WCDMA

Idle mode behavior

(3G TS 25.304)

9 / 038 13 - EN/LZU 108 5686/ 1 Rev PA4 Idle Mode Behavior

Agenda: WCDMA UE procedures in idle mode and
procedures for cell reselection in connected mode
(release 99)

• General description of idle mode

• Process and procedure descriptions
– PLMN selection and reselection
– Cell selection and reselection in idle mode
– Cell selection and reselection in connected mode
– Location registration
• Paging
• System information

9 / 038 13 - EN/LZU 108 5686/ 2 Rev PA5 Idle Mode Behavior

Overall idle mode process
Indication to user
User selection Automatic/
of PLMN Manual selection

PLMN Selection
Indication
and Reselection
to user Location PLMNs
Registration available
response

PLMN UE
selected
NAS Control
Cell Selection
and Reselection
Radio measurements

Registration
Area
changes
CM requests
Location
Registration

9 / 038 13 - EN/LZU 108 5686/ 3 Rev PA5 Idle Mode Behavior

 Camping on a cell
The purpose of camping on a cell in idle mode is fourfold:

a) It enables the UE to receive system information from the PLMN.

b) When registered and if the UE wishes to establish an RRC connection, it can do this by initially
accessing the network on the control channel of the cell on which it is camped.

c) If the PLMN receives a call for the registered UE, it knows (in most cases) the registration area of
the cell in which the UE is camped. It can then send a "paging" message for the UE on control
channels of all the cells in the registration area. The UE will then receive the paging message
because it is tuned to the control channel of a cell in that registration area and the UE can respond
on that control channel.

d) It enables the UE to receive cell broadcast services.

If the UE is unable to find a suitable cell to camp on, or the USIM is not inserted, or if the location
registration failed, it attempts to camp on a cell irrespective of the PLMN identity, and enters a
"limited service" state in which it can only attempt to make emergency calls.

RRC = Radio Resource Control

9 / 038 13 - EN/LZU 108 5686/ 4 Rev PA5 Idle Mode Behavior

 Service type in idle mode

Three levels of services are defined for UE in idle mode

• Limited service (emergency calls on acceptable cell)
• Normal service (for public use on a suitable cell)
• Operator service (for operators only on a reserved* cell)

* Controlled by the CellReserved parameter sent in SI

CellReserved

SI = System Information

9 / 038 13 - EN/LZU 108 5686/ 5 Rev PA5 Idle Mode Behavior

 Cell categories

Cells are categorized according to which services they offer

acceptable cell: An "acceptable cell" is a cell on which the UE may camp to obtain limited service
(originate emergency calls). Such a cell shall fulfil the following requirements (which is the
minimum set of requirements to initiate an emergency call in a UTRAN network):
- The cell is not barred
- The cell selection criteria are fulfilled
suitable cell: A "suitable cell" is a cell on which the UE may camp on to obtain normal service. Such
a cell shall fulfil all the following requirements.
- The cell is part of the selected PLMN.
- The cell is not barred
- The cell is not part of a forbidden registration area.
- The cell selection criteria are fulfilled
- The SoLSA criteria are fulfilled [SoLSA support is not in the current (3GPP R99) release].
barred cell: A cell is “barred” if it is so indicated in the SI.

9 / 038 13 - EN/LZU 108 5686/ 6 Rev PA5 Idle Mode Behavior

PLMN selection and reselection - general
UE shall maintain a list of allowed PLMN types.
The allowed PLMN type can be GSM-MAP only, ANSI-41 only or both.
During PLMN selection and reselection, based on the list of allowed PLMN
types and a list of PLMN identities in priority order, the particular PLMN
may be selected either automatically or manually.
Each PLMN in the list of PLMN identities can be identified by either 'PLMN
identity' (GSM-MAP) or 'SID’ (ANSI-41).

Which PLMN?

9 / 038 13 - EN/LZU 108 5686/ 7 Rev PA5 Idle Mode Behavior

PLMN selection and reselection - UTRA case -
automatic mode
UE uses stored information (such as
UE selects the last PLMN
UE switch on carrier frequencies) and search for
registered
(strongest) cells

UE tries UE checks
Yes if the PLMN is available
to register on the selected Yes

PLMN i.e. tries to find an

Succesful
No acceptable cell

registration No
UE tries UE selects an available PLMN
Yes
to register on the selected according to the list stored in UE scans all WCDMA

PLMN priority order RF frequencies

No

9 / 038 13 - EN/LZU 108 5686/ 8 Rev PA5 Idle Mode Behavior

 PLMN selection and reselection - UTRA case
• The UE shall scan all RF channels in the UTRA band according to its capabilities to find
available PLMNs. On each carrier, the UE shall search for the "strongest" cell (according to the
cell search procedures for FDD, and TDD), and read its system information, in order to find out
which PLMN the cell belongs to. If UE can read the PLMN identity, the found PLMN is reported
to the non-access stratum as a “high quality PLMN”, provided that the following condition is
fulfilled:

For an FDD cell, the measured primary CPICH RSCP value shall be greater than or equal to -
95 dBm

• PLMNs not fulfilling the “high quality criterion” are reported to the non-access stratum together
with the measured CPICH RSCP

• The search for PLMNs on the rest of the carriers may be stopped on request of the non-access
stratum. UE may optimise this search by using stored information of carrier frequencies and
optionally also information on cell parameters, e.g. scrambling codes, from previously received
measurement control information elements.

• Once the UE has selected a PLMN, the cell selection procedure is performed in order to select
a suitable cell of that PLMN to camp on.

9 / 038 13 - EN/LZU 108 5686/ 9 Rev PA5 Idle Mode Behavior

PLMN selection and reselection - UTRA case -
automatic mode
The UE selects and attempts to register on one of the PLMNs of the list
stored on the USIM, in the following order:
1) Home PLMN, if not previously selected, according to the RATs supported
by the UE;
2) each PLMN in the User Controlled PLMNs list in the USIM, if present, in
priority order, according to the RATs supported by the UE;
3) each PLMN in the Operator Controlled PLMNs list in the USIM, in priority
order, according to the RATs supported by the UE;
4) “High quality” PLMN/access technology combinations in random order.
5) Other PLMNs in signal strength order.
Which PLMN?
RAT = Radio Access Technology

USIM = UMTS SIM

9 / 038 13 - EN/LZU 108 5686/ 10 Rev PA5 Idle Mode Behavior

 PLMN selection and reselection - UTRA case -
manual mode
The UE displays all PLMNs that it finds by scanning all WCDMA RF carriers
(even not allowed ones).
The user makes a manual selection and the UE attempts to register on that
PLMN (successfully if the PLMN was available and allowed)
If the selected PLMN is not available, the UE attempts to camp on an
acceptable cell of any PLMN and enters the limited service state.
If the user selects a forbidden PLMN, the UE attempts to register but obtains
negative acknowledgement and enters the limited service state. The UE
remains in this state until it is switched off or it makes a periodic PLMN
reselection. Which PLMN?

9 / 038 13 - EN/LZU 108 5686/ 11 Rev PA5 Idle Mode Behavior

 PLMN selection and reselection - UTRA case -
roaming
If the UE (in automatic mode) has selected and registered on an allowed
VPLMN of its home country it makes periodic attempts to return to its
HPLMN
The time interval between two consecutive events is stored in the USIM and
is managed by the network operator using a timer
Timer values are six minutes to eight hours in steps of six minutes (one
value indicates that no periodic attempts should be made)
In the absence of a fixed value for the timer in the USIM, a default value of 30
minutes is used by the UE

VPLMN = Visited PLMN, HPLMN = Home PLMN

9 / 038 13 - EN/LZU 108 5686/ 12 Rev PA5 Idle Mode Behavior

 Cell selection and reselection - general
For normal service, the UE has to camp on a suitable cell, tune to that cell’s
control channel(s) so that the UE can:
- Receive system information from the PLMN
- Receive registration area information from the PLMN, e.g. location area
and routing area
- Identify the NAS defined service area(s) to which the serving cell belongs
- Receive other AS and NAS Information
If registered:
- receive paging and notification messages from the PLMN
- initiate call setup for outgoing calls or other actions from the UE.
AS = Access Stratum, NAS = Non-Access Stratum

9 / 038 13 - EN/LZU 108 5686/ 13 Rev PA5 Idle Mode Behavior

 Cell selection and reselection - general
P-CCPCH

UE Acquisition and Synchronization (PSC + SSC + BCH)

Initiate Cell Synchronization

UE Monitors Primary SCH code, detects peak in matched filter output

Slot Synchronization Determined ------>

UE Monitors Secondary SCH code, detects SCG and frame start time offset

Frame Synchronization and Code Group Determined ------>

UE Determines Scrambling Code by correlating all possible codes in group

Scrambling Code Determined ------>

UE Monitors and decodes BCH data

BCH data, Super-frame synchronization determined ------>

(after cell selection) UE adjusts transmit timing to match timing of BS + 1.5 Chips

Cell Synchronization Complete

9 / 038 13 - EN/LZU 108 5686/ 14 Rev PA5 Idle Mode Behavior

 Cell reselection and handover

UE
UE selects
selects cell
cell RRC Connected Mode
based
based on
on Connected
Connected
Mode
Mode parameters
parameters UE is always
from
from network
network URA_PCH Cell_PCH commanded
by network

Cell_FACH Cell_DCH
UE
UE selects
selects cell
cell
based
based on
on Idle
Idle Mode
Mode
parameters
parameters
from
from network
network Idle
Idle Mode

9 / 038 13 - EN/LZU 108 5686/ 15 Rev PA5 Idle Mode Behavior

 Idle mode cell selection and reselection
no
Initial Any Cell
suitable
Cell cell found Selection
Selection
stored for the PLMN

1
no cell information

an acceptable cell found

no acceptable
NAS cell found
no suitable suitable

go here when no USIM in the UE

registration
cell found cell
rejected
suitable found
cell

USIM inserted
found

suitable accept-
able cell Cell Re-
cell Cell Re-
no suitable Camped selected Camped selected selection
go here whenever a new selection
1 cell found normally on Any Evaluation
PLMN is selected Evaluation
trigger Cell trigger Process
Process

suitable
cell
stored for the PLMN

found

no acceptable cell found

cell information

suitable
cell acceptable leave idle
leave idle mode cell found mode
found

Stored
Information
Cell
Selection
Cell Cell
Selection Connected
Selection return
Connected when return Mode
when to idle
leaving to idle (Emergency
no suitable leaving mode Mode
connected mode calls only)
cell found connected
mode mode

9 / 038 13 - EN/LZU 108 5686/ 16 Rev PA5 Idle Mode Behavior

Cell selection process - UTRA case
Whenever a PLMN is selected, the UE shall attempt to find a suitable cell of that PLMN to camp on according
to the following steps.

1) The UE shall use one of the following two search procedures:

a) Initial Cell Selection*

This procedure requires no prior knowledge of which RF channels are UTRA carriers. The UE shall
scan all RF channels in the UTRA band to find a suitable cell. On each carrier, the UE searches first
for the strongest cell and reads its system information, in order to find out which PLMN the cell
belongs to. If the selected PLMN is found, the search of the rest of carriers may be stopped. Once
the UE has found a suitable cell for the selected PLMN, the UE shall select it.

b) Stored Information Cell Selection

This procedure requires stored information of carrier frequencies and optionally also information on
cell parameters, e.g. scrambling codes, from previously received measurement control information
elements. Once the UE has found a suitable cell for the selected PLMN the UE shall select it.

2) Move to state camped normally

*follows normally after failed “stored information cell selection”

9 / 038 13 - EN/LZU 108 5686/ 17 Rev PA5 Idle Mode Behavior

Cell selection process - criteria
The cell selection criterion S is defined as follows

Squal = Qqualmeas - Qqualmin

Srxlev = Qrxlevmeas - Qrxlevmin - Pcompensation

The cell selection criterion S is fulfilled when

Squal > 0
Srxlev > 0
Squal has to be evaluated for FDD cells only.
The UE, periodically, verifies that the cell on which it is camped fulfills the S criteria by
measuring the CPICH Ec/N0 and CPICH RSCP at least every measurement cycle.

9 / 038 13 - EN/LZU 108 5686/ 18 Rev PA5 Idle Mode Behavior

Cell selection process - measures
Squal Cell selection quality value (dB) (N/A for TDD cells or GSM cells)

Srxlev Cell selection RX level value (dB)

Qqualmeas Measured cell quality value. The quality of the received signal
expressed in CPICH Ec/N0 (dB) (for FDD cells only).
Qrxlevmeas Measured cell RX level value. This is received signal, CPICH RSCP
for FDD cells (dBm), P-CCPCH RSCP for TDD cells (dBm) and
RXLEV for GSM cells (dBm).
Qqualmin Minimum required quality level in the cell (dB). (for FDD cells only)
Qrxlevmin Minimum required RX level in the cell (dBm)
Pcompensation max(maxTxPowerUl – Pclass, 0) (dB)
maxTxPowerUl Maximum TX power level an UE may use when accessing the
cell on RACH (read in system information) (dBm)
Pclass Maximum RF output power of the UE (dBm)

9 / 038 13 - EN/LZU 108 5686/ 19 Rev PA5 Idle Mode Behavior

Cell selection cases

The cell selection in order to find a suitable cell which to camp on occurs in the
following cases:
• after a number of failed attempts of RRC Connection Request, when UE is in
Idle mode and tries to establish a RRC Connection;
• after a number of failed attempts of Cell Update, when UE returns to Idle mode
from Connected mode on common channels (Cell_FACH State);
• when UE returning to Idle mode from Connected mode (Cell_DCH State):
candidate cells for cell selection are the ones used immediately before leaving
connected mode. If no suitable cell is found, the UE may use the Stored
information cell selection procedure in order to find a suitable cell;
• when UE returning to Idle mode after an emergency call on any PLMN. The UE
selects an acceptable cell to camp on. Also in this case candidate cells for cell
selection are the ones used immediately before leaving connected mode. If no
acceptable cell of that PLMN is found, the UE continues to search for an
acceptable cell of any PLMN.

9 / 038 13 - EN/LZU 108 5686/ 20 Rev PA5 Idle Mode Behavior

Cell selection and reselection - camped normally
state
When camped normally, the UE shall perform the following tasks
- select and monitor the indicated PICH and PCH of the cell according to
information sent in system information
- monitor relevant System Information
- perform necessary measurements for the cell reselection evaluation
procedure
- execute the cell reselection evaluation process on the following
occasions/triggers:
1) UE internal triggers, so as to meet performance as specified
2) When information on the BCCH used for the cell reselection evaluation
procedure has been modified
9 / 038 13 - EN/LZU 108 5686/ 21 Rev PA5 Idle Mode Behavior
Cell selection and reselection - camped normally
state
The cell reselection process is triggered in the following cases
- the cell on which the UE is camped on is no longer suitable
- the UE has found a better neighbouring cell than the cell on which the
UE is camped
- the UE is in limited service state on an acceptable cell
- the cell on which the UE is camped on becomes barred
RBS2
RBS1

9 / 038 13 - EN/LZU 108 5686/ 22 Rev PA5 Idle Mode Behavior

Cell selection and reselection - camped normally
state

Five different measurement cases exist

Measurement for cell reselection when HCS is not used
Measurement for cell reselection when HCS is used
- Intra- and interfrequency threshold-based measurements rules
- Intra- and interfrequency measurements rules for fast-moving
UEs
- Inter-RAT threshold-based measurement rules
- Inter-RAT measurement rules for fast-moving UEs

Only the first case (non-HCS) is described in more detail here

9 / 038 13 - EN/LZU 108 5686/ 23 Rev PA5 Idle Mode Behavior
 Cell reselection evaluation process - UTRA case
Measurements for cell re-selection when HCS is not used

When serving cell does not belong to a hierarchical cell structure, UE shall follow these rules for
intra- and inter-frequency measurements and inter-RAT measurements:

The UE shall use Squal for FDD cells (and Srxlev for TDD) as Sx in the following rules.

1. If Sx > Sintrasearch, UE need not perform intra-frequency measurements.

If Sx <= Sintrasearch, UE shall perform intra-frequency measurements.
If Sintrasearch, is not sent for serving cell, UE shall perform intra-frequency measurements.

2. If Sx > Sintersearch, UE need not perform inter-frequency measurements

If Sx <= Sintersearch, UE shall perform inter-frequency measurements.
If Sintersearch, is not sent for serving cell, UE shall perform inter-frequency measurements.

3. If Sx > SsearchRAT n, UE need not perform measurements on cells of RAT n

If Sx <= SsearchRAT n, UE shall perform measurements on cells of RAT n.
If SsearchRAT m, is not sent for serving cell, UE shall perform measurements on cells of RAT m.

9 / 038 13 - EN/LZU 108 5686/ 24 Rev PA5 Idle Mode Behavior

 Cell reselection evaluation process - UTRA case
Cell reselection criteria
(used for intra-frequency cells, inter-frequency cells and inter-RAT cells):
The cell-ranking criterion R is defined by:
Rs = Qmeas,s + Qhysts
Rn = Qmeas,n - Qoffsets,n
In order to check if a neighbouring cell has a quality better than the serving one, the UE
compares, at least every DRX cycle*, the CPICH Ec/I0 of the serving cell with which of
neighbouring ones, according to the R criteria:

• The UE makes a ranking of serving and neighboring cells according to the R criteria: in the
ranking the UE considers only the cells that fulfill S criteria.
• The best cell, according to the R criteria, is selected by UE if the cell reselection criteria are
fulfilled for that cell in a time interval defined by the system.
• The new cell has also to fulfill all requirements for suitable cell in order to be selected. If
those requirements are not satisfied, that cell is removed as candidate for cell reselection.
* see however later slide...
9 / 038 13 - EN/LZU 108 5686/ 25 Rev PA5 Idle Mode Behavior
Cell reselection evaluation process - UTRA case

• Qoffset is a cell parameter that allows to move cell borders between the
serving and neighboring cells: it is sent in SIB11 (System Information
Block #11). By setting Qoffset to a positive value, it is possible to increase
the range of the serving cell and the UE stays more time in the serving
cell.
• Qhyst is the cell parameter, sent in SIB3, that allows to introduce a
hysteresis in order to increase the cell serving borders and avoid ping
pong effects for cell reselection.
• Qmeas is the quality measure. There is a choice of measurement
(CPICH Ec/N0 or CPICH RSCP) to derive the quality measures Qmeas,n
and Qmeas,s, (read in system information).
• Treselection - Time-to-trigger for cell reselection (s)

9 / 038 13 - EN/LZU 108 5686/ 26 Rev PA5 Idle Mode Behavior

Cell reselection evaluation process - UTRA case

The UE, by correlating the received signal strength with the

primaryScramblingCode of each adjacent cell, measures CPICH
Ec/N0 for serving and the neighboring cells at least every Tmeasure and
evaluates the measurements at least every DRX cycle.
In the evaluation the UE filters the CPICH Ec/N0 the measurements for each
cell by using at least two measurements which are taken so that the time
difference between the measurements are at least Tmeasure (serving
cell) and Tmeasure/2 (neighbouring cells)
Tmeasure = DRXcyclelength (except for DRXcyclelength=0.64 seconds
when Tmeasure = 2*DRXcyclelength)

9 / 038 13 - EN/LZU 108 5686/ 27 Rev PA5 Idle Mode Behavior

UTRA RRC Connected mode cell reselection for
URA_PCH, CELL_PCH, and CELL_FACH
See Idle Mode figure in
3GPP TS 25.304
Cell Selection
when leaving Camped
connected Normally
mode

return to
idle mode
go here
no suitable
from
cell found
idle
mode
trigger
UTRA RRC
Initial Cell
Connected
suitable Reselection
Mode
cell
selected

trigger suitable cell

selected

no suitable
Cell cell found
Reselection
suitable cell
in other RAT found

9 / 038 13 - EN/LZU 108 5686/ 28 Rev PA5 Idle Mode Behavior

Cell selection in (RRC) connected mode - initial
cell reselection process
The UE shall attempt to find a suitable cell belonging to the selected PLMN
according to the following steps:
1) The UE shall scan all RF channels of the UTRA band to find a suitable cell. The
UE may optimise this search by using stored information of carrier frequencies
and optionally also information on cell parameters, e.g. scrambling codes, from
previously received measurement control information elements.
2) After the UE has found one suitable cell for the selected PLMN, the UE shall
create a candidate list consisting of this cell and its neighbouring UTRA cells, as
received in measurement control information via the selected cell.
3) Rank the cells according to the cell reselection criteria (without considering
the parameters Qhyst and Treselection).
4) Check if the highest ranked cell fulfils all requirements for a suitable cell. If so,
select this cell. If this cell does not fulfil all requirements for a suitable cell, this
cell and all cells on the same frequency shall be removed as candidates for cell
selection, and step 3 shall be repeated for the remaining cells.

9 / 038 13 - EN/LZU 108 5686/ 29 Rev PA5 Idle Mode Behavior

Cell selection in (RRC) connected mode

The cell reselection process in connected mode

is the same as used for idle mode

9 / 038 13 - EN/LZU 108 5686/ 30 Rev PA5 Idle Mode Behavior

Cell selection when leaving connected mode -
UTRA case
When returning to idle mode from connected mode, the UE
shall select a suitable cell to camp on. Candidate cells for this
selection are the cell(s) used immediately before leaving
connected mode. If no suitable cell is found, the UE shall use
the Stored information cell selection procedure in order to
find a suitable cell to camp on.
When returning to idle mode after an emergency call on any
PLMN, the UE shall select an acceptable cell to camp on.
Candidate cells for this selection are the cell(s) used
immediately before leaving connected mode. If no acceptable
cell is found, the UE shall continue to search for an
acceptable cell of any PLMN in state Any cell selection.
9 / 038 13 - EN/LZU 108 5686/ 31 Rev PA5 Idle Mode Behavior
Any cell selection case - UTRA case

In this state, the UE shall attempt to find an acceptable cell

to camp on, trying all radio access technologies that are
supported by the UE.
If no acceptable cell is found, the UE shall continue to
search for an acceptable cell in this state.

9 / 038 13 - EN/LZU 108 5686/ 32 Rev PA5 Idle Mode Behavior

Camped on any cell state - UTRA case
If an acceptable cell is found, the UE shall camp on this cell and obtain limited
service, state Camped on any cell.
In this state, the UE shall perform the following tasks:
- monitor relevant System Information
- perform necessary measurements for the cell reselection evaluation procedure;
- execute the cell reselection evaluation process on the following
occasions/triggers:
1) UE internal triggers, so as to meet performance as specified
2) When information on the BCCH used for the cell reselection evaluation
procedure has been modified;
- regularly attempt to find a suitable cell trying all radio access technologies that are
supported by the UE. If a suitable cell is found, this causes an exit to the PLMN
selection procedure
9 / 038 13 - EN/LZU 108 5686/ 33 Rev PA5 Idle Mode Behavior
Location/routing updating - general

When a UE is switched on, it tries to register on the chosen PLMN in order to

get available services from network.
If the Location or Routing Area Identity (LAI/RAI), read on System
Information, is different from the one stored on the USIM before UE
switching off, the UE makes a location or routing registration updating.
The UE executes a registration area updating also when in Idle moves into a
cell, belonging to a new Location or Routing Area, or into a new available
PLMN.
(The LA or RA updating procedure is managed by CN and is completely
transparent to WCDMA RAN.)
There are three types of registration updating: normal, periodic registration
and IMSI attach/detach.

9 / 038 13 - EN/LZU 108 5686/ 34 Rev PA5 Idle Mode Behavior

 Location/routing updating - area structure

A Location Area is an area in which the CN sends a Paging message for circuit
switched services.
A Routing Area is an area in which the CN sends a Paging message for packet
switched services.
A global RNC area contains one LA and one RA. A LA may belong to more than
one global RNC area. A LA has to be configured in a RNC area because LAI
is a part of RAI. The RA is required if RNC is connected to a packet switched
CN.
Location Area is identified by LAI, formed by PLMN Identity and Location Area
Code (LAC);
Routing Area is identified by a RAI, formed by LAI and Routing Area Code
(RAC).
These parameters are sent in System Information.
9 / 038 13 - EN/LZU 108 5686/ 35 Rev PA5 Idle Mode Behavior
Location/routing updating - normal

• A UE executes a Normal registration updating when it is switched on, or

when it leaves Connected mode and enters Idle mode, or when it is
moving, in Idle mode, in a cell belonging to a new LA or RA:
• The UE may perform both LA and RA updating in coordinated way to
save radio resources. It depends on the network operation mode that
allows to establish the way in which both the LA and RA updating occur.
Network Operation Mode = 0 means Gs interface exist and combined
update procedure can be used
Network Operation Mode = 1 means that LA updating is done before
RA updating

9 / 038 13 - EN/LZU 108 5686/ 36 Rev PA5 Idle Mode Behavior

Location/routing updating - periodic

LA updating is controlled by timer T3212 (six to 255 minutes) sent on

BCCH.
After each location area updating procedure the timer is set to its initial value
If the UE is not in idle mode when the timer expires the location updating
procedure is delayed

Routing area updating is controlled by timer T3312 sent to the UE in the

IMSI attach or routing area update respons
After each routing area updating procedure the timer is set to its initial value
The timer is stopped when UE enters connected mode and reset and started
when UE goes from connected to idle mode

9 / 038 13 - EN/LZU 108 5686/ 37 Rev PA5 Idle Mode Behavior

Location/routing updating - IMSI attach/detach

Controlled by the ATT parameter sent on BCCH

If ATT=1 the UE send attach or detach messages to the
MSC/VLR when it is powered on or off

9 / 038 13 - EN/LZU 108 5686/ 38 Rev PA5 Idle Mode Behavior

Paging

The purpose of this function is to enable a CN to page a UE for

terminating service request or to allow a RNC to alert all UEs
in a cell to read updated System Information.
A UE may be paged when it is in Idle Mode or when it is in
CELL_FACH state or in CELL_DCH state

9 / 038 13 - EN/LZU 108 5686/ 39 Rev PA5 Idle Mode Behavior

Paging - discontinuous reception (DRX)
TPICH = 7680 chips

PICH frame containing PIs

Associated S-CCPCH frame containing paging messages

SFN = 64 96 128 160 192 224 256…

K=6, IMSI_1 DRX cycle length = 640 ms

K=6, IMSI_2 DRX cycle length = 640 ms

K=9, IMSI_3 DRX cycle length = 5120 ms

“Paging Occasion”

9 / 038 13 - EN/LZU 108 5686/ 40 Rev PA5 Idle Mode Behavior

Page indication channel 3GPP TS 25.211¶ 5.3.3.9
3GPP TS 25.211¶ 5.3.3.9

• Paging Indication CHannel (PICH)

– Spread with SF=256 channelization code
– Each UE looks for a particular PICH “time slot” or Paging Indicator, PI
– A PI set to “1” indicates that the UE should read the S-CCPCH of the
corresponding frame.
288 bits for paging indication 12 bits (undefined)

b0 b1 b287 b288 b299

One radio frame (10 ms)

The number of PIs per frame could be set to 18, 36, 72 or 144 where

each PI then includes 16, 8, 4 or 2 bits per PI

9 / 038 13 - EN/LZU 108 5686/ 41 Rev PA5 Idle Mode Behavior

Paging information structure

The Paging TYPE1 Message sent by RNC may contain several Paging
records. Each Paging record corresponds to one Information Element in
the Paging TYPE 1 message transmitted to the UE. The RNC may
assemble up to four Paging records which may be sent in one single
Paging TYPE 1 message. Each Paging record contains data such as CN
or WCDMA RAN paging originator, CN domain indicator, paging cause
and UE identity.

Paging TYPE 1
S-CCPCH
message

Paging record 1 Paging record 2 Paging record 3 Paging record 4

9 / 038 13 - EN/LZU 108 5686/ 42 Rev PA5 Idle Mode Behavior

CN originated paging (when UE in idle mode)

Cell 1 Cell 2 Cell n RNC CN

Paging

PCCH: Paging TYPE 1

PCCH: Paging TYPE 1

PCCH: Paging TYPE 1

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WCDMA RAN originated paging in order to trigger
all UEs in a cell to read updated SI

Cell 1 Cell 2 Cell n RNC CN

PCCH: Paging TYPE 1

PCCH: Paging TYPE 1

PCCH: Paging TYPE 1

When a SI sent on BCH is changed, WCDMA RAN sends a paging message to all UEs in the cell in order to

alert them to read updated system information.

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System information
The purpose of the System Information distribution is to
broadcast System Information in the cells of the WCDMA
RAN, such that the UEs may read and use that information
for proper access to the system.
The information elements sent by System Information, regard
the parameters involved in Cell selection and reselection
process, measurement management, location and routing
registration, handover and power control.
They allow to fix the characteristic of the cell and to control the
behavior of the UE in Idle mode and Connected mode

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System information blocks

MIB = Master Information Block

Master information
SIB = System Information Block
block

System information System information System information

block 1 block 2 block n

System information System information

block 2.1 block 2.m

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 System information update
System Information update may be triggered by several events like measurement
reports that affect the value of a broadcast system parameter, re-configuration
of some system parameters, CN updated System Information.
SIBs are sent regularly on the BCH channel, they have a periodic occurrence
different for each one. It is possible to set the repetition period for each SIB by
using the sibxRepPeriod parameter (where x is equal to 1, 3, 5, 7, 11, 12).
Different rules are applied for the updating of different types of SIBs depending on
if they contain static Information Elements (IEs) or if they contain more
frequently changing IEs.
For SIBs containing more static parameters, the MIB contains a value tag as a part
of scheduling information. When any of the information elements in System
Information is modified, WCDMA RAN changes in the MIB the value tag related
to the SIB containing the modified IE.

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System information update
If the UE is in Idle mode and an IE changes in a SIB, WCDMA RAN alerts all
UEs to read System Information by sending a PAGING TYPE1 message
containing the IE 'BCCH modification info'
If the UE is in Connected mode, in Cell_FACH state only, it continuously
listens to the FACH channel even in order to monitor the presence of the
MIB value tag. The MIB value tag is not sent regularly on FACH: its
presence on the FACH channel indicates to the UE changes of System
Information contents on BCH.
The UE reads the updated MIB and compares the new value tag to the latest
value tag read for that SIB. If the value tag has changed, the UE reads the
corresponding SIB again. Even if the value tag does not change, the UE
considers the SIB invalid after a fixed pre-defined period from reception
and reads the SIB again.

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System information update
There are also other SIBs that contain information elements
changing too frequently to be read periodically. Therefore this
type of SIBs is not linked to a value tag in the MIB or higher-
level SIB. These SIBs are read by the UE regularly on every
repetition occasion: when the UE has acquired one of these
SIBs, a timer is started by using a value equal to the SIB
repetition time, sibxRepPeriod, for that SIB. When the timer
expires, the information carried in the SIB is considered to be
invalid and the UE reads the SIB again.
The UE also reads the System Information on the BCCH
channel at the power up, when it camps on a new cell and
when it access the system making an initial cell evaluation.
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 System information blocks
System Area UE mode/state Modification of SI Content Scheduling
Information when block is read information
Block
MIB Cell Idle, cell_FACH Tag PLMN identity, LA and RA updating 80 ms

SIB 1 PLMN Idle Tag Paging parameters, timer and counters in idle mode, Sib1RepPeriod=
LA and RA updating 640 ms (def)

SIB 3 Cell Idle, (cell_FACH) Tag Cell selection and reselection parameters, cell and Sib3RepPeriod=
common channel configurations 320 ms (def)

SIB 5 Cell Idle, (cell_FACH) Tag Cell and common channel configuration Sib5RepPeriod=
320 ms (def)

SIB 7 Cell Idle, cell_FACH Expiration timer Cell selection and reselection, power control on Sib7RepPeriod=
common channel 320 ms (def)

SIB 11 Cell Idle, (cell_FACH) Tag Cell selection and reselection parameters, Sib11RepPeriod
measurement management = 320 ms (def)

SIB 12 Cell Cell_FACH Tag Measurement management Sib12RepPeriod

= 640 ms (def)

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