UTRAN Procedures

Elementary procedures
Paging
RRC connection setup
Transaction reasoning
Authentication and security control
Transaction setup with RAB allocation
Transaction clearing and RAB release
RRC connection release
RRM procedures
Radio link addition and deletion
Intersystem handover from UMTS to GSM (CS/PS)
UE state transitions/ bearer reconfiguration
MM procedures -> see MM slides
CM procedures -> see CM slides
References:
Kaaranen ch. 10 (simple cases discussed here)
3GPP TR 25.931 (more complicated cases)
UMTS Networks

Oliver Waldhorst, Jens Mueckenheim

Oct-11

Basic Model of UMTS Network Transactions

Paging
RRC Connection Establishment
Transaction Reasoning
(Signaling conn. establishment)
Authentication and
Security

UE indicates the CN
the requested service

Transaction Setup and

RAB Allocation

Allocation of bearers to support

required UMTS bearer service

Transaction
(user or control plane)

Transfer of data

Transaction Release and

RAB Release
RRC Connection Release
UMTS Networks

A transaction comprises all the elementary

procedures required to enable
the transport of user data (PS or CS
mode) or
the exchange of higher-layer signaling
messages (e.g. MM or CM)

Release of all bearers to support

UMTS bearer service

Oliver Waldhorst, Jens Mueckenheim

Oct-11

UE RRC Connected States

optional
C e ll F A C H

D a ta

H ig h tr a ff ic

a c tiv ity

o r C S c a ll

N o d a ta

Low
tr a ff ic
D y n a m ic R B
r e c o n f ig u r e

N o d a ta
URA PCH

C e ll D C H
D a ta a c tiv ity

Cell_DCH
Dedicated Traffic and Control carried over DCH
Cell_FACH
Dedicated Traffic and Control carried over RACH/ FACH
URA_PCH
No air interface resources required, dormant RB
UE receives paging on UTRAN Routing Area (URA) basis rather than
standard routing area (RA); URA usually in the order of 10 cells

UMTS Networks

Oliver Waldhorst, Jens Mueckenheim

Oct-11

Paging

Paging

RRC Connection Establishment

Transaction Reasoning
(Signaling conn. establishment)

Paging type 1:
UE idle mode (no RRC connection)
RRC connected modes cell_PCH or URA_PCH

Authentication and
Security
Transaction Setup and
RAB Allocation
Transaction
(user or control plane)
Transaction Release and
RAB Release

Example: paging for a UE in idle mode

UE

RRC Connection Release

N ode B

N ode B

RNC

RNC

1 .1

2 .1

CN

1 . P a g in g
RANAP

RANAP

1 . P a g in g

RANAP

RANAP

(Requesting CN domain,
IMSI, ...)
2 . P C C H : P a g in g T yp e 1

3 . P C C H : P a g in g T yp e 1

UMTS Networks

Oliver Waldhorst, Jens Mueckenheim

Oct-11

Paging

Paging

RRC Connection Establishment

Transaction Reasoning
(Signaling conn. establishment)

Paging type 2:
UE is in RRC connected mode cell_DCH or cell_FACH
Paging request from another CN domain

Authentication and
Security
Transaction Setup and
RAB Allocation
Transaction
(user or control plane)
Transaction Release and
RAB Release

Example: paging for a UE in RRC Connected Mode

(CELL_DCH or CELL_FACH state)
UE

RRC Connection Release

S e r v in g

CN

RNC

RANAP

1.

P a g in g

RANAP

2 . D C C H : P a g in g T y p e 2
RRC

RRC

2 cases:

UTRAN coordinates the paging request with the existing RRC connection (given example)
UE coordinates the paging request with the existing RRC connection

UMTS Networks

Oliver Waldhorst, Jens Mueckenheim

Oct-11

Paging

RRC Connection Setup

UE

RRC Connection Establishment

RNC

N ode B

CN

Transaction Reasoning
(Signaling conn. establishment)

Authentication and
Security
Transaction Setup and
RAB Allocation

U E _ I d le

Transaction
(user or control plane)

In itia l R a n d o m A c c e s s
A d d r.: In itia l U E ID
C C C H (T M )/ R A C H : R R C C o n n e c tio n R e q u e s t

R e q u e s t fo r D C C H
In c l. E s ta b lis h m e n t

Transaction Release and

RAB Release
RRC Connection Release

cause
R L S e tu p R e q u e s t
R L S e tu p R e s p o n s e
E s ta b lis h m e n t
of U TR A N

A L C A P Iu b T ra n s p o rt b e a re r S e tu p

D C H re s o u rc e s
in c l. C A C

U L /D L S y n c h ro n is a tio n

C C C H (U M )/ F A C H : R R C C o n n e c tio n S e tu p

D C C H (A M )/ D C H : R R C C o n n e c tio n S e tu p C o m p le te

A d d r.: In itia l U E ID

A d d r.: b y D C H
D C C H e s ta b lis h e d
U E c a p a b ilitie s

CELL_D CH

know n

Establishment of a RRC connection in cell_DCH mode

UMTS Networks

Oliver Waldhorst, Jens Mueckenheim

Oct-11

Initial Random Access

UE

P e r s is te n c y

C o n tr o llin g

Node B

RNC

P re a m b le

c h e c k b e fo r e
P re a m b le

P re a m b le

R e s o u rc in g N o d e B
H a rd w a re
A c q u is itio n In d ic a tio n (A IC H )

P R A C H M essage

C R C C heck

R AC H M essage
[R R C C o n n e c tio n R e q u e s t]
RACHFP

RACHFP

UE addressing
CCCH: UE ID embedded in the RRC message
DTCH/ DCCH: UE ID included in MAC header
UMTS Networks

Oliver Waldhorst, Jens Mueckenheim

Oct-11

RRC Connection Setup

Reasons for RRC connection setup:
Call setup (mobile-originated and mobile-terminated calls)
Conversational call
Streaming call
Interactive call
Background call
Emergency call
Call re-establishment
Exchange of signaling messages (low/high priority)
RRC connection request message contains, e.g.
IMSI, TMSI, IMEI
Location area, routing area identity, etc.
Other information: e.g. HSDPA/ E-DCH UE capability, standards release

UMTS Networks

Oliver Waldhorst, Jens Mueckenheim

Oct-11

NAS Signaling Connection Establishment

(Transaction Reasoning)

Paging
RRC Connection Establishment
Transaction Reasoning
(Signaling conn. establishment)

Authentication and
Security
Transaction Setup and
RAB Allocation
Transaction
(user or control plane)
Transaction Release and
RAB Release
RRC Connection Release

UE

S er vin g

CN

RNC

1 . R R C C on n ection E sta blish m en t

2 . D C C H : I n i t i a l D i r e c t T r a n s fe r
RRC

RRC

3 . In itia l U E M essa g e
RANAP

RANAP

Payload contains system network message:

Information about the transaction initiated by
the UE (IMSI, TMSI, location area, kind of
requested transaction)
UMTS Networks

Oliver Waldhorst, Jens Mueckenheim

Oct-11

Paging

Authentication and Security Control

RRC Connection Establishment

Transaction Reasoning
(Signaling conn. establishment)

Authentication and
Security
Transaction Setup and
RAB Allocation
Transaction
(user or control plane)
Transaction Release and
RAB Release
RRC Connection Release

Authentication request/response: mutual authentication of UE and network

Security mode command/complete: CN domain indicates to UTRAN and UE the encryption
details (method/algorithms and encryption keys)
UMTS Networks

Oliver Waldhorst, Jens Mueckenheim

Oct-11

10

Transition Setup and RAB Establishment

(CS Mode)

Paging
RRC Connection Establishment
Transaction Reasoning
(Signaling conn. establishment)

Authentication and
Security
Transaction Setup and
RAB Allocation
Transaction
(user or control plane)
Transaction Release and
RAB Release
RRC Connection Release

UMTS Networks

Oliver Waldhorst, Jens Mueckenheim

Oct-11

11

Transition Setup and RAB Establishment

(PS Mode)

Paging
RRC Connection Establishment
Transaction Reasoning
(Signaling conn. establishment)

Authentication and
Security
Transaction Setup and
RAB Allocation
Transaction
(user or control plane)
Transaction Release and
RAB Release
RRC Connection Release

UMTS Networks

Oliver Waldhorst, Jens Mueckenheim

Oct-11

12

RAB Establishment
UE

N odeB

SRN C

CN

R A B A s s ig n m e n t
A L C A P Iu T ra n s p o rt B e a re r E s ta b lis h m e n t

C e ll_ D C H /

R a d io L in k R e c o n fig u ra tio n P re p a re

W h e n C e ll_ F A C H :

C e ll_ F A C H

W h en C S C N

R L S e tu p

R a d io L in k R e c o n fig u ra tio n R e a d y
A L C A P Iu b T ra n s p o rt B e a re r E s ta b lis h m e n t
N o d e B R N C D a ta T ra n s p o rt B e a re r S y n c
R a d io L in k R e c o n fig u ra tio n C o m m it
A c tiv a tio n T im e ,

R a d io B e a re r S e tu p

T A c tiv a tio n
R a d io B e a re r S e tu p C o m p le te
R A B A s s ig n m e n t R e s p o n s e

C e ll_ D C H

Example: Synchronised establishment of a RAB on DCH

UMTS Networks

Oliver Waldhorst, Jens Mueckenheim

Oct-11

13

Transaction Release and RAB Release

(CS Mode)

Paging
RRC Connection Establishment
Transaction Reasoning
(Signaling conn. establishment)

Authentication and
Security
Transaction Setup and
RAB Allocation
Transaction
(user or control plane)
Transaction Release and
RAB Release
RRC Connection Release

Note: signaling connection and RRC connection remains

UMTS Networks

Oliver Waldhorst, Jens Mueckenheim

Oct-11

14

Transaction Release and Iu Release

(CS Mode)

Paging
RRC Connection Establishment
Transaction Reasoning
(Signaling conn. establishment)

Authentication and
Security
Transaction Setup and
RAB Allocation
Transaction
(user or control plane)
Transaction Release and
RAB Release
RRC Connection Release

Note: signaling connection and RRC connection are released

UMTS Networks

Oliver Waldhorst, Jens Mueckenheim

Oct-11

15

Transaction Release and RAB Release

(PS Mode)

Paging
RRC Connection Establishment
Transaction Reasoning
(Signaling conn. establishment)

Authentication and
Security
Transaction Setup and
RAB Allocation
Transaction
(user or control plane)
Transaction Release and
RAB Release
RRC Connection Release

Note: signaling connection and RRC connection remain

UMTS Networks

Oliver Waldhorst, Jens Mueckenheim

Oct-11

16

Transaction Release and Iu Release

(PS Mode)

Paging
RRC Connection Establishment
Transaction Reasoning
(Signaling conn. establishment)

Authentication and
Security
Transaction Setup and
RAB Allocation
Transaction
(user or control plane)
Transaction Release and
RAB Release
RRC Connection Release

Note: signaling connection and RRC connection are released

UMTS Networks

Oliver Waldhorst, Jens Mueckenheim

Oct-11

17

Paging

RRC Connection Release

RRC Connection Establishment

Transaction Reasoning
(Signaling conn. establishment)

Authentication and
Security
Transaction Setup and
RAB Allocation
Transaction
(user or control plane)
Transaction Release and
RAB Release
RRC Connection Release

UMTS Networks

Oliver Waldhorst, Jens Mueckenheim

Oct-11

18

RRC Connection Release (involving DRNC)

Example: RRC connection release of a dedicated channel in soft HO mode
with DRNC
UE

N ode B
D rift R N S

N ode B
S e rv in g R N S

D r ift
RNC

S e r v in g
RNC

CN

1 . I u R e le a s e C o m m a n d
RANAP

RANAP
2 . I u R e le a s e C o m p le t e

RANAP

RANAP

3 . A L C A P I u B e a r e r R e le a s e

4 . R R C C o n n e c t io n R e le a s e
RRC

RRC

5 . R R C C o n n e c t io n R e le a s e C o m p le t e
RRC

RRC

6 . R a d io L in k D e le t io n
NBAP

N B AP
7 . R a d io L in k D e le t io n
RNSAP

RN SAP

8 . R a d io L in k D e le t io n
NBAP

NBAP

NBAP

NBAP

1 0 . R a d io L in k D e le t io n R e s p o n s e

9 . R a d io L in k D e le t io n R e s p o n s e

N B AP

NBAP
1 1 . R a d io L in k D e le t io n R e s p o n s e
RNSAP

RN SAP

1 2 . A L C A P I u b B e a r e r R e le a s e

A L C A P Iu r B earer
1 3 . A L C A P I u b B e a r e r R e le a s e

UMTS Networks

Oliver Waldhorst, Jens Mueckenheim

R e le a s e

Oct-11

19

Soft Handover Radio Link Addition

UE

T arg et

DRNC

SRN C

N ode B
R N C D e c id e s to

R a d io L i n k A d d / S e t u p R e q u e s t
R a d io L i n k A d d / S e t u p R e q u e s t

a d d a n e w R a d io
L in k

s ta r t R x
R a d io L i n k A d d / S e t u p R e s p o n s e
R a d io L i n k A d d / S e t u p R e s p o n s e

W h e n R L S e tu p

A L C A P I u b D a ta T r a n s p o r t b e a r e r S e tu p

A L C A P I u r b e a r e r S e tu p

R a d io L i n k R e s to r e I n d ic a tio n
R a d io L i n k R e s to r e I n d ic a tio n
T a r g e t N o d e B is

s ta r t T x

read y

A c ti v e S e t U p d a te ( R a d io L in k A d d itio n )

A c ti v e S e t U p d a te C o m p le te
E .g . n e w
U E s ta r ts
R x on new

n e ig h b o u r c e ll lis t

M e a s u r e m e n t C o n tr o l

r a d io lin k

Unsynchronized addition
UMTS Networks

Oliver Waldhorst, Jens Mueckenheim

Oct-11

20

Soft Handover Radio Link Deletion

UE

DRNC

Node B

SRNC

RNC Decides to
delete an existing
Radio Link

Active Set Update (Radio Link Deletion)

Active Set Update Complete

UE stops
Rx on old
radio link

E.g. new
neighbour cell list

Measurement Control

Radio Link Deletion Request

Radio Link Deletion Request

Free-up resources of
old NodeB

stop Rx & Tx
Radio Link Deletion Response

ALCAP Iub Data Transport bearer Release

Radio Link Deletion Response

ALCAP Iur bearer Release

Unsynchronized deletion
UMTS Networks

Oliver Waldhorst, Jens Mueckenheim

Oct-11

21

Inter-system Handover (UMTS to GSM)

UE

SRN C

3G M SC

BSC

2G M SC

R N C D e c id e s to

R e lo c a tio n R e q u ir e d

p e r fo r m H O to

M A P P rep are H O R eq .

GSM

H O R eq ue st
C h a n n e l a c tiv a tio n
p r o c e d u r e in B S S

H O R eq ue st A C K
M A P P rep are H O R esp o n se
R e lo c a tio n C o m m a n d
U E s w itc h e s

H O fr o m U T R A N C o m m a n d

to G S M B S S

R a d io L i n k F a ilu r e i n U T R A N a n d R a d io L i n k E s ta b lis h m e n t in G S M B S S

H O C o m p le te
H O C o m p le te
M A P S e n d E n d S ig n a l R e q .

F ree u p o f

I u R e le a s e P r o c e d u r e

R eso u rce s
M A P S e n d E n d S ig n a l R e s p .

UMTS Networks

Oliver Waldhorst, Jens Mueckenheim

Oct-11

22

UTRAN Initiated UMTS-GPRS Cell Reselection

UE

S e rv in g

SG SN

RNC

1 . U T R A N d e c is io n to p e r fo r m C e l l C h a n g e O r d e r fr o m U T R A N :

2 . C e ll C h a n g e O r d e r fr o m
UTRAN
RRC

RRC

3 . T h e U E a c c e sse s th e G S M

4 . S R N S C o n te x t R e q u e s t

s y s te m a n d in i tia te s r o u t in g a r e a

RANAP

RANAP

u p d a te . T h e p a c k e t c o n te x t is
tr a n s fe r r e d to th e n e w S G S N .

5 . S R N S C o n te x t R e s p o n s e
RANAP

RANAP

6 . I u R e le a s e C o m m a n d
RANAP

RANAP

7 . I u R e le a s e C o m p le te
RANAP

RANAP

Most signalling between 2G and 2G CN

UMTS Networks

Oliver Waldhorst, Jens Mueckenheim

Oct-11

23

SRNS Relocation (CS)

UMTS Networks

Oliver Waldhorst, Jens Mueckenheim

Oct-11

24

URA_PCH to CELL_DCH/ CELL_FACH Transition

UE

N ode B

SRN C

U R A _PC H
C e ll U p d a te ( C C C H , R A C H , T M , c a u s e p a g i n g r e s p o n s e o r U p lin k D a ta tr a n s m is s io n )
U E te m p o r a r y in
C e ll_ F A C H

R a d io L i n k S e tu p r e q u e s t

I f C e ll_ D C H
I n c l. D B C c h e c k

R a d io L i n k S e tu p r e s p o n s e
F or each D C H ,
s e p a r a te l y

A L C A P I u b D a ta T r a n s p o r t b e a r e r S e tu p

I n c l. U L / D L S y n c h .

U E T r a n s itio n s to
C e ll D C H / s ta y s in

C e ll U p d a te C o n fir m ( C C C H , F A C H , U M )

R R C S ta te I n d ic a to r

C e ll_ F A C H

C e ll_ D C H /
U RA_FACH

R a d io L i n k R e s to r e I n d ic a tio n

C e ll_ D C H /

T A c tiv a tio n = N O W

C e ll_ F A C H
C e ll_ D C H : R a d io B e a r e r R e c o n fi g u r a tio n C o m p le te ( D C C H A M , D C H )
U E S e n d s C o m p le te
M essage

C e ll_ F A C H : U T R A N M o b ilit y C o n fir m ( D C C H A M , R A C H )

L 2 A C K (D C C H )

Unsynchronised procedure with CRNC = SRNC

UMTS Networks

Oliver Waldhorst, Jens Mueckenheim

Oct-11

25

CELL_FACH to CELL_DCH Transition

UE

N ode B

C e ll F A C H

RNC

R a d io L i n k S e tu p r e q u e s t
R a d io L i n k S e tu p r e s p o n s e

CN

R N C d e te r m in e s U E
s h o u ld tr a n s itio n to
C e ll D C H

A L C A P fo r b o th D C H

F P S ynch
U E T r a n s itio n s to

R a d io B e a r e r R e c o n fig u r a tio n ( D C C H , F A C H )

C e ll D C H

R N C S to p s M A C - d
T r a n s m is s io n to U E

R a d io L i n k R e s to r e I n d ic a tio n

C e ll D C H
U E S e n d s C o m p le te

R a d io B e a r e r R e c o n fig u r a tio n C o m p le te ( D C C H A M , D C H )

M essage o n D C H

L 2 A C K (D C H )

Unsynchronised procedure with CRNC = SRNC

UMTS Networks

Oliver Waldhorst, Jens Mueckenheim

Oct-11

26

CELL_DCH to URA_PCH/ CELL_FACH Transition

UE

N ode B

SRN C

C e ll_ D C H
R R C S ta te I n d ic a to r

R a d io B e a r e r R e c o n fig u r a tio n ( D C C H , D C H , U M )
U E tr a n s itio n s to

C e ll_ F A C H /
U RA_PCH

C e ll_ F A C H a n d
read s S IB

R a d io B e a r e r R e c o n fig u r a tio n C o m p le te ( D C C H , R A C H , A M )

U E S e n d s C o m p le te
M essage o n R A C H

R N C le a v e s ti m e

L 2 A C K (D C C H , F A C H )

fo r L 2 A C K b e in g
erro red

C e ll_ F A C H /
U R A _PC H
R a d io L i n k D e le tio n R e q u e s t

R a d io L i n k D e le tio n R e s p o n s e

F ree -u p n o n -u sed
D C H R eso u rces

A L C A P I u b D a ta T r a n s p o r t B e a r e r R e le a s e

Unsynchronised procedure with CRNC = SRNC

UMTS Networks

Oliver Waldhorst, Jens Mueckenheim

Oct-11

27

Dynamic Bearer Reconfiguration

UE

N ode B

N ode B

( D r ift

( S e r v in g

RN S)

RN S)

DRNC

C e ll D C H
R a d io L i n k R e c o n fi g u r a tio n P r e p a r e

SRN C
R a d io L i n k R e c o n fi g

R N C D e c id e s to

P r e p a re

c h a n g e th e r a te o f
th e U E

R a d io L i n k R e c o n fi g u r a tio n P r e p a r e
R a d io L i n k R e c o n fi g u r a tio n R e a d y
R a d io L i n k R e c o n fi g R e a d y
R a d io L i n k R e c o n fi g u r a tio n R e a d y
W h e n r a te in c r e a s e

A L C A P I u b D a ta T r a n s p o r t b e a r e r S e tu p

A L C A P I u r b e a r e r S e tu p

A L C A P I u b D a ta T r a n s p o r t b e a r e r S e tu p
R a d io L i n k R e c o n fi g
R a d io L i n k R e c o n fi g u r a tio n C o m m i t ( T A c tiv a tio n )
A c ti v a tio n T im e

, T A c tiv a tio n

A ll N o d e B s a r e
read y

c o m m i t ( T A c tiv a tio n )

R a d io L i n k R e c o n fi g u r a tio n c o m m i t ( T A c tiv a tio n )

T r a n s p o r t C h a n n e l R e c o n fi g u r a tio n ( D C C H , A M , T A c tiv a tio n )
T r a n s p o r t C h a n n e l R e c o n fi g u r a tio n C o m p le te ( D C C H , A M )

U E & N o d e -B

N e tw o r k r e s o u r c e s fo r

r e c o n fig u r e d to
th e n e w r a te s

th e p r e v io u s

A L C A P I u b D a ta T r a n s p o r t b e a r e r R e le a s e
C e ll D C H

R e le a s e th e tr a n s p o r t

A L C A P I u r b e a r e r R e le a s e

c o n fig u r a tio n

A L C A P I u b D a ta T r a n s p o r t b e a r e r R e le a s e

Synchronised DCH modify w/o transport bearer reconfiguration

UMTS Networks

Oliver Waldhorst, Jens Mueckenheim

Oct-11

28