5G Toolbox and the 5G NR Protocol Layers

The 5G NR radio access network is comprised of these protocol entities:

  • Service data adaptation protocol (SDAP)

  • Packet data convergence protocol (PDCP)

  • Radio link control (RLC)

  • Medium access control (MAC)

  • Physical layer (PHY)

The SDAP protocol is new in 5G NR compared to the LTE protocol stack. SDAP handles the new QoS framework of the 5G System (in the 5G Core). SDAP applies also to LTE when connected to the 5G Core. The introduction of SDAP enables end-to-end QoS framework that works in both directions.

To meet the desired key capabilities of 5G NR, the other layers of the stack provide various enhancements over their LTE counterparts. The PDCP, RLC, and MAC protocols handle tasks such as header compression, ciphering, segmentation and concatenation, and multiplexing and demultiplexing. PHY handles coding and decoding, modulation and demodulation, and antenna mapping.

This figure shows the 5G NR user plane protocol stack for user equipment (UE) and the NR radio access network node (gNB). The 5G Toolbox™ product provides support for:

  • The PHY layer, including physical channels and signals, and interfacing with portions of the RLC and MAC layers such as transport channels and logical channels.

  • System-level simulation of the PHY, RLC, and MAC layers when the Wireless Network Toolbox™ product is installed. For more details, see System-Level Simulation.

Diagram showing the 5G NR user plane protocol stack consisting of the PHY, MAC, RLC, PDCP, and SDAP layers. 5G Toolbox is highlighted in the context of the PHY layer. 5G Toolbox plus Wireless Network Toolbox is highlighted in the PHY, MAC, and RLC layers.

Downlink Channel Mapping

5G NR system downlink data follows the mapping between logical channels, transport channels, and physical channels, as indicated in the diagram. 5G Toolbox provides downlink functionality for the highlighted components.

Diagram listing the logical channels, transport channels, and physical channels of the 5G NR downlink data flow. 5G Toolbox is highlighted in the context of BCH and DL-SCH (in the transport channels layer), PBCH, PDSCH, and PDDCH (in the physical channels layer), and DTCH (in the logical channels layer.

Note

Support for system-level simulation is available only for the DTCH → DL-SCH → PDSCH data path and requires the Wireless Network Toolbox product.

For more details on the available support, see Downlink Channels and System-Level Simulation.

Uplink Channel Mapping

5G NR system uplink data follows the mapping between logical channels, transport channels, and physical channels, as indicated in the diagram. 5G Toolbox provides uplink functionality for the highlighted components.

Diagram listing the logical channels, transport channels, and physical channels of the 5G NR uplink data flow. 5G Toolbox is highlighted in the context of UL-SCH and RACH (in the transport channels layer), PUSCH, PUCCH, and PRACH (in the physical channels layer), and DTCH (in the logical channels layer).

Note

Support for system-level simulation is available only for the DTCH → UL-SCH → PUSCH data path and requires the Wireless Network Toolbox product.

For more details on the available support, see Uplink Channels and System-Level Simulation.

References

[1] 3GPP TS 38.211. “NR; Physical channels and modulation.” 3rd Generation Partnership Project; Technical Specification Group Radio Access Network.

[2] 3GPP TS 38.212. “NR; Multiplexing and channel coding.” 3rd Generation Partnership Project; Technical Specification Group Radio Access Network.

[3] 3GPP TS 38.300. “NR; NR and NG-RAN Overall Description.” 3rd Generation Partnership Project; Technical Specification Group Radio Access Network.

See Also

Topics

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