3G UMTS Mobile Terminating Call (SequenceProject)

User UE-RNC Sessions UTRAN RNC-Core Network Sessions Core Network EventStudio System Designer 6
Equipment
UE RNC MSC/VLR 09-Feb-14 19:43 (Page 1)

A 3G-UMTS terminating call is described here. Setup radio bearers and RANAP signaling are covered in detail. You can click
on most RANAP messages to see the full content of the message.

This call flow has been generated with from a Wireshark PCAP file using VisualEther (http://www.eventhelix.com/VisualEther/).
The generated call flow was later modified with EventStudio (http://www.eventhelix.com/EventStudio/) to add comments and
terminal level interactions.

Core Network Pages UE

RANAP Paging MSC/VLR sends a Page
ranap ranap message for the terminating
call. The message contains
DomainIndicator = CS-Domain, the IMSI for the subscriber.
PermanentNAS-UE-ID = IMSI

SCTP SACK SCTP ack for the paging

message.

RRC Connection Setup

RRC Connection Request UE wishes to establish a
rrc rrc voice call so it requests a
Radio Resource Control
UE Identity, (RRC) connection.
UE Capabilities,
Establishment Cause

RRC Connection Setup The RNC accepts the RRC

rrc
Transport Channel Information,
Signaling Radio Bearer
RRC Connection Complete
rrc
Ciphering Information
rrc Connection Request and
assigns a traffic channel.
The message also creates a
Signaling Radio Bearer
(SRB).
The UE responds back to
rrc signal the completion of the
RRC Connection Setup.

RRC RRC Connection Setup has

been completed between the
UE and the RNC. Signaling
Radio Bearer (SRB) is also
created at the time of the
RRC connection setup.

Page Response and Initial Call Handshake

Initial UE Message [Page Response] The mobile sends an Initial
rrc rrc UE Message that carries the
Page Response as a NAS
(Non Access Stratum)
payload.
 3G UMTS Mobile Terminating Call (SequenceProject)
User UE-RNC Sessions UTRAN RNC-Core Network Sessions Core Network EventStudio System Designer 6
Equipment
UE RRC RNC MSC/VLR 09-Feb-14 19:43 (Page 2)
RANAP Initial UE Message [DTAP Page Response] The Page Response is sent
ranap ranap in a RANAP message.
LAI,
PLMN identity,
Mobile Country Code (MCC),
Mobile Network Code (MNC),
Global RNC-ID,
IMSI,
Mobile Station Classmark

SCTP SACK

SCCP Connection Confirm SCCP connection setup is

sccp sccp confirmed.

SCTP SACK

SCCP The SCCP connection has

been established between
the RNC and the Core
Network.

Iu An Iu signaling connection is
now active between the RNC
and the Core Network.
RANAP DirectTransfer [DTAP Setup] The MSC sends a Setup
ranap ranap message as NAS payload in
a Direct Transfer message.
NAS-PDU,
SAPI

SCTP SACK

Downlink Direct Transfer [DTAP Setup] Send the Setup message to

rrc rrc the UE.

Uplink Direct Transfer [DTAP Call Confirmed] Call Confirmation is received

rrc rrc as a NAS payload.

RANAP DirectTransfer [DTAP Call Confirmed] Call Confirmed message

ranap ranap with Bearer and Codec
information is sent from the
Bearer Capability, RNC to the MSC/VLR.
Supported Codec List

SCTP SACK

RAB Assignment
RANAP RAB Assignment Request Core Network initiates a
ranap ranap Radio Access Bearer (RAB)
Assignment. The message
RAB-SetupOrModifyList, specifies the Quality of
RAB Id,
RAB-SetupOrModifyItem, Service parameters.
GuaranteedBitrate: 12200

SCTP SACK

Radio Bearer Setup Setup the Radio Bearer to

rrc rrc assign circuit switched
resources to the voice call.
Radio Bearer Setup Complete Terminal responds back.
rrc rrc
 3G UMTS Mobile Terminating Call (SequenceProject)
User UE-RNC Sessions UTRAN RNC-Core Network Sessions Core Network EventStudio System Designer 6
Equipment
UE RRC RNC SCCP Iu MSC/VLR 09-Feb-14 19:43 (Page 3)

RB Radio Bearer has now been

established between the UE
and the RNC.
RANAP RAB Assignment Response RNC responds to Core
ranap ranap Network after completing RB
Setup with the Terminal.
RABSetupOrModifiedList,
SetupOrModifiedItem,
RAB Parameters,
GuaranteedBitrate: 12200

SCTP SACK

RAB The voice radio access

bearer has been
successfully created.

Alerting
begin The called subscribers
Ringing Called phone is now ringing.
Subscriber

Ring
Uplink Direct Transfer [DTAP Alerting] The called subscribers
rrc rrc phone is now ringing.

RANAP DirectTransfer [DTAP Alerting] Notifiy the Core Network that

ranap ranap the called subscriber is being
rung.
SCTP SACK

Waiting for the called

subscriber to answer the
call.
Called subscriber answers the call
Answer call
end
Ringing Called
Subscriber

Uplink Direct Transfer [DTAP Connect] Notify that the called

rrc rrc subscriber has answered the
call.
RANAP DirectTransfer [DTAP Connect] Notify the MSC/VLR that the
ranap ranap call has been answered.

SCTP SACK

RANAP DirectTransfer [DTAP Connect Acknowledge] Core Network acknowledges

ranap ranap the call connect.

SCTP SACK

Downlink Direct Transfer [DTAP Connect Acknowledge] The RRC layer transports
rrc rrc the Connect Acknowledge to
the UE.
 3G UMTS Mobile Terminating Call (SequenceProject)
User UE-RNC Sessions UTRAN RNC-Core Network Sessions Core Network EventStudio System Designer 6
Equipment
UE RRC RB RNC SCCP Iu RAB MSC/VLR 09-Feb-14 19:43 (Page 4)

Conversation

Voice Path Voice path is now active

between the User Terminal
and the Called Subscriber.
Conversation Voice communication in
rab rab progress.

Conversation
rab rab

Conversation
rab rab

Conversation
rab rab

Conversation
rab rab

Called subscriber initiates a call clear

RANAP DirectTransfer [DTAP Disconnect] The called subscriber has
ranap ranap initiated a call release. This
results in a Disconnect
message from the MSC/VLR
to the RNC.
SCTP SACK (3)

Downlink Direct Transfer [DTAP Disconnect] RNC forwards the

rrc rrc disconnect to the UE.

Uplink Direct Transfer [DTAP Release] UE sends the release

rrc rrc message.

RANAP DirectTransfer [DTAP Release] Call release is sent to the

ranap ranap MSC/VLR.

SCTP SACK

RANAP DirectTransfer [DTAP Relesase Complete] This message signals the

ranap ranap completion of call release.

SCTP SACK (3)

Downlink Direct Transfer [DTAP Release Complete] RNC forwards the release
rrc rrc complete to the UE.

Release the Iu Connection

3G UMTS Mobile Terminating Call (SequenceProject)
User UE-RNC Sessions UTRAN RNC-Core Network Sessions Core Network EventStudio System Designer 6
Equipment
UE RRC RB RNC SCCP Iu RAB MSC/VLR 09-Feb-14 19:43 (Page 5)
RANAP Iu-Release The MSC/VLR initiates the
ranap ranap release of the Iu connection.
Cause = Normal Release

SCTP SACK

RANAP Iu-Release RNC also acknowledges the

ranap ranap Iu release.

SCTP SACK

RRC Connection Release

RRC Connection Release
rrc rrc

RRC Connection Release Complete

rrc rrc

SCCP Released Releasing the SCCP

sccp sccp connection.

SCTP SACK

SCCP Release Complete Completed the release of the

sccp sccp SCCP connection.

SCTP SACK

This call flow has been generated with from a Wireshark PCAP file using VisualEther (http://www.eventhelix.com/VisualEther/).
The generated call flow was later modified with EventStudio (http://www.eventhelix.com/EventStudio/) to add comments and
terminal level interactions.

Explore more call flow diagrams at: http://www.eventhelix.com/realtimemantra/telecom/