UMTS UTRAN Signaling Procedures Comparison

UMTS UTRAN Signaling
Procedures
GSM-to-UMTS Training Series_V1.0 www.huawei.com
HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD. All rights reserved

Comparison of Signaling Procedures
Between GSM and WCDMA
GSM WCDMA
Cell setup None (Abis interface is not open, Required
and the call setup procedure is
not required.)
Paging procedure lVoice service paging lVoice service paging
lData service paging lData service paging
lRNC paging (system message update)
Call procedure Assigning timeslots (TS) for users Assigning logical connections (RAB) for users
Handover Hard handover lHard handover
procedure lSoft handover/softer handover
lSRNS redirection
lInter-RAT handover (between 2G and 3G)

Reconfiguration None lRB reconfiguration (service type change)
procedure lTransport channel reconfiguration (concurrent
service)
lPhysical channel reconfiguration (AMRC and
DCCC)
Cell update/URA None Used for discontinuous data services
update

1 UTRAN System Architecture and
Protocol Stack
2 Basic Terms Related to the UTRAN
3 Basic Signaling Procedures

UTRAN System Architecture
Core Network
Iu Iu
RNS RNS
Iur
RNC RNC
Iub Iub Iub Iub
Node B Node B Node B Node B

WCDMA Protocol Architecture
SMS / SMS /
GMM / MM GMM / MM
Relay
RRC RRC RANAP RANAP
RLC RLC SCCP SCCP
Signalling Signalling
MAC MAC Bearer Bearer
L1 L1 AAL5 AAL5
ATM ATM
Uu Iu
UE RNS MSC/
SGSN
N
Comparison: GSM-BSS Protocol Architecture
MS BTS BSC MSC
CM CM
MM MM
L3
BSSMAP
RR BSSMAP
RR
RR BTSM BTSM SCCP SCCP
L2 LAPDm LAPDm LAPD LAPD
MTP MTP
L1 SigL1 SigL1 SigL1 SigL1
Um接口 Abis接口 A接口

Protocol Architecture for the RNC Control
Plane
CN
RANAP
RRC RNSAP
UE RNC RNC
NBAP
Node B
NBAP ：Node B Application Part

RANAP：Radio Access Network Application Part
RNSAP：Radio Network Subsystem Application Part
RRC ：Radio Resource Control

Summary
l This part describes the UTRAN

system architecture and the protocol
architecture.

Protocol Stack

Basic Terms
l UTRAN：provides setup, maintenance, and release of radio access
bearer (RAB) for the Non-Access Stratum (NAS) to shield the focus of
the NAS on the features of the radio access stratum.
l Other terms: UTRAN, RAB, RB, and RL
RAB
RB CN
UE RNC
RL
NodeB
UTRAN

Basic Terms
l RAB: The service that the access stratum provides to

the Non-Access Stratum (NAS) for transfer of user data
between User Equipment and CN.
l RB：The service provided by the Layer 2 for transfer of

user data between User Equipment and SRNC.
l RL: A "radio link" is a logical association between single User
Equipment and a single UTRAN access point. Its physical
realisation comprises one or more radio bearer transmissions.

UE States
- Reducing actions, DRX, and saving power
RRC connection
URA_PCH CELL_PCH
CELL_DCH CELL_FACH
- Dedicated channel
- Radio bearers transmission servcie
IDLE
- Monitoring paging channel
These states are significant only for
UTRAN and UE. They are transparent to
- Cell reselection
CN.
DEAD - Searching for the network (PLMN)

- Camp on the cell
Working Modes of the UE
l The UE has two working modes: idle mode and connected mode.
l Idle mode: The UE is in the standby state and has no service for
processing. In addition, no connection exists between the UE and
UTRAN, and the UTRAN does not contain any information about the
UE. The UE is identified by the NAS identifiers, such as the IMSI,
TMSI, or P-TMSI.
l Connected mode: When the UE completes the RRC connection
setup, the UE changes from the idle mode to the connected mode.
In Connected mode, the UE has four states: Cell-DCH, Cell-FACH,
Cell-PCH, and URA-PCH.

UE States in Connected Mode
l Cell-DCH：
The UE is in the active state. It communicates over the dedicated
channel. The UE has a dedicated channel in both the uplink and
downlink. The UTRAN accurately knows the cell on which the UE
camps.
l Cell-FACH
The UE is in the active state, but it has few data to send in both the
uplink and downlink. It is not required to allocate a dedicated
channel for the UE. The downlink data is transmitted over the FACH,
and the uplink data is transmitted over the RACH. The UE needs to
monitors the FACH in the downlink at any time for its information.
The UTRAN accurately knows the cell on which the UE camps and
maintains the resources for the UE and its state.

UE States in Connected Mode
l Cell-PCH
The UE has no data to send in the uplink and downlink. It needs to
monitor the PICH for receiving paging messages. Therefore, the UE
enters the discontinuous reception, which saving the power.
The UTRAN knows which cell that the UE camps on. Thus, after the
UE roams to another cell, the UTRAN needs to update the cell
information of the UE.
l URA-PCH
The UE has no data to send in the uplink and downlink. It needs to
monitor the PICH and enters the discontinuous reception. The
UTRAN knows only the UTRAN registration area (URA) of the UE. A
URA contains multiple cells. That is, the UTRAN updates the
location information only after the URA where the UE is located
changes, thus saving resources and reducing signaling.

Serving RNC and Drift RNC
CN
Iu
Iur
SRNC DRNC
l In the WCDMA system, the SRNC and DRNC are introduced due to the Iur interface.
l The SRNC and DRNC correspond to a specific UE.
l For connections between a UE and the CN, the RNC that is directly connected the CN
and controls all resources of the UE is called the SRNC. The RNC that has no direct
connection with the CN and only provides resources for the UE is called DRNC.
l A UE in connection state has at least one and only one SRNC, but can have no or
multiple DRNCs.

CRNC
CN Iu
... CRNC Iub
Node B Node B
Cell Cell Cell
l The controller RNC (CRNC) corresponds to a NodeB or cell.
l The RNC that is directly connected to a NodeB and controls the

usage of resources of the NodeB is called the CRNC.
l A NodeB corresponds to one and only one CRNC.
l The CRNC allocates the resources of all the NodeBs controlled by

the CRNC properly.
Summary
l This part describes some

terms related to the UTRAN.

Protocol Stack

Basic Signaling Procedures
l System Information
Broadcasting
l Paging
l Paging Procedure
l Handover

System Information Broadcasting

Overview of the System Information
MIB: includes the PLMN identifier and the scheduling information of the schedule block (SB) and
system block (SB).
SB1: includes the scheduling information of the SIB.
SB2 : includes the scheduling information of the SIB.
SIB1: includes the UE timers and counters and the system information at the NAS.
SIB2: includes the URA information.
SIB3: includes the parameters for cell selection and reselection.
SIB4: includes the parameters for cell selection and cell reselection in connected mode.
SIB5: includes the parameters for the configuration of the common physical channel in a cell.
SIB6: includes the parameters for the configuration of the common physical channel in a cell in
connected mode.
SIB7: includes the information about the uplink interface and dynamic persistence level.
SIB8: includes the static information about the CPCH in the cell.
SIB9: includes the dynamic information about the CPCH in the cell.
SIB10: includes the information of dynamic resource assignment control (DRAC).
SIB11: includes the measurement control information.
SIB12: includes the measurement control information in connected mode.
SIB13: includes the ANSI-41 system information.
SIB14: includes the information in TDD mode.
SIB15: includes the information for LCS.
SIB16: includes the reconfiguration information about the handover from another system to the
UTRAN.
SIB17: includes the configuration information of the shared physical channel in connected mode
(TDD).
SIB18: includes the information of the neighboring PLMN.
Note: The network planning engineers should pay more attention to the system information in blue.

Broadcasting
l Paging
l Paging Procedure
l Handover

CN-Initiated Paging
Paging type 1
CN RNC1 RNC2 NODEB1.1 NODEB2.1 UE
PAGING
RANAP RANAP
RANAP PAGING RANAP
PCCH: PAGING TYPE 1
PCCH: PAGING TYPE 1

CN-Initiated Paging
l Paging type 2
If the UE is in the CELL_DCH or CELL_FACH state, the UTRAN sends the paging type 2 message to
the paged UE over the DCCH.
CN SRNC UE
PAGING
RANAP RANAP
DCCH: PAGING TYPE 2

RRC RRC

UTRAN-Initiated Paging
lWhen the system information changes, the UTRAN triggers the paging
procedure to notify the UE in the idle mode, CELL_PCH state, and
URA_PCH state to update the system information, so that the UE can obtain
the updated system information.
lTo trigger the state change (for example, the state changes to the
CELL_FACH) of the UE in the CELL_PCH and URA_PCH states, the
UTRAN initiates the paging procedure. As an acknowledgment for the
paging, the UE initiates the cell update or URA update.

Broadcasting
l Paging
l Paging Procedure
l Handover

3 Call Procedure
3.1 Call Overall Procedure

3.2 RRC Setup Procedure
3.3 NAS Signaling Setup Procedure
3.4 RAB Setup Procedure
3.5 RAB Release Procedure
3.6 RRC Connection Release Procedure

Call Overall Procedure—UE as Calling Party
Process of signaling
connection setup between the
UE and UTRAN
Signaling exchange
between the UE and
CN
Process of service
connection between the UE
and

3 Call Procedure


RRC Connection Setup Procedure
When the NAS of the UE in idle mode requests for signaling connection setup,
the UE initiates the RRC connection setup procedure. Each UE has a maximum of one RRC connection.
The RRC connection setup is used to configure the signaling channel at the UTRAN side.

RRC CONNECTION REQUEST
UE identifier
RRC connection setup
cause
RACH measurement
report

RRC CONNECTION SETUP
Configure the ID of the UE

in the RNC.
Configure the message

bearer format over the
DCCH.
Configure the dedicated transport

channel format.
Configure the physical

channel format.
RRC CONNECTION SETUP COMPLETE
Authentication
parameters of the CS
and PS domains
UE capability
parameters

3 Call Procedure


SETUP
Voice
service
Called
number

3 Call Procedure


RAB Setup Procedure
QAAl2 QAAl2
QAAl2 QAAl2
There are more than one ALCAP setup procedures on Iu Interface, and more than one user plane RABs can be established
simultaneously. After the user plane is established, the UE enters the call connection.
In the protocols, the RAB is defined as the bearer for the NAS by the access stratum.
The RAB refers to the bearer of the user plane and is used to transmit voice services, data services, and multimedia services
between the UE and CN.
The RAB setup consists of the setup of the service bearer AAL2 PATH of the Iu interface and Iub interface and the
reconfiguration of radio resources of the RAN and UE.

RAB Assignment Request
If there are multiple types of
services, each type of service
establishes an RAB respectively.
Service type
Service bearer rate

RB Setup
Mapping information of
the RAB, including three
RB sub-flows
Configure both uplink and downlink transport

channels, reconfigure the DCH, and add
three DCHs to carry services.
Configuration process of the physical channel

3 Call Procedure


RAB Release Procedure
The contents of the RAB
assignment request message
are different from that of the
RAB setup message. The
message contains Release.
For multiple RABs For a single RAB, the RAB release is

initiated by the RNC.
The RAB release is initiated by the CN. When the UE is exceptional, the SRNC also requests
for RAB release.

3 Call Procedure


RRC Connection Release Procedure
UE NodeB SRNC
RRC CONNECTION RELEASE
RRC CONNECTION RELEASE COMPLETE
RL DELETION
RL DELETION RESPONSE
ALCAP ：Iub Date Bearer Release
The RRC connection release is initiated by the CN. When the UE is exceptional, the SRNC
also requests for RRC connection release.
The connection to the UE is released first, and then the connection to the NodeB is released.
The RRC connection release means the termination of a call.

Broadcasting
l Paging
l Paging Procedure
l Handover

Intra-RNC Soft Handover Procedure (Adding a
Branch)
UE Node B(new) SRNC
Decision to setup
new RL
NBAP 1. Radio Link Setup Request NBAP
Start RX description
NBAP 2. Radio Link Setup Response NBAP
3 ALCAP Iub Data Transport Bearer Setup
DCH-FP 4. Downlink Synchronisation DCH-FP
DCH-FP 5.Uplink Synchronisation DCH-FP
Start TX description
6.DCCH: Active Set Update

RRC RRC
RRC 7. DCCH : Active Set Update Complete RRC

Intra-RNC Soft Handover Procedure (Deleting
a Branch)
UE Node B(old) SRNC
Decision to delete
a RL
1.DCCH: Active Set Update

RRC RRC
RRC 2. DCCH : Active Set Update Complete RRC
NBAP 3. Radio Link Deletion Request NBAP
Stop RX and Tx
NBAP 4. Radio Link Deletion Response NBAP
5 ALCAP Iub Transport Bearer release

Inter-RNC Soft Handover
CN CN
SRNC RNC SRNC RNC
NodeB NodeB NodeB NodeB NodeB NodeB
Before soft handover After soft handover

When a radio link between the RNC and another NodeB is added,
the original radio link between the SRNC and a NodeB is deleted.
Inter-RNC Soft Handover Procedure
(Replacing a Radio Link)
UE Node B Node B Drift RNC Serving RNC
Drift RNS Serving RNS
Decision to setup
new RL and
release old RL
1. Radio Link Setup Request
RNSAP RNSAP
NBAP 2. Radio Link Setup Request

NBAP
Start RX description
3. Radio Link Setup Response
NBAP NBAP 4. Radio Link Setup
Response
RNSAP RNSAP
5. ALCAP Iub Data Transport Bearer Setup ALCAP Iur Bearer Setup
6. Downlink Synchronisation
DCH-FP
DCH-FP
7. Uplink Synchronisation
DCH-FP DCH-FP
Start TX description
8. DCCH: Active Set Update
RRC RRC
[Radio Link Addition & Deletion]
9. DCCH : Active Set Update Complete
RRC RRC
10. Radio Link Deletion Request
NBAP NBAP
Stop RX and TX
11. Radio Link Release Response

NBAP NBAP
12. ALCAP Iub Data Transport Bearer Release

Intra-RNC Hard Handover
CN CN
SRNC SRNC
NodeB NodeB NodeB NodeB
Before hard handover After hard handover
The SRNC cannot maintain two radio links with two NodeBs at the same time.

Intra-RNC Hard Handover Procedure
UE Node B Source Node B Target SRNC

Decide to
handover
NBAP NBAP
Start Rx
NBAP NBAP
3 ALCAP Iub Data Transport Bearer Setup
DCH-FP 4. Downlink Synchronisation DCH-FP
DCH-FP 5.Uplink Synchronisation DCH-FP

Start Tx
6.DCCH : Physical Channel Reconfiguration
RRC RRC
NBAP 7. Radio Link Failure Indication
NBAP
8. DCCH : Physical Channel Reconfiguration Complete
RRC RRC
NBAP NBAP
10. Radio Link Deletion Response
NBAP NBAP

Inter-RNC Hard Handover
CN CN
SRNC RNC SRNC RNC
NodeB NodeB NodeB NodeB
Before hard handover After hard handover

The radio link between the SRNC and a NodeB and the radio link between the RNC
and another NodeB cannot exist at the same time.

Inter-RNC Hard Handover Procedure (over
the Iur Interface)
UE Node B Node B RNC RNC SRNC
Source Target Source Target
RNSAP RNSAP
NBAP NBAP
NBAP NBAP
4. ALCAP Iub Data Transport Bearer Setup

5. RL Setup Response
RNSAP RNSAP
6. ALCAP Iur Data Transport Bearer Setup

7.DCCH : Physical Channel Reconfiguration
RRC RRC
8. Radio Link Failure Indication
NBAP NBAP
9. Radio Link Failure Indication
RNSAP
RNSAP
10. DCCH : Physical Channel Reconfiguration Complete
RRC
RRC
RNSAP RNSAP
NBAP NBAP

NBAP NBAP

RNSAP RNSAP
16. ALCAP Iur Data Transport Bearer Release

SRNC Relocation
Core Network Core Network
Iu Iu
DRNS SRNS SRNS RNS

Iur
Cells
UE UE
Before SRNS Relocation After SRNS Relocation

Types of SRNS Relocation
According to existing realization modes of the RNC, the SRNS relocation

can be classified into the following types:
Ø Static relocation
u Relocation after the DRL is established when the UE is in the
CELL_DCH state. It is called the static state.
u Relocation after the IUR CCH is established when the UE is in the
CELL_FACH state. It is called the FACH static relocation.
Ø Relocation with hard handover: indicates the relocation triggered by
inter-RNC handover when the UE is in the CELL_DCH state.
Ø Relocation with forward handover: indicates the relocation triggered by
the cell update or URA update when the UE is in the CELL_FACH,
CELL_PCH, or URA_PCH state.
Ø Inter-RAT handover: The handover procedure between WCDMA and
GSM is basically the same as the relocation with hard handover.
Static Relocation

Relocation with Hard Handover (CS)
SourceRNC NodeB CN TargetRNC NodeB UE
RANAP Relocation Reqired RANAP The handover procedure is similar

to the inter-BSC handover
RANAP Reloc Req RANAP procedure in the GSM system.
NBAP RL Setup Req NBAP
NBAP RL Setup Rsp NBAP
Q.AAL2 Est Req Q.AAL2
Q.AAL2 Est Conf Q.AAL2
DCH-FP DL Sync DCH- FP

DCH-FP UL Sync DCH- FP
RANAP Reloc Req Ack RANAP
RANAP Relocation Cmd RANAP
RRC Physical Channel Recfg Req RRC
RNSAP RL Restore Ind RNSAP
RNSAP Reloc Detect RNSAP

RANAP IU Rel Cmd RANAP RRC Physical Channel Recfg Complete RRC
RANAP IU Rel Complete RANAP
RANAP RL Del Req RANAP
RANAP RL Del Rsp RANAP

Relocation with Hard Handover (PS)

Inter-RAT Handover Procedure (from UMTS to
GSM)

谢谢
www.huawei.com

UMTS UTRAN Signaling Procedures Comparison

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

UMTS UTRAN Signaling Procedures Comparison

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

UMTS UTRAN Signaling

GSM-to-UMTS Training Series_V1.0 www.huawei.com

HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD. All rights reserved

lInter-RAT handover (between 2G and 3G)

HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD. All rights reserved

2 Basic Terms Related to the UTRAN

3 Basic Signaling Procedures

HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD. All rights reserved

Iub Iub Iub Iub

Node B Node B Node B Node B

HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD. All rights reserved

Um接口 Abis接口 A接口

HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD. All rights reserved

NBAP ：Node B Application Part

HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD. All rights reserved

l This part describes the UTRAN

HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD. All rights reserved

2 Basic Terms Related to the UTRAN

3 Basic Signaling Procedures

HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD. All rights reserved

HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD. All rights reserved

l RAB: The service that the access stratum provides to

l RB：The service provided by the Layer 2 for transfer of

HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD. All rights reserved

DEAD - Searching for the network (PLMN)

HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD. All rights reserved

HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD. All rights reserved

HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD. All rights reserved

l The SRNC and DRNC correspond to a specific UE.

HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD. All rights reserved

... CRNC Iub

l The controller RNC (CRNC) corresponds to a NodeB or cell.

l The RNC that is directly connected to a NodeB and controls the

l The CRNC allocates the resources of all the NodeBs controlled by

l This part describes some

HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD. All rights reserved

2 Basic Terms Related to the UTRAN

3 Basic Signaling Procedures

HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD. All rights reserved

HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD. All rights reserved

HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD. All rights reserved

HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD. All rights reserved

HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD. All rights reserved

CN RNC1 RNC2 NODEB1.1 NODEB2.1 UE

RANAP PAGING RANAP

PCCH: PAGING TYPE 1

PCCH: PAGING TYPE 1

HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD. All rights reserved

DCCH: PAGING TYPE 2

HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD. All rights reserved

HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD. All rights reserved

HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD. All rights reserved

3.1 Call Overall Procedure

HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD. All rights reserved

HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD. All rights reserved

3.1 Call Overall Procedure

HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD. All rights reserved

HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD. All rights reserved

HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD. All rights reserved

Configure the ID of the UE

Configure the message

Configure the dedicated transport

Configure the physical