5G SA & NSA Call Flow, QXDM IE’s and

flow chart

Note: This document is just for basic understanding purpose.

5G SA:

The 5G Standalone (SA) call flow involves several stages and messaging between various
network elements. Here's a basic overview of the call flow, along with examples of
Information Elements (IEs) that can be checked in Qualcomm eXtensible Diagnostic Monitor
(QXDM) and a flow chart

UE Registration and Attach

UE powers on and sends a Registration Request message to the 5G Core Network

(5GC).
5GC authenticates and authorizes the UE and sends a Registration Accept message.
UE attaches to the 5G network and sends an Initial UE Message to the 5GC.
Example IEs in QXDM: Registration Request, Registration Accept, Initial UE Message,
Authentication Request/Response, Authorization Request/Response.

Radio Resource Control (RRC) Connection Setup

5GC selects the appropriate 5G New Radio (NR) node and sends a RRC Connection
Request message.
UE receives the RRC Connection Request and sends a RRC Connection Setup message
to the 5G-NR node.
5G-NR node sends a RRC Connection Setup Complete message to the UE.

Example IEs in QXDM: RRC Connection Request, RRC Connection Setup, RRC Connection
Setup Complete.

Establishment of Data Radio Bearer (DRB)

UE sends a Service Request message to the 5GC with the desired QoS parameters.
5GC selects the appropriate RAN node and sends a Session Management Request
message.
RAN node establishes the DRB with the UE.
UE receives the Session Management Accept message.

Example IEs in QXDM: Service Request, Session Management Request, DRB Setup Request,
Session Management Accept.

Data Transfer

UE sends data packets to the RAN node over the established DRB.
RAN node forwards the packets to the 5GC.
5GC routes the packets to the appropriate destination.

Example IEs in QXDM: Data Packets, QoS Parameters, User Plane Data.

Release of DRB and UE De-Registration

UE sends a Session Release Request message to the 5GC.

5GC releases the DRB resources and sends a Session Release Response message.
UE sends a Deregistration Request message to the 5GC.
5GC releases the UE's resources and sends a Deregistration Accept message.

Example IEs in QXDM: Session Release Request, Session Release Response, Deregistration
Request, Deregistration Accept.

Here's an overview flow chart of the 5G SA call flow:

UE -> 5GC: Registration Request

5GC -> UE: Registration Accept

UE -> 5GC: Initial UE Message

5GC -> 5G-NR Network: RRC Connection Request

5G-NR Network -> UE: RRC Connection Setup

UE -> 5G-NR Network: RRC Connection Setup Complete

UE -> 5G-NR Network: Service Request (QoS Parameters)

5G-NR Network -> 5GC: Session Management Request

5GC -> RAN: DRB Setup Request

RAN -> UE: Session Management Accept

UE -> 5G-NR Network: Session Management Accept

UE -> RAN: Data Packets

RAN -> 5GC: User Plane Data

UE -> 5GC: Session Release Request

5GC -> UE: Session Release Response

UE -> 5GC: Deregistration Request

5GC -> UE: Deregistration Accept

5G NSA:

The 5G Non-Standalone (NSA) call flow involves several stages and messaging between
various network elements. Here's a simplified overview of the call flow, along with examples
of Information Elements (IEs) that can be checked in Qualcomm eXtensible Diagnostic
Monitor (QXDM) and a flow chart:

LTE Attach and EPS Bearer Establishment

UE attaches to the LTE network and establishes EPS bearers.

LTE network assigns the LTE RAN node and the 5G Core Network (5GC) to the UE.
5GC selects the appropriate 5G-NR (New Radio) node and sends a RRC Connection
Request message.

Example IEs in QXDM: LTE Attach Request, LTE Attach Accept, EPS Bearer Context Activation
Request, RRC Connection Request.
5G-NR Cell Selection and Registration

UE sends a RRC Connection Setup message to the 5G-NR node.

5G-NR node selects the appropriate 5GC and sends a Registration Request message.
5GC verifies the UE's identity and allocates resources for the UE.
UE receives the Registration Accept message.

Example IEs in QXDM: RRC Connection Setup, Registration Request, Registration Accept, 5G
Network Identity.

Establishment of Data Radio Bearer (DRB)

UE sends a Service Request message to the 5GC with the desired QoS parameters.
5GC selects the appropriate RAN node and sends a Session Management Request
message.
RAN node establishes the DRB with the UE.
UE receives the Session Management Accept message.

Example IEs in QXDM: Service Request, Session Management Request, DRB Setup Request,
Session Management Accept.

Data Transfer

UE sends data packets to the RAN node over the established DRB.
RAN node forwards the packets to the 5GC.
5GC routes the packets to the appropriate destination.

Example IEs in QXDM: Data Packets, QoS Parameters, User Plane Data.

Release of DRB and UE De-Registration

UE sends a Session Release Request message to the 5GC.

5GC releases the DRB resources and sends a Session Release Response message.
UE sends a Detach Request message to the LTE network.
LTE network releases the EPS bearer resources and sends a Detach Accept message.

Example IEs in QXDM: Session Release Request, Session Release Response, Detach Request,
Detach Accept.

Here's a simplified flow chart of the 5G NSA call flow:

UE -> LTE Network: LTE Attach Request

LTE Network -> UE: LTE Attach Accept

UE <-> EPS Network: EPS Bearer Context Activation Request/Response

EPS Network -> UE: RRC Connection Request

UE -> 5G-NR Network: RRC Connection Setup

5G-NR Network -> UE: Registration Request

UE -> 5G-NR Network: Registration Accept

UE -> 5G-NR Network: Service Request (QoS Parameters)

5G-NR Network -> UE: Session Management Request

UE -> RAN: DRB Setup Request

RAN -> UE: Session Management Accept

UE -> 5G-NR Network: Session Management Accept

UE -> RAN: Data Packets

RAN -> 5G-NR Network: User Plane Data

5G-NR Network -> UE: Session Release Response

UE -> LTE Network: Detach Request

LTE Network -> UE: Detach Accept

Badal Mishra