Mobile Networks Architecture

Chapter 2

The GPRS Network

In this chapter, section 2.1 explains the data transmission service provided by the GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) mobile network. This service is implemented in PS (Packet Service) mode, which has a resource shared by a set of flows reserved for it. The increase in rate at 171.2 kbps is obtained by carrying out a concatenation of the radio channel’s eight slots.

Section 2.2 explains the architecture of the GPRS mobile network, which consists of two sub-systems. The BSS (Base Station Sub-system) access network defined within the GSM network is evolving with regard to the method for allocating the radio resource to the mobile. The GSS (GPRS Sub-System) core network is a new entity that is used to establish a link between the BSS networks and the third-party PDN (Packet Data Network) or the Internet.

Section 2.3 describes the radio interface between the mobile and the GPRS mobile network. The description of the transmission chain is essentially concerned with the channel coding, time-division multiplexing of logical channels and the data link protocols.

Section 2.4 describes the procedures concerning the establishment of a session (attachment to the network and detachment), the transfer of traffic, the management of mobile roaming and location management.

Finally, section 2.5 discusses the EDGE (Enhanced Data for Global Evolution), which consists of an increase in the rate to 473.6 kbps thanks to a new type of modulation, for which a new channel coding ...