Professional Documents
Culture Documents
RAN14.0
Issue
04
Date
2013-05-10
Notice
The purchased products, services and features are stipulated by the contract made between Huawei and
the customer. All or part of the products, services and features described in this document may not be
within the purchase scope or the usage scope. Unless otherwise specified in the contract, all statements,
information, and recommendations in this document are provided "AS IS" without warranties, guarantees or
representations of any kind, either express or implied.
The information in this document is subject to change without notice. Every effort has been made in the
preparation of this document to ensure accuracy of the contents, but all statements, information, and
recommendations in this document do not constitute the warranty of any kind, express or implied.
Website:
http://www.huawei.com
Email:
support@huawei.com
WCDMA RAN
AMR Voice Quality Improvement Based on PLVA
Contents
Contents
1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................1-1
1.1 Scope ............................................................................................................................................ 1-1
1.2 Intended Audience......................................................................................................................... 1-1
1.3 Change History.............................................................................................................................. 1-1
2 Overview......................................................................................................................................2-1
3 Technical Description ..............................................................................................................3-1
3.1 AMR Speech Encoding and Decoding .......................................................................................... 3-1
3.2 AMR Speech Decoding Using the Viterbi Algorithm ...................................................................... 3-2
3.3 AMR Speech Decoding Using the PLVA ....................................................................................... 3-3
7 Parameters..................................................................................................................................7-1
8 Counters ......................................................................................................................................8-1
9 Glossary ......................................................................................................................................9-1
10 References Documents .......................................................................................................10-1
Issue 04 (2013-05-10)
WCDMA RAN
AMR Voice Quality Improvement Based on PLVA
1 Introduction
1 Introduction
1.1 Scope
This document describes the feature WRFD-140201 AMR Voice Quality Improvement Based on PLVA.
Feature change: refers to a change in the AMR Voice Quality Improvement Based on PLVA feature of
a specific product version.
Editorial change: refers to a change in wording or the addition of information that was not described in
the earlier version.
Document Issue
The document issue is as follows:
04 (2013-05-10)
03 (2012-11-30)
02 (2012-07-20)
01 (2012-04-30)
Draft A (2012-02-15)
04 (2013-05-10)
This is the fourth official release of RAN14.0.
Compared with issue 03 (2012-11-30) of RAN14.0, this issue incorporates the changes described in the
following table.
Change Change Description
Type
Parameter Change
Feature
change
None
None
None
03 (2012-11-30)
This is the third official release of RAN14.0.
Issue 04 (2013-05-10)
1-1
WCDMA RAN
AMR Voice Quality Improvement Based on PLVA
1 Introduction
Compared with issue 02 (2012-07-20) of RAN14.0, this issue incorporates the changes described in the
following table.
Change Change Description
Type
Parameter Change
Feature
change
None
None
None
02 (2012-07-20)
This is the second official release of RAN14.0.
Compared with issue 01 (2012-04-30) of RAN14.0, this issue incorporates the changes described in the
following table.
Change Change Description
Type
Parameter Change
Feature
change
None.
None.
Editorial Added the information about how to deploying AMR Voice None.
change Quality Improvement Based on PLVA. For details, see 6.4
"Monitoring."
01 (2012-04-30)
This is the first official release of RAN14.0.
Compared with issue Draft A (2012-02-15) of RAN14.0, this issue incorporates the changes described
in the following table:
Change Type
Change Description
Parameter Change
Feature change
None
None
Editorial change Added the simulation result for PLVA. For details, see 6.3
"Feature Deployment."
None
Draft A (2012-02-15)
This is the first draft of the document for RAN14.0.
This is a new document.
Issue 04 (2013-05-10)
1-2
WCDMA RAN
AMR Voice Quality Improvement Based on PLVA
2 Overview
2 Overview
Adaptive Multi-rate(AMR) audio codec is a patented speech coding scheme adopted by the 3GPP as
the standard codec for UMTS. Channel encoding for AMR voice services uses convolutional codes. In
RAN14.0, Huawei introduces the Parallel List Viterbi Algorithm (PLVA) to decode convolutional codes.
The PLVA outperforms the Viterbi algorithm used by most vendors and previous Huawei production,
and it improves the voice service quality without affecting power control or compromising system
capacity. The feature introduces more robustness to the voice service which is more noticeable in poor
radio condition.
AMR Voice Quality Improvement Based on PLVA does not depend on any other feature and can be
used with any other feature.
Issue 04 (2013-05-10)
2-1
WCDMA RAN
AMR Voice Quality Improvement Based on PLVA
3 Technical Description
3 Technical Description
3.1 AMR Speech Encoding and Decoding
At the UMTS physical layer, convolutional codes are used to perform channel encoding for AMR voice
services and power control is used to ensure AMR voice quality. Figure 3-1 shows channel encoding
and power control for UMTS AMR voice services in the uplink.
Figure 3-1 Channel encoding and power control for UMTS AMR voice services in the uplink
As shown in Figure 3-1, the UE uses convolutional codes to encode AMR voice data and sends the
encoded data to the NodeB. The NodeB decodes the received data and performs a cyclic redundancy
check (CRC) on the decoded data. The NodeB then sends the decoded data and a CRC indicator
(CRCI) to the RNC. The RNC calculates the block error rate (BLER) for outer-loop power control based
on all the CRCIs received. The RNC also sends the decoded data and the CRCI to the Core Network
(CN) for AMR voice data decoding (source decoding).
The RNC calculates the BLER for outer-loop power control based on the ratio of CRCIs indicating CRC failures to all
CRCIs.
AMR voice services include narrowband and wideband AMR voice services. There are three classes of
narrowband AMR voice services: A, B, and C. There are two classes of wideband AMR voice services:
A and B. The Viterbi algorithm and PLVA apply to both narrowband and wideband AMR voice services.
The following description is based on narrowband AMR voice services. Of the three classes of
narrowband AMR voice services, class A is of high importance and includes a 12-bit number used for
CRC. The other classes are of low importance and CRC is not performed on them. Figure 3-2 shows
the separate channel encoding for classes A, B, and C of narrowband AMR services.
Issue 04 (2013-05-10)
3-1
WCDMA RAN
AMR Voice Quality Improvement Based on PLVA
3 Technical Description
Figure 3-2 Channel encoding for classes A, B, and C of narrowband AMR services
The Viterbi algorithm selects the optimal path based on the maximum likelihood theory and exports the
data decoded on the optimal path. If the data decoded on the optimal path fails the CRC, the AMR
speech codec discards the data. As a result, voice quality deteriorates.
Figure 3-4 shows the narrowband AMR speech decoding using the Viterbi algorithm.
Figure 3-4 Narrowband AMR speech decoding using the Viterbi algorithm
Issue 04 (2013-05-10)
3-2
WCDMA RAN
AMR Voice Quality Improvement Based on PLVA
3 Technical Description
As shown in Figure 3-4, the three AMR voice classes are separately decoded by the Viterbi decoder,
and the CRC is performed only on the decoded data of class A. The CRCI is used as a reference for
outer-loop power control and is also sent as a bad frame indication (BFI) to the AMR speech codec on
the CN. If a BFI indicates that a speech frame is erroneous, the AMR speech codec on the CN discards
the speech frame to prevent noise.
Instead of selecting only the most optimal path, the PLVA selects the top N optimal paths and performs
CRC on the data decoded on these paths. The PLVA only exports data that passes the CRC. If the data
decoded on these paths fails the CRC, the PLVA exports the data decoded on the optimal path, which is
the same path selected by the Viterbi algorithm. The PLVA outperforms the Viterbi algorithm because it
chooses the data decoded on multiple paths, which include the optimal one selected by the Viterbi
algorithm. Therefore, when the data decoded by the Viterbi algorithm is correct, the data decoded by
the PLVA is also correct. However, when the data decoded by the PLVA is correct, the data decoded by
the Viterbi algorithm is not necessarily correct because there are occasions when the data decoded on
the optimal path is incorrect whereas the data decoded on other paths selected by the PLVA is correct.
In simulations where the PLVA selects four paths, the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) is 0.2 to 0.8 dB better
than that produced by the Viterbi algorithm.
Figure 3-6 shows the narrowband AMR speech decoding using the PLVA.
Figure 3-6 Narrowband AMR speech decoding using the PLVA
Issue 04 (2013-05-10)
3-3
WCDMA RAN
AMR Voice Quality Improvement Based on PLVA
3 Technical Description
As shown in Figure 3-6, CRC is performed on the AMR voice data of class A and therefore the data can
be decoded using the PLVA. The mean opinion score (MOS) of class A AMR voice data is improved by
reducing the BLER. CRC is not performed on classes B and C AMR voice data and therefore classes B
and C AMR voice data can only be decoded by using the Viterbi algorithm. The PLVA exports and
sends the decoded data, Viterbi CRCI, and PLVA CRCI to the RNC. The Viterbi CRCI is used for outerloop power control. The PLVA CRCI serves as the BFI, indicating whether a speech frame is erroneous.
The Viterbi CRCI is used for outer-loop power control and the PLVA CRCI serves as the BFI. This dualCRCI mechanism does not affect power control. Note that this feature decreases the uplink BLER and
improves the MOS of AMR voice service by using PLVA, it has no impact on the downlink.
Issue 04 (2013-05-10)
3-4
WCDMA RAN
AMR Voice Quality Improvement Based on PLVA
Network Performance
This feature improves the MOS of AMR voice services, especially the MOS of AMR voice services in
weak coverage areas.
Issue 04 (2013-05-10)
4-1
WCDMA RAN
AMR Voice Quality Improvement Based on PLVA
5 Related Features
5 Related Features
5.1 Prerequisite Features
None
Issue 04 (2013-05-10)
5-1
WCDMA RAN
AMR Voice Quality Improvement Based on PLVA
6 Engineering Guidelines
6 Engineering Guidelines
6.1 When to Use AMR Voice Quality Improvement Based on
PLVA
This feature can improve the AMR voice quality in the uplink, so it can be applied in any scenario that
meets the deployment requirements. For details about deployment requirements, see section 6.3.1
"Deployment Requirements."
The BTS3812E, BTS3812A and BTS3812AE must be configured with the EULPd board.
The 3900 series base station must be configured with the WBBPd or WBBPf board.
This feature depends on NodeB hardware. For details, see section 6.2.3 "Hardware Planning."
The uplink resource group of the cell must contain a baseband board that supports this feature. To
check whether such a baseband board is contained, perform the following steps:
1. Run the LST ULOCELL command to check UL BB Resource Group No. to obtain the uplink
resource group of the cell.
2. Run the LST ULGROUP command to check UL BB Resource Group No., Cabinet No. of UL
Process Unit, Subrack No. of UL Process Unit, and Slot No. of UL Process Unit to obtain the
target baseband board.
3. Check that the baseband board meet the requirements specified in section 6.2.3 "Hardware
Planning."
Issue 04 (2013-05-10)
6-2
WCDMA RAN
AMR Voice Quality Improvement Based on PLVA
6 Engineering Guidelines
License
The license has been activated. For details about how to activate the license, see License
Management Feature Parameter Description.
Feature ID
Feature Name
NE
Dimension
NodeB
Per Cell
WRFD-140201
6.4 Monitoring
The gain produced by this feature is reflected by a noticeable increase in the MOS. Take 12.2 kbit/s
AMR voice services as an example. In the uplink simulations, if the BLER is 1%, the MOS is increased
by about 0.08; if the BLER is greater than 10%, the MOS is increased by about 0.35. (The BLER
increase is generally caused by UE power limitation, fast channel change, or strong interference.) In
addition, the MOS increase is generally the same under different channel fading conditions.
Figure 6-1 describes the MOS comparison for AMR 12.2k voice (Simulation Result in the uplink).
Issue 04 (2013-05-10)
6-3
WCDMA RAN
AMR Voice Quality Improvement Based on PLVA
6 Engineering Guidelines
Figure 6-1 MOS comparison for AMR 12.2k voice (Simulation Result in the uplink)
The MOS gain produced by this feature needs to be tested using the MOS test instrument. End-to-end
MOS tests can be performed for this feature. However, this feature provides uplink gains. In this case,
the test is recommended only for uplink MOS.
Fixed-point test in the lab and drive test are available, which are described as follows:
Drive test
6-4
WCDMA RAN
AMR Voice Quality Improvement Based on PLVA
6 Engineering Guidelines
6.6 Troubleshooting
None.
Issue 04 (2013-05-10)
6-5
WCDMA RAN
AMR Voice Quality Improvement Based on PLVA
7 Parameters
7 Parameters
There are no specific parameters associated with this feature.
Issue 04 (2013-05-10)
7-1
WCDMA RAN
AMR Voice Quality Improvement Based on PLVA
8 Counters
8 Counters
Table 8-1 Counter description
Counter ID
50332258
VS.PLVA.User
Issue 04 (2013-05-10)
NE
Feature ID
Feature Name
8-1
WCDMA RAN
AMR Voice Quality Improvement Based on PLVA
9 Glossary
9 Glossary
For the acronyms, abbreviations, terms, and definitions, see the Glossary.
Issue 04 (2013-05-10)
9-1
WCDMA RAN
AMR Voice Quality Improvement Based on PLVA
10 References Documents
10 References Documents
[1] 3GPP TS 25.101, "User Equipment (UE) radio transmission and reception (FDD)"
[2] 3GPP TS 25.212, "Channel Coding and Multiplexing"
[3] 3GPP TS 26.090v900: "AMR Speech Codec; Speech transcoding," December 2009
Issue 04 (2013-05-10)
10-1