Architecture

Question 1

What is a handset with a paid subscription?

Answer 1

User Equipment (UE)

Question 2

What is a USIM?

Answer 2

UMTS SIM equivalent. An application run on a UICC.

Stores user identities, security keys and algorithms, phone book, contacts.

Question 3

What is the UICC?

Answer 3

Universal Integrated Circuit Card (UICC)
A chip designed to be able to store profiles from any technology.
USIM contains:
User identities (MSISDN, IMSI, TMSI, etc.)
Security and encryption keys.
Subscriptions.
User’s unique “K” key.
Could possibly contain user’s contacts, texts, pictures, etc. if enabled

Question 4

What is a P-TMSI?

Answer 4

On the Packet-Switched network, 8-digit “Packet-TMSI”

Question 5

What is a Node B?

Answer 5

UMTS Node B is an upgraded BTS. 
Responsible for: 
	Modulation/Demodulation 
	Encryption/Decryption
	Inner Loop Power Control

Question 6

What is the RNC?

Answer 6

Radio Network Controller

Comparable to a GSM BSC

Question 7

What is the HSS?

Answer 7

Home Subscriber Server
Master user database for a network operator
Stores all user information (profile, IMSI, Phone number, IP address, current LA/RA)
Combined functionality of HLR and AuC from GSM

Question 8

What is the Serving GPRS Support Node?

Answer 8

Functions as a packet router
Because packets can take any number of routes to its destination, the SGSN must aggregate and sort them upon arrival.
Issues P-TMSI.
Controls a geographic are called a Routing Area.
Identified by its Routing Area Code (RAC).

Question 9

What is the MGW?

Answer 9

Media Gateway

Converts disparate telecommunications networks to make them compatible with WCDMA

Question 10

What are the two subsets of the UTS Core Network?

Answer 10

The GSM Circuit Switched Core Network (CSCN) and the GPRS Packet Switched Core Network (PSCN)