Logical,transport,physical channels

As shown in the figure, there are three types of UMTS channels viz. logical
channels(RLC layer), transport channels(MAC layer)
and physical channels(PHY layer). As they tranverse between layers they map
to other layer frames. For example logical channels are mapped to transport
channels and transport channels are mapped tp physical channels.
UMTS logical channels

As shown in the figure, UMTS/WCDMA logical channels are divided into control
channels and traffic channels(DTCH,CTCH). As the name suggests traffic
channels carry information(voice) annd control channels carry signalling
information useful to establish and maintain connection between UE and
network(NodeB).Following are the functions of each of these logical channels.
Pls. note that DL stands for Downlink from network to UE and UL stands for
Uplink from UE to Network.
DTCH(DL and UL, point to point)- Dedicated Traffic channel,carry user
information.
CTCH(unidirectional point to multi-point)-Common traffic channel.
BCCH(DL broadcast)- Broadcast Control Channel, carry SYSTEM
INFORMATION
CCCH(Bidirectional)- Common Control Channel
DCCH(Dedicated Control Channel, point to point bidirectional)
PCCH(Paging Control Channel,DL)-carry paging information
SHCCH(Shared Channel Control Channel,Bidirectional)

UMTS/WCDMA Logical
Channel Function Direction

Dedicated traffic carry user plane data (speech/packet Uplink(UL)/Downlink(DL

channel(DTCH) data) )

Dedicated control carry signalling messages used for

channel(DCCH) control operations Uplink/Downlink

Shared control
channel(SHCCH) carry control messages Uplink/Downlink

Common control
channel(CCCH) It is used to carry control messages Uplink/Downlink

Common traffic It is used to carry user traffic(e.g.cell

channel(CTCH) broadcast SMS) Downlink

Paging control It is used to carry paging messages

channel(PCCH) directed towards UE Downlink

Broadcast control It is used to carry broadcast messages

channel(BCCH) towards UE Downlink

UMTS Transport channels

Following are the transport type of UMTS channels.
BCH(DL broadcast) - SYSTEM/Cell related INFORMATION
FACH(DL/Forward Access Channel)- carry control information from network to
UE
PCH (DL)- Paging Channel
DCH (UL or DL) - Dedicated Channel
DSCH(DL) - Downlink Shared Channel
USCH(UL)- Uplink Shared Channel
RACH(UL)- Random Access Channel

UMTS/WCDMA
Transport Channel Function Direction

Random access
channel(RACH) It is used for initial access of the network by UE Uplink

Common packet
channel(CPCH) It is used as contention channel for bursty data Uplink

Forward access It is used to transfer user data/control signalling

channel(FACH) messages Downlink

Downlink shared It is used as shared channel carrying dedicated

channel(DSCH) user data/control messages in the downlink Downlink

Uplink shared It is used as shared channel carrying dedicated

channel(USCH) user data/control messages in the uplink Uplink
 Broadcast channel(BCH) Broadcast channel to all UEs in a cell Downlink

Broadcast of paging & notification messages,also

Paging channel(PCH) allows UE to make use of sleep Mode Downlink

It is used as dedicated channel to transfer Uplink/Downlin

Dedicated Channel(DCH) traffic/control messages in both the direction k

UMTS Physical channels

Following are physical type of UMTS channels for 3.84Mcps case.

P-CCPCH- Primary Common Control Physical Channel
SCH- Synchronization Channel
S-CCPCH- Secondary Common Control Physical Channel
PICH- Paging Indicator Channel
DPCH(DL)- Dedicated Physical Channel in the downlink
PDSCH-Physical Downlink Shared Channel
DPCH(UL)-Dedicated Physical Channel in the uplink
PUSCH- Physical Uplink Shared Channel
PRACH- Physical Random Access Channel
PNBSCH- Physical Node B Synchronization Channel
Mapping between channels

3G UMTS channel structures

3G UMTS uses CDMA techniques (as WCDMA) as its multiple access technology, but it additionally
uses time division techniques with a slot and frame structure to provide the full channel structure.
A channel is divided into 10 ms frames, each of which has fifteen time slots each of 666
microseconds length. On the downlink the time is further subdivided so that the time slots contain
fields that contain either user data or control messages.
On the uplink dual channel modulation is used so that both data and control are transmitted
simultaneously. Here the control elements contain a pilot signal, Transport Format Combination
Identifier (TFCI), FeedBack Information (FBI) and Transmission Power Control (TPC).
The channels carried are categorised into three:

Logical Channels: The logical channels define the way in which the data will be
transferred

Transport Channels: The 3G transport channels along with the logical channel again
defines the way in which the data is transferred
 Physical channels: The physical channels carry the payload data and govern the physical
characteristics of the signal.
The channels are organised such that the logical channels are related to what is transported,
whereas the physical layer transport channels deal with how, and with what characteristics. The
MAC layer provides data transfer services on logical channels. A set of logical channel types is
defined for different kinds of data transfer services.

3G UMTS Logical Channels:

The 3G logical channels include:

Broadcast Control Channel (BCCH) (downlink). This channel broadcasts information to

UEs relevant to the cell, such as radio channels of neighbouring cells, etc.

Paging Control Channel (PCCH) (downlink). This channel is associated with the PICH
and is used for paging messages and notification information.

Dedicated Control Channel (DCCH) (up and downlinks) This channel is used to carry
dedicated control information in both directions.

Common Control Channel (CCCH) (up and downlinks). This bi-directional channel is used
to transfer control information.

Shared Channel Control Channel (SHCCH) (bi-directional). This channel is bi-directional

and only found in the TDD form of WCDMA / UMTS, where it is used to transport shared
channel control information.

Dedicated Traffic Channel (DTCH) (up and downlinks). This is a bidirectional channel
used to carry user data or traffic.

Common Traffic Channel (CTCH) (downlink) A unidirectional channel used to transfer

dedicated user information to a group of UEs.

3G UMTS Transport Channels:

The 3G UMTS transport channels include:

Dedicated Transport Channel (DCH) (up and downlink). This is used to transfer data to a
particular UE. Each UE has its own DCH in each direction.

Broadcast Channel (BCH) (downlink). This channel broadcasts information to the UEs in
the cell to enable them to identify the network and the cell.

Forward Access Channel (FACH) (down link). This is channel carries data or information
to the UEs that are registered on the system. There may be more than one FACH per cell as
they may carry packet data.
 Paging Channel (PCH) (downlink). This channel carries messages that alert the UE to
incoming calls, SMS messages, data sessions or required maintenance such as re-
registration.

Random Access Channel (RACH) (uplink). This channel carries requests for service from
UEs trying to access the system

Uplink Common Packet Channel (CPCH) (uplink). This channel provides additional
capability beyond that of the RACH and for fast power control.

Downlink Shared Channel (DSCH) (downlink).This channel can be shared by several

users and is used for data that is "bursty" in nature such as that obtained from web browsing
etc.

3G UMTS Physical Channels:

The 3G UMTS physical channels include:

Primary Common Control Physical Channel (PCCPCH) (downlink). This channel

continuously broadcasts system identification and access control information.

Secondary Common Control Physical Channel (SCCPCH) (downlink) This channel

carries the Forward Access Channel (FACH) providing control information, and the Paging
Channel (PACH) with messages for UEs that are registered on the network.

Physical Random Access Channel (PRACH) (uplink). This channel enables the UE to
transmit random access bursts in an attempt to access a network.

Dedicated Physical Data Channel (DPDCH) (up and downlink). This channel is used to
transfer user data.

Dedicated Physical Control Channel (DPCCH) (up and downlink). This channel carries
control information to and from the UE. In both directions the channel carries pilot bits and
the Transport Format Combination Identifier (TFCI). The downlink channel also includes the
Transmit Power Control and FeedBack Information (FBI) bits.

Physical Downlink Shared Channel (PDSCH) (downlink). This channel shares control
information to UEs within the coverage area of the node B.

Physical Common Packet Channel (PCPCH) This channel is specifically intended to

carry packet data. In operation the UE monitors the system to check if it is busy, and if not it
then transmits a brief access burst. This is retransmitted if no acknowledgement is gained
with a slight increase in power each time. Once the node B acknowledges the request, the
data is transmitted on the channel.

Synchronisation Channel (SCH) The synchronisation channel is used in allowing UEs to

synchronise with the network.
 Common Pilot Channel (CPICH) This channel is transmitted by every node B so that the
UEs are able estimate the timing for signal demodulation. Additionally they can be used as a
beacon for the UE to determine the best cell with which to communicate.

Acquisition Indicator Channel (AICH) The AICH is used to inform a UE about the Data
Channel (DCH) it can use to communicate with the node B. This channel assignment occurs
as a result of a successful random access service request from the UE.

Paging Indication Channel (PICH) This channel provides the information to the UE to be
able to operate its sleep mode to conserve its battery when listening on the Paging Channel
(PCH). As the UE needs to know when to monitor the PCH, data is provided on the PICH to
assign a UE a paging repetition ratio to enable it to determine how often it needs to 'wake up'
and listen to the PCH.

CPCH Status Indication Channel (CSICH) This channel, which only appears in the
downlink carries the status of the CPCH and may also be used to carry some intermittent, or
"bursty" data. It works in a similar fashion to PICH.

Collision Detection/Channel Assignment Indication Channel (CD/CA-ICH) This

channel, present in the downlink is used to indicate whether the channel assignment is
active or inactive to the UE.
By using the logical, physical and transport channels it is possible to carry the data for the control
and payload in a structured manner and provide efficient effective communications. The 3G UMTS
channels are thus an essential element of the overall system.