3G UMTS Mobile Terminating Call (SequenceProject)

User Equipment UE UE-RNC Sessions UTRAN RNC RNC-Core Network Sessions Core Network MSC/VLR EventStudio System Designer 6 09-Feb-14 19:43 (Page 1)

A 3G-UMTS terminating call is described here. Setup radio bearers and RANAP signaling are covered in detail. You can click on most RANAP messages to see the full content of the message. This call flow has been generated with from a Wireshark PCAP file using VisualEther (http://www.eventhelix.com/VisualEther/). The generated call flow was later modified with EventStudio (http://www.eventhelix.com/EventStudio/) to add comments and terminal level interactions. Core Network Pages UE RANAP Paging
ranap DomainIndicator = CS-Domain, PermanentNAS-UE-ID = IMSI ranap

MSC/VLR sends a Page message for the terminating call. The message contains the IMSI for the subscriber. SCTP ack for the paging message.

SCTP SACK

RRC Connection Setup RRC Connection Request

rrc UE Identity, UE Capabilities, Establishment Cause rrc

UE wishes to establish a voice call so it requests a Radio Resource Control (RRC) connection.

RRC Connection Setup

rrc Transport Channel Information, Signaling Radio Bearer rrc

The RNC accepts the RRC Connection Request and assigns a traffic channel. The message also creates a Signaling Radio Bearer (SRB). The UE responds back to signal the completion of the RRC Connection Setup.

RRC Connection Complete

rrc Ciphering Information rrc

RRC

RRC Connection Setup has been completed between the UE and the RNC. Signaling Radio Bearer (SRB) is also created at the time of the RRC connection setup.

Page Response and Initial Call Handshake Initial UE Message [Page Response]
rrc rrc

The mobile sends an Initial UE Message that carries the Page Response as a NAS (Non Access Stratum) payload.

3G UMTS Mobile Terminating Call (SequenceProject)

User Equipment UE UE-RNC Sessions RRC UTRAN RNC ranap LAI, PLMN identity, Mobile Country Code (MCC), Mobile Network Code (MNC), Global RNC-ID, IMSI, Mobile Station Classmark RNC-Core Network Sessions Core Network MSC/VLR ranap EventStudio System Designer 6 09-Feb-14 19:43 (Page 2)

RANAP Initial UE Message [DTAP Page Response]

The Page Response is sent in a RANAP message.

SCTP SACK

SCCP Connection Confirm

sccp sccp

SCCP connection setup is confirmed.

SCTP SACK
SCCP

The SCCP connection has been established between the RNC and the Core Network.
Iu

An Iu signaling connection is now active between the RNC and the Core Network.
ranap

RANAP DirectTransfer [DTAP Setup]

ranap NAS-PDU, SAPI

The MSC sends a Setup message as NAS payload in a Direct Transfer message.

SCTP SACK

Downlink Direct Transfer [DTAP Setup]

rrc rrc

Send the Setup message to the UE. Call Confirmation is received as a NAS payload. Call Confirmed message with Bearer and Codec information is sent from the RNC to the MSC/VLR.

Uplink Direct Transfer [DTAP Call Confirmed]

rrc rrc

RANAP DirectTransfer [DTAP Call Confirmed]

ranap Bearer Capability, Supported Codec List ranap

SCTP SACK

RAB Assignment RANAP RAB Assignment Request

ranap RAB-SetupOrModifyList, RAB Id, RAB-SetupOrModifyItem, GuaranteedBitrate: 12200 ranap

Core Network initiates a Radio Access Bearer (RAB) Assignment. The message specifies the Quality of Service parameters.

SCTP SACK

Radio Bearer Setup

rrc rrc

Setup the Radio Bearer to assign circuit switched resources to the voice call. Terminal responds back.

Radio Bearer Setup Complete

rrc rrc

3G UMTS Mobile Terminating Call (SequenceProject)

User Equipment UE UE-RNC Sessions RRC RB UTRAN RNC SCCP RNC-Core Network Sessions Iu Core Network MSC/VLR EventStudio System Designer 6 09-Feb-14 19:43 (Page 3)

Radio Bearer has now been established between the UE and the RNC. RANAP RAB Assignment Response
ranap RABSetupOrModifiedList, SetupOrModifiedItem, RAB Parameters, GuaranteedBitrate: 12200 ranap

RNC responds to Core Network after completing RB Setup with the Terminal.

SCTP SACK
RAB

The voice radio access bearer has been successfully created.

Alerting
begin Ringing Called Subscriber

The called subscribers phone is now ringing.

Ring Uplink Direct Transfer [DTAP Alerting]

rrc rrc

The called subscribers phone is now ringing. RANAP DirectTransfer [DTAP Alerting] Notifiy the Core Network that the called subscriber is being rung.

ranap

ranap

SCTP SACK

Waiting for the called subscriber to answer the call. Called subscriber answers the call Answer call
end Ringing Called Subscriber

Uplink Direct Transfer [DTAP Connect]

rrc rrc

Notify that the called subscriber has answered the call. RANAP DirectTransfer [DTAP Connect]
ranap

ranap

Notify the MSC/VLR that the call has been answered.

SCTP SACK

RANAP DirectTransfer [DTAP Connect Acknowledge]

ranap ranap

Core Network acknowledges the call connect.

SCTP SACK

Downlink Direct Transfer [DTAP Connect Acknowledge]

rrc rrc

The RRC layer transports the Connect Acknowledge to the UE.

3G UMTS Mobile Terminating Call (SequenceProject)

User Equipment UE UE-RNC Sessions RRC RB UTRAN RNC SCCP RNC-Core Network Sessions Iu RAB Core Network MSC/VLR EventStudio System Designer 6 09-Feb-14 19:43 (Page 4)

Conversation
Voice Path

Voice path is now active between the User Terminal and the Called Subscriber. Voice communication in progress.

Conversation
rab rab

Conversation
rab rab

Conversation
rab rab

Conversation
rab rab

Conversation
rab rab

Called subscriber initiates a call clear RANAP DirectTransfer [DTAP Disconnect]

ranap ranap

The called subscriber has initiated a call release. This results in a Disconnect message from the MSC/VLR to the RNC.

SCTP SACK (3)

Downlink Direct Transfer [DTAP Disconnect]

rrc rrc

RNC forwards the disconnect to the UE. UE sends the release message. RANAP DirectTransfer [DTAP Release] Call release is sent to the MSC/VLR.

Uplink Direct Transfer [DTAP Release]

rrc rrc

ranap

ranap

SCTP SACK

RANAP DirectTransfer [DTAP Relesase Complete]

ranap ranap

This message signals the completion of call release.

SCTP SACK (3)

Downlink Direct Transfer [DTAP Release Complete]

rrc rrc

RNC forwards the release complete to the UE.

Release the Iu Connection

3G UMTS Mobile Terminating Call (SequenceProject)

User Equipment UE UE-RNC Sessions RRC RB UTRAN RNC ranap Cause = Normal Release SCCP RNC-Core Network Sessions Iu RAB Core Network MSC/VLR ranap EventStudio System Designer 6 09-Feb-14 19:43 (Page 5)

RANAP Iu-Release

The MSC/VLR initiates the release of the Iu connection.

SCTP SACK

RANAP Iu-Release
ranap ranap

RNC also acknowledges the Iu release.

SCTP SACK

RRC Connection Release RRC Connection Release

rrc rrc

RRC Connection Release Complete

rrc rrc

SCCP Released
sccp sccp

Releasing the SCCP connection.

SCTP SACK

SCCP Release Complete

sccp sccp

Completed the release of the SCCP connection.

SCTP SACK

This call flow has been generated with from a Wireshark PCAP file using VisualEther (http://www.eventhelix.com/VisualEther/). The generated call flow was later modified with EventStudio (http://www.eventhelix.com/EventStudio/) to add comments and terminal level interactions. Explore more call flow diagrams at: http://www.eventhelix.com/realtimemantra/telecom/