Documentos de Académico
Documentos de Profesional
Documentos de Cultura
November 2009
By Yogesh V. Ranade
www.intellinet-tech.com
DIAMETER in the Evolved Packet Core
Page 2
LTE is the next major step in mobile radio communications and is introduced in
The EPC is an all- 3GPP Release 8. LTE uses Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) as its
IP, end-to-end radio access technology, together with advanced antenna technologies. In addition
to LTE, the 3GPP has also defined an IP-based flat network architecture. This
architecture for architecture is defined as part of the System Architecture Evolution (SAE) effort.
supporting mobile
access networks The key components of the Evolved Packet Core (EPC) are the evolved Universal
Mobile Telecommunications Service (UMTS) terrestrial Radio Access Network (RAN),
abbreviated as E-UTRAN, and the Evolved Packet Core (EPC). The E-UTRAN is also
known as LTE (the long-term evolution of 3G) and is based on Orthogonal Frequency
Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) radio access technology that has been highly
optimized for packet traffic. The EPC is an all-IP, end-to-end architecture for
supporting mobile access networks. The E-UTRAN consists of eNodeBs, which
provide the radio interface toward the user equipment. The eNodeBs are
interconnected with each other via the IP-based X2 interface and towards the
Evolved Packet Core (EPC) via the IP-based S1 interfaces.
The EPC (shown in Figure 1) can be broadly described as an evolution of the legacy
core network functions and procedures defined for UTRAN access with a clear
separation between control plane and user plane functions.
UTRAN
SGSN
GERAN HSS
S3
S1-MME S6a
MME
PCRF
S12 Rx
S11 Gx
S4
LTE-Uu S10
Serving S5 PDN SGi Operator's IP
UE E-UTRAN Gateway Gateway Services
S1-U (e.g. IMS, PSS etc.)
• Mobility Management Entity (MME): The MME is the control-plane function for E-
UTRAN access. It is responsible for authentication and critical management for
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DIAMETER in the Evolved Packet Core
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mobile devices as well as for tracking and paging procedures for mobiles in idle
mode. The MME authorizes bearer activation/deactivation including SGW and
Packet Data Network (PDN) gateway selection. The MME is in charge of all the
Control plane functions related to subscriber and session management. The MME is
linked through the S6 interface to the HSS which supports the database containing
all the user subscription information. The S6 interface to the HSS is based on the
Diameter protocol.
• Packet Data Network Gateway (PDN GW): The PDN GW is the permanent IP
point-of-attachment for access via the E-UTRAN. The PDN GW performs IP policy
and charging enforcement on packet flows to and from mobile devices. The same
access point name (APN) concepts from the UTRAN PS core network apply, allowing
a mobile device to have simultaneous connectivity to multiple PDNs. Similarly to
the Serving GW, the PDN gateway is the termination point of the packet data
interface towards the Packet Data Network. As an anchor point for sessions towards
the external Packet Data Networks, the PDN GW also supports Policy Enforcement
features (which apply operator-defined rules for resource allocation and usage) as
well as packet filtering (like deep packet inspection for virus signature detection)
and evolved charging support (like per URL charging).
HSS
SWx
Rx
hPCRF Operator's IP
S6a Gx Services
SGi (e.g. IMS, PSS
PDN etc.) 3GPP AAA
Gateway Server
HPLMN
S6b
S9
S2b SWd
S8
vPCRF
3GPP Serving
Access Gateway Gxc
Gxb
3GPP AAA
Proxy
SWm
S2a
ePDG
VPLMN
Non-3GPP
Networks Gxa SWn
Trusted Untrusted
Non-3GPP IP Non-3GPP IP
Access Access
SWa STa
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DIAMETER in the Evolved Packet Core
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policy control and charging is already based on Diameter. This means all interfaces
in the architecture are IP interfaces.
A Diameter Base Protocol Network consists of the following Diameter nodes, each of
which is a host process that implements the Diameter protocol:
Diameter Client - A device at the edge of the network that performs access
control. An example of a Diameter client is a Network Access Server (NAS) or a
Foreign Agent (FA).
Diameter Agent - A Diameter node that provides relay, proxy, redirect or
translation services.
Diameter Server - Handles authentication, authorization and accounting
requests for a particular realm. By its nature, Diameter Server must support
Diameter applications in addition to the base protocol.
Figure 4 below depicts the different kinds of Diameter entities. The Client and
Server are applicable from the IMS and LTE/EPC perspective.
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DIAMETER in the Evolved Packet Core
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Proxy Agent Also routes messages, but can modify message content to
enable policy, resource usage, admission and provisioning
The base protocol defines the basic Diameter message format. Data is carried
Interfaces within a Diameter message as a collection of Attribute Value Pairs (AVP). An AVP
supporting AAA consists of multiple fields: an AVP Code, a Length, Flags, and Data. Some AVPs are
used by the Diameter base protocol; other AVPs are intended for the Diameter
functions are application.
defined by 3GPP
The 3GPP standards defined the applications for the various interfaces supporting
Standards the AAA functions in the IMS and the EPS network. In the IMS and the EPS reference
architecture, the HSS holds all the information about the subscriber and
subscription. Access to any information regarding this profile needs to be queried
from the HSS such as the location, authorization for conferencing etc. These
messages are defined in terms of a command set identified by the various reference
points, which are the S6a, Cx/Dx, Sh, Rf/Ro, Gq, Wx. So on the subscriber related
interfaces Cx, Sh, you are likely to see requests to access and update the subscriber
profile. On the Rf/Ro charging interfaces, the requests cover the accounting
aspects, credit control etc.
In addition to defining these message sets, 3GPP also mandated the use of SCTP for
reliable transport and using methods of IPSec/TLS to secure the sensitive data
flowing on this network.
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DIAMETER in the Evolved Packet Core
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S6b is the reference point between PDN Gateway and 3GPP AAA server/proxy for
mobility related authentication if needed. This reference point may also be used to
retrieve and request storage of mobility parameters. This reference point may also
be used to retrieve static QoS profile for a UE for non-3GPP access in case dynamic
PCC is not supported.
Gx provides transfer of (QoS) policy and charging rules from PCRF to Policy and
Charging Enforcement Function (PCEF) in the PDN GW.
Gxa provides transfer of (QoS) policy information from PCRF to the Trusted Non-
3GPP accesses.
Gxc provides transfer of (QoS) policy information from PCRF to the Serving Gateway
S9 provides transfer of (QoS) policy and charging control information between the
Home PCRF and the Visited PCRF in order to support local breakout function. In all
other roaming scenarios, S9 has functionality to provide dynamic QoS control
policies from the HPLMN.
SWa connects the untrusted non-3GPP IP Access with the 3GPP AAA Server/Proxy
and transports access authentication, authorization and charging-related
information in a secure manner.
STa connects the trusted non-3GPP IP Access with the 3GPP AAA Server/Proxy and
transports access authentication, authorization, mobility parameters and charging-
related information in a secure manner.
SWd connects the 3GPP AAA Proxy, possibly via intermediate networks, to the 3GPP
LTE/EPS is well AAA Server.
positioned to meet
the requirements of SWm is the reference point located between 3GPP AAA Server/Proxy and ePDG and
is used for AAA signalling (transport of mobility parameters, tunnel authentication
next generation and authorization data). This reference point also includes the MAG-AAA interface
networks functionality, IETF Internet-Draft, draft-ietf-dime-pmip6-01 and Mobile IPv6 NAS-
AAA interface functionality, RFC 5447.
SWx is the reference point located between 3GPP AAA Server and HSS and is used
for transport of authentication, subscription and PDN connection related data.
References
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DIAMETER in the Evolved Packet Core
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rd
3 Generation Universal Mobile Telecommunication
3G/UMTS
System
AAA Authorization, Authentication and Accounting
Home eNodeB 3GPP term for an LTE femtocell
EPC Evolved Packet Core
EPS Evolved Packet System
Evolved Universal Mobile Telecommunications Service
E-UTRAN
(UMTS) terrestrial Radio Access Network (RAN)
nd
2 Generation Groupe System for Mobile
GSM
Communications
Home Node B 3GPP term for a 3G femtocell
HSPA High Speed Packet Access
HSS Home Subscriber Server
IMS IP Multimedia Subsystem
LTE Long Term Evolution
MAP/SS7 Mobile Application Part/ Signaling System 7
MME Mobility Management Entity
OFDM Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing
PDN Packet Data Network
PDN GW Packet Data Network Gateway
RAN Radio Access Network
SAE System Architecture Evolution
SGW Serving Gateway
UMTS Universal Mobile Telecommunications Service
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