PS Handover Feature Parameter

Description
Copyright Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. 2010. All rights reserved.
No part of this document may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without prior written
consent of Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.

Trademarks and Permissions

and other Huawei trademarks are trademarks of Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.
All other trademarks and trade names mentioned in this document are the property of their respective holders.

Notice
The information in this document is subject to change without notice. Every effort has been made in the
preparation of this document to ensure accuracy of the contents, but all statements, information, and
recommendations in this document do not constitute the warranty of any kind, express or implied.

Issue 02 (2009-09-30)

Huawei Proprietary and Confidential

Copyright Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.

BSS
PS Handover

Contents

Contents
1 Introduction to This Document .............................................................................................1-1
1.1 Scope ............................................................................................................................................ 1-1
1.2 Intended Audience ........................................................................................................................ 1-1
1.3 Change History.............................................................................................................................. 1-1

2 Overview .....................................................................................................................................2-1
3 Technical Description ..............................................................................................................3-1
3.1 Handover Decision ........................................................................................................................ 3-1
3.2 Common Intra-BSC Inter-Cell Handover ...................................................................................... 3-1
3.3 Inter-BSC Inter-Cell Handover ...................................................................................................... 3-4
3.4 2G/3G Inter-RAT Handover........................................................................................................... 3-4

4 Parameters .................................................................................................................................4-1
5 Counters......................................................................................................................................5-1
6 Glossary ......................................................................................................................................6-1
7 Reference Documents .............................................................................................................7-1

Issue 02 (2009-09-30)

Huawei Proprietary and Confidential

Copyright Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.

iii

BSS
PS Handover

1 Introduction to This Document

1 Introduction to This Document

1.1 Scope
This document describes the common intra-BSC inter-cell handover procedure, inter-BSC inter-cell
handover procedure, and 2G/3G inter-RAT handover procedure.

1.2 Intended Audience

It is assumed that users of this document are familiar with GPRS basics and have a working knowledge
of GPRS telecommunication.
This document is intended for:
z

Personnel working on Huawei GPRS products or systems

System operators who need a general understanding of this feature

1.3 Change History

The change history provides information on the changes in different document versions.
There are two types of changes, which are defined as follows:
z

Feature change
Feature change refers to the change in the PS handover feature of a specific product version.

Editorial change
Editorial change refers to the change in wording or the addition of information that was not provided in
the earlier version.

Document Issues
The document issues are as follows:
z

02 (2009-09-30)

01 (2009-06-30)

02 (2009-09-30)
This is the second commercial release of GBSS9.0.
Compared with issue 01 (2009-06-30) of GBSS9.0, the following changes are incorporated:
Change
Type

Change Description

Parameter Change

Feature
change

None.

None.

Editorial
change

3.4 2G/3G Inter-RAT

Handover is added.

None.

01 (2009-06-30)
This is the first commercial release of

Issue 02 (2009-09-30)

GBSS9.0.

Huawei Proprietary and Confidential

Copyright Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.

1-1

BSS
PS Handover

1 Introduction to This Document

Compared with issue 01 (2009-04-30) of

change.

1-2

GBSS8.1, issue 01 (2009-06-30) of

Huawei Proprietary and Confidential

Copyright Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.

GBSS9.0 has no

Issue 02 (2009-09-30)

BSS
PS Handover

2 Overview

2 Overview
The IP-based services, such as VoIP, PoC, and Gaming, have high requirements for time delay in the
case of cell reselection. As there is an ever increasing number of subscribers to the IP-based services, a
solution for minimizing time delay is in great demand. To achieve the minimum possible time delay,
Huawei introduces the PS Handover feature that can allocate radio resources to the MS in the target cell
before the cell reselection is performed. Thus, the delay is shortened to no more than 150 ms. In addition,
the PS Handover feature considers factors such as signal level and load of the neighboring cells before
cell reselection is performed. This ensures a high success rate of the PS handover and great data
throughput in the target cell, thus improving the QoS.
A PS handover is triggered by the Packet Cell Change Notification message sent by the MS or by the
NC2 cell reselection algorithm. If the triggering conditions of the PS handover are not met, cell
reselection is performed. After reselecting the target cell, the MS initiates a cell update procedure. If the
triggering conditions of the PS handover are met, a PS handover is performed. In this case, radio
resources are allocated in the target cell before the MS initiates a cell update procedure in the source
cell. The BSC delivers the MS data in the source cell and target cell simultaneously, thus ensuring that
services are not disrupted during cell update.
Currently, DTM handover is not supported. In DTM, the BSC makes handover decisions according to CS
services. For details, see Handover Feature Parameter Description. CS handovers may disrupt PS
services.
With respect to the BSC, PS handovers can be classified into the following types:
z

Common intra-BSC inter-cell handover

The source cell and the target cell belong to the same BSC but to different RAs or NSEs. For details,
see Packet-switched handover for GERAN A/Gb mode; Stage 2

Inter-BSC inter-cell handover

The source cell and the target cell belong to different BSCs. Inter-BSC inter-cell handovers include
2G/3G inter-RAT handovers. Inter-RAT handover means that the source cell and target cell belong to
the systems of different radio access technologies, for example, the 2G network and the 3G network.

Both the common intra-BSC inter-cell handover and the inter-BSC inter-cell handover involve three
procedures: handover decision, handover preparation, and handover execution. The handover decision
conditions of a common intra-BSC inter-cell handover are the same as those of an inter-BSC inter-cell
handover.

Issue 02 (2009-09-30)

Huawei Proprietary and Confidential

Copyright Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.

2-1

BSS
PS Handover

3 Technical Description

3 Technical Description
3.1 Handover Decision
The following conditions must be met before a PS handover is performed:
z

The MS supports the PS handover.

The radio access capability reported by the MS contains the PS handover field, which specifies
whether the MS supports the PS handover.

The license of the BSC supports the PS handover.

The BSC supports the PS handover.

The settings of the parameters should meet any of the following requirements:

Support NACC is set to YES, Network Control Mode is set to NC0 or NC1, and PS Handover
Support is set to YES.
Support NC2 is set to YES, Network Control Mode is set to NC2, and PS Handover Support is
set to YES.
z

The SGSN supports the PS handover.

The Extended Feature Bitmap field is added to the BVC RESET and BVC RESET ACK messages
transmitted over the Gb interface between the SGSN and the BSC. This field specifies whether the
NSE supports the PS handover. If the BVC RESET or BVC RESET ACK message received from the
SGSN does not contain the Extended Feature Bitmap field or if the Extended Feature Bitmap field
indicates that the PS handover is not supported, it is regarded that none of the cells under the NSE of
the SGSN supports the PS handover. That is, the source cell does not support the PS handover.
Otherwise, all the cells under the NSE of the SGSN support the PS handover, that is, the source cell
supports the PS handover. Through the preceding negotiation procedure, the BSC determines
whether the SGSN supports the PS handover.

Both the BSC and the SGSN support the Packet Flow Context (PFC) procedure.

Any of the following handover triggering conditions is met:

The MS operating in NC0 or NC1 mode sends the BSC a Packet Cell Change Notification message,
which contains the information on the target cell. If the target cell is a neighboring 2G cell, a PS
handover procedure is initiated. If the target cell is a neighboring 3G FDD cell and Support Out
Inter-RAT Inter-Cell PS Handover is set to SUPPORT, a PS handover procedure is also initiated.
Currently, a PS handover to a neighboring 3G TDD cell is not supported.
The MS operating in NC2 mode sends MRs to the BSC. The BSC selects the target cell of the PS
handover according to the NC2 cell reselection algorithm. If the target cell is a neighboring 2G cell, a
PS handover procedure is initiated. If the target cell is a neighboring 3G FDD cell and Support Out
Inter-RAT Inter-Cell PS Handover is set to SUPPORT, a PS handover procedure is also initiated.
Currently, a PS handover to a neighboring 3G TDD cell is not supported.

3.2 Common Intra-BSC Inter-Cell Handover

Handover Preparation
Figure 3-1 shows the procedure for the preparation of a common intra-BSC inter-cell handover.

Issue 02 (2009-09-30)

Huawei Proprietary and Confidential

Copyright Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.

3-1

BSS
PS Handover

3 Technical Description

Figure 3-1 Procedure for the preparation of a common intra-BSC inter-cell handover

1.

The MS in the source cell sends a PS Handover Required message to the SGSN. The message
contains the following information elements (IEs): old TLLI, handover cause, source cell identifier,
target cell identifier, transparent container (containing the radio access capability of the MS, paging
mode, global TFI, whether to request the system information of the target cell) from the source BSC
to the target BSC, and active PFC list (containing the PFI of each PFC).

2.

After receiving the PS Handover Required message, the SGSN determines the handover type
(intra-SGSN handover, inter-SGSN handover, or inter-RAT handover) according to the target cell
identifier and checks whether the routing area is changed. If the routing area remains unchanged,
the SGSN sends the target BSC a PS Handover Request message. The message contains the
following IEs: TLLI, IMSI, handover cause, source cell identifier, target cell identifier, transparent
container from the source cell to the target cell, and PFC list to be created. If the routing area
changes, the SGSN allocates a new P-TMSI to the MS and generates a new TLLI based on the
P-TMSI before sending a PS Handover Request message to the target cell.

3.

After receiving the PS Handover Request message, the target cell creates the MS context and
requests the uplink channel resources. In addition, the target cell obtains its own system information
and creates the transparent container from the target BSC to the source BSC.

4.

The BSC sends the SGSN a PS Handover Request Acknowledge message. The message contains
the following IEs: TLLI, successfully created PFC list, and transparent container (including the PS
handover command and the system information of the target cell) from the target cell to the source
cell. Then, the BSC prepares to receive downlink LLC PDUs. When the SGSN receives the PS
Handover Request Acknowledge message, the resource allocation for the MS in the target cell is
complete. At this time, the PS handover preparation phase ends and the PS handover execution
phase begins.

Handover Execution
Figure 3-2 shows the procedure for the execution of a common intra-BSC inter-cell handover.

3-2

Huawei Proprietary and Confidential

Copyright Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.

Issue 02 (2009-09-30)

BSS
PS Handover

3 Technical Description

Figure 3-2 Procedure for the execution of a common intra-BSC inter-cell handover

1.

The SGSN sends downlink LLC PDUs to the MS through the source cell.

2.

After receiving the PS Handover Request Acknowledge message, the SGSN sends subsequent
LLC PDUs to the target cell according to the QoS. The BSC sends downlink data to the MS on the
allocated radio channels. At this time, the MS still camps on the source cell.

3.

The SGSN sends a PS Handover Required Acknowledge message to the BSC. The message
contains the following information elements: TLLI, successfully created PFC list, and transparent
container (including the handover command and the system information of the target cell) from the
target BSC to the source BSC. Before sending the PS Handover Required Acknowledge message
to the BSC, the SGSN can suspend the downlink data transmission of any PDP context according
to the QoS.

4.

The BSC suspends the downlink data transmission and then sends a PS Handover Command
message to the MS. After sending the message, the BSC resumes the downlink data transmission
until no LLC PDU needs to be transmitted or the PFC is released. After receiving the PS Handover
Command message, the MS stops data reception in the source cell and meanwhile suspends the
uplink data transmission. After receiving the PS Handover Command message, the MS processes
the uplink data as follows:

In the case of a PFC with an ongoing handover, all the uplink data packets that are not transmitted
are buffered according to the QoS levels.

Subsequent uplink data packets are buffered according to the QoS levels.

The MS can discard uplink data packets during the link disruption period to meet the real-time
requirements.

Issue 02 (2009-09-30)

Huawei Proprietary and Confidential

Copyright Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.

3-3

BSS
PS Handover

3 Technical Description

5.

On the radio channels allocated in the handover preparation phase, the MS sends the BSC a PS
Handover Access message through four access bursts. The message contains the reference
information on the handover.

6.

Based on the reference information in the PS Handover Access message from the MS, the BSC
determines whether to send the MS a Packet Physical information message. If the PS Handover
Command message does not contain the TA, the BSC sends a Packet Physical information
message containing the TA to the MS. If the PS Handover Command message contains the TA, the
BSC does not send a Packet Physical information message to the MS.

7.

The MS determines whether the routing areas of the source cell and target cell are the same. If they
are the same, the MS sends a Cell Update message to the SGSN. If they are different, the MS
sends a Routing Area Update Request message to the SGSN.

8.

After the target cell successfully receives the first uplink data block, the BSC sends the SGSN a PS
Handover Complete (containing the TLLI and IMSI) message, notifying the SGSN that the MS is
handed over to the target cell.

9.

The MS starts to send uplink data packets.

10. After receiving the PS Handover Complete message, the SGSN instructs the BSC to delete the
PFC corresponding to the source cell. After receiving the Delete BSC PFC message from the SGSN,
the BSC deletes the corresponding PFC and TBF and releases the radio resources. Then, the BSC
starts to receive data from the MS in the target cell.

3.3 Inter-BSC Inter-Cell Handover

On the BSC side, the procedures for handover preparation and handover execution in an inter-BSC
inter-cell handover are the same as those in a common intra-BSC inter-cell handover. The procedures
on the core network (CN) side, however, are different. For details about the procedures on the BSC side,
see 3.2 Common Intra-BSC Inter-Cell Handover. For details about the procedures on the CN side, see
3GPP TS 43.129 Packet-switched handover for GERAN A/Gb mode; Stage 2.

3.4 2G/3G Inter-RAT Handover

2G/3G inter-RAT handovers can be classified into inter-RAT handovers from GSM to UMTS and
inter-RAT handovers from UMTS to GSM. Inter-RAT handover from GSM to UMTS is a handover in
which the mobile terminal is handed over from a GSM cell to a UMTS cell. Inter-RAT handover from
UMTS to GSM is a handover in which the mobile terminal is handed over from a UMTS cell to a GSM
cell.
If a PS handover from a GSM cell to a UMTS cell is required, Support Out Inter-RAT Inter-Cell PS
Handover should be set to SUPPORT. If a PS handover from a UMTS cell to a GSM cell is required,
Support In Inter-RAT Inter-cell PS Handover should be set to SUPPORT.
On the BSC side, the preparation procedure for an inter-RAT handover from GSM to UMTS is the same
as that for a common intra-BSC inter-cell handover. The difference is that the PS Handover Required
message in an inter-RAT handover from GSM to UMTS contains the transparent container from the
source BSC to the target RNC. The execution procedure for an inter-RAT handover from GSM to UMTS
is the same as that for a common intra-BSC inter-cell handover. The difference is that the PS Handover
Required Acknowledge message in an inter-RAT handover from GSM to UMTS contains the transparent
container from the target RNC to the source BSC. For details, see 3.2 Common Intra-BSC Inter-Cell
Handover.
On the BSC side, the preparation and execution procedures for an inter-RAT handover from UMTS to
GSM is the same as those for a common intra-BSC inter-cell handover. For details, see 3.2 Common
Intra-BSC Inter-Cell Handover.

3-4

Huawei Proprietary and Confidential

Copyright Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.

Issue 02 (2009-09-30)

BSS
PS Handover

3 Technical Description

On the CN side, the procedures for a 2G/3G inter-RAT handover are different from those for a common
intra-BSC inter-cell handover. For details, see 3GPP TS 43.129 Packet-switched handover for GERAN
A/Gb mode; Stage 2.
For details about 2G/3G inter-RAT handover, see 2G/3G Inter-RAT Handover of 2G/3G Interoperability
Feature Parameter Description.

Issue 02 (2009-09-30)

Huawei Proprietary and Confidential

Copyright Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.

3-5

BSS
PS Handover

4 Parameters

4 Parameters
The following describes the parameters related to PS handover.
For the meaning of each parameter, see Table 4-1. For the default value, value range, and related MML
commands of each parameter, see Table 4-2.
Table 4-1 Parameter description (1)
Parameter

Description

Support NACC

Whether to support the network assisted cell change (NACC).

The NACC is used in the network control modes NC0, NC1 or
NC2. The NACC enables the network to notify the MS of the
system information of the neighboring cell when the MS is in the
packet transmission state. In this way, the MS can reselect a cell
in a shorter time.

Network
Control Mode

Network control mode for cell reselection of the MS. There are
three modes. NC0: normal MS control. The MS shall perform
autonomous cell re-selection. NC1: MS control with
measurement reports. The MS shall send measurement reports
to the network and the MS shall perform autonomous cell
re-selection. NC2: network control. The MS shall send
measurement reports to the network . The MS shall only perform
autonomous cell re-selection when the reselection is triggered by
a downlink signalling failure or a random access failure.

PS Handover
Support

Whether to support PS Handover(PS HO). The PS HO is used to

reduce the interval of the cell reselection of the MS.

Support NC2

Whether to support the network control 2 (NC2). The NC2

enables the network side to control the cell reselection for the MS
when the MS reports the measurement report of the local cell and
the neighboring cell.

Support Out
Inter-RAT
Inter-Cell PS
Handover

Whether support Out Inter-RAT Inter-Cell PS Handover. The MS

in the BSC local cell can be handed over to the UMTS cell
through PS handover algorithm.

Support In
Inter-RAT
Inter-cell PS
Handover

Whether to support In Inter-RAT Inter-cell PS Handover. The MS

in the UMTS cell can be handed over to the BSC local cell
through PS handover algorithm.

Table 4-2 Parameter description (2)

Paramet
er

Support
NACC

Default
Value

NO

Issue 02 (2009-09-30)

GUI
Value
Range

Actual
Value
Range

NO(No),
YES(Yes
)

NO, YES

Unit

None

MML
Comman
d
SET
GCELLG
PRS(Opti
onal)

Huawei Proprietary and Confidential

Copyright Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.

Impact

Cell

4-1

BSS
PS Handover

4 Parameters

Paramet
er

Network
Control
Mode
PS
Handover
Support

Support
NC2
Support
Out
Inter-RAT
Inter-Cell
PS
Handover
Support
In
Inter-RAT
Inter-cell
PS
Handover

4-2

GUI
Value
Range

Actual
Value
Range

NC0

NC0(NC0
),
NC1(NC1
),
NC2(NC2
)

NC0,
NC1,
NC2

NO

NO(No
Support),
YES(Sup
port)

NO

NO(No),
YES(Yes
)

NO, YES

UNSUPP
ORT

UNSUPP
ORT(Not
Support),
SUPPOR
T(Suppor
t)

UNSUPP
ORT,
SUPPOR
T

UNSUPP
ORT

UNSUPP
ORT(Not
Support),
SUPPOR
T(Suppor
t)

UNSUPP
ORT,
SUPPOR
T

Default
Value

NO, YES

Unit

MML
Comman
d

Impact

None

SET
GCELLP
SBASE(
Optional)

Cell

None

ADD
NSE(Opti
onal)

NSE

None

SET
GCELLG
PRS(Opti
onal)

Cell

None

SET
GCELLG
PRS(Opti
onal)

Cell

None

SET
GCELLG
PRS(Opti
onal)

Cell

Huawei Proprietary and Confidential

Copyright Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.

Issue 02 (2009-09-30)

BSS
PS Handover

5 Counters

5 Counters
For the counters, see the BSC6900 GSM Performance Counter Reference.

Issue 02 (2009-09-30)

Huawei Proprietary and Confidential

Copyright Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.

5-1

BSS
PS Handover

6 Glossary

6 Glossary
For the acronyms, abbreviations, terms, and definitions, see the Glossary.

Issue 02 (2009-09-30)

Huawei Proprietary and Confidential

Copyright Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.

6-1

BSS
PS Handover

7 Reference Documents

7 Reference Documents
z

3GPP TS 43.129: Packet-switched handover for GERAN A/Gb mode; Stage 2

3GPP TS 48.018: BSC GPRS Protocol (BSCGP)

3GPP TS 44.060: Radio Link Control/Medium Access Control (RLC/MAC) protocol

BSC6900 Feature List

BSC6900 Optional Feature Description

GBSS Reconfiguration Guide

BSC6900 GSM Parameter Reference

BSC6900 GSM MML Command Reference

BSC6900 Performance Counter Reference

Issue 02 (2009-09-30)

Huawei Proprietary and Confidential

Copyright Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.

7-1