UMTS Protocol Analyzer

Overview

UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System) being an access network in the mobile communication area provides a common interface to both GSM and GPRS core network. UMTS is capable of handling both Circuit-Switched (CS) as well as Packet-Switched (PS) data simultaneously through its UTRAN network. UMTS separates the user plane from control plane, radio network plane from the transport network plane, access network from the core network, and access stratum from the non-access stratum. Separation of transport network subsystem and radio network subsystem enables the UMTS to use multiple transport layer mechanism.

GL Communications supports the following types of UMTS analyzers:

• For UMTS over IP transport
  • GL's UMTS Protocol Analyzer (PKV103) is available as an optional module within PacketScan™ analyzer (PKV100) or PacketScan™ HD analyzer (PKV120/PKV122) upon additional licensing. GL's UMTS Analyzer over IP offers powerful features to capture, monitor, decode, and collect statistics of UMTS signaling messages over IuCS, and IuPS interfaces. Additionally, with the support of PKV105 license PacketScan™ can handle MAP, CAP, and INAP interfaces. For more details, visit Sigtran Analyzer.
• For UMTS over TDM transport
  • T1 E1 Real-time UMTS Analyzer (XX155) is available as an optional module within T1 E1 Analyzer. With this software, the T1 E1 Analyzer permits continuous real-time monitoring of ATM based UMTS signaling over Iub, Iur, IuCS, and IuPS interfaces. (Pre-requisites: GL's field proven E1 or T1 internal cards or USB based external units, required licenses and Windows® System)
  • T1 E1 Offline UMTS Analyzers (OLV155) is available as an independent software that allows to decode and analyze pre-recorded traces of ATM based UMTS signaling over IuCS, and IuPS interfaces.  (Pre-requisites: Hardware Dongle, and Windows® System)

GL's UMTS Protocol Analyzer is capable of capturing, decoding and performing various test measurements across UMTS network. It helps in fault diagnosis and troubleshooting of UMTS network.

In addition, it supports ATM as well as IP as the underlying transport layer. ATM based UMTS network is more popular since it ensures various QoS and Classes of Services to the end user.  Over ATM, the analyzer is also capable of capturing & reassembling frames that were transmitted with Inverse Multiplexing. With Inverse Multiplexing in ATM (IMA) feature, up to 8 T1 E1 links can be combined to form a high-speed connection, providing flexible bandwidth provisioning options. ATM cells are transmitted across multiple interfaces in a cyclical fashion, and recombined to form the original stream.

Highlights

• Call Trace capability over IuCS and IuPS interfaces
• Decodes different control plane protocols i.e. NBAP, RNSAP, RANAP, ALCAP, SSCOP etc and user plane protocols i.e. Iu-UP, Iu-FP, AMR etc
• Decode NAS protocols (i.e. CC/MM/SM/SMS/GMM) along with the UTRAN specific protocols

Over TDM

• Streams can be captured on the selected time slots (contiguous or non-contiguous), sub-channels or full bandwidth. Frames may also be contained in either one, n x 64 kbps, or n x 56 kbps data channels.
• Supports ATM mapping, scrambling, and inverse multiplexing (IMA) options
• CRC verification for AAL5 carrying packet data
• Ability to configure VPI/VCI values for PVCs carrying NBAP, RNSAP, RANAP and ALCAP messages

Related Applications

• MAPS UMTS IuCS IuH Emulator
• MAPS UMTS IuPS Emulator
• UMTS Wireless Lab
• Centralized 2G / 3G Network Monitoring

Bridge and Monitor Connections

• Monitor from a DSX-Patch Panel
• Bridge Mode Connections for Monitoring T1 E1 Signals for RJ-45
• Bridge Mode Connections Alternative Method
• RJ-45 Connections