UE Modes

Idle mode Connected mode Camping on a cell Idle mode tasks PLMN selection Cell selection and reselection

References: 3GPP TS 25.301-4.1.0: overview on UE modes 3GPP TS 25.304 and 25.122: details on idle mode 3GPP TS 25.303: details on connected mode
UMTS Networks Andreas Mitschele-Thiel, Michael Sllner 12-Nov-08 1

Overview on Modes and States (PS mode)

UE SGSN SM PDP context SM: t t (active, ( inactive) ) HLR PMM state (detached, idle, connected) RNC Signaling connection RRC connection UE mode
PMM: Packet Mode Mobility Management ( l GMM GPRS Mobility (also M bilit M Management) t) SM: Session Management
Andreas Mitschele-Thiel, Michael Sllner 12-Nov-08 2

GGSN

UMTS Networks

Overview on Modes and States (CS mode)

UE MSC CM call state (active, CM: ( ti null) ll) VLR MM state (detached, idle, connected) RNC Signaling connection RRC connection UE mode
MM: Mobility Management CM: Connection Management
UMTS Networks Andreas Mitschele-Thiel, Michael Sllner 12-Nov-08 3

GMSC HLR

Relations between CM/SM, MM/PMM and RRC States

CM/SM state(s) Subscription (UE-SGSN-GGSN) Core Network MM/PMM state ( (UE, SGSN, HLR) ) Signaling connection (UE-SGSN) RRC state (UE-RNC)

PDCP address

inactive

active

detached

idle

connected

none

yes

UTRAN

idle
Paging using TMSI/P-TMSI

connected
Addressing using RNTI

UMTS Networks

Andreas Mitschele-Thiel, Michael Sllner

12-Nov-08

UE Modes
Idle mode (paging area is known; paging needed) UE is identified by non-access stratum identities such as IMSI, TMSI and P-TMSI UTRAN has no own information about the individual UEs in idle mode (no RRC connection) UTRAN can only l address dd e.g. all ll UEs UE in i a cell ll or all ll UEs UE monitoring it i a specific paging occasion Connected mode (cell or URA is known; RRC connection) connected mode is entered when the UTRAN establishes and maintains information about the individual UE (RRC connection) RRC connection is established between UE and Serving RNC UE is assigned a radio network temporary identity (U-RNTI and possibly a C-RNTI) C RNTI) to be used as UE identity on common transport channels (RACH, FACH, PCH) connected mode does not require assignment of physical channel resources
UMTS Networks Andreas Mitschele-Thiel, Michael Sllner 12-Nov-08 5

UE Idle Mode Camping on a cell

Purpose of camping on a cell in idle mode: UE receives system information from the PLMN (BCH) UE is able to establish an RRC connection (access of the network on the control channel of the cell on which it is camped RACH/FACH) PLMN knows (in most cases) the registration area of UE => paging on control channels within the registration area (PCH) UE may y receive cell broadcast services ( (BCH) )
Limited service state: If UE is unable to find a suitable cell to camp on, or USIM is not inserted inserted, or location registration failed, UE attempts to camp on a cell irrespective of the PLMN identity, and enters a "limited limited service" service state in which only emergency calls are possible
Source: 3GPP 25.304
UMTS Networks Andreas Mitschele-Thiel, Michael Sllner 12-Nov-08 6

UE Idle Mode Camping on a cell

UE is switched on a PLMN is selected and UE searches for a suitable cell of this PLMN to camp on Functions executed when camped on a cell
(i.e. UE is in idle mode and has chosen a cell)

UE monitors system information UE monitors paging information (PLMN is not aware of the cell chosen by the UE; PLMN is not aware of the UE in limited service state) state ) UE executes a cell reselection if it finds a more suitable cell to camp on UE executes a location registration to register its presence in the registration area by means of a NAS registration procedure if the new cell is in a different registration area (LA or RA)
Source: 3GPP 25.304
UMTS Networks Andreas Mitschele-Thiel, Michael Sllner 12-Nov-08 7

UE Idle Mode Tasks

Manual Mode Automatic mode

Indication to user

PLMN Selection and d Reselection R l ti

Location Registration response PLMNs available

registration with UMTS network no exchange of signaling with UMTS network

NAS Control

PLMN selected

Cell Selection and Reselection

R di measurements Radio t

Registration R i t ti Area changes CM requests

location registration g with UMTS network

Source: 3GPP 25.304

UMTS Networks

Location Registration
Andreas Mitschele-Thiel, Michael Sllner 12-Nov-08 8

UE Idle Mode States and Transitions

n o s u it a b l e c e ll fo u n d C e ll S e le c tio n w h e n le a v in g c o n n e c te d m ode

g o h e re w h e n e v e r a n e w P L M N is s e le c t e d

c e ll in f o rm a t io n s to re d fo r th e P L M N

n o c e ll in f o rm a t io n s to re d fo r th e P L M N

S to re d in f o rm a t io n C e ll S e le c tio n

n o s u it a b l e c e l l f o u n d

In itia l C e ll S e le c tio n

s u it a b le c e ll f o u n d

s u it a b le c e ll f o u n d n o s u it a b l e c e ll fo u n d

s u it a b le c e ll f o u n d

C am ped n o r m a lly

N A S in d ic a t e s t h a t r e g is t r a t io n o n s e le c t e d P L M N is r e je c te d ( e x c e p t w ith c a u s e # 1 4 o r # 1 5 [5 ][1 6 ])

re tu rn to id le m o d e

le a v e id le m o d e

tr ig g e r s u it a b le c e ll f o u n d

C o n n e c te d m ode

C e ll R e s e le c tio n E v a lu a tio n P ro c e s s

n o s u it a b l e c e ll f o u n d g o h e re when no U S IM in th e U E

n o a c c e p ta b le c e ll fo u n d

A n y C e ll S e le c t io n

Limit ted servic ce state

U S IM in s e r te d a c c e p t a b le c e ll f o u n d

C e ll S e le c tio n w h e n le a v in g c o n n e c te d m ode

a c c e p t a b le c e ll fo u n d

Cam ped on a n y c e ll

s u it a b le c e ll f o u n d

re tu rn to id le m o d e

le a v e id le m o d e

t r ig g e r a c c e p ta b le c e ll fo u n d

C o n n e c te d m ode
(E m e rg e n c y c a l ls o n l y )

UMTS Networks

Andreas Mitschele-Thiel, Michael Sllner

C e ll R e s e le c t io n E v a lu a t io n P ro c e s s

n o a c c e p ta b le c e ll fo u n d

12-Nov-08

UE Idle Mode PLMN reselection

The NAS provides a list of equivalent PLMNs that the AS uses for PLMN selection, cell selection, cell reselection and handover PLMN reselection: if necessary, the UE will look for more suitable cells on other PLMNs at regular g time intervals If the UE loses coverage of the registered PLMN, either a new PLMN is selected automatically (automatic mode) or an indication of which PLMNs are available is given to the user (manual selection) Registration is not performed by UEs only capable of services that need no registration (emergency call)

Source: 3GPP 25.304

UMTS Networks Andreas Mitschele-Thiel, Michael Sllner 12-Nov-08 10

UE Idle Mode Cell Selection and Reselection

When camped on a cell, the UE shall regularly search for a better cell according to the cell reselection criteria If a better cell is found, that cell is selected The change of cell may imply a change of radio access technology (RAT), e.g. from UMTS to GSM The NAS is informed if the cell selection and reselection results in changes in the received system information For normal service, the UE has to camp on a suitable cell, tune to that cell's control channel(s) so that the UE can: receive system information from the PLMN receive registration area information from the PLMN, e.g. LA or RA receive other AS and NAS information If registered: receive paging and notification messages from the PLMN and initiate call setup for outgoing calls or other actions from the UE
UMTS Networks Andreas Mitschele-Thiel, Michael Sllner 12-Nov-08 11