LTE PHY Engineering
This course provides an in-depth description of the LTE PHY layer and E-UTRA nodes, namely Evolved-NB (eNB) and UE. Theory is combined with the hands-on lab demonstrations and exercises by using the state-of-the-art LTE PHY Lab, which is a comprehensive implementation of the 3GPP Release 8 E-UTRA physical layer. This means generation and observation of the eNB and UE signals, as well as calculation of the key radio interface parameters. Students are guided through the architecture of the eNB and UE, and have the chance to learn the role of each processing block, as well as to generate PHY layer waveforms corresponding to every physical channel. In addition to that, they evaluate the influence of such effects like uncompensated synchronization offsets or channel impairments. Observations are made either in the time domain (oscilloscope function) or in the frequency domain (spectrum analyzer function) so the students are prepared to work with real measurement tools in implementation or testing of the real equipment. The course is ended with the discussion and demonstration of the changes to the LTE PHY layer expected in Rel 9 and beyond.
Note: The course content is subject to changes.
E-UTRA Fundamentals
• Introduction to cellular broadband
• Evolved Packet System (EPS) architecture
• Summary of the key EPS parameters
• E-UTRAN protocol stack
OFDMA, SC-FDMA and MIMO processing
• Fundamentals of multicarrier transmission and OFDM
• Orthogonal subcarriers, subcarrier spacing, spectrum of the OFDM signal
• The role of Cyclic Prefix (CP), frequency domain equalization
• IFFT/FFT functionality and practical implementation
• Extension of OFDM to OFDMA, multiuser diversity
• SC-FDMA concept, PAPR reduction evaluation
• MIMO processing: diversity, spatial multiplexing, closed-loop and open-loop schemes
Evolved-NB Processing Blocks and Signals
• eNB transmitter and receiver processing blocks
• Downlink E-UTRA radio frame structure
• Downlink E-UTRA channel architecture
• Downlink physical channels and elements (PDSCH, PBCH, PDCCH, PCFICH, PHICH, RS, P-SS, S-SS)
• LTE MIMO layer mapping, pre-coding and feedback
UE Processing Blocks and Signals
• UE transmitter and receiver processing blocks
• Uplink E-UTRA radio frame structure
• Uplink E-UTRA channel architecture
• Uplink physical channels and elements (PUSCH, PUCCH, PRACH, DRS, SRS)
Influence of Uncompensated Impairments
• Influence of uncorrected multipath channel
• Influence of uncompensated PAPR
• Time domain filtering and influence on out-of-band radiation
• Influence of time and frequency synchronization offsets
• Influence of sampling frequency offset
• Influence of co-channel interferers (single dominant, no single dominant)
LTE PHY Layer Procedures and L2 considerations
• MAC architecture
• Adaptive radio resource management (aka scheduling)
• Filling the downlink and uplink E-UTRA radio frame with various data assignments
• HARQ operation
• Cell synchronization and random access
• Preambles used in PRACH and synchronization signals (P-SS, S-SS)
E-UTRA PHY layer enhancements in Rel 9 and beyond
• Downlink spatial multiplexing with up to 8 antennas
• Uplink transmit diversity
• Uplink spatial multiplexing with 2 and 4 transmit antennas
• Coordinated multipoint transmission and reception
