This post is to give short description of NAS protocols, procedures and

functions.
NAS is a layer for communication between Ue and Core Network (CN). This
communication is transparent for underlaying Access Stratum.
NAS protocols:

 GMM - GPRS Mobility Management

 MM - Mobility Management
 SM - Session Management
 CC - Call Control
 SS - Supplementary Services
 SMS - Short Message Services

SM, SMS, SS and CC form a group of protocols called Connection

Management.

Figure - Inter protocols communication MS side [3GPP 24.007]

SM - its functions is to activate, deactivate or modify PDP contexts which are

sessions for PS traffic in UMTS/GPRS networks

Figure 1 - Simplified PDP context activation procedure

Figure 2 - Inter protocol communication for PDP context activation - MS side

CC - its functions is to establish, maintain and finally release CS calls in

UMTS/GPRS/GSM networks

Figure 3- Simplified CS call proceeding

Figure 4 - Inter protocol communication for CS call setup