UMTS Signaling Flow

ZTE University
Content
UE State transition
Signaling flow
Classification of Flows
In terms of protocol stack, signaling flows can be
access layer signaling flows or non-access layer
signaling flows.
In terms of network composition, signaling flows
can be categorized as circuit-switched or packet-
switched.
Access layer and non-access layer signaling flows
are actually so named from the perspective of
protocol stack.
Classification of Flows
The flows at the access layer include PLMN
selection, cell selection, and radio resource
management flows.
The radio resource management flows are the
flows at the RRC layer, including the RRC
connection setup flow, flow of the signaling setup
between UEs and CNs, RAB setup flow, call
release flow, handover flow, and SRNS redirection
flow.

UE Working Modes
There are two basic working modes:
Idle
UE stands by without any service. Theres no connection
between UE and UTRAN.
Connected
UE transferred to the connected mode after accomplishing RRC
Connection Setup.
UE has 4 states under the connected mode:Cell-DCH, Cell-
FACH, Cell-PCH, URA-PCH
UE State
UE States Under the Connected Mode
Cell-DCH
UE is activated, and in service using its dedicated
channels.
There are dedicated channels in both uplink and
downlink.
UTRAN knows exactly which cell the UE is in.
Cell-FACH
UE is activated, but without too much date to transmit,
so theres no need to assign dedicated channels to it.
Downlink data transmitted in FACH, while uplink in
RACH.
UTRAN knows exactly which cell the UE is in.
UE States Under the Connected Mode
Cell-PCH
There is no data transmitted in both uplink and downlink.
UE needs to listen to PICH for paging information.
UE works in discrete receiving, which saves the power effectively.
UTRAN knows exactly which cell the UE is in.
UE needs to do cell update procedure when it passes cells.
URA-PCH
There is no data transmitted in both uplink and downlink.
UE needs to listen to PICH for paging information and receive
discretely.
UTRAN only knows which URA (UTRAN Registration Area) UE
exists.
UE updates its location information only when its URA changes,
which further reduces the signaling saves resource.
RRC State Transition (I)
After RRC Connection Setup, UE will
transit to CELL_FACH or CELL_DCH.
CN indicates UE using dedicated
channel (CELL_DCH) or common
channel (CELL_FACH) according to
the service request.
If there is no service right now, UE
will be indicated into PCH mode or
release RRC connection back to
IDLE mode.
URA_PCH
CELL_DCH
CELL_FACH
CELL_PCH
IDLE
DEAD
IDLE
DEAD
CELL_DCH
CELL_FACH
IDLE
Sketch of RRC State Transition
Transit from IDLE Mode
URA_PCH
CELL_DCH
CELL_PCH
IDLE
DEAD
IDLE
DEAD
CELL_FACH
IDLE
RRC State Transition (II)
UE do not occupy dedicated
channels In the mode of
CELL_FACH.
UE receives downlink data through
FACH(S-CCPCH).
UE transmits uplink data through
RACH(PRACH).
Transit from CELL_FACH Mode
Sketch of RRC State Transition
URA_PCH
CELL_DCH CELL_FACH
CELL_PCH
IDLE
DEAD
IDLE
DEAD
CELL_DCH
IDLE
URA_PCH CELL_PCH
CELL_DCH
RRC State Transition (III)
UE transceives uplink and downlink
data through dedicated channels
(DPDCHs and DPCCHs).
During the time when there is no data
transmitted, CN may indicate UEs
transiting to URA_PCH or CELL_PCH.
Transit from CELL_DCH Mode
Sketch of RRC State Transition
URA_PCH
CELL_DCH
CELL_FACH
CELL_PCH
IDLE
DEAD
IDLE
DEAD
CELL_DCH
IDLE
CELL_DCH
URA_PCH CELL_PCH
CELL_FACH
CELL_PCHURA_PCH
RRC State Transition (IV)
UE has no activated uplink.
Paging Information makes UE back to
CELL_FACH or CELL_DCH mode.
In CELL_PCH, UE should transit to
CELL_FACH first to finish cell updating,
and go back if no service request.
In URA_PCH, if URA changes, UE also
transits to CELL_FACH to finish cell
updating first before it goes back to
URA_PCH.
System resource can be saved in these
two modes.
Sketch of RRC State Transition
Content
UE State transition
Signaling flow
Basic Conception (1)
RRC (Radio Resource Control)
provides information transfer service to the NAS (Non
Access Stratum).
responsible for controlling the configuration of UMTS
radio interface Layers 1 and 2.
RRC Connection
A point to point bi directional connection between the
RRC (Radio Resource Control) entities on the UE (User
Equipment) and UTRAN (UMTS Terrestrial Radio
Access Network).
The UE requires an RRC connection to access the
services of the UMTS network.
Basic Conception (2)
RAB -Radio Access Bearer
Identify the service the AS (Access Stratum) provides to
the NAS (Non Access Stratum) for transfer of user data
between the UE (User Equipment) and the CN (Core
Network).
RB -Radio Bearer
The service provided by the Layer 2 for the transfer of
user data between UE (User Equipment) and UTRAN
(UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access Network).
Basic Conception (3)
RL (Radio Link)
RL is a logical association between single UE (User
Equipment) and a single UTRAN (UMTS Terrestrial
Radio Access Network) access point.
Its physical realization comprises one or more radio
bearer transmissions.
It is possible for a UMTS mobile to have many radio
links established, when this occurs the mobile is said to
be in a soft handover.
Sketch of the basic conceptions
UE Calling Flow
Power on
Cell selection

Location
Update

Idle Mode
RRC
Establish
NAS
Establish
Hand Over
Cell/
URA update
Channel
reconfiguration
RB/RAB
Modification
RAB
Establish
RRC
Release
Call
Initiate







UE in Idle Mode
What Information needed for UE?
1 Strongest cell
2 Slot boundary
3Frame
boundary
4 Primary SC
5 Information in broadcasts
channel
1st Step: Cell Selection and Slot Synchronization


DL Scrambling Code Rule
2
18
-1
DL Scrambling Codes in total
(0..262142)
The
left
8192
Scrambling
codes
are
used
for
compression
mode
The
left
8192
Scrambling
codes
are
used
for
compression
mode
#511 Scrambling Code
Group
8176
8177

8191
8176P-SC
8177S-SC

8191S-SC
#510 Scrambling Code
Group
8160
8161

8175
8160
8161

8175
#504 Scrambling Code
Group
8064
8065

8079
8064
8065

8079


#7 Scrambling Code
Group
112
113

127
8176P-SC
8177S-SC

8191S-SC
#1 Scrambling Code
Group
1
6
1
7

3
1
16P-SC
17S-SC

31S-SC
#0 Scrambling Code
Group
0
1

1
5
0P-SC
1S-SC

15S-SC
#0 Scrambling Code Cluster
#63 Scrambling Code Cluster

2rd Step: Frame synchronization and Scrambling
code-group
Scrambling-code identification
CPICH is predefine
sequence
Spreading Factor is 256
(C
ch,256,0
)
Scrambling by P-
scrambling code
UE identified through
symbol-by-symbol
correlation over the
primary P-CPICH with all
the scrambling codes
within the code group.
Obtain broadcast information in P-CCPCH
P-CCPCH contain the
current SFN and system
broadcast information
P-CCPCH SF=256
(C
ch,256,1
)
P-CCPCH scrambling by
primary scrambling code
UE can use obtained
primary scrambling code
to descrambling the P-
CCPCH and obtain the
BCH information
UE Calling Flow
Power on
Cell selection
Location
Update
Idle Mode
RRC
Establish
NAS
Establish
Hand Over
Cell/
URA update
Channel
reconfiguration
RB/RAB
Modification
RAB
Establish
RRC
Release
Call
Initiate







UE Initiate Random Access
Establish Dedicated RRC Connection
UE Node B SRNC
2.Allocate RNTI
L1 and L2 Parameters
1. RRC Connection Request
5. ALCAP Establish and Synchronization
3. NBAP RL Setup Request
7. RRC Connection Setup Complete
6. RRC Connection Setup
4. NBAP RL Setup Response
RRC Connection Rejection
If the RNC determines that the RRC connection cannot be
established (for example, due to insufficient resources),
the RNC directly sends the UE an RRC CONNECTION
REJECT message which contains the reason for the
rejection of the RRC connection.
1. RRC Initial Direct Transfer
Establish Signaling Link with CN
UE SRNC CN
3. SCCP CC(Success)
2. RANAP Initial UE Message
SCCP Connect Request
3. SCCP CJ(Failure)
1.1 Send Authentication
Info
4. Security Mode
Command
5. Security Mode
Complete
6. Security Mode Complete
3.Security Mode Control
Authentication and Security Mode
UE RNS MSC Server/VLR
1. Authentication Request
2. Authentication Response
HLR
2.1 Send Authentication
Info Ack
MAP Cancel Location
ACK
MAP_Cancel_Location
Location Update
Request
MAP Update Location
MAP_Insert _Subscriber_Data
MAP_Update _Location_ACK
Location Update
Confirm ACK
TMSI_Allocation_Complete
UE RNS MSC Server/VLR PVLR HLR
MAP_Insert _Subscriber_Data_ACK
Release CN
Signaling Connection
Release RB
CS Location Update Process
Establish RRC Connection
Establish CN Signaling Connection
Authentication and Security Mode
UE Calling Flow
Power on
Cell selection
RRC
Establish
NAS
Establish
Hand Over
Cell/
URA update
Channel
reconfiguration
RB/RAB
Modification
RAB
Establish
RRC
Release
Call
Initiate








Location
Update

Idle Mode
UE Work Mode Transforming
CELL_DCH CELL_FACH
CELL_PCH URA_PCH
IDLE
DEAD
RRC connection
All the Status exist in UTRAN and UE, and
transparent for CN
Network
Selection (PLMN)
Cell Camping
Probe paging
channel
Cell
Reselection
High level
Signaling
Triger (CN)
Dedicated
Channel
RB Transport
Service
UE Calling Flow
Power on
Cell selection

Location
Update

Idle Mode
RRC
Establish
NAS
Establish
Hand Over
Cell/
URA update
Channel
reconfiguration
RB/RAB
Modification
RAB
Establish
RRC
Release
Call
Initiate







Procedure of Call Initiate
Call Setup Flow
CN initiates a paging message to RNC.
RNC judges the paging message from the CN and then sends a
paging message to the corresponding UE.
If no RRC connection is available, UE will send a RRC connection
setup request message (RRC Connection Request) to RNC.
RNC determines to set up a RRC connection according to the service
request and system resource occupation then sends a RRC
connection setup message (RRC Connection Setup) to UE.
After signaling connection setup, the higher layer of UE (NAS) sends a
service request message to CN through a directly transfer message.
CN sends a RAB assignment message (RAB Assignment Request) to
the RNC to allocate resource for UEs request.

3. NBAP RL Reconfigure
Prepare
RAB Establish Flow
UE Node B SRNC
1. RANAP RAB
Assignment Request
4. NBAP RL Reconfigure
Ready
MSC
2. ALCAP Establish and Synchronization
5. ALCAP Establish and Synchronization
6. NBAP RL Reconfigure
Commit
7. RRC RB Setup
8. RRC RB Setup Complete
9. RANAP RAB
Assignment Response
8. ISUP IAM
UE Initiate Call
UE RNS MSC Called MSC
1. RRC establish
6. RRC DT(Call Proceeding)
3. RRC DT(CM Service Request)
2. CN signaling establish
4. Authentication and Security
5. RRC DT(Setup)
7. RAB establish
10. ISUP ACM
11. RRC DT(Alert)
12. ISUP ANM
13. RRC DT(Connect)
14. RRC DT(Connect ACK)
15. Conversation
9. CN bearer establish
UE Receiving Call
1. ISUP IAM
UE RNS Called MSC Calling MSC
4. RRC establish
8. RRC DT(Setup)
6. RRC DT(Paging Response)
5. CN signalling establish
7. Authentication and Security
9. RRC DT(Call Confirm)
10. RAB establish
2. Paging
3. Paging
11. RRC DT(Alerting)
12. ISUP ACM
13. RRC DT(Connected)
14. ISUP ANM
16. Conversation
15. RRC DT(Connect ACK)
UE Calling Flow
Power on
Cell selection

Location
Update

Idle Mode
RRC
Establish
NAS
Establish
Hand Over
Cell/
URA update
Channel
reconfiguration
RB/RAB
Modification
RAB
Establish
RRC
Release
Call
Initiate







Handover Category
Intra-system handover
Softer handover, soft handover, hard handover
Depending on the Ec/No of CPICH
Inter-system (mode) handover
Between FDD and TDD
Handover with different system (inter RAT)
2G/3G handover
Compression mode
Softer/Soft Handover Gain and Costs
Softer/Soft Handover Gain:
The optimal fast close loop power control (MS always keep connection with the
most powerful cell)
Seamless handover, without RB interruption
When MS moves to the edge of the cell, and could not obtain enough signal power,
it can obtain Macro diversity from multiple cells
The UL signaling quality can be improved through obtaining Macro diversity when
Node B (Softer HO) and RNC (Soft HO) combine the receiving signal and lower the
required Transport power of UE.
Softer/Soft Handover Costs:
Additional Rake receiver channel on Node B
Additional DL channelization code
Additional DL power
Additional Rake receiver channel on MS
Additional transport link between Node B and RNC (RNC internal Soft Handover)
Additional transport link between S-RNC and D-RNC (Soft handover between
RNCs)

Soft Handover Flow


UE
NodeB
(DRNS)
DRNC
NodeB
(SRNS)
Measurement
report
RL creation request
RL setup request
Active set update command
SRNC
RL setup response
RL setup response
Active set update completion
RL Deletion request
RL Deletion response
A
B
Hard Handover Flow
UE
Target
NodeB
SRNC
Original
NodeB
Measurement report
RL setup request
Reconfiguration command
RL setup response
Reconfiguration completion
RL deletion request
RL deletion response
UE Calling Flow
Power on
Cell selection

Location
Update

Idle Mode
RRC
Establish
NAS
Establish
Hand Over
Cell/
URA update
Channel
reconfiguration
RB/RAB
Modification
RAB
Establish
RRC
Release
Call
Initiate







Forward Hard Handover
UE Source RNC CN Target RNC
2. Uplink Signalling
Transfer Indication
[new C-RNTI, D-RNTI,
UL message]
1.CCCH: Cell Update
[Cell Update Cause,U-RNTI,
Measured results on PRACH]
RRC-relay RRC
RNSAP RNSAP
4.DCCH: Cell Update Confirm
[S-RNTI, SRNC-ID, new S-RNTI,
new SRNC-ID, new C-RNTI]
RRC RRC
5.DCCH: RNTI Reallocation Complete
RRC RRC
3. Serving RNC Relocation
UE Calling Flow
Power on
Cell selection

Location
Update

Idle Mode
RRC
Establish
NAS
Establish
Hand Over
Cell/
URA update
Channel
reconfiguration
RB/RAB
Modification
RAB
Establish
RRC
Release
Call
Initiate







RAB Release Flow
RRC Connection Release
UE
NodeB
SRNC
1. RRC RRC CONNECTION RELEASE
2. RRC RRC CONNECTION RELEASE COMPLETE
3. RL DELETION
4. RL DELETION RESPONSE
5. ALCAP
5. ALCAP Release
Call setup flow (1)
Call setup flow (2)
Call setup flow (3)
Call setup flow (4)
Call setup flow (5)
Call setup flow (6)