This tutorial section on WCDMA (UMTS) basics covers following sub topics:

UMTS Tutorial UMTS channels measurements PHY layer TDD vs FDD

PHY RRC States Security Cell search Bands UARFCN Frame

This page covers WCDMA RRC state diagram for UE compliant to UMTS
standard. It covers RRC states idle and connected.

Procedures in the UE

Procedures in Idle Mode

When UE is powered on it will be in idle mode. In this mode, UE will perform
location registration. In the idle mode, UE will receive and monitor system
information and paging messages from the UTRAN network. It does this even
after camped on to the UTRAN network.

UTRAN Selection and Reselection

In this system,non access stratum(NAS) will select a suitable UTRAN cell.
Usually UE operates on its Home UTRAN. When UE goes out of Home UTRAN
coverage, visited UTRAN cell will be selected.

Cell Selection and Reselection

The UE shall select the most suitable cell based on idle mode measurements
and cell selection criteria. The NAS will control the cell selection based on list of
forbidden registration areas and a list of NAS defined service areas based on
priority set. Even after camped on , UE will perform measurements and always
search for better cell. Once found it will connect with the best UTRAN cell. This is
done based on cell selection criteria.

CONNECTED MODE
For UE initiated calls, the higher layers of the UE send a request to RRC layer to
establish a signaling connection establishment. Upon receiving this, the RRC of
the UE initiates a connection establishment procedure with the peer RRC of the
UTRAN by sending an RRC connection request message through the MAC. The
UE enters connected mode once the RRC connection is established.
During this connection establishment procedure, the WCDMA RRC configures
the layers Layer-1 and Layer-2 using the parameters received from the UTRAN
network. Once the configuration is complete the RRC of the UE initiate the RLC
signaling link. Once the RRC connection establishment is successful, the
signaling connection establishment will be resumed. Once the signaling
connection is established there will be higher layer peer-to-peer signaling data
transfer.The UE enters connected mode once the WCDMA RRC connection is
established. Within the connected mode the level of UE connection to UTRAN
will be determined by the QoS requirements of the active radio accessbearers
and the characteristics of the traffic on those bearers.
Procedures in Connected Mode
Radio Access Bearer Establishment
Radio Access Bearer Release
Radio Access Bearer and Signaling Link Configuration
Transport Channel Reconfiguration
Transport Format Combination Control
Physical Channel Reconfiguration
Data Transmission
In connected mode, WCDMA UE will have cell_DCH, cell_FACH, cell_PCH and
URA_PCH RRC states.

CELL_DCH state
WCDMA UE will be in the CELL_DCH state when UE is assigned a
DPCH(dedicated physical channel) either in response to RRC Connection
Request or through RRC controlled Bearer Re-config procedure. UE can be
identified in this mode by three parameters viz. frequency,scrambling code and
channelization code. When UE release the RRC connection it will move to IDLE
mode.

CELL_FACH state
UE moves to CELL_FACH state when it has been assigned common channel by
the UTRAN network. This happens as part of RRC connection establishment
procedure and assigned by RNC or through RB reconfig. procedure.

CELL_PCH state
While UE is in CELL_FACH or CELL_DCH state and flow of traffic is stopped, it
will move to CELL_PCH state. Here UE will not have any uplink channel and UE
monitors paging channel using the DRX parameters. The purpose of this state is
to save the power and enhance the battery usage for long time.

URA_PCH state
URA is basically collection of cells and it is similar to GSM LA. This state is
similar to CELL_PCH state but here location of the UE is known at URA level.
This state is used by fast moving UEs needing DRX to save the battery power.

WCDMA compliant UE will publish the gaps during the compressed mode for
measurement purpose. This is used by other RATs such as GSM and LTE to
perform cell measurements. This helps in cell reselection as well as handover.
Following are the summary of functions performed by WCDMA/UMTS RRC
layer.

Summary of UMTS RRC functions

Reception of broadcast information provided by the non-access stratum (Core
Network)
 Reception of broadcast information related to the access stratum
Establishment, maintenance and release of an RRC connection between the
UE and UTRAN
Establishment, reconfiguration and release of Radio-Access Bearers
Assignment, reconfiguration and release of radio resources for the RRC
connection
RRC connection mobility functions
Paging/notification
Routing of higher layer PDUs
Control of requested QoS
Reporting and control of UE measurements
Outer loop power control
Control of ciphering
What is Difference between
Difference between TDD and FDD WCDMA physical layer
Difference between TDD and FDD
FDMA vs TDMA vs CDMA
CDMA vs GSM