Edge 2 V1-5e

EDGE Basics, Version 1.
5

T.O.P. BusinessInteractive GmbH

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2 Air Interface

EDGE Basics, Version 1.5


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2.1 EDGE Advantage ......................................................................... 3
2.2 GMSK Modulation (1/5)................................................................ 4
2.2 GMSK Modulation (2/5)................................................................ 5
2.2 GMSK Modulation (3/5)................................................................ 6
2.2 GMSK Modulation (4/5)................................................................ 7
2.2 GMSK Modulation (5/5)................................................................ 8
2.3 8-PSK Modulation (1/7)................................................................. 9
2.3 8-PSK Modulation (2/7)............................................................... 10
2.3 8-PSK Modulation (3/7)............................................................... 11
2.3 8-PSK Modulation (4/7)............................................................... 12
2.3 8-PSK Modulation (5/7)............................................................... 13
2.3 8-PSK Modulation (6/7)............................................................... 14
2.3 8-PSK Modulation (7/7)............................................................... 15
2.4 GSM Burst ................................................................................... 16
2.5 EDGE Burst ................................................................................. 17
2.6 EDGE / GSM Comparison........................................................... 18



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2.1 EDGE Advantage

The most important advantage of EDGE is that it is no longer necessary to make any
changes to the present GSM air interface structure. EDGE uses the same 200 kHz
FDMA scheme to provide a higher data rate using an 8-PSK modulation that enables
a 3 times higher user bit rate per radio time slot. 8-PSK modulation always maps 3
bits of the user signal onto one modulation symbol, i.e., a bit within the modulated
burst. Thus, burst lengths and the current symbol rate of 270.833 ksps stay the
same.

In addition, 8-PSK modulators are also able to handle the standard GMSK
modulation that is used today, making EDGE systems downwardly compatible with
GSM phase 2 systems. The combination of up to 8 timeslots with 8-PSK modulated
signals each lead to the tremendous increase of available data rates up to 474 kbps.
Let us now get to know the new modulation scheme by comparing it with the key
features of the present modulation type.



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2.2 GMSK Modulation (1/5)

To assure high speech quality and a maximum spectral efficiency, standard GSM
uses a phase-continuous type of modulation named: Gaussian Minimum Shift
Keying. It is a phase modulation that represents a serial bit stream as a sliding phase
shift of the RF carrier.



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The main processing steps in the modulator / demodulator are:
Differential coding of the user signal by a chained Exclusive OR-gates chain to
avoid the need for a reference signal for demodulation
Base-band filtering by a Gaussian low pass filter to delimited the spectrum of
the modulation signal
An I / Q phase modulation performed by a Minimum Shift Keying modulator



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Shown in the mathematic complex plane, GMSK modulated signals have four
different phase states, n*90 (n = 1...4). The resulting vector of the modulated signal
slides from one position to another avoiding hard jumps that would increase the
modulation spectrum. The length of the vector representing the amplitude of the
carrier remains constant which is a big advantage requiring less accuracy from the
subsequent power amplifier.



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This example shows the RF phase behavior over time for a dedicated user bit stream
if a GMSK modulator is used. Note the relationship between the input and the phase
of the RF carrier.



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The big disadvantage of this modulation type is the non-efficient use of the phase
modulator. GMSK modulation was developed for speech transmission 20 years ago
and is adequate for this purpose. But in order to transmit higher data rates, it is
necessary to have a more efficient modulator. 8-PSK fulfils this need with regard to
Hardware implementation efforts and compatibility with existing GMSK modulators.

An 8-PSK signal is able to carry three bits per modulated symbol over the radio path.
These symbols are represented as eight different positions in the mathematic
complex plane, each symbol showing a possible combination of three bits.



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2.3 8-PSK Modulation (1/7)

An 8-PSK signal is able to carry three bits per modulated symbol over the radio path.
These symbols are represented as eight different positions in the mathematic
complex plane, each symbol showing a possible combination of three bits.



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Let us now consider what happens to the phase of the modulated RF carrier when a
user bit stream is processed. The initial symbol representing a 011 bit combination
changes to 000.
With 8-PSK, the top of the amplitude - the blue vector in the complex plane - will not
move along the circle to find its actual position. Instead, it follows the red line getting
smaller and bigger again when reaching its 000 destination.



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The result of the phase transition from one state to the other is an additional
amplitude modulation - a side effect that is due to this particular type of modulation.
There is no useful information within this amplitude variation, it only consumes
energy (e.g., battery capacity of an EDGE mobile), reducing the standby and talk
time of the device and producing unnecessary heat that requires better cooling
mechanisms for the electronic elements involved. And even worse - this non-linear
behavior of the RF carrier requires higher performance from the amplifier used.



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A comparison of the two different modulator output signals points out the problem. A
GMSK modulated signal performs with a nearly constant amplitude whereas an 8-
PSK signal produces amplitude variations of +/- 8dB. A carefully selected bit stream
with a minimum of additional amplitude modulation is used for the training sequence
in the middle of the 8-PSK burst.



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But there is another problem that has to be solved with 8-PSK.
What happens if 011 changes to 101? The top of the amplitude vector again follows
the red line, thus passing through the zero point. This would lead to a disappearance
of the carrier resulting in problems during communication between the EDGE mobile
and BTS.



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In order to avoid this, an additional shift of the bit positions of 3p/8 = 67.5 per TDMA
frame period of 4.615 ms is applied. 101 - that must be modulated one burst later -
then resides at a position where no trespassing of the zero point occurs.



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3GPP specifications require EDGE transceivers and mobile devices to handle GMSK
and 8-PSK modulated signals in parallel.
The screen shot in the animation shows an uplink signal in a TRX for one TDMA
frame. Uplink CCH information, e.g., RACH, has to be processed in TS0 whereas
TS1 carries 8-PSK uplink inforamtion, e.g., packet user data and TS2 caters for a
legacy (GMSK-modulated) speech service.



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2.4 GSM Burst

Let us now have a closer look at the burst structures. The GMSK modulated normal
burst is familiar to us. CS or PS user data is included in the 2*57 bits of payload. Tail
bits, stealing flags and training sequence complete this structure.



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2.5 EDGE Burst

An 8-PSK modulated normal burst must have the same structure, fulfilling the
requirements for an unchanged air interface structure. But now each bit within the
burst represents 3 user data bits going into the new modulator. This is also valid for
the stealing flags associated with the training sequence.
With 8-PSK we now have signaling symbols, i.e., 2*3 bits for stealing flag
functionality (FACCH) and additional signaling tasks, e.g., intra burst power control.
With EDGE, these bits are also counted as payload.



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2.6 EDGE / GSM Comparison

We will finish our comparison of 8-PSK and GMSK modulated air interface
characteristics with a summarizing table. EDGE maps 3 bits onto one symbol of the
modulated carrier whereas GSM presents a 1-to-1 relation. In both cases, the symbol
rate must be the same, i.e., 270.833 ksymbols per second or 270.833 kbps.
EDGE payload consists of 116 symbols per burst, GSM provides 114. The air
Interface gross bit rate is increased to 69.2 kbps due to an additional interleaving of 4
information blocks of 346 bits per 20ms. GSM gross bit rate is 22.8 kbps.

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