machine type communications: 3gpp standards perspective

3GPP Standards Perspective

Nadeem Akhtar

Centre of Excellence in Wireless Technology

Overview

Technical Challenges

3GPP M2M Architecture

Features and Enhancements

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Work on M2M standards is currently ongoing in several standardization bodies including 3GPP

3GPP specifies standards for 2G, 3G and 4G wireless communication technologies

3GPP is also working on specifications for deploying M2M services over 2G/3G/4G networks ◦ 3GPP prefers to call it Machine-Type Communication (MTC)

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Source: ETSI

Current mobile networks were designed for human-to-human and human-to-machine interactions ◦ Telephony

◦ SMS/MMS

◦ Multimedia download and streaming

M2M networks are characterised by ◦ Communication that involves little or no human interaction

◦ Large number of devices

◦ Periodic or intermittent network access

◦ Small amount of data per ‘session’

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Device/Service Characteristics

System Requirement

Low Mobility Simplification of mobility control procedures

Time Controlled Enable communication at specific times only

Time Tolerant Low priority while allocating transmission resources

Small Data Transmissions

Reduction in control signaling and the number of concurrent/active network connections

Packet Switched Data Only

Access to services with or without a mobile number

Mobile Originated Only Reduction in frequency of mobility control

Device Triggering Transmission of trigger from network to control device

Device Grouping Aggregate a set of devices to optimize control

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Source: TNO

The following features and enhancements have been identified by 3GPP for Machine Type Communications

◦ Overload/Congestion Control

◦ Identifiers and Addressing

◦ Triggering and Remote Management

◦ Subscription Control and Charging

◦ Security

◦ Lower Device Cost

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MTC App MTC App MTC Device

Operator

Network MTC Server

MTC Interworking

Function

Direct

◦ The MTC Application communicates with the MTC device directly as an OTT application on mobile network

Indirect

◦ The MTC Application makes use of an MTC Server provided by the operator

◦ The interface between the MTC Server and the MTC application remains still out of the scope of 3GPP

◦ The communication between the MTC server and the mobile network becomes internal to the PLMN

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Service Provider Controlled

◦ The MTC Application makes use of an MTC Server, provided by

a third party Service Provider

◦ The interface between the MTC server and the MTC application is totally out of the scope of 3GPP

◦ The MTC server communicates with the 3GPP network by means of an interface or set of interfaces

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MTC App

Operator Network


MTC App

MTC Server

Operator Network



Operator Network B

MTC Server

MTC App

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3 GPP Boundary

MTC Server

API Gi / SGi

Legacy SMS IP SMS

MTCsp

service provider controlled

operator controlled

Gr / S 6 a / S 6 d

RAN MTC Application

Control plane User plane

Indirect Model

Direct Model

Hybrid Model

Gi / SGi

UE MTC User

MTCsms

GGSN / S - GW + P - GW

MTC - IWF

HLR / HSS

SGSN / MME

SMS - SC / IP - SM - GW

Um / Uu /

LTE - Uu

1

2

2

1

1 2 +

MTC Application

CDF / CGF

T 4

T 5 a / T 5 b

Rf / Ga S 6 m

Gn / Gp / S 1 - U

MTC-related enhancements defined in 3GPP Rel. 10 and Rel. 11 specifications to address overload

3G/4G networks ◦ ‘Delay-tolerant’ indication sent by MTC device to RAN at setup

◦ RAN can reject/release “delay tolerant” connections with “extended wait timer” (up to 30min)

◦ CN can indicate “overload” to RAN to limit delay-tolerant traffic

2G networks ◦ CN can notify GERAN of a CN overload situation

◦ An implicit reject mechanism can be used by the network to reject all devices configured for low priority access

◦ MTC-specific broadcast mechanism for access barring

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Release 11 of 3GPP will be frozen by March 2013

In parallel, work on Rel. 12 has already started ◦ MTC work will continue in Release 12 also

Study on low-cost MTC devices for LTE is currently ongoing

Work towards specifications for such devices is expected to start next year

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