RAN 3G

Interfaces Protocols

Interfaces

Iub Functions
Carrying information
user voice, user data and cell-broadcast [UE External networks] Radio resources control (RRC) signaling [UE NAS signaling (CC, SM, MM) [UE Core] RNC]

Node-B management
Logical resources [NBAP] Physical resources [O&M]

Managing AAL2 links between RNC and Node-B [ALCAP (Q.2630)]

Protocols
The protocol architecture is divided horizontally into two key layers. The upper part is referred to as the Radio Network Layer, and the lower is part is referred to as the Transport Network Layer. The Radio Network Layer constitutes the source for data to be transferred across the interfaces; this data will be signaling or traffic. The Transport Network Layer provides the necessary transport mechanisms, based on ATM. The protocol architecture is also divided into two planes, the control plane and the user plane. The control plane handles control information, pertaining to the radio interface. There are three protocols specified for the UTRAN: Node B application Part (NBAP) on the Iub interface Radio Network Application Part (RANAP) on the Iu interface Radio Network Subsystem Application Part (RNSAP) on the Iur interface

Protocol Stack of the Iub Interface

Iub Protocol Stacks

Set VPI/VCI of NBAP and ALCAP

Iub procedures User traffic

User voice and data information is carried over the Dedicated and possibly the Common Transport Channels. AMR is used on CS calls PDCP and IP are used on PS calls

Iur functions
The Iur interface is the interface between two RNCs. When a UE leaves the area controlled by an RNC to another RNC, the UEs related data is now transferred to the new RNC over the Iur interface. The original RNC is now referred to as Serving RNC and the new RNC is now referred to as Drift RNC. Dedicated channels with the same characteristics are formed between the new DRNC to the relevant Node-B, according to messages received on the Iur. AAL2 decode is the same as Iub (same protocol stack) AAL5 protocol stack is different

Main Iur Messages

Dedicated signaling channel
RNSAP: Radio Link Setup Request RNSAP: Radio Link Setup Response ALCAP: Establish Request

Dedicated traffic channel

RNSAP: Radio Link Reconfiguration Request RNSAP: Radio Link Reconfiguration Response ALCAP: Establish Request

Channel Deletion
RNSAP: Radio Link Setup Deletion

Iur Protocol Stack

NBAP
Node B Application Part is a Layer-3 protocol at the Iub interface. NBAP functions are divided into two groups, namely common and dedicated NBAP procedures. Common NBAP procedures are used to create new user equipment (UE) contexts and control BCCH broadcast information. The Iub always contains one signalling link for the common NBAP procedures, and there may be several signalling links for dedicated NBAP procedures.

RNSAP
The Iur interface procedures are controlled by the RNSAP signaling protocol. Its function is to establish transport for the user plane framing protocols (soft handover = drift handover). The most important procedures are naturally involved in: radio link set-up radio link addition radio link reconfiguration and radio link deletion.