL .......................2
5 1.3 DETAILED ARCHITECTURE OF THE WIMAX ACCESS NETWORK ....................................................................2
6 1.4 REFERENCE POINTS LINKING THE WIMAX ACCESS NETWORK TO THE 3GPP SYSTEM .................................2
7 1.5 ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS AND LIMITATIONS REQUIRING FURTHER STUDY ..........................................2
8

9 TABLE OF FIGURES
10 Figure 1 - Loose Coupling Approach to WiMAX Interworking with 3GPP core .........................................................2
11 Figure 2 - WiMAX 3GPP Network Interworking General Architecture .......................................................................2
12 Figure 3 - WiMAX-3GPP Interworking (Non-Roaming Case).....................................................................................2

13

14 TABLES
15 Table 1 WiMAX-3GPP Interworking Scenarios (Based on Table 3 of TR 22.934)......................................................2

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1 1. Internetworking with 3GPP

2 Note: See §3.0 References in WiMAX End-to-End Network Systems Architecture [Part 1] for references cited in
3 this document.

4 1.1 Scope
5 WiMAX-3GPP Interworking refers to the integration of a WiMAX Access Network to an existing 3GPP core
6 network. Loosely coupled Interworking, compatible with PWLAN-3GPP Interworking as specified in Release 6, is
7 preferred.

Internet
Billing Server
PDG

Home AAA WAG Home Agent

3GPP Core
Network

GCSN WiMAX Network

Service Provider

SGSN Local AAA

RNC

3GPP Access Loosely-Coupled

Network Internetworking WiMAX ASN

WiMAX Base Stations

3GPP WiMAX
Card Card

8 UE

9 Figure 1 - Loose Coupling Approach to WiMAX Interworking with 3GPP core

10 This architecture enables a 3GPP operator to grant its authenticated subscribers access to 3GPP services (3GPP PS
11 Packet Switched domain) through a WiMAX Access Network.
12 We introduce here the notion of WiMAX Access Network by analogy to the WLAN Access Network used in [68].
13 We will describe more precisely later in the following sections what WiMAX Access Network refers to in terms of
14 WiMAX entities.
15 3GPP has defined in [68] (and more generally in the .234 family which mainly includes TS 24.234, TS 29.234 and
16 TS 33.234) an architecture describing Interworking between 3GPP systems and Wireless Local Area Networks
17 (WLAN). For consistency in the near term, WiMAX Interworking SHALL be compatible with the aforementioned
18 specifications for WLAN - 3GPP Interworking. The long term architecture shall be aligned with 3GPP SAE work..

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1 [68] provides stage 2 specifications for the first three interworking scenarios described in [65] for public WLAN
2 Interworking with 3GPP Networks. This informative section will map the first three scenarios of WiMAX-3GPP
3 Interworking to the first three WLAN-3GPP Interworking (As it has been done in Annex A of [79]).
4 The features of these scenarios are summarized in the table A1- (based on a table from 3GPP TR 22.934 document)
5 and described hereafter.
6 • Scenario 1 is the simplest case and does not have any impacts on neither 3GPP nor WiMAX architecture. This
7 just means a transparency for the subscriber in its relationship with his/her operator: the subscriber will be
8 charged on the same bill for usage of both 3GPP and WiMAX services, and custom care will be ensured
9 without dependency on the connecting platform.
10 • In Scenario 2 (or WiMAX Direct IP access), a subscriber MAY use the WiMAX Access network to access e.g.
11 the Internet, but AAA operations are handled by the 3GPP platform.
12 • Scenario 3 (or WiMAX 3GPP IP access) allows the operator to extend 3GPP system Packet Switched (PS)
13 based services to the WiMAX network. In this scenario, an authenticated 3GPP subscriber can access to 3GPP
14 PS services through a WiMAX Access Network Interworking with its 3GPP PLMN (non roaming case) or with
15 a visited 3GPP PLMN (roaming case).
16 Note, that for WiMAX 3GPP IP access, per TS23.234 WiMAX Direct IP access has to be performed in advance for
17 initiating protection of the R1 wireless link and the final establishment of the Wu tunnel.

18 Table 1 WiMAX-3GPP Interworking Scenarios (Based on Table 3 of TR 22.934)

Scenarios

Scenario 2: Scenario 3:
Scenario 1:
Service and 3GPP system Access to
Common
operational based Access 3GPP system
Billing and
Capabilities: Control and PS based
Customer Care
Charging services

Common Billing
X X X

Common Customer
Care X X X

3GPP System Based

Access Control X X

3GPP System Based

Access Charging X X

Access to 3GPP
System PS Based X
Services from WiMAX

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1 1.2 Integration of WiMAX Access Network According to the 3GPP TS 23.234

2 Model
3 Our goal is to fit WiMAX-3GPP Interworking in the present 3GPP model of Interworking with alternate Access
4 Networks. That implies a certain number of requirements from 3GPP side.
5 • From a 3GPP network perspective, a WLAN Interworking is considered as an untrusted network. As WiMAX
6 is also presently considered an untrusted network, it is then necessary to ensure the same level of security to a
7 user for WiMAX 3GPP IP access through this interworking network than a user accessing the 3GPP IP services
8 under regular 3GPP operations.
9 AAA traffic: Proper security and trust relationship need to exist between the 3GPP AAA server and the
10 WiMAX Access Network to support proper transfer of security, authorization and accounting material.
11 Data traffic: The technical solution chosen by 3GPP for WLAN 3GPP IP access security (described mainly in
12 [74]) is to establish a tunnel between the user equipment and the 3GPP Gateway located on the border of 3GPP
13 PS.
14 • Unless otherwise mentioned, all the content of the [68] SHALL be applied to the WiMAX Interworking case.
15 Figure A.3 (based on figure 4.1 of [68]) describes the interaction between an Interworking Network (e.g. WiMAX
16 Access Network) and the rest of the [68] architecture.

Internet/
Intranet

3GPP AAA
Interworking Server
Network
UE
e.g. WLAN or WiMAX
Parket Data
Access network
GW

Internet/
3GPP PS
Services

17

18 Figure 2 - WiMAX 3GPP Network Interworking General Architecture

19 • This subsection concentrates on the interfaces between the WiMAX Access Network bloc and the 3GPP
20 Network bloc.
21 • The internal operations of the 3GPP bloc are defined in [68].
22 • The detailed architecture of the WiMAX Access Network bloc will be described in the following section.
23 • All the internal operations of the WiMAX Access Network bloc SHALL be done according to what is described
24 in the appropriate sections of the NWG document (normal WiMAX operations).
25 This document only considers the 3GPP non-roaming case (access to the home 3GPP PLMN through the WiMAX
26 Access Network), because the changes implied by the roaming case (when the WiMAX Access Network is
27 connected to a visited 3GPP PLMN) do not affect the WiMAX Access Network bloc and are thus out of scope of
28 this document (this is described in [68])

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1 1.3 Detailed Architecture of the WiMAX Access Network

WiMAX Access Network

Internet

Another
WiMAX
ASN 3GPP Home Network

R4
3GPP
Wa AAA
AAA AAA
MS Client Server
Relay
R1 R3 Wn Packet Data
WAG Wp PDG Wi
Network (3GPP PS,
WiMAX WiMAX
Internet)
ASN CSN IWU

Wu (=R2)
2

3 Figure 3 - WiMAX-3GPP Interworking (Non-Roaming Case)

4 Figure 3 represents the WiMAX-3GPP Interworking architecture and the appropriate Reference Points.
5 What is referred to as WiMAX Access Network by analogy to WLAN Access Network is thus composed of
6 WiMAX ASNs, connected to the 3GPP Network through a WiMAX CSN providing IP Connectivity.
7 This slight difference is due to the fact that unlike the WLAN AN, which provides Internet connectivity in [68], the
8 WiMAX ASN does not provide direct Internet connectivity nor IP address management.
9 Therefore, a WiMAX CSN is introduced to provide the required WiMAX CSN functions like local IP address
10 (DHCP, DNS) management as well as Internet connectivity to the MS. For this, CSN anchored mobility using PMIP
11 according to section 7 of this specification, must be supported.
12 It MAY also provide NAT functionality in case of private IP usage in WiMAX Access Network.
13 The WiMAX CSN also provides a AAA proxy/server. This AAA proxy/server is in the path of the AAA signaling
14 between the AAA client of the ASN and the 3GPP AAA server in the 3GPP home network (Wa interface to the
15 3GPP core network). It is responsible for generating appropriate PMIP keys and distributing these keys to the
16 involved entities of the WiMAX network (i.e., HA and PMIP client). Distribution of these key happens in
17 compliance with the mechanisms specified in section 7.8.1, where the AAA proxy/server (instead of the 3GPP AAA
18 that is not assumed to be WiMAX MIP-aware) interfaces with the HA in the CSN, and adds the PMIP keys to the
19 AAA response of the 3GPP AAA server during user authentication, such that the PMIP client in the ASN receives
20 these keys required for PMIP operation.
21 The MS in this release must not use CMIP for WiMAX interworking by 3GPP subscribers. If the WiMAX CSN
22 receives a CMIP registration attempt by a 3GPP subscriber using WiMAX direct IP access, this registration attempt
23 will fail due to wrong CMIP keys.
24 It is also not supported to run a combined device/user authentication (using single-EAP) due to the fact that a 3GPP
25 AAA server cannot be assumed to support this authentication mode.
26 It is, however, possible to perform device authentication in addition to user authentication if device authentication
27 terminates in the WiMAX network.

28 1.4 Reference Points Linking the WiMAX Access Network to the 3GPP System
29 • In the current [68], reference point Ww connects the User Equipment to the WLAN Access Network; it
30 mandates on this reference point the use of 802.1X to address the lack of a proper Access Control in 802.11.

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1 • [1] directly addresses this problem by the use of PKMv2 (which can in particular transport the two requested
2 authentications methods of [68]: EAP-SIM and EAP-AKA), so we will keep in this model the Reference Point
3 R1 between the WiMAX MS and the WiMAX ASN.
4 • For matter of simplicity, the ultimate goal will be to use the Ww reference point in this model as well. That will
5 be possible when relevant adaptation will be made in [68] to also address the specificities of [1].
6 • Wu remains as defined in [68] and refers to tunnel establishment and tear down between MS and the
7 appropriate PDG (Packet Data Gateway), as well as user data packet transmission through this tunnel. PDG
8 functionalities are described in details in [68].
9 • Wa is dedicated to the transport of AAA messages coming from the MS between the AAA client located in the
10 WiMAX Access Network to 3GPP AAA server. A AAA Proxy/Server must be located in the CSN to provision
11 keys for mobile IP operation within the WiMAX network. In cases where the WiMAX and 3GPP AAA
12 infrastructure speak different AAA protocols, a RADIUS/Diameter translation box needs to be inserted at one
13 side of the Wa interface.
14 • Wn links the WiMAX Access network and the WAG (WLAN Access Gateway). The WAG is a gateway
15 toward which the data coming from the WiMAX Access Network SHALL be routed. It is used to enforce the
16 routing of packets through the appropriate PDG. WAG functionalities are described in details in [68].

17 1.5 Additional Considerations and Limitations Requiring Further Study

18 • Network Detection and selection: once the MS has detected the available ASNs and corresponding IWU CSN in
19 a given area by the means of methods described in section 7.1 of the NWG document, the selection of the
20 PLMN SHALL be done accordingly to TS 23.234.
21 • Inter/Intra ASN mobility: As far as scenarios up to scenario 3 are concerned (no inter-system mobility
22 considered), inter/intra ASN mobility SHALL be transparent to the 3GPP system part. It can be achieved by the
23 use of MIP protocol as defined in the corresponding part of the NWG document. (HA located in the WiMAX
24 CSN).
25 • Scenario 3 based on the Wu Reference point consisting in the VPN tunnel might not allow the WiMAX
26 terminal to enter the idle mode for power consumption saving due to the maintenance of the VPN connection in
27 an active state. Further development with 3GPP SA2 is required to enable idle terminals.
28 • WiMAX provides powerful and flexible QoS handling which can't be fully utilized within the current 3GPP-
29 WLAN Interworking specification. 3GPP SA2 is currently extending the specification for utilizing QoS-enabled
30 IP-based access networks.
31 • For leveraging the MIP functionality in the WiMAX for inter-technology handovers, it would be wishful to
32 overcome the limitation of Wu reference point. Further development with 3GPP SA2 is required.
33 • Handoff capability from 3GPP network to WiMAX network is usually referred as scenario 4 (intersystem
34 mobility) and 5 (seamless intersystem mobility). These scenarios are out of scope of release 1, but they will be
35 addressed in future releases.
36 • Some cleaning/rephrasing has to be done in the subsequent 3GPP specifications to fully include WiMAX
37 Interworking in their scope. Namely, all the section dealing with ND&S, Ww Reference Point in [68], [72], [73]
38 and [74] have to be adapted to reflect more technology neutrality.
39 • Work has to be done in close relationship with 3GPP to study how WiMAX specificities (including Idle Mode
40 and QoS and future inter-technology handover as said in the points above) could be taken in account in the
41 Interworking architecture model.
42 • CMIP operation, due to the fact that
43 o a 3GPP AAA server cannot be assumed to derive WiMAX-specific mobility keys from the EMSK, and
44 o the (visited) WiMAX network and roaming 3GPP subscribers cannot be assumed to have pre-shared
45 mobility keys,

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1 is not supported by this WiMAX release. For future releases the goal is to also support CMIP operation for
2 roaming 3GPP subscribers.

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