LTE MAC provides data transfer and channel mapping services at the LTE-Uu interface. Trillium LTE MAC is a complete implementation of the protocol layer as specified in 3GPP TS 36.321 E-UTRA Medium Access Control (MAC) protocol specification on the eNodeB. The following diagram shows where in the LTE-Uu interface LTE MAC is implemented.

Diagram Trillium LTE Mac

LTE MAC Schedulers

The scheduler in LTE plays a critical role in delivering the performance promised in the 3GPP standards. Continuous Computing’s Trillium LTE MAC scheduler implementation is a key point of differentiation of the product from the competition. Trillium LTE MAC may be licensed along with six different scheduler implementations and also provides a well defined interface for integrating any 3rd party scheduler with the MAC.Trillium LTE MAC and scheduler run as separate instances. In this architecture, there is one MAC instance that supports as many scheduler instances as configured. The MAC and scheduler instances can run in a single thread or as separate threads. Each scheduler instance can support multiple cells. MAC communicates with any scheduler instance using the instance ID. The Layer Manager application is expected to configure the appropriate instance IDs for MAC and scheduler.

In addition to providing a well defined API for integrating and developing a customers own MAC scheduler, Continuous Computing provides five unique schedulers that may be leveraged by customers off the shelf within their own LTE eNodeB devices.The schedulers are as follows:

  • MAC C/I Scheduler
  • Proportional Fair Scheduler (PFS)
  • Round Robin (RR) Scheduler
  • Downlink Frequency Selective (DLFS) Scheduler
  • Priority Based Non-Frequency Selective (SC1) Scheduler

Trillium LTE MAC software enables Network Equipment Providers of eNodeB’s to:

  • Accelerate time to market
  • Reduce development costs
  • Reduce project risk of internally-developed LTE applications

Product deliverables consist of C source software, documentation, training, Trillium XML Test Architecture (XTA), a warranty, and technical support.

FEATURES + BENEFITS

The features and benefits of Trillium LTE MAC software are as follows:

  • eNodeB functionality
  • RACH procedures
  • Uplink / downlink HARQ
  • RRC configuration and reconfiguration
  • MAC scheduling, including scheduler implementation from Trillium as well as the ability for customers to plug-in custom / proprietary schedulers
  • Mux / demux
  • TF selection
  • BSR handling
  • Timing alignment
  • MAC control elements
  • BCH / PCH support
  • Miscellaneous MAC capabilities including, but not limited to, power headroom, measurement gap, RNTI management, and SR handling
  • Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO)
  • Multimedia Broadcast Multicast Services (MBMS)
  • DRX
  • Reset
  • Measurements
  • Semi-persistent scheduling
  • Handover
  • TTI bundling
  • Frequency hopping
  • Distributed VRBs
  • Uplink adaptive retransmission
  • Extended cyclic prefix
  • Pre-integration with leading LTE modem providers, contact us for a list of partner solutions
  • Comprehensive XML-based test architecture and framework for simplified acceptance and regression test execution.
  • Extensive debugging and error checking facilities
  • Features a minimized memory footprint ideal for femto and pico cell applications.
  • Conforms to Trillium Advanced Portability Architecture (TAPA)
  • Benefits of licensing Trillium Protocol Software

PRODUCT INTERWORKING

The Trillium LTE MAC software interworks with Trillium LTE RRC and LTE RLC.

CONFORMANCE

Trillium LTE MAC software conforms to:

  • Trillium Advanced Portability Architecture (TAPA)
  • 3GPP TS 36.321 (2009-03) LTE MAC protocol specification (Rel-8)
  • 3GPP TS 36.213, version 8.6.0 (2008–2009): E-UTRA Physical Layer Procedures (Release 8).

Contact us for a copy of the Trillium LTE MAC Functional Specification, which provides a detailed implementation description.