Content for TR 37.901-5 Word version: 16.12.0

3.1 Terms 3.2 Symbols 3.3 Abbreviations 4.1 Background 4.2 Study Item Objective
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1 Scope p. 9

The present document contains the findings of the Study on 5G NR User Equipment (UE) application layer data throughput performance and the proposed test procedures.

2 References p. 9

The following documents contain provisions which, through reference in this text, constitute provisions of the present document.

References are either specific (identified by date of publication, edition number, version number, etc.) or non-specific.
For a specific reference, subsequent revisions do not apply.
For a non-specific reference, the latest version applies. In the case of a reference to a 3GPP document (including a GSM document), a non-specific reference implicitly refers to the latest version of that document in the same Release as the present document.

[1]

TR 21.905: "Vocabulary for 3GPP Specifications".

[2]

TS 38.101-1: "NR; User Equipment (UE) radio transmission and reception; Part 1: Range 1 Standalone".

[3]

TS 38.521-4: "NR; User Equipment (UE) conformance specification; Radio transmission and reception; Part 4: Performance requirements".

[4]

TS 38.101-4: "NR; User Equipment (UE) radio transmission and reception; Part 4: Performance requirements".

[5]

TS 36.321: "Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access (E-UTRA); Medium Access Control (MAC) protocol specification"

[6]

TS 36.322: "Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access (E-UTRA); Radio Link Control (RLC) protocol specification"

[7]

TS 36.323: "Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access (E-UTRA); Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP) specification"

[8]

TS 38.323: "NR; Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP) specification"

[9]

TS 38.523-1: "5GS; User Equipment (UE) conformance specification; Part 1: Protocol"

[10]

TS 38.321: "NR; Medium Access Control (MAC) protocol specification"

[11]

TS 38.322: "NR; Radio Link Control (RLC) protocol specification"

RFC 768:

RFC 791:

RFC 793:

RFC 2460:

RFC 8200:

TS 38.214: "NR; Physical layer procedures for data".

[18]

TS 38.508-1: "5GS; User Equipment (UE) conformance specification; Part 1: Common test environment"

3 Definitions of terms, symbols and abbreviations p. 10

3.1 Terms p. 10

For the purposes of the present document, the terms given in TR 21.905 and the following apply. A term defined in the present document takes precedence over the definition of the same term, if any, in TR 21.905.

3.2 Symbols p. 10

Void.

3.3 Abbreviations p. 10

For the purposes of the present document, the abbreviations given in TR 21.905 and the following apply. An abbreviation defined in the present document takes precedence over the definition of the same abbreviation, if any, in TR 21.905.

4 General p. 10

4.1 Background p. 10

The newly-deployed 5G radio access technologies are providing a very large increase in data transmission capacity in mobile networks. This is being matched and even exceeded by a corresponding increase in the demand for data from users of the latest data-hungry devices and applications.

It is therefore essential that data devices achieve high efficiency when using data services and do not unduly load the network regardless of the maximum data rate that they are capable of achieving.

There is an interest to add 5G NR UE Application-Layer Data Throughput Measurements under various simulated network conditions to their Performance Items area of activity. As a result RAN5 recommending and produce the test procedures.

4.2 Study Item Objective p. 10

The technical objectives of this study item are:

Fixed reference measurement channels:

Use existing fixed reference measurement channels scenarios already defined in TS 38.101-4 and TS 38.521-4 test specifications to develop test procedures to measure 5G NR UE data throughput performance at the application-layer. Adaptation of existing test cases from the TS 38.521-4 specification will be part of the study with goal to determine best test points candidates.

Variable reference measurement channels:

analysis of suitable link adaptation scenarios and development of corresponding 5G NR application layer throughout test procedures An analysis of upper layer protocols and parameters impacting application layer throughout measurements will also be provided.

The Rel-11 SI "Study on UE Application Layer Data Throughput" (FS_UE_App_Data_Perf) captured results for UMTS and LTE in a Technical Report TR 37.901. For the SI "Study on 5G NR User Equipment (UE) application layer data throughput performance" that is proposed here it is intended to create a new Technical Report for which the following structure is proposed:

Definition of 5G NR Application Layer Data Throughput Performance
List of parameters to be measured:
- Application Layer Throughput (Downlink and Uplink)
Test configuration and upper layer parameters
Transport Layer protocol used for data transfer
Application Layer protocol used for data transfer
Test environment (signal levels, fading profiles, fixed and link adaptation based scheduling, SA/NSA, FR1/FR2, etc.):
Data transfer scenarios (TCP/UDP, DL/UL/Bidirectional)
Minimum Test Time and Iterations (align with LTE)
Test Procedures for 5G NR UE Application layer throughput performance

The test procedures developed will measure the achieved average application-layer data rates (e.g. using TCP or UDP) of the UE standalone or/and in combination with a laptop under simulated realistic network scheduling and radio conditions in a repeatable lab-based environment (i.e. using lab-based simulators and other necessary equipment).

The test procedures will be developed in a flexible manner to accommodate various test conditions. The exact simulated network scheduling and down link radio conditions to be used will be determined during the study. It is envisaged that in addition to some measurements under "ideal conditions", an initial set of suitable scheduling/radio conditions to be used by the test systems, will be defined to simulate typical network conditions. Additional optional conditions may be developed later as and when required.

Other issues that the Study Item may investigate include:

The definition of a reliable and repeatable test environment to ensure the best possible repeatability of the results. This could include the definition of a reference laptop configuration, applications in the UE or/and the Laptop that would measure the throughput, etc.
The impact from the lower layers data throughput on the application-layer data throughput, especially when variable radio conditions are applied.