WCDMA RAN Interface and Procedure

1
 Course Contents

Chapter 1 UTRAN Network Architecture

Chapter 2 UTRAN Interface Protocol and Functions

Chapter 3 Basic Signaling Process

2
 UMTS System Architecture

CN

Iu

UTRAN

Uu

UE

UTRAN ： UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access Network

CN ： Core Network
UE ： User Equipment

3
 UTRAN System Architecture

Core Network

Iu Iu

RNS RNS
Iur
RNC RNC

Iub Iub Iub Iub

Node B Node B Node B Node B

4
 Common Protocol Model of UTRAN Interfaces
The principle of interface protocol architecture is the logical mutual-independence between
layers and planes. Protocol layers of a specified protocol version, or even all layers in a
plane can be modified if required in the future.

Radio Control Plane User Plane

Network
Layer Application Data
Protocol Stream(s)

Transport Transport Network Transport Network Transport Network

Network User Plane Control Plane User Plane
Layer
ALCAP(s)

Signalling Signalling Data

Bearer(s) Bearer(s) Bearer(s)

Physical Layer

5
 Basic Notions

 UE Working Mode and State

 Serving RNC 、 Drift RNC and Control RNC
 Source RNC and Target RNC

6
 UE Working Modes and states

 Idle Mode
 In standby state with no service conducted
 No connection to UTRAN
 There is no information related to this UE in UTRAN
 Connected Mode (Cell-DCH, Cell-FACH, Cell-PCH, URA-
PCH)
 Cell-DCH
 In active state
 Communicating via its dedicated channels
 UTRAN knows which cell UE is in.

7
 Cell-FACH and Cell-PCH State
 Cell-FACH
 In active state
 Few data to be transmitted both in uplink and in downlink. There is no
need to allocate dedicated channel for this UE.
 Downlink uses FACH and uplink uses RACH.
 UE need to monitor the FACH for its relative information.
 UTRAN knows which cell UE is in.

 Cell-PCH
 No data to be transmitted or received.
 Monitor PICH, to receive its paging.
 lower the power consumption of UE.
 UTRAN knows which cell UE is in.
 UTRAN have to update cell information of UE when UE roams to
another cell 8
 URA-PCH State

 URA-PCH
 No data to be transmitted or received.
 Monitor PICH. to enter the non-consecutive state.
 UTRAN only knows which URA (UTRAN Registration Area,
which consists of multiple cells) that UE is in.
 UTRAN update UE information only after UE has roamed to
other URA.
 A better way to lower the resource occupancy and signaling
transmission

9
 UE states
- Reduce action ， DTX ， and save power

RRC connection
URA_PCH CELL_PCH

CELL_DCH CELL_FACH

- Dedicated Channel
- Radio bearers Transmission Services - upper layer Signaling
IDLE
trigger (CN)
- Monitor paging channel
- cell re-selection

DEAD - Scanning networks (PLMN)

- ”Camp on” cell
10
 SRNC/DRNC

CN
Iu
SRNC Iur DRNC

 In WCDMA system ， notion of SRNC/DRNC is introduced because the

existence of Iur Interface
 SRNC and DRNC are related to a specific UE. They can be regarded as l
ogical notions
 In brief, the RNC directly connected to CN and controlling all the UE’s res
ources is called SRNC(serving RNC) of this UE
 The RNC with no connection to CN but only providing resources for UE is
called DRNC(Drift RNC) of this UE
 A UE in connection state has at least and only one SRNC, but can has 11
0
or multiple DRNCs
 CRNC

CN
Iu
CRNC
... Iub

Node B Node B
Cell Cell Cell

 CRNC is related to a specific NodeB (or Cell)

 The RNC connected directly to a NodeB and controlling the usage of
its resources is called the CRNC of this NodeB
 There is and only one Controlling RNC for any NodeB
 CRNC is in charge of the allocation and usage of NodeB’s resources
12
 Source RNC/Target RNC

CN CN
Iu Iu
Source Iur Target Serving
RNC
RNC RNC RNC

 SRNC Relocation is the process of switching the SRNC of a specifi

c UE.
 Source RNC is the SRNC before SRNC Relocation and Target RN
C is the SRNC after SRNC Relocation
 Source RNC and Target RNC refer to different RNCs during a SRN
C Relocation process 13
 Course Contents

Chapter 1 UTRAN Network Architecture

Chapter 2 UTRAN Interface Protocol and Functions

Chapter 3 Basic Signaling Process

14
 UTRAN Interface Protocols and Functions

 Iu Interface

 Iur Interface

 Iub Interface

 Uu Interface

15
 Iu Interface System Structure

UTRAN Core Network (CN)

CS
Node B Domain

RNC Iu-CS
Node B
PS
Domain

Node B Iu-PS
RNC
Node B

Iu Interface
16
 Iu-CS Interface Protocol Stack Structure

Radio Control Plane User Plane

Network
Layer
RANAP Iu UP Protocol
Layer

Transport Transport Network Transport Network Transport Network

Network User Plane Control Plane User Plane
Layer
Q.2630.1

SCCP Q.2150.1

MTP3b MTP3b
SSCF-NNI SSCF-NNI

SSCOP SSCOP

AAL5 AAL5 AAL2

ATM

Physical Layer

17
 Iu-PS Interface Protocol Stack Structure

Radio Control Plane User Plane

Network
Layer Iu UP Protocol
RANAP Layer

Transport Transport Network Transport Network Transport Network

Network User Plane Control Plane User Plane
Layer
SCCP

M3UA
MTP3-B
GTP-U
SCTP
SSCF-NNI
SSCF-NNI UDP

SSCOP IP IP

AAL5 AAL5

ATM ATM

Physical Layer Physical Layer

18
 Iu Interface Functions(1)

 Mobility Management
 Location Area Report
 SRNS Relocation
 Hard handover between RNCs and inter-system handover
 Radio Access Bearer （ RAB ） Management
 Establishment, Modification and Release of RAB
 Iu data transmission
 normal data transmission
 abnormal data transmission
 Transparent transmission of UE-CN connection information

19
 Iu Interface Functions(2)

 Paging
 Iu Release
 Security Mode Control
 Overload Control
 Common UE ID （ IMSI ） Management
 Iu Signaling Trace Management
 Iu Interface Abnormality Management
 CBS(Cell Broadcast Service) Control

20
 UTRAN Interfaces Protocols and Functions

 Iu Interface
 Iur Interface
 Iub Interface
 Uu Interface

21
 Iur Interface Protocol Stack Structure
Radio Control Plane User Plane
Network
Layer RNSAP Iur Data
Stream(s)

Transport Transport Network Transport Network Transport Network

Network User Plane Control Plane User Plane
Layer ALCAP(Q.2630.1)

SCCP STC (Q.2150.1)

MTP3-B M3UA MTP3-B M3UA

SSCF-NNI
SSCF-NNI SCTP SSCF-NNI
SSCF-NNI SCTP
SSCOP IP SSCOP IP
AAL5 AAL5 AAL2

ATM

Physical Layer

22
 Iur Interface Functions(1)
 Support Basic Mobility Functions between RNCs
 Support SRNC relocation
 Cell Update and URA Update between RNCs
 Paging between RNCs
 Protocol Error Report
 Dedicated Channel Functions
 Establish, Modify or Release Dedicated Channels in DRNC
during handover
 Transmission of DCH TB(Transmission Block) on Iur
 Management of RL(Radio Link) in DRNS by Dedicated
Measurement Procedure and Filter Control
 RL Management ， Compressed Mode Management
23
 Iur Interface Functions(2)

 Common Channel Functions

 Establishment, Deletion of Common transport Channels on Iur
 Common Transport Channels are used to Transmit UE informati
on which is in Common Channel state in DRNC
 Separate MAC-d From MAC-c
 Traffic Control Between MAC-d and MAC-c
 Global Resource Management
 Common Measurement Between RNCs
 Transmission of Node B Timing Information between RNCs

24
 UTRAN Interfaces Protocols and Functions

 Iu Interface
 Iur Interface
 Iub Interface
 Uu Interface

25
 Iub Interface Protocol Stack
Radio Network Transport User Plane
Control Plane Network
Control Plane

Node B

P CH FP
R AC H FP
F A CH FP

D S CH FP
U S CH FP
CP CH FP
Radio

D CH FP
Application Part
Network (NBAP)
Layer

ALCAP

Q.2630.1
Q.2150.2
Transport
SSCF-UNI SSCF-UNI
Layer
SSCOP SSCOP
AAL Type 5 AAL Type 5 AAL Type 2

ATM

Physical Layer

26
 Iub Interface Functions(1)

 Common Functions
 Common Transport Channel Management
 Iub Common Channel Data Transmission
 Logical O&M of Node B （ maintenance functions such as cell
configuration Management ， Fault Management ， Block
Management, etc. ）
 System Information Management
 Common Measurement
 Resource Verification
 Abnormality Management
 Timing and Synchronization Management

27
 Iub Interface Functions(2)

 Dedicated Functions
 Dedicated Transport Channel Management
 Radio Link(RL) Monitoring
 Dedicated Measurement Management
 Timing and Synchronization Management
 Up-link outer loop Power Control
 Iub Dedicated Data transmission
 Balance on down-link power drifting
 Compressed Mode Control

28
 UTRAN Interfaces Protocols and Functions

 Iu Interface
 Iur Interface
 Iub Interface
 Uu Interface

29
 Uu Interface Protocol Stack Structure
C-plane signalling U-plane information

GC Nt DC

Duplication avoidance

GC Nt DC
UuS boundary
L3
control
RRC

PDCP
PDCP L2/PDCP
c o n tro l

c o n tro l

c o n tro l
c o n tro l

BMC L2/BMC

RLC RLC L2/RLC

RLC RLC
RLC RLC
RLC RLC

Logical
Channels

MAC L2/MAC
Transport
Channels
PHY L1
30
 Uu Interface L1 Functions(1)

 Multiplexing of transport channels and de-multiplexing of encoded

composite channels
 Mapping of encoded composite transport channels on physical
channels
 Macro-diversity distribution/combining and soft handover execution
 Error detection on transport channels and indication to higher layers
 FEC encoding/decoding and interleaving/de-interleaving of transport
channels
 Rate matching of coded transport channels to physical channels
 Power weighting and combining of physical channels

31
 Uu Interface L1 Functions(2)

 closed-loop power control

 open-loop power control
 Modulation and spreading/demodulation and de-spreading of
physical channels
 Synchronization between frequency and time (chip, bit, slot, frame)
 Radio characters measurements (FER, SIR, Interference power) and
indication to higher layers
 Compressed mode support
 Diversity of Transmission/Receiving
 Other base band processing functions

32
 MAC: Medium Access Control

GC Nt DC
AS Control
SAP

RRC(L3) Radio
Control L2 (Access)
SAP's
Bearers
PDCP
BMC

RLC

Logical Channels

MAC
Transport
Channels
PHY(L1)
Physical Channels
33
 MAC Functions
 mapping between logical channels and transport channels
 selection of appropriate Transport Format for each Transport Channel de
pending on instantaneous data rate
 priority handling between data flows of one UE
 priority handling between UEs by dynamic scheduling
 identification of UEs on common transport channels
 multiplexing/demultiplexing of higher layer PDUs into/from transport bloc
k sets delivered to/from the physical layer on common and dedicated tra
nsport channels
 traffic volume monitoring
 Dynamic Transport Channel type switching
 ciphering for transparent RLC
34
 MAC: Mapping of Logical Channels(UE)

Cell Signaling
Signaling
System Cell and
Paging System Signaling Broadcast and
Higher Layer Paging Info Signaling Broadcast User data
Info Service User data
data Service

Logical DCCH
Channels Decicated
PCCH BCCH CCCH CTCH
(Data Logical
Dependent) Channel
DTCH
DTCH
CipherOn DTCH
{XOR}

Transport Chann
els
(L1 Characteristics D PCH BCH FACH RACH DCH
ependent)

Physical P-CCPCH
S-CCPCH PRACH DPDCH
Channels

35
 MAC: Transport Format Selection(1)
 Control immediate bit rate by means of changing traffic per TTI(Transmission Time Inter
val, is multiple of 10ms)
 Transport Block (TB): The basic unit exchanged between L1 and MAC
 Transport Block Size: the number of bits in a Transport Block
 Transport Block Set: A set of TBs transmitted in a TTI
 Transport Block Set Size: the number of bits in a Transport Block Set

Transport Block Size

Transport Block, TB#1

Transport Block TB#2

Set

TB#n

Transport Block Set Size = Transport Block Size x N

Transport Time Interval, TTI t

36
 MAC: Transport Formation Selection(2)
 Transport Format (TF) defines Transport Block Set (Transport Block Size,
Transport Block Set Size,TTI,FEC type,size of CRC)
 Transport Format Set (TFS): Possible TF combinations of a transport channel.
MAC will chose a TF during every TTI
 Transport Format Combination (TFC): Determined TF combination in each TTI,
each transport channel
 Transport Format Combination Set (TFCS): define all possible TFC combination
method. Thus MAC can process dynamic transport rate control in different
transport channels
TFC
TFS

TF
TFCS

TrCH#1 TrCH#2 TrCH#3 TrCH#4 37

 RLC: Radio Link Control
GC Nt DC
AS Control
SAP

RRC(L3) Radio
Control L2 (Access)
SAP's
Bearers
PDCP
BMC

RLC

Logical
Channels
MAC
Transport
Channels
PHY(L1)
Physical
Channels
38
 RLC Functions

 Segmentation, reassembly and Padding

 Transmission of user data
 Error correction using different transport Format
 In-sequence delivery of higher layer PDUs, duplicate
detection
 Flow control
 Sequence number check in Unacknowledged
Mode （ UM ）
 Protocol error detection and recovery
 Ciphering
 Suspend/resume function
39
 PDCP ： Packet Data Convergence Protocol
BMC ： Broadcast/Multicast Control
GC Nt DC
AS Control
SAP

RRC(L3) Radio
Control L2 (Access)
SAP's
Bearers
PDCP
BMC

RLC

Logical
Channels
MAC
Transport
Channels
PHY(L1)
Physical
Channels
40
 PDCP Functions

 Mapping of network PDU from network protocol to RLC

protocol entity.
 header compression and de-compression in order to reduce
the redundant control information in higher layer data, thus
enhance the transport efficiency in air interface
 buffering and retransmit of higher layer data

41
 BMC Functions

 Storage of cell broadcast message

 Monitoring of traffic volume and CBS (Cell Broadcast
Service) radio resource request
 BMC message dispatching
 Transport BMC message to UE
 Transport BMC message to higher layer

42
 RRC: Radio Resource Control
GC Nt DC
AS Control
SAP

RRC(L3) Radio
Control L2 (Access)
SAP's
Bearers
PDCP
BMC

RLC

Logical
Channels
MAC
Transport
Channels
PHY(L1)
Physical
Channel
43 s
 RRC Functions(1)
 Management of system information broadcast
 Paging/Notification
 RRC connection management （ establish 、 reconfig, maintain
and release ）
 Radio Bearer (RB) Management （ establish, reconfig and relea
se ） , support NAS services
 RRC connection mobility management
 initial cell selection
 Routing of higher layer PDUs
 Control of requested QoS and map into different resources of A
ccess Stratum
 Management and control of radio resources 44
 RRC Functions(2)

 Management and control of RB, transport channel and

physical channel
 open loop power control
 Support of SRNS relocation
 Control of UE measurement and measurement report
 Ciphering control, protection of integrity
 CBS related functions （ BMC configuration ， CBS radio
resource distribute request, support of CBS non-continuous
receiving ）

45
 Course Contents

Chapter 1 UTRAN Network Architecture

Chapter 2 UTRAN Interface Protocol and Functions

Chapter 3 Basic Signaling Process

46
 Basic Signaling Procedures

Call overall process

Network start process

UE registration process

Call process, soft handover and hard handover

process

Connection mobility management process

47
 Call overall Procedures
Step 1
Network side Start Handset Power on Step 2 Step 3
1 、 Initialize equipment 1 、 cell reselection Paging UE RRC connection
2 、 Process system 2 、 Location registration
broadcast 3 、 Waiting for call Establish

Step 6 Step 6
Soft/hard handover RAB/RB modification

Step 6 Step 6 Step 5

Step 4
Physical channel Transport channel RAB set up
1 、 synchronous set up NAS signaling
reconfiguration reconfiguration
2 、 asynchronous set up connection establish

Step 6 Step 6
URA update Cell update

Step 8
Step 7
Waiting for call again
RRC connection
Step 6 1 、 cell selection
Handover with GSM release 2 、 wait for call

48
 Basic Signaling Process

Call overall process

Network start process

UE registration process

Call process, soft handover and hard handover

process

Connection mobility management process

49
 System Information Broadcast Flow

UE Node B RNC CN

1.System Information Update Request

NBAP NBAP

2.System Information Update Response

NBAP . NBAP

3.BCCH:System Information
RRC . RRC

RRC 4.BCCH:System
. Information RRC

RRC 5.BCCH:System Information RRC

50
 Basic Signaling Process

 Call overall process

 Network start process
 UE registration process
 Call process, soft handover and hard handover
process
 Connection mobility management process

51
 RRC Connection Establishment Flow(CCH)

UE NodeB SRNC
RRC: RRC CONNECTION REQUEST

RRC: RRC CONNECTION SETUP

RRC: RRC CONNECTION SETUP COMPLETE

UE originate RRC connection setup for registration.

SRNC decides to establish RRC connection on common channel,
and uses pre-configured common channel resources.
52
 NAS Signaling Establishment Flow

UE SRNC CN
RRC£ IºNITIAL DIRECT TRANSFER

RANAP: INITIAL UE MESSAGE

RRC£ D
ºT
RANAP£ ºDT

RANAP£ ºDT
RRC£ D
ºT

UE changes DT messages with CN, such as Authentication,

connection establishment, location registration, etc.

53
 RRC Connection Release Flow(CCH)

UE NodeB SRNC CN

IU RELEASE COMMAND

IU RELEASE COMPLETE

RRC£ ºRRC CONNECTION RELEASE

RRC£ ºRRC CONNECTION RELEASE COMPLETE

In registration process, UE does not use dedicated user plane resources.

Instead, it release signaling link directly. Thus registration procedure ends.
54
 Basic Call Processes

 Call overall process

 Network start process
 UE registration process
 Call process, soft handover and hard handover
process
 Connection mobility management process

55
 Paging Flow (UE in Idle State or PCH State)

UE SRNC CN

RANAP£ ºPAGING

RRC£ ºPAGING TYPE 1

CN sends paging message and specifies UE and paging area. （ CN is

responsible for paging message re-send ） . SRNC sends relevant paging
message according to UE state.

56
 Paging Flow (connection mode)

UE Serving CN
RNC

RANAP 1. Paging RANAP

2. DCCH : Paging
RRC RRC

CN sends paging message and specifies UE and paging area. （ CN is

responsible for paging message re-send ） . SRNC sends relevant paging
message according to UE state.

57
 RRC Connection Establishment Flow(DCH)

UE NodeB SRNC
RRC: RRC CONNECTION REQUEST

RL SESETUP REQUEST

RL SETUP RESPONSE

ALCAP Establish, synchronization

RRC: RRC CONNECTION SETUP

RRC: RRC CONNECTION SETUP COMPLETE

UE send RRC connect request containing UE identify, ability, cause on CCCH. If

the condition is met, SRNC will configure NodeB according to the requirement,
and establish its path to Node B, then send RRC connection setup message on
CCCH channel, and wait for response from UE on DCCH.
58
 NAS Signaling Establish Flow

UE SRNC CN

RRC£ ºINITIAL DIRECT TRANSFER

RANAP: INITIAL UE MESSAGE

RRC£ ºDT
RANAP£ ºDT

RANAP£ ºDT
RRC£ ºDT

UE exchange DT messages with CN, such as authentication,

service request, connection establish, etc.

59
 RAB Establish Flow(DCH-DCH, synchronous)

UE NodeB SRNC CN
RAB ASSIGNMENT REQUEST

ALCAP Establish
RL RECONFIG PRE

RL RECONFIG READY
ALCAP Establish, synchronization

RL RECONFIG COMMIT

RRC ： RB SETUP
RRC ： RB SETUP COMPLETE
RAB ASSIGNMENT RESPONSE

There are more than one ALCAP establish procedures on Iu Interface,

more than one user plane RABs can be established simultaneously.
After user plane establish, UE enters call connection. 60
 RAB Establish Flow(DCH-DCH, asynchronous)

UE NodeB SRNC CN
RAB ASSIGNMENT REQUEST

ALCAP Establish
RL RECONFIG REQ

RL RECONFIG RESP

ALCAP Establish, synchronization

RRC ： RB SETUP

RRC ： RB SETUP COMPLETE

RAB ASSIGNMENT RESPONSE

61
 RAB Establish Flow(RA/FA-RA/FA)

UE NodeB SRNC CN
RANAP: RAB ASSIGNMENT REQUEST

ALCAP Establish

RRC ： RB SETUP

RRC ： RB SETUP COMPLETE

RANAP ： RAB ASSIGNMENT RESPONSE

62
 RAB Establish Flow(RA/FA-DCH)
RANAP: RAB ASSIGNMENT REQUEST

ALCAP Establish
RL SETUP REQ
RL SETUP RESP

ALCAP Establish, synchronization

RRC ： RB SETUP

RRC ： RB SETUP COMPLETE

RANAP ： RAB ASSIGNMENT RESPONSE

63
 RAB Reconfig Flow

UE NodeB SRNC CN
RAB ASSIGNMENT REQ
ALCAP Establish
RL RECONFIG PREPARE
RL RECONFIG READY

ALCAP Establish, synchronization

RL RECONFIG COMMIT

RB RECONFIG

RB RECONFIG COMPLETE

ALCAP Release
RAB ASSIGNMENT RESP
ALCAP Release

64
 Transport Channel Reconfig Flow

UE NodeB SRNC
RL RECONFIG PREPARE

RL RECONFIG READY

ALCAP Establish, synchronization

RL RECONFIG COMMIT

TRANSPORT CHANNEL RECONFIG

TRANSPORT CHANNEL RECONFIG COMPLETE

ALCAP Release

65
 Physical Channel Reconfig Flow

UE NodeB SRNC

RL RECONFIG PREPARE

RL RECONFIG READY

RL RECONFIG COMMIT

PHYSICAL CHANNEL RECONFIG

PHYSICAL CHANNEL RECONFIG COMPLETE

66
 Notions Related to Soft Handover

 Soft Handover
 Macro diversity is a operation state in which a User
Equipment simultaneously has radio links with two or more
UTRAN access points. The aim is to improve quality of the
radio connection or provide seamless connection.
 Active Set is a set of radio links simultaneously involved in a
specific communication service between an UE and a UTRAN
access point.

67
 Soft Handover Illustration (Intra RNC)

CN CN CN

SRNC SRNC SRNC

NodeB NodeB NodeB NodeB NodeB NodeB

Before Soft Handover During Soft Handover After Soft Handover

68
 Soft Handover Flow (Intra RNC add 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 Synchronization DCH-FP

DCH-FP 5.Uplink Synchronization DCH-FP

Start RX description

6.DCCH: Active Set Update Command

RRC RRC

RRC 7. DCCH : Active Set Update Complete RRC

69
 Soft Handover Flow (Intra-RNC delete branch)
UE Node B(old) SRNC

Decision to delete
a RL

1.DCCH: Active Set Update Command

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

70
 Soft Handover Illustration (Inter-RNC)

CN CN

SRNC RNC SRNC RNC

NodeB NodeB NodeB NodeB NodeB NodeB

Before Soft Handover After Soft Handover

Radio Link(RL) is added and deleted simultaneously

71
 Soft Handover Flow (Inter-RNC)
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
2. Radio Link Setup Request
NBAP 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 Synchronization
DCH-FP
DCH-FP

7. Uplink Synchronization
DCH-FP DCH-FP

Start TX description
8. DCCH: Active Set Update Command
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

72
 Hard Handover Illustration (Intra-RNC)

CN CN

SRNC SRNC

NodeB NodeB NodeB NodeB

Before Har Handover 7 After Hard Handover

Radio Link(RL)cannot exist simultaneously
73
 Hard Handover Flow (Intra-RNC)
UE Node B Source Node B Target SRNC
Decide to
handover
1. Radio Link Setup Request
NBAP NBAP

Start Rx
2. Radio Link Setup Response
NBAP NBAP
3 ALCAP ub Data Transport Bearer Setup

DCH-FP 4. Downlink Synchronization DCH-FP

DCH-FP 5.Uplink Synchronization 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
9. Radio Link Deletion Request
NBAP NBAP
10. Radio Link Deletion Response
NBAP
NBAP
11. ALCAP Iub Data Transport Bearer Release
74
 Hard Handover Illustration (Inter-RNC)

CN CN

SRNC RNC SRNC RNC

NodeB NodeB NodeB NodeB

Before Hard Handover After Hard Handover

Radio Link(RL)can’t exist simultaneously
75
 Hard Handover Flow (Inter-RNC via Iur
interface)
UE Node B Node B RNC RNC SRNC
Source Target Source Target
1. Radio Link Setup Request
RNSAP RNSAP
2. Radio Link Setup Request
NBAP NBAP

3. Radio Link Setup Response

NBAP NBAP

4. ALCAP ub 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
11. Radio Link Deletion Request
RNSAP RNSAP
12. Radio Link Deletion Request
NBAP NBAP

13. Radio Link Deletion Response

NBAP NBAP

14. ALCAP Iub Data Transport Bearer Release

15. Radio Link Deletion Response

RNSAP RNSAP

16. ALCAP Iur Data Transport Bearer Release

76
 RRC Release Flow （ DCH ）

UE NodeB SRNC CN
IU RELEASE COMMAND
IU RELEASE COMPLETE

ALCAP Release
RRC ： RRC CONNECTION RELEASE

RRC ： RRC CONNECTION RELEASE COMPLETE

RL DELETION

RL DELETION RESPONSE
ALCAP Release

Release procedure is usually originated by CN. But if UE is faulty,

SRNC can also request release. Connection to UE is
released first, then the connection to Node B. The release of RRC
is the end of call. 77
 Basic Signaling Process

Call overall process

Network start process

UE registration process

Call process, soft handover and hard handover

process

Connection mobility management process

78
 Connection mobility management processes

 Cell update process

 URA update process
 Inter-system handover process

79
 Forward Handover
 Forward Handover, including CELL UPDATE and URA UPDATE, is
originated by UE. URA UPDATE procedure is only used for UE under
URA_PCH state to process URA reselection, and to check if RRC
connection is right.
 For UE under CELL_FACH and CELL_PCH state
 cell reselection needed
 In specific SA(Service Area) ， Timer T305 timed out (this timer is defined in
system broadcast message)
 For UE under CELL_PCH and URA_PCH state
 transfer data on up link needed (enter CELL_FACH state)
 upon receiving paging message on PCCH, originate cell update
 CELL UPDATE process can be used to re-establish unrecoverable errors of
RLC entity （ losing connection ） , and to monitor RRC connection state.

80
 Cell Update Flow
DRNC DRNC
UE SRNC
Source Target

1. CCCH: Cell Update

RRC RRC-relay

2. Uplink Signaling Transfer

Indication
RNSAP RNSAP

3. Common Transp. Channel Resources

Initialization Request
RNSAP RNSAP

4. Common Transp. Channel Resources

initialization Response
RNSAP RNSAP

5. ALCAP Iur bearer setup

6. DCCH: Cell Update Confirm

RRC RRC

7. DCCH: RNTI Relocation Complete

RRC RRC

8. Common Transp. Channel Resources Release

RNSAP RNSAP

81
 URA Update Flow
Source Target Serving
UE RNC RNC RNC

1.CCCH: URA Update

RRC RRC-relay
[U-RNTI, URA update cause]

2.Uplink Signaling Transfer Indication

RNSAP RNSAP
[new C-RNTI,D-RNTI, UL message]

3. Decision Not to
perform SRNS
relocation

4. Downlink Signaling Transfer Request

RNSAP RNSAP

RRC 5.CCCH: URA Update Confirm RRC-relay

82
 Hard Handover Flow （ UMTS->GSM ）
RNC
UE Node B Serving CN MSC BSC BTS

RANAP 1. Relocation RANAP

Required 2. Prepare
Handover
MAP/E MAP/E
3. Handover
Request
BSSMAP BSSMAP

BSSMAP 4. Handover BSSMAP

Request Ack
5. Prepare Handover
MAP/E Response MAP/E
6. Relocation
Command
RANAP RANAP
7. DCCH : Inter-System Handover Command
RRC RRC
8. Handover
Detect
BSSMAP BSSMAP
9. Handover Complete
RR RR
10. Handover
Complete
BSSMAP BSSMAP
11. Send End Signal
Request
MAP/E MAP/E
12. Iu Release
Command
RANAP RANAP
13. Iu Release
Complete
RANAP RANAP
14. Send End Signal
Response
MAP/E MAP/E

83
 Hard Handover Flow （ GSM->UMTS ）
UE Node B RNC CN MSC BSC BTS
Target
1. Handover
BSSMAP Required BSSMAP
2. Prepare
MAP/E Handover MAP/E
3. Relocation
Request
RANAP RANAP
4. Relocation
Request Ack
RANAP RANAP
5. Prepare Handover
Response
MAP/E MAP/E
6. Handover
Command
BSSMAP BSSMAP

7. Handover Command
RR 8. Relocation RR
Detect
RANAP RANAP

9. DCCH : Handover Complete

RRC RRC
10. Relocation
Complete
RANAP RANAP
11. Send End Signal
Request
MAP/E MAP/E
12. Clear
Command
BSSMAP BSSMAP
13. Clear
Complete
BSSMAP
14. Send End Signal BSSMAP
Response
MAP/E MAP/E
84
 Cell Reselection Flow （ UMTS->GPRS ）

UE Serving GPRS
CN
RNC

1. UE releases connection with RNC

2. UE Access GPRS system

3. Inter-system information exchange

data transfer
4. Iu Release Command

RANAP RANAP

4. Iu Release Complete
RANAP RANAP

85
 Cell reselection Flow （ GPRS->UMTS ）

UE Serving CN GPRS
RNC

1. UE Access UMTS system(RNC)

2. Make signaling connection with CN

3. User plane bearers set up

4. Inter-system information exchange

data transfer

86
87