Wireless 3G Core Network

IP Network Simulation

MAPS™ UMTS for IuPS Interface Emulator

Simulation of UMTS protocol for IuPS interface, a Gateway to the World Wide Web connecting RNC (Radio Network Controller) and the SGSN (Serving GPRS Support Node) elements handling data traffic.

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MAPS™ UMTS for IuPS Interface Emulator Architecture

Background

UMTS, or Universal Mobile Telecommunications System is a 3rd generation mobile technology evolved from GSM technology. It uses W-CDMA (Wideband Code Division Multiple Access) as radio access. With increased spectral efficiency and high bandwidth, UMTS can support broadband data, voice and video. The underlying transport for UMTS in the core network can be Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM), or IP.

UMTS supports integrated services such as multimedia and global roaming to mobile users. In essence, UMTS IuPs interface is the Gateway to the World Wide Web. More precisely, IuPs, as shown in the figure, is the interface between the RNC (Radio Network Controller) and the SGSN (Serving GPRS Support Node). 

SGSN manages mobile location whether within the carrier's network or roaming outside.  Once a user turns on her mobile, a new IP address gets assigned and IP connectivity is available with quality of service (bit rate allocation) based on subscription, and tunnels are created for mobile flows to/from that mobile.  These data tunnels carry encapsulated traffic such as http, ftp, email, etc.  SMS may also be carried by the signaling plane to/from the mobile.  IuPs emulation and analysis can be very important in the design, verification, and troubleshooting of a carrier's mobile data network.

The IP based UMTS network consists of the following components -

  • Radio Network Controller (RNC)
  • Mobile Switching Center (MSC)
  • Serving GPRS Support Node (SGSN)
  • Gateway GPRS Support Node (GGSN)
  • NodeB
  • Femto Home NodeB (Femto Cell) and Femto Home Node Gateway (HNB-GW)

Overview

GL's Message Automation & Protocol Simulation (MAPS™), is a protocol simulation and conformance test tool that supports a variety of protocols such as SIP, MEGACO, ISDN, SS7, GSM, LTE, and many other TDM, IP, and Wireless protocols.  MAPS™ has been enhanced for testing UMTS IuPs interface. It can simulate RNC (Radio Network Controller), and 3G SGSN (3G Serving GPRS Support Node) by generating RANAP and DTAP signaling messages over SCTP as Transport layer in an IP network as defined by 3GPP standards.

The product also supports Mobile traffic core – GTP (ETH101) simulation for user-plane packet transmission and reception services between any two nodes in LTE and UMTS networks. Mobile Traffic Core – Gateway (ETH102) module allows simulation of Gateway Traffic to test media gateway telephony interfaces over IP. These modules also support generation and verification of data traffic such as Email, FTP, Web (HTTP), Video, and more.

The application gives the users the unlimited ability to edit messages and control scenarios (message sequence). “Message sequences” are generated through scripts. “Messages” are created using message templates.

The application is available as

  • MAPS™ - IuPS (Item # PKS164)

In addition, GL also supports the following UMTS analyzers and simulators:

GL has enhanced the MAPS™ protocol emulation tool to simulate multi-protocol and multi-interface offering a complete range of test solutions, covering the entire 2G, 3G, and 4G network.

By mimicking real-world customer behavior in lab environments, our solutions allow mobile operators and equipment manufacturers to verify their wireless networks before deployment. In other words, one can setup a virtual real-time network simulating all the network elements using “MAPS 3G Wireless Lab Suite”. The test suite supports simulation of IuH, IuCS, IuPS, C/D/Gr/Gd, and GnGp interfaces.


Main Features

  • Setup a virtual real-time network simulating 3G-UMTS network element using ‘MAPS™ 3G Wireless Lab Suite
  • Supports PS network web browsing data traffic simulation along with generation of real-world traffic in the lab
  • Simulates RNC, and SGSN network entities.
  • Generates and supports all GPRS Mobility Management, Session Management, RANAP and DTAP messages.
  • Supports GPRS Attach, Detach procedures, RUA, Paging, and Handover (Relocation) procedures.
  • Ready scripts for handling SCTP, M3UA, and SCMG (SCCP Management) procedures
  • Supports M3UA termination type as a signaling gateway process (SGP), an application server process (ASP), or an IP server process (IPSP).
  • Supports Packet Traffic, Mobile Traffic, Gateway Traffic, External Gateway simulation with additional licenses
  • Automation, Remote access, and Schedulers to run tests 24/7

Supported Protocol Standards

IuPS Interface
Supported Protocols Specification Used
SCTP RFC 4960
SCCP Q.713, CCITT (ITU-T) Blue Book
M3UA RFC 3332
RANAP 3GPP TS 25.413 V9.1.0
GMM / SM 3GPP TS 24.008 V5.16.0 (2006-06)
SMS 3GPP TS 03.40 V7.5.0 & 3GPP TS 04.11 V7.1.0 GSM 03.38 version 7.2.0 Release 1998
UMTS IuPS Protocol Stack

UMTS IuPS Protocol Stack

GPRS Attach Procedure

In IuPS interface, MAPS™ acts as either RNC to test SGSN (DUT) or SGSN to test RNC (DUT) simulating the Attach Request, Attach Accept, Attach Complete, Activate PDP Context Request, Activate PDP Context Accept, Deactivate PDP Contest Request, Deactivate PDP Contest Accept, Detach Request, Detach Accept, Iu-Release Command, Iu-Release Complete, and Routing Area Updating (RAU) procedures:

Typical Call Flow between the UMTS IuPS network entities

Typical Call Flow between the UMTS IuPS network entities

Attach Procedure at RNC Node over IuPS (Call Generation)

Attach Procedure at RNC Node over IuPS
(Call Generation)

Attach procedure at SGSN Node over IuPS (Call Reception)

Attach procedure at SGSN Node over IuPS
(Call Reception)

Paging Procedure

Paging is used by the network (SGSN) to request RNC that the establishment of PS signaling connection or to prompt the mobile to re-attach if necessary, as a result of network failure. If the MS receives the paging indication in the same access network, as when it last sent user data or signaling information, the MS (RNC) shall send the SERVICE REQUEST procedure indicating service type "paging response".

The network (SGSN) shall initiate the paging procedure using P-TMSI when user data is pending to be sent to the MS (RNC). The network may page only MSs (RNC's) which are GMM-REGISTERED and identified by a local P-TMSI.

Typical Paging Call Flow

Typical Paging Call Flow

Mobile Terminating Call GenerationMobile Terminating Call Generation
Mobile Terminating Call Reception

Mobile Terminating Call Reception

Relocation Procedure

This procedure is only performed for a UE in CONNECTED state where the Iur interface carries both the control signaling and the user data. The Serving SRNS Relocation procedure is used to move the connection between the RAN and the CN for the source SRNC to the RAN for the target RNC, from a "standing still position". In the procedure, the Iu links are relocated. If the target RNC is connected to the same SGSN as the source SRNC, an Intra-SGSN SRNS Relocation procedure is performed.

The procedure can be simulated in lab using MAPS™ IuPS configured as both Source RNC and Target RNC interconnected via SGSN.

Relocation procedure

The typical Relocation Procedure between Serving RNC, SGSN, and Target RNC is as depicted in the call flow below:

Relocation callflow

RNC1 Call Generation

RNC1 Call Generation

SGSN  Call Reception

SGSN Call Reception

RNC2 Call Reception

RNC2 Call Reception

features

Resources

Please Note: The XX in the Item No. refers to the hardware platform, listed at the bottom of the Buyer's Guide, which the software will be running on. Therefore, XX can either be ETA or EEA (Octal/Quad Boards), PTA or PEA (tProbe Units), XUT or XUE (Dual PCIe Express) depending upon the hardware.

  MAPS™ for Wireless Network
PKS164 MAPS™ UMTS IuPS Emulator
PKS160 MAPS™ UMTS IuCS IP Emulator
MAPS™ UMTS IuH IP Emulator
PKS166 MAPS™ UMTS Gn Gp Emulator
PKS140 MAPS™ LTE S1 Emulator
PKS142 MAPS™ LTE eGTP (S3, S4, S5, S8, S10, S11 & S16) Emulator
PKS141 MAPS™ LTE X2 AP Emulator
LTS220 MAPS UMTS IuCS ATM Emulator over OC-3 / STM-1
requires LTS214 + LightSpeed1000™ Hardware; optional LTS217
LTS214 OC-3 / STM-1 SSCOP Server
LTS320 MAPS UMTS IuCS ATM Emulator over OC-12 / STM-4
requires LTS314 + LightSpeed1000™ Hardware; optional LTS317
LTS314 OC-12 / STM-4 SSCOP Server
PKS131 MAPS™ Gb Emulator over IP for BSC & SGSN
  Related Hardware
LTS100 Lightspeed1000™ - Dual OC-3/12 STM-1/4 PCIe Card
   
 Item No. MAPS™ for IP Network
PKS122
PKS123
MAPS™ MEGACO Emulator
MAPS™ MEGACO Conformance Test Suite (Test Scripts)
PKS124
PKS125
MAPS™ MGCP Emulator
MAPS™ MGCP Conformance Test Suite (Test Scripts)
PKS120
PKS121
MAPS™ SIP Emulator
SIP Conformance Test Suite (Test Scripts)
PKS109 MAPS™ SIP HD
PKS126 MAPS™ SIP I Emulator
PKS130 MAPS™ SIGTRAN Emulator
PKS132 MAPS™ MAP IP Emulator
PKS151 MAPS™ CAMEL IP Emulator
PKS135 MAPS™ ISDN SIGTRAN (ISDN IP)
PKS137 MAPS™ GSM A IP Emulator
PKS155 MAPS™ BICC IP Emulator
PKS136 MAPS™ INAP Emulator (ANSI, ITU)
PKS139 MAPS™ Diameter Emulator
   
Item No. MAPS™ for TDM Network
(requires T1 or E1 Hardware and Basic Software)
XX642 MAPS™ ISDN & LAPD Conformance Emulator
XX648 MAPS™ ISDN Emulator
XX649 MAPS™ SS7 Emulator
XX647 MAPS™ SS7 Conformance
XX692 MAPS™ GSM A Emulator
XX693 MAPS™ GSM Abis Emulator
XX651 MAPS™ CAS Emulator
XX652 MAPS™ MC-MLPPP Conformance
XX694 MAPS™ MAP Emulator
XX696 MAPS™ CAP Emulator
XX656 MAPS™ INAP Emulator
XX624 MAPS™ FXO FXS Emulator
  Related Hardware
FTE001

ETE001
QuadXpress T1 E1 Main Board (Quad Port– requires additional licenses) 

OctalXpress T1 E1 Main Board plus Daughter Board (Octal Port– requires additional licenses)
PTE001 tProbe™ Dual T1 E1 Laptop Analyzer with Basic Analyzer Software
XTE001
Dual T1 E1 Express (PCIe) Boards (requires additional licenses)
   
Item No. Traffic Options
XX610
XX620
XX646
File based Record/Playback
Transmit/Detect digits (Place Call/ Answer Call)
Multi-Channel TRAU Tx/Rx Emulation and Analysis
PKS102 RTP Soft Core for RTP Traffic Generation
ETH100

ETH101

ETH102

ETH103
PacketCheck™ - Packet GTP Traffic Simulation

Mobile Traffic Core-GTP


Mobile Traffic Core-Gateway

Mobile Traffic Core - GPRS Gb
LTS217 OC-3 / STM-1 AAL2 Traffic Core
LTS317 OC-12 / STM-4 AAL2 Traffic Core
Item No. Related Software
XX120 SS7 Analyzer Software
OLV120 Offline/ Remote SS7 Analyzer Software
XX100 ISDN Analyzer Software
OLV100 Offline/ Remote ISDN Analyzer Software
XX150 T1 or E1 Real-time GSM Protocol Analyzer
OLV150 Offline T1 or E1 GSM Protocol Analyzer
XX165 T1 or E1 Real-time UMTS Protocol Analyzer
PKS120 MAPS™ SIP Emulator
PKV100 PacketScan™ (Online and Offline)
PKV120 PacketScan™ HD
PKV121 PacketScan™ FB
PKB100
PKB105
RTP Toolbox™
G.168 Echo Canceller Test Compliance Suite
PKV105 SIGTRAN Analyzer (requires PKV100)
PKV107 LTE Analyzer
PKS110 Packet H.323