UMTS System and Air Interface Architecture

infrastructure (IF) edge nodes. Its boundaries border on the layers that are independent of
the access technique and the ones that are dependent on it. The AS contains all access
specific functions such as handling and coordinating the use of radio resources between the
UE and the UTRAN, providing flexible radio access bearers, radio bandwidth on demand,
and handover and macro-diversity functions. The AS offers services through the Service
Access Points (SAPs) to the Non-Access Stratum (NAS). The RAB is a service provided by
the AS to the NAS for the transfer of data between the UE and the core network.

2.1.2 The Non-Access Stratum and Core Network

The Non-Access Stratum refers to the set of protocols and functions that are used to handle
user services, Call Control for data and voice such as provided by Q.931 and ISUP, UE
identification through IMSI, core network related signaling such as session management,
supplementary services management, and establishment and release of PDP contexts. In the
packet services domain, there is a one-to-one relation between a PDP context and a Radio
Access bearer. The RAB is a service that the AS provides to the NAS for the transfer of user
data between the UE and the core network. A bearer is described by a set of parameters
called attributes, which define the quality of service or traffic aspects of the service as
described in Chapter 15. In a way, the NAS deals with functions and parameters, which have
end-to-end significance.

2.1.3 UTRAN Architecture

The UTRAN consists of a set of Radio Network Subsystems (RNS) connected to the core
network through the Iu interface. The UTRAN architecture with element connections is
shown in Figure 2.2 [3]. An RNS consists of a Radio Network Controller (RNC) and one or
more Node Bs. The RNS can be either a full UTRAN or only a part of a UTRAN.

Core Network
Iu

UTRAN

Iu

RNS

RNS
Iur
RNC

RNC

Iub

Iub

Iub

Node B

Node B

Node B

Iub
Node B

Figure 2.2 UTRAN Architecture.

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