UTRAN Procedures

Elementary procedures
– Paging
– RRC connection setup
– Transaction reasoning
– Authentication and security control
– Transaction setup with RAB allocation
– Transaction clearing and RAB release
– RRC connection release
RRM procedures
– Radio link addition and deletion
– Intersystem handover from UMTS to GSM (CS/PS)
– UE state transitions/ bearer reconfiguration
MM procedures -> see MM slides
CM procedures -> see CM slides

References:
– Kaaranen ch. 10 (simple cases discussed here)
– 3GPP TR 25.931 (more complicated cases)
UMTS Networks Oliver Waldhorst, Jens Mueckenheim Oct-11 1
Basic Model of UMTS Network Transactions
Paging
RRC Connection Establishment
Transaction Reasoning
(Signaling conn. establishment)
A transaction comprises all the elementary
procedures required to enable
– the transport of user data (PS or CS
mode) or
– the exchange of higher-layer signaling
messages (e.g. MM or CM)

Authentication and
Security UE indicates the CN
the requested service
Transaction Setup and
RAB Allocation
Allocation of bearers to support
Transaction required UMTS bearer service
(user or control plane)

Transaction Release and Transfer of data

RAB Release
Release of all bearers to support
RRC Connection Release UMTS bearer service

UMTS Networks Oliver Waldhorst, Jens Mueckenheim Oct-11 2

UE RRC Connected States
optional
C e ll F A C H

D a ta H ig h tr a ff ic
a c tiv ity o r C S c a ll

Low
N o d a ta
tr a ff ic
D y n a m ic R B
N o d a ta r e c o n f ig u r e
URA PCH C e ll D C H

D a ta a c tiv ity

• Cell_DCH
– Dedicated Traffic and Control carried over DCH
• Cell_FACH
– Dedicated Traffic and Control carried over RACH/ FACH
• URA_PCH
– No air interface resources required, “dormant” RB
– UE receives paging on UTRAN Routing Area (URA) basis rather than
standard routing area (RA); URA usually in the order of 10 cells
UMTS Networks Oliver Waldhorst, Jens Mueckenheim Oct-11 3
 Paging

Paging RRC Connection Establishment

Transaction Reasoning
(Signaling conn. establishment)

Paging type 1: Authentication and

Security

• UE idle mode (no RRC connection) Transaction Setup and

RAB Allocation

• RRC connected modes cell_PCH or URA_PCH Transaction

(user or control plane)
Transaction Release and
RAB Release

Example: paging for a UE in idle mode RRC Connection Release

UE N ode B N ode B RNC RNC CN

1 .1 2 .1 1 2

1 . P a g in g
RANAP RANAP

1 . P a g in g
RANAP
RANAP
(Requesting CN domain,
IMSI, ...)
2 . P C C H : P a g in g T yp e 1

3 . P C C H : P a g in g T yp e 1

UMTS Networks Oliver Waldhorst, Jens Mueckenheim Oct-11 4

 Paging

Paging RRC Connection Establishment

Transaction Reasoning
Paging type 2:
(Signaling conn. establishment)
Authentication and
Security
• UE is in RRC connected mode cell_DCH or cell_FACH Transaction Setup and
RAB Allocation
• Paging request from another CN domain Transaction
(user or control plane)
Transaction Release and
RAB Release
Example: paging for a UE in RRC Connected Mode RRC Connection Release
(CELL_DCH or CELL_FACH state)
UE S e r v in g CN
RNC

1. P a g in g
RANAP RANAP

2 . D C C H : P a g in g T y p e 2
RRC RRC

2 cases:
• UTRAN coordinates the paging request with the existing RRC connection (given example)
• UE coordinates the paging request with the existing RRC connection

UMTS Networks Oliver Waldhorst, Jens Mueckenheim Oct-11 5

 Paging

RRC Connection Setup RRC Connection Establishment

Transaction Reasoning
(Signaling conn. establishment)
UE N ode B RNC CN
Authentication and
Security
U E _ I d le Transaction Setup and
RAB Allocation

In itia l R a n d o m A c c e s s
Transaction
(user or control plane)
  A d d r.: In itia l U E ID Transaction Release and
C C C H (T M )/ R A C H : R R C C o n n e c tio n R e q u e s t   R e q u e s t fo r D C C H
RAB Release
  In c l. E s ta b lis h m e n t
RRC Connection Release
cause
R L S e tu p R e q u e s t

R L S e tu p R e s p o n s e

E s ta b lis h m e n t
of U TR A N
A L C A P Iu b T ra n s p o rt b e a re r S e tu p
D C H re s o u rc e s
in c l. C A C

U L /D L S y n c h ro n is a tio n

C C C H (U M )/ F A C H : R R C C o n n e c tio n S e tu p A d d r.: In itia l U E ID

D C C H (A M )/ D C H : R R C C o n n e c tio n S e tu p C o m p le te
  A d d r.: b y D C H
  D C C H e s ta b lis h e d
  U E c a p a b ilitie s
CELL_D CH know n

Establishment of a RRC connection in cell_DCH mode

UMTS Networks Oliver Waldhorst, Jens Mueckenheim Oct-11 6
Initial Random Access
C o n tr o llin g
UE Node B
RNC

P e r s is te n c y P re a m b le

c h e c k b e fo r e

P re a m b le

P re a m b le

R e s o u rc in g N o d e B
H a rd w a re

A c q u is itio n In d ic a tio n (A IC H )

P R A C H M essage

C R C C heck

R AC H M essage
[R R C C o n n e c tio n R e q u e s t]
RACHFP RACHFP

UE addressing
• CCCH: UE ID embedded in the RRC message
• DTCH/ DCCH: UE ID included in MAC header

UMTS Networks Oliver Waldhorst, Jens Mueckenheim Oct-11 7

RRC Connection Setup
Reasons for RRC connection setup:
• Call setup (mobile-originated and mobile-terminated calls)
– Conversational call
– Streaming call
– Interactive call
– Background call
– Emergency call
– Call re-establishment
• Exchange of signaling messages (low/high priority)

RRC connection request message contains, e.g.

• IMSI, TMSI, IMEI
• Location area, routing area identity, etc.
• Other information: e.g. HSDPA/ E-DCH UE capability, standards release

UMTS Networks Oliver Waldhorst, Jens Mueckenheim Oct-11 8

 Paging
NAS Signaling Connection Establishment RRC Connection Establishment
(Transaction Reasoning) Transaction Reasoning
(Signaling conn. establishment)
Authentication and
Security
Transaction Setup and
RAB Allocation
Transaction
(user or control plane)
Transaction Release and
RAB Release

RRC Connection Release

UE S er vin g CN
RNC

1 . R R C C on n ection E sta blish m en t

2 . D C C H : I n i t i a l D i r e c t T r a n s fe r
RRC
RRC

3 . In itia l U E M essa g e
RANAP RANAP

Payload contains system network message:

Information about the transaction initiated by
the UE (IMSI, TMSI, location area, kind of
requested transaction)
UMTS Networks Oliver Waldhorst, Jens Mueckenheim Oct-11 9
 Paging

Authentication and Security Control RRC Connection Establishment

Transaction Reasoning
(Signaling conn. establishment)
Authentication and
Security
Transaction Setup and
RAB Allocation
Transaction
(user or control plane)
Transaction Release and
RAB Release

RRC Connection Release

Authentication request/response: mutual authentication of UE and network

Security mode command/complete: CN domain indicates to UTRAN and UE the encryption
details (method/algorithms and encryption keys)

UMTS Networks Oliver Waldhorst, Jens Mueckenheim Oct-11 10

Transition Setup and RAB Establishment Paging

(CS Mode) RRC Connection Establishment

Transaction Reasoning
(Signaling conn. establishment)
Authentication and
Security
Transaction Setup and
RAB Allocation
Transaction
(user or control plane)
Transaction Release and
RAB Release

RRC Connection Release

UMTS Networks Oliver Waldhorst, Jens Mueckenheim Oct-11 11

Transition Setup and RAB Establishment Paging

(PS Mode) RRC Connection Establishment

Transaction Reasoning
(Signaling conn. establishment)
Authentication and
Security
Transaction Setup and
RAB Allocation
Transaction
(user or control plane)
Transaction Release and
RAB Release

RRC Connection Release

UMTS Networks Oliver Waldhorst, Jens Mueckenheim Oct-11 12

RAB Establishment

UE N odeB SRN C CN

R A B A s s ig n m e n t

A L C A P Iu T ra n s p o rt B e a re r E s ta b lis h m e n t

C e ll_ D C H / R a d io L in k R e c o n fig u ra tio n P re p a re

W h e n C e ll_ F A C H :
C e ll_ F A C H W h en C S C N
R L S e tu p
R a d io L in k R e c o n fig u ra tio n R e a d y

A L C A P Iu b T ra n s p o rt B e a re r E s ta b lis h m e n t

N o d e B – R N C D a ta T ra n s p o rt B e a re r S y n c

R a d io L in k R e c o n fig u ra tio n C o m m it

A c tiv a tio n T im e , R a d io B e a re r S e tu p
T A c tiv a tio n
R a d io B e a re r S e tu p C o m p le te

R A B A s s ig n m e n t R e s p o n s e

C e ll_ D C H

Example: Synchronised establishment of a RAB on DCH

UMTS Networks Oliver Waldhorst, Jens Mueckenheim Oct-11 13

 Paging

Transaction Release and RAB Release RRC Connection Establishment

(CS Mode) Transaction Reasoning

(Signaling conn. establishment)
Authentication and
Security
Transaction Setup and
RAB Allocation
Transaction
(user or control plane)
Transaction Release and
RAB Release

RRC Connection Release

Note: signaling connection and RRC connection remains

UMTS Networks Oliver Waldhorst, Jens Mueckenheim Oct-11 14
Transaction Release and Iu Release Paging

(CS Mode) RRC Connection Establishment

Transaction Reasoning
(Signaling conn. establishment)
Authentication and
Security
Transaction Setup and
RAB Allocation
Transaction
(user or control plane)
Transaction Release and
RAB Release

RRC Connection Release

Note: signaling connection and RRC connection are released

UMTS Networks Oliver Waldhorst, Jens Mueckenheim Oct-11 15
 Paging

Transaction Release and RAB Release RRC Connection Establishment

(PS Mode) Transaction Reasoning

(Signaling conn. establishment)
Authentication and
Security
Transaction Setup and
RAB Allocation
Transaction
(user or control plane)
Transaction Release and
RAB Release

RRC Connection Release

Note: signaling connection and RRC connection remain

UMTS Networks Oliver Waldhorst, Jens Mueckenheim Oct-11 16
Transaction Release and Iu Release Paging

(PS Mode) RRC Connection Establishment

Transaction Reasoning
(Signaling conn. establishment)
Authentication and
Security
Transaction Setup and
RAB Allocation
Transaction
(user or control plane)
Transaction Release and
RAB Release

RRC Connection Release

Note: signaling connection and RRC connection are released

UMTS Networks Oliver Waldhorst, Jens Mueckenheim Oct-11 17
 Paging

RRC Connection Release RRC Connection Establishment

Transaction Reasoning
(Signaling conn. establishment)
Authentication and
Security
Transaction Setup and
RAB Allocation
Transaction
(user or control plane)
Transaction Release and
RAB Release

RRC Connection Release

UMTS Networks Oliver Waldhorst, Jens Mueckenheim Oct-11 18

RRC Connection Release (involving DRNC)
Example: RRC connection release of a dedicated channel in soft HO mode
with DRNC
UE N ode B N ode B D r ift S e r v in g CN
D rift R N S S e rv in g R N S RNC RNC

1 . I u R e le a s e C o m m a n d

RANAP RANAP

2 . I u R e le a s e C o m p le t e
RANAP RANAP

3 . A L C A P I u B e a r e r R e le a s e

4 . R R C C o n n e c t io n R e le a s e
RRC RRC

5 . R R C C o n n e c t io n R e le a s e C o m p le t e
RRC RRC

6 . R a d io L in k D e le t io n
NBAP N B AP

7 . R a d io L in k D e le t io n
RNSAP RN SAP

8 . R a d io L in k D e le t io n
NBAP NBAP

9 . R a d io L in k D e le t io n R e s p o n s e
NBAP N B AP

1 0 . R a d io L in k D e le t io n R e s p o n s e
NBAP NBAP

1 1 . R a d io L in k D e le t io n R e s p o n s e
RNSAP RN SAP

1 2 . A L C A P I u b B e a r e r R e le a s e

A L C A P Iu r B earer
1 3 . A L C A P I u b B e a r e r R e le a s e
R e le a s e

UMTS Networks Oliver Waldhorst, Jens Mueckenheim Oct-11 19

 Soft Handover – Radio Link Addition
T arg et
UE DRNC SRN C
N ode B

R N C D e c id e s to
R a d io L i n k A d d / S e t u p R e q u e s t a d d a n e w R a d io
R a d io L i n k A d d / S e t u p R e q u e s t
L in k

s ta r t R x

R a d io L i n k A d d / S e t u p R e s p o n s e
R a d io L i n k A d d / S e t u p R e s p o n s e

W h e n R L S e tu p
A L C A P I u b D a ta T r a n s p o r t b e a r e r S e tu p A L C A P I u r b e a r e r S e tu p

R a d io L i n k R e s to r e I n d ic a tio n
R a d io L i n k R e s to r e I n d ic a tio n

s ta r t T x T a r g e t N o d e B is
read y

A c ti v e S e t U p d a te ( R a d io L in k A d d itio n )

A c ti v e S e t U p d a te C o m p le te

E .g . n e w
U E s ta r ts n e ig h b o u r c e ll lis t
R x on new M e a s u r e m e n t C o n tr o l
r a d io lin k

Unsynchronized addition
UMTS Networks Oliver Waldhorst, Jens Mueckenheim Oct-11 20
 Soft Handover – Radio Link Deletion

UE Node B DRNC SRNC

RNC Decides to
Active Set Update (Radio Link Deletion) delete an existing
Radio Link

Active Set Update Complete

E.g. new
UE stops neighbour cell list
Rx on old Measurement Control
radio link

Radio Link Deletion Request

Radio Link Deletion Request Free-up resources of
old NodeB

stop Rx & Tx
Radio Link Deletion Response
Radio Link Deletion Response

ALCAP Iub Data Transport bearer Release ALCAP Iur bearer Release

Unsynchronized deletion
UMTS Networks Oliver Waldhorst, Jens Mueckenheim Oct-11 21
 Inter-system Handover (UMTS to GSM)
UE SRN C 3G M SC 2G M SC BSC

R N C D e c id e s to
p e r fo r m H O to R e lo c a tio n R e q u ir e d
GSM
M A P P rep are H O R eq .
H O R eq ue st

C h a n n e l a c tiv a tio n
p r o c e d u r e in B S S
H O R eq ue st A C K

M A P P rep are H O R esp o n se

R e lo c a tio n C o m m a n d

U E s w itc h e s
H O fr o m U T R A N C o m m a n d
to G S M B S S

R a d io L i n k F a ilu r e i n U T R A N a n d R a d io L i n k E s ta b lis h m e n t in G S M B S S

H O C o m p le te

H O C o m p le te

M A P S e n d E n d S ig n a l R e q .

F ree u p o f I u R e le a s e P r o c e d u r e
R eso u rce s

M A P S e n d E n d S ig n a l R e s p .

UMTS Networks Oliver Waldhorst, Jens Mueckenheim Oct-11 22

UTRAN Initiated UMTS-GPRS Cell Reselection

UE S e rv in g SG SN
RNC

1 . U T R A N d e c is io n to p e r fo r m C e l l C h a n g e O r d e r fr o m U T R A N :

2 . C e ll C h a n g e O r d e r fr o m
UTRAN
RRC RRC

3 . T h e U E a c c e sse s th e G S M 4 . S R N S C o n te x t R e q u e s t
s y s te m a n d in i tia te s r o u t in g a r e a RANAP RANAP
u p d a te . T h e p a c k e t c o n te x t is
tr a n s fe r r e d to th e n e w S G S N . 5 . S R N S C o n te x t R e s p o n s e
RANAP RANAP

6 . I u R e le a s e C o m m a n d
RANAP RANAP

7 . I u R e le a s e C o m p le te
RANAP RANAP

Most signalling between 2G and 2G CN

UMTS Networks Oliver Waldhorst, Jens Mueckenheim Oct-11 23
SRNS Relocation (CS)

UMTS Networks Oliver Waldhorst, Jens Mueckenheim Oct-11 24

URA_PCH to CELL_DCH/ CELL_FACH Transition

UE N ode B SRN C

U R A _PC H

C e ll U p d a te ( C C C H , R A C H , T M , c a u s e “ p a g i n g r e s p o n s e ” o r ” U p lin k D a ta tr a n s m is s io n ” )
U E te m p o r a r y in
C e ll_ F A C H
R a d io L i n k S e tu p r e q u e s t I f C e ll_ D C H
I n c l. D B C c h e c k

R a d io L i n k S e tu p r e s p o n s e
F or each D C H ,
s e p a r a te l y
A L C A P I u b D a ta T r a n s p o r t b e a r e r S e tu p I n c l. U L / D L S y n c h .

U E T r a n s itio n s to
C e ll D C H / s ta y s in C e ll U p d a te C o n fir m ( C C C H , F A C H , U M )
R R C S ta te I n d ic a to r
C e ll_ F A C H
C e ll_ D C H /
U RA_FACH
R a d io L i n k R e s to r e I n d ic a tio n T A c tiv a tio n = ‘ N O W ’
C e ll_ D C H /
C e ll_ F A C H

C e ll_ D C H : R a d io B e a r e r R e c o n fi g u r a tio n C o m p le te ( D C C H A M , D C H )
U E S e n d s C o m p le te
C e ll_ F A C H : U T R A N M o b ilit y C o n fir m ( D C C H A M , R A C H )
M essage
L 2 A C K (D C C H )

Unsynchronised procedure with CRNC = SRNC

UMTS Networks Oliver Waldhorst, Jens Mueckenheim Oct-11 25

CELL_FACH to CELL_DCH Transition

UE N ode B RNC CN

C e ll F A C H R a d io L i n k S e tu p r e q u e s t R N C d e te r m in e s U E
s h o u ld tr a n s itio n to
R a d io L i n k S e tu p r e s p o n s e
C e ll D C H

A L C A P fo r b o th D C H

F P S ynch
U E T r a n s itio n s to
R a d io B e a r e r R e c o n fig u r a tio n ( D C C H , F A C H )
C e ll D C H R N C S to p s M A C - d
T r a n s m is s io n to U E

C e ll D C H R a d io L i n k R e s to r e I n d ic a tio n

U E S e n d s C o m p le te
R a d io B e a r e r R e c o n fig u r a tio n C o m p le te ( D C C H A M , D C H )
M essage o n D C H
L 2 A C K (D C H )

Unsynchronised procedure with CRNC = SRNC

UMTS Networks Oliver Waldhorst, Jens Mueckenheim Oct-11 26

CELL_DCH to URA_PCH/ CELL_FACH Transition

UE N ode B SRN C

C e ll_ D C H
R R C S ta te I n d ic a to r
R a d io B e a r e r R e c o n fig u r a tio n ( D C C H , D C H , U M ) C e ll_ F A C H /
U E tr a n s itio n s to U RA_PCH
C e ll_ F A C H a n d
read s S IB R a d io B e a r e r R e c o n fig u r a tio n C o m p le te ( D C C H , R A C H , A M )

U E S e n d s C o m p le te
R N C le a v e s ti m e
M essage o n R A C H L 2 A C K (D C C H , F A C H )
fo r L 2 A C K b e in g
erro red

C e ll_ F A C H /
U R A _PC H

R a d io L i n k D e le tio n R e q u e s t

R a d io L i n k D e le tio n R e s p o n s e F ree -u p n o n -u sed

D C H R eso u rces

A L C A P I u b D a ta T r a n s p o r t B e a r e r R e le a s e

Unsynchronised procedure with CRNC = SRNC

UMTS Networks Oliver Waldhorst, Jens Mueckenheim Oct-11 27

 Dynamic Bearer Reconfiguration
N ode B N ode B
UE DRNC SRN C
( D r ift ( S e r v in g
RN S) RN S) R a d io L i n k R e c o n fi g R N C D e c id e s to
C e ll D C H
P r e p a re c h a n g e th e r a te o f
R a d io L i n k R e c o n fi g u r a tio n P r e p a r e
th e U E
R a d io L i n k R e c o n fi g u r a tio n P r e p a r e

R a d io L i n k R e c o n fi g u r a tio n R e a d y
R a d io L i n k R e c o n fi g R e a d y
R a d io L i n k R e c o n fi g u r a tio n R e a d y

W h e n r a te in c r e a s e
A L C A P I u b D a ta T r a n s p o r t b e a r e r S e tu p A L C A P I u r b e a r e r S e tu p

A L C A P I u b D a ta T r a n s p o r t b e a r e r S e tu p
A ll N o d e B ’ s a r e
R a d io L i n k R e c o n fi g read y

c o m m i t ( T A c tiv a tio n )
R a d io L i n k R e c o n fi g u r a tio n C o m m i t ( T A c tiv a tio n )
A c ti v a tio n T im e
R a d io L i n k R e c o n fi g u r a tio n c o m m i t ( T A c tiv a tio n )
, T A c tiv a tio n

T r a n s p o r t C h a n n e l R e c o n fi g u r a tio n ( D C C H , A M , T A c tiv a tio n )

T r a n s p o r t C h a n n e l R e c o n fi g u r a tio n C o m p le te ( D C C H , A M ) R e le a s e th e tr a n s p o r t
U E & N o d e -B
N e tw o r k r e s o u r c e s fo r
r e c o n fig u r e d to
th e p r e v io u s
th e n e w r a te s A L C A P I u b D a ta T r a n s p o r t b e a r e r R e le a s e A L C A P I u r b e a r e r R e le a s e c o n fig u r a tio n

C e ll D C H
A L C A P I u b D a ta T r a n s p o r t b e a r e r R e le a s e

Synchronised DCH modify w/o transport bearer reconfiguration

UMTS Networks Oliver Waldhorst, Jens Mueckenheim Oct-11 28