WCDMA RAN Interface and Procedure

Course Contents

Chapter 1 UTRAN Network Architecture

Chapter 2 UTRAN Interface Protocol and Functions
Chapter 3 Basic Signaling Process

UMTS System Architecture

CN
Iu

UTRAN
Uu

UE

UTRAN
CN
UE

UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access Network

Core Network
User Equipment
3

UTRAN System Architecture

Core Network
Iu

Iu

RNS

RNS
Iur
RNC

RNC

Iub

Iub

Iub

Node B

Node B

Node B

Iub
Node B

Common Protocol Model of UTRAN Interfaces

The principle of interface protocol architecture is the logical mutual-independence between
layers and planes. Protocol layers of a specified protocol version, or even all layers in a
plane can be modified if required in the future.

Radio
Network
Layer

Control Plane

User Plane

Application
Protocol

Data
Stream(s)

Transport
Network
Layer

Transport Network
User Plane

Transport Network
Control Plane

Transport Network
User Plane

ALCAP(s)
Signalling
Bearer(s)

Signalling
Bearer(s)

Data
Bearer(s)

Physical Layer

Basic Notions

UE Working Mode and State

Serving RNCDrift RNC and Control RNC

Source RNC and Target RNC

UE Working Modes and states

Idle Mode

In standby state with no service conducted

No connection to UTRAN

There is no information related to this UE in UTRAN

Connected Mode (Cell-DCH, Cell-FACH, Cell-PCH, URA-

PCH)

Cell-DCH
In active state
Communicating via its dedicated channels
UTRAN knows which cell UE is in.

Cell-FACH and Cell-PCH State

Cell-FACH
In active state
Few data to be transmitted both in uplink and in downlink. There is no
need to allocate dedicated channel for this UE.
Downlink uses FACH and uplink uses RACH.

UE need to monitor the FACH for its relative information.

UTRAN knows which cell UE is in.

Cell-PCH
No data to be transmitted or received.
Monitor PICH, to receive its paging.
lower the power consumption of UE.
UTRAN knows which cell UE is in.
UTRAN have to update cell information of UE when UE roams to
another cell

URA-PCH State

URA-PCH
No data to be transmitted or received.
Monitor PICH. to enter the non-consecutive state.
UTRAN only knows which URA (UTRAN Registration Area,
which consists of multiple cells) that UE is in.

UTRAN update UE information only after UE has roamed to

other URA.
A better way to lower the resource occupancy and signaling
transmission

UE states
- Reduce actionDTXand save power
RRC connection
URA_PCH

CELL_PCH

CELL_DCH

CELL_FACH

- Dedicated Channel
- Radio bearers Transmission Services
IDLE

DEAD

- upper layer Signaling

trigger (CN)
- Monitor paging channel
- cell re-selection

- Scanning networks (PLMN)

- Camp on cell
10

SRNC/DRNC
CN
Iu
SRNC

Iur

DRNC

In WCDMA system notion of SRNC/DRNC is introduced because the

existence of Iur Interface

SRNC and DRNC are related to a specific UE. They can be regarded as
logical notions

In brief, the RNC directly connected to CN and controlling all the UEs

resources is called SRNC(serving RNC) of this UE

The RNC with no connection to CN but only providing resources for UE is

called DRNC(Drift RNC) of this UE

A UE in connection state has at least and only one SRNC, but can has 11
0

or multiple DRNCs

CRNC
CN
Iu

...
Node B

CRNC
Iub
Node B
Cell

Cell

Cell

CRNC is related to a specific NodeB (or Cell)

The RNC connected directly to a NodeB and controlling the usage of

its resources is called the CRNC of this NodeB

There is and only one Controlling RNC for any NodeB

CRNC is in charge of the allocation and usage of NodeBs resources

12

Source RNC/Target RNC

CN

CN

Iu
Source
RNC

Iu
Serving
RNC

Iur

Target
RNC

RNC

SRNC Relocation is the process of switching the SRNC of a

specific UE.

Source RNC is the SRNC before SRNC Relocation and Target

RNC is the SRNC after SRNC Relocation

Source RNC and Target RNC refer to different RNCs during a

SRNC Relocation process

13

Course Contents

Chapter 1 UTRAN Network Architecture

Chapter 2 UTRAN Interface Protocol and Functions
Chapter 3 Basic Signaling Process

14

UTRAN Interface Protocols and Functions

Iu Interface

Iur Interface

Iub Interface

Uu Interface

15

Iu Interface System Structure

UTRAN

Core Network (CN)

CS
Domain

Node B
RNC

Iu-CS

Node B

PS
Domain
Iu-PS

Node B
RNC
Node B

Iu Interface
16

Iu-CS Interface Protocol Stack Structure

Radio
Network
Layer

Transport
Network
Layer

Control Plane

User Plane

RANAP

Iu UP Protocol
Layer

Transport Network
User Plane

Transport Network
Control Plane

Transport Network
User Plane

Q.2630.1

SCCP
MTP3b

Q.2150.1
MTP3b

SSCF-NNI

SSCF-NNI

SSCOP

SSCOP

AAL5

AAL5

AAL2

ATM
Physical Layer

17

Iu-PS Interface Protocol Stack Structure

Radio
Network
Layer

Control Plane

User Plane

RANAP

Iu UP Protocol
Layer

Transport
Network
Layer

Transport Network
User Plane

Transport Network
Control Plane

Transport Network
User Plane

SCCP
M3UA
MTP3-B
SCTP
SSCF-NNI
SSCF-NNI

UDP
IP

SSCOP

GTP-U

AAL5

IP
AAL5

ATM

ATM

Physical Layer

Physical Layer

18

Iu Interface Functions(1)

Mobility Management

Location Area Report

SRNS Relocation

Hard handover between RNCs and inter-system handover

Radio Access BearerRABManagement

Establishment, Modification and Release of RAB

Iu data transmission

normal data transmission

abnormal data transmission

Transparent transmission of UE-CN connection information

19

Iu Interface Functions(2)

Paging

Iu Release

Security Mode Control

Overload Control

Common UE IDIMSIManagement

Iu Signaling Trace Management

Iu Interface Abnormality Management

CBS(Cell Broadcast Service) Control

20

UTRAN Interfaces Protocols and Functions

Iu Interface

Iur Interface

Iub Interface

Uu Interface

21

Iur Interface Protocol Stack Structure

Radio
Network
Layer

Transport
Network
Layer

Control Plane

User Plane

RNSAP

Iur Data
Stream(s)

Transport Network
User Plane

Transport Network
Control Plane

Transport Network
User Plane

ALCAP(Q.2630.1)

STC (Q.2150.1)

SCCP
MTP3-B

M3UA

MTP3-B

M3UA

SSCF-NNI
SSCF-NNI

SCTP

SSCF-NNI
SSCF-NNI

SCTP

SSCOP

IP

SSCOP

IP

AAL5

AAL5

AAL2

ATM
Physical Layer

22

Iur Interface Functions(1)

Support Basic Mobility Functions between RNCs

Support SRNC relocation

Cell Update and URA Update between RNCs

Paging between RNCs

Protocol Error Report

Dedicated Channel Functions

Establish, Modify or Release Dedicated Channels in DRNC

during handover

Transmission of DCH TB(Transmission Block) on Iur

Management of RL(Radio Link) in DRNS by Dedicated

Measurement Procedure and Filter Control

RL ManagementCompressed Mode Management

23

Iur Interface Functions(2)

Common Channel Functions

Establishment, Deletion of Common transport Channels on Iur

Common Transport Channels are used to Transmit UE

information which is in Common Channel state in DRNC

Separate MAC-d From MAC-c

Traffic Control Between MAC-d and MAC-c

Global Resource Management

Common Measurement Between RNCs

Transmission of Node B Timing Information between RNCs

24

UTRAN Interfaces Protocols and Functions

Iu Interface

Iur Interface

Iub Interface

Uu Interface

25

Iub Interface Protocol Stack

Radio Network
Control Plane

CPCH FP

USCH FP

DSCH FP

PCH FP

FACH FP

RACH FP

Node B
Application Part
(NBAP)

User Plane

DCH FP

Radio
Network
Layer

Transport
Network
Control Plane

ALCAP
Q.2630.1
Q.2150.2

Transport
Layer

SSCF-UNI

SSCF-UNI

SSCOP

SSCOP

AAL Type 5

AAL Type 5

AAL Type 2

ATM
Physical Layer

26

Iub Interface Functions(1)

Common Functions

Common Transport Channel Management

Iub Common Channel Data Transmission

Logical O&M of Node Bmaintenance functions such as cell

configuration

Management Fault

Management Block

Management, etc.

System Information Management

Common Measurement

Resource Verification

Abnormality Management

Timing and Synchronization Management

27

Iub Interface Functions(2)

Dedicated Functions

Dedicated Transport Channel Management

Radio Link(RL) Monitoring

Dedicated Measurement Management

Timing and Synchronization Management

Up-link outer loop Power Control

Iub Dedicated Data transmission

Balance on down-link power drifting

Compressed Mode Control

28

UTRAN Interfaces Protocols and Functions

Iu Interface

Iur Interface

Iub Interface

Uu Interface

29

Uu Interface Protocol Stack Structure

U-plane information

C-plane signalling
GC

Nt

DC

Duplication avoidance
GC

Nt

DC
UuS boundary

L3
control
RRC
PDCP

L2/PDCP

control
control

control

control

PDCP

RLC
RLC

BMC

L2/BMC

RLC

L2/RLC

RLC

RLC
RLC

RLC

RLC
Logical
Channels

MAC

L2/MAC
Transport
Channels

PHY

L1

30

Uu Interface L1 Functions(1)

Multiplexing of transport channels and de-multiplexing of encoded

composite channels

Mapping of encoded composite transport channels on physical

channels

Macro-diversity distribution/combining and soft handover execution

Error detection on transport channels and indication to higher layers

FEC encoding/decoding and interleaving/de-interleaving of transport

channels

Rate matching of coded transport channels to physical channels

Power weighting and combining of physical channels

31

Uu Interface L1 Functions(2)

closed-loop power control

open-loop power control

Modulation

and

spreading/demodulation

and

de-spreading

of

physical channels

Synchronization between frequency and time (chip, bit, slot, frame)

Radio characters measurements (FER, SIR, Interference power) and

indication to higher layers

Compressed mode support

Diversity of Transmission/Receiving

Other base band processing functions

32

MAC: Medium Access Control

GC

AS

Nt

DC

Control
SAP

RRC(L3)
Control
SAP's

Radio
(Access)
Bearers

L2
PDCP
BMC

RLC

Logical Channels
MAC
Transport Channels
PHY(L1)
Physical Channels
33

MAC Functions

mapping between logical channels and transport channels

selection of appropriate Transport Format for each Transport Channel

depending on instantaneous data rate

priority handling between data flows of one UE

priority handling between UEs by dynamic scheduling

identification of UEs on common transport channels

multiplexing/demultiplexing of higher layer PDUs into/from transport

block sets delivered to/from the physical layer on common and
dedicated transport channels

traffic volume monitoring

Dynamic Transport Channel type switching

ciphering for transparent RLC

34

MAC: Mapping of Logical Channels(UE)

Higher Layer
data
Logical
Channels
(Data
Dependent)

Paging

System
Info

Signaling

Cell
Broadcast
Service

Signaling
and
User data
DCCH

PCCH

BCCH

CCCH

CTCH

Decicated
Logical
Channel
CipherOn

DTCH
DTCH
DTCH

{XOR}

Transport
Channels
(L1 Characteristics
Dependent)

Physical
Channels

PCH

S-CCPCH

BCH

P-CCPCH

FACH

RACH

DCH

PRACH

DPDCH

35

MAC: Transport Format Selection(1)

Control immediate bit rate by means of changing traffic per TTI(Transmission Time
Interval, is multiple of 10ms)
Transport Block (TB): The basic unit exchanged between L1 and MAC
Transport Block Size: the number of bits in a Transport Block
Transport Block Set: A set of TBs transmitted in a TTI
Transport Block Set Size: the number of bits in a Transport Block Set
Transport Block Size
Transport Block, TB#1
Transport Block
Set

TB#2

TB#n

Transport Block Set Size = Transport Block Size x N

Transport Time Interval, TTI

36

MAC: Transport Formation Selection(2)

Transport Format (TF) defines Transport Block Set (Transport Block Size,
Transport Block Set Size,TTI,FEC type,size of CRC)

Transport Format Set (TFS): Possible TF combinations of a transport channel.

MAC will chose a TF during every TTI

Transport Format Combination (TFC): Determined TF combination in each TTI,

each transport channel

Transport Format Combination Set (TFCS): define all possible TFC combination
method. Thus MAC can process dynamic transport rate control in different
transport channels

TFS

TFC

TF
TFCS

TrCH#1 TrCH#2 TrCH#3 TrCH#4

37

RLC: Radio Link Control

GC

AS

Nt

DC

Control
SAP

RRC(L3)
Control
SAP's

Radio
(Access)
Bearers

L2
PDCP
BMC

RLC

Logical
Channels
MAC
Transport
Channels
PHY(L1)

Physical
Channels
38

RLC Functions

Segmentation, reassembly and Padding

Transmission of user data

Error correction using different transport Format

In-sequence delivery of higher layer PDUs, duplicate

detection

Flow control

Sequence number check in Unacknowledged ModeUM

Protocol error detection and recovery

Ciphering

Suspend/resume function
39

PDCPPacket Data Convergence Protocol

BMCBroadcast/Multicast Control
GC

AS

Nt

DC

Control
SAP

RRC(L3)
Control
SAP's

Radio
(Access)
Bearers

L2
PDCP
BMC

RLC

Logical
Channels
MAC
Transport
Channels
PHY(L1)

Physical
Channel
40 s

PDCP Functions

Mapping of network PDU from network protocol to RLC

protocol entity.

header compression and de-compression in order to

reduce the redundant control information in higher layer
data, thus enhance the transport efficiency in air interface

buffering and retransmit of higher layer data

41

BMC Functions

Storage of cell broadcast message

Monitoring of traffic volume and CBS (Cell Broadcast

Service) radio resource request

BMC message dispatching

Transport BMC message to UE

Transport BMC message to higher layer

42

RRC: Radio Resource Control

GC

AS

Nt

DC

Control
SAP

RRC(L3)
Control
SAP's

Radio
(Access)
Bearers

L2
PDCP
BMC

RLC

Logical
Channels
MAC
Transport
Channels
PHY(L1)

Physical
Channels
43

RRC Functions(1)

Management of system information broadcast

Paging/Notification

RRC connection management establishreconfig, maintain

and release

Radio Bearer (RB) Management establish, reconfig and

release, support NAS services

RRC connection mobility management

initial cell selection

Routing of higher layer PDUs

Control of requested QoS and map into different resources of

Access Stratum

Management and control of radio resources

44

RRC Functions(2)

Management and control of RB, transport channel and

physical channel

open loop power control

Support of SRNS relocation

Control of UE measurement and measurement report

Ciphering control, protection of integrity

CBS related functions BMC configuration CBS

radio

resource distribute request, support of CBS non-continuous

receiving

45

Course Contents

Chapter 1 UTRAN Network Architecture

Chapter 2 UTRAN Interface Protocol and Functions
Chapter 3 Basic Signaling Process

46

Basic Signaling Procedures

Call

overall process

Network
UE

start process

registration process

Call

process, soft handover and hard handover

process
Connection

mobility management process

47

Call overall Procedures

Network side Start
1Initialize equipment
2Process system
broadcast

Step 6
Soft/hard handover

Step 1
Handset Power on
1cell reselection
2Location registration
3Waiting for call

Step 3

RRC connection

Establish

Step 6
RAB/RB modification

Step 6
Physical channel

Step 6
Transport channel

reconfiguration

reconfiguration

Step 6
URA update

Step 2
Paging UE

Step 5
RAB set up
1synchronous set up
2asynchronous set up

Step 4

NAS signaling
connection establish

Step 6
Cell update
Step 7

Step 6
Handover with GSM

RRC connection
release

Step 8
Waiting for call again
1cell selection
2wait for call

48

Basic Signaling Process

Call

overall process

Network
UE

start process

registration process

Call

process, soft handover and hard handover

process
Connection

mobility management process

49

System Information Broadcast Flow

UE

Node B

RNC

CN

1.System Information Update Request

NBAP

NBAP

2.System Information Update Response

.
NBAP
NBAP

RRC

3.BCCH:System Information
.

RRC

RRC

4.BCCH:System
Information
.

RRC

RRC

5.BCCH:System Information

RRC

50

Basic Signaling Process

Call overall process

Network start process

UE registration process

Call process, soft handover and hard handover

process

Connection mobility management process

51

RRC Connection Establishment Flow(CCH)

UE

NodeB

SRNC

RRC: RRC CONNECTION REQUEST

RRC: RRC CONNECTION SETUP

RRC: RRC CONNECTION SETUP COMPLETE

UE originate RRC connection setup for registration.

SRNC decides to establish RRC connection on common channel,
and uses pre-configured common channel resources.
52

NAS Signaling Establishment Flow

UE

SRNC

CN

RRC INITIAL DIRECT TRANSFER

RANAP: INITIAL UE MESSAGE
RRC DT
RANAP DT
RANAP DT
RRC DT

UE changes DT messages with CN, such as Authentication,

connection establishment, location registration, etc.
53

RRC Connection Release Flow(CCH)

UE

NodeB

CN

SRNC

IU RELEASE COMMAND
IU RELEASE COMPLETE

RRC RRC CONNECTION RELEASE

RRC RRC CONNECTION RELEASE COMPLETE

In registration process, UE does not use dedicated user plane resources.

Instead, it release signaling link directly. Thus registration procedure ends.
54

Basic Call Processes

Call overall process

Network start process

UE registration process

Call process, soft handover and hard handover

process

Connection mobility management process

55

Paging Flow (UE in Idle State or PCH State)

UE

SRNC

CN
RANAP PAGING

RRC PAGING TYPE 1

CN sends paging message and specifies UE and paging area. CN is

responsible for paging message re-send. SRNC sends relevant paging
message according to UE state.

56

Paging Flow (connection mode)

UE

Serving
RNC

RANAP

CN

1. Paging

RANAP

2. DCCH : Paging
RRC

RRC

CN sends paging message and specifies UE and paging area. CN is

responsible for paging message re-send. SRNC sends relevant paging
message according to UE state.

57

RRC Connection Establishment Flow(DCH)

NodeB

UE

SRNC

RRC: RRC CONNECTION REQUEST

RL SESETUP REQUEST
RL SETUP RESPONSE

ALCAP Establish, synchronization

RRC: RRC CONNECTION SETUP
RRC: RRC CONNECTION SETUP COMPLETE

UE send RRC connect request containing UE identify, ability, cause on CCCH. If

the condition is met, SRNC will configure NodeB according to the requirement,
and establish its path to Node B, then send RRC connection setup message on
CCCH channel, and wait for response from UE on DCCH.
58

NAS Signaling Establish Flow

UE

SRNC

CN

RRC INITIAL DIRECT TRANSFER

RANAP: INITIAL UE MESSAGE
RRC DT
RANAP DT
RANAP DT
RRC DT

UE exchange DT messages with CN, such as authentication,

service request, connection establish, etc.
59

RAB Establish Flow(DCH-DCH, synchronous)

UE

NodeB

SRNC

CN

RAB ASSIGNMENT REQUEST

ALCAP Establish

RL RECONFIG PRE
RL RECONFIG READY
ALCAP Establish, synchronization

RL RECONFIG COMMIT
RRCRB SETUP
RRCRB SETUP COMPLETE
RAB ASSIGNMENT RESPONSE

There are more than one ALCAP establish procedures on Iu Interface,

more than one user plane RABs can be established simultaneously.
After user plane establish, UE enters call connection.

60

RAB Establish Flow(DCH-DCH, asynchronous)

UE

NodeB

SRNC

CN
RAB ASSIGNMENT REQUEST

ALCAP Establish
RL RECONFIG REQ
RL RECONFIG RESP
ALCAP Establish, synchronization

RRCRB SETUP

RRCRB SETUP COMPLETE

RAB ASSIGNMENT RESPONSE

61

RAB Establish Flow(RA/FA-RA/FA)

UE

NodeB

SRNC

CN

RANAP: RAB ASSIGNMENT REQUEST

ALCAP Establish

RRCRB SETUP
RRCRB SETUP COMPLETE
RANAPRAB ASSIGNMENT RESPONSE

62

RAB Establish Flow(RA/FA-DCH)

RANAP: RAB ASSIGNMENT REQUEST
ALCAP Establish

RL SETUP REQ
RL SETUP RESP
ALCAP Establish, synchronization

RRCRB SETUP
RRCRB SETUP COMPLETE
RANAPRAB ASSIGNMENT RESPONSE

63

RAB Reconfig Flow

UE

SRNC

NodeB

CN

RAB ASSIGNMENT REQ

ALCAP Establish

RL RECONFIG PREPARE

RL RECONFIG READY
ALCAP Establish, synchronization
RL RECONFIG COMMIT
RB RECONFIG
RB RECONFIG COMPLETE
ALCAP Release

RAB ASSIGNMENT RESP

ALCAP Release

64

Transport Channel Reconfig Flow

UE

NodeB

SRNC
RL RECONFIG PREPARE
RL RECONFIG READY

ALCAP Establish, synchronization

RL RECONFIG COMMIT

TRANSPORT CHANNEL RECONFIG

TRANSPORT CHANNEL RECONFIG COMPLETE
ALCAP Release
65

Physical Channel Reconfig Flow

UE

NodeB

SRNC

RL RECONFIG PREPARE

RL RECONFIG READY

RL RECONFIG COMMIT

PHYSICAL CHANNEL RECONFIG

PHYSICAL CHANNEL RECONFIG COMPLETE

66

Notions Related to Soft Handover

Soft Handover

Macro diversity is a operation state in which a User

Equipment simultaneously has radio links with two or more
UTRAN access points. The aim is to improve quality of the
radio connection or provide seamless connection.

Active Set is a set of radio links simultaneously involved in a

specific communication service between an UE and a
UTRAN access point.

67

Soft Handover Illustration (Intra RNC)

NodeB

CN

CN

CN

SRNC

SRNC

SRNC

NodeB

Before Soft Handover

NodeB

NodeB

During Soft Handover

NodeB

NodeB

After Soft Handover

68

Soft Handover Flow (Intra RNC add branch)

Node B(new)

UE

SRNC
Decision to setup
new RL

NBAP

1. Radio Link Setup Request

NBAP

Start RX description
NBAP

2. Radio Link Setup Response

NBAP

3 ALCAP Iub Data Transport Bearer Setup

DCH-FP

4. Downlink Synchronization

DCH-FP

DCH-FP

5.Uplink Synchronization

DCH-FP

Start RX description
RRC
RRC

6.DCCH: Active Set Update Command

7.

DCCH : Active Set Update Complete

RRC
RRC

69

Soft Handover Flow (Intra-RNC delete branch)

UE

Node B(old)

SRNC
Decision to delete
a RL

RRC
RRC

1.DCCH: Active Set Update Command

2.

DCCH : Active Set Update Complete

NBAP

3. Radio Link Deletion Request

RRC
RRC

NBAP

Stop RX and Tx

NBAP

4. Radio Link Deletion Response

NBAP

5 ALCAP Iub Transport Bearer release

70

Soft Handover Illustration (Inter-RNC)

CN
SRNC

NodeB

NodeB

CN
SRNC

RNC

NodeB

Before Soft Handover

NodeB

NodeB

RNC

NodeB

After Soft Handover

Radio Link(RL) is added and deleted simultaneously

71

Soft Handover Flow (Inter-RNC)

UE

Node B
Drift RNS

Node B
Serving RNS

Drift RNC

Serving RNC

Decision to setup
new RL and
release old RL
1. Radio Link Setup Request

RNSAP
NBAP
Start RX description

2. Radio Link Setup Request

NBAP

3. Radio Link Setup Response

NBAP

NBAP 4. Radio Link Setup

Response
RNSAP
5. ALCAP Iub Data Transport Bearer Setup

DCH-FP

DCH-FP

RNSAP

RNSAP

ALCAP Iur Bearer Setup

6. Downlink Synchronization

DCH-FP
7. Uplink Synchronization

DCH-FP

Start TX description
8. DCCH: Active Set Update Command
RRC
RRC

[Radio Link Addition & Deletion]

9. DCCH : Active Set Update Complete
NBAP

10. Radio Link Deletion Request

RRC
RRC
NBAP

Stop RX and TX
NBAP

11. Radio Link Release Response

NBAP

12. ALCAP Iub Data Transport Bearer Release

72

Hard Handover Illustration (Intra-RNC)

NodeB

CN

CN

SRNC

SRNC

NodeB

Before Har Handover 7

NodeB

NodeB

After Hard Handover

Radio Link(RL)cannot exist simultaneously

73

Hard Handover Flow (Intra-RNC)

UE

Node B

Source

Node B

SRNC

Target

Decide to
handover

NBAP

1. Radio Link Setup Request

NBAP

Start Rx
NBAP

2. Radio Link Setup Response

NBAP

3 ALCAP ub Data Transport Bearer Setup

DCH-FP 4. Downlink Synchronization DCH-FP
DCH-FP

RRC

RRC

5.Uplink Synchronization DCH-FP

Start Tx
6.DCCH : Physical Channel Reconfiguration
7. Radio Link Failure Indication
NBAP
8. DCCH : Physical Channel Reconfiguration Complete

RRC
NBAP

RRC
NBAP

9. Radio Link Deletion Request

10. Radio Link Deletion Response

NBAP

NBAP
NBAP

11. ALCAP Iub Data Transport Bearer Release

74

Hard Handover Illustration (Inter-RNC)

CN
SRNC

NodeB

CN
SRNC

RNC

NodeB

Before Hard Handover

NodeB

RNC

NodeB

After Hard Handover

Radio Link(RL)cant exist simultaneously

75

Hard Handover Flow (Inter-RNC via Iur

interface)
UE

Node B
Source

Node B
Target

RNC
Source

RNC
Target

SRNC

1. Radio Link Setup Request

RNSAP
RNSAP
2. Radio Link Setup Request
NBAP
NBAP

NBAP

3. Radio Link Setup Response

NBAP

4. ALCAP ub Data Transport Bearer Setup

5. RL Setup Response
RNSAP
RNSAP
6. ALCAP Iur Data Transport Bearer Setup
7.DCCH : Physical Channel Reconfiguration

RRC
NBAP

8. Radio Link Failure Indication

NBAP
RNSAP

9. Radio Link Failure Indication

RNSAP

10. DCCH : Physical Channel Reconfiguration Complete

RRC
RNSAP
NBAP
NBAP

12. Radio Link Deletion Request

13. Radio Link Deletion Response

RRC

11. Radio Link Deletion Request

RRC
RNSAP

NBAP
NBAP

14. ALCAP Iub Data Transport Bearer Release

RNSAP

15. Radio Link Deletion Response

RNSAP

16. ALCAP Iur Data Transport Bearer Release

76

RRC Release FlowDCH

UE

SRNC

NodeB

CN

IU RELEASE COMMAND
IU RELEASE COMPLETE
ALCAP Release
RRCRRC CONNECTION RELEASE
RRCRRC CONNECTION RELEASE COMPLETE
RL DELETION
RL DELETION RESPONSE
ALCAP Release

Release procedure is usually originated by CN. But if UE is faulty,

SRNC can also request release. Connection to UE is
released first, then the connection to Node B. The release of RRC
is the end of call.

77

Basic Signaling Process

Call

overall process

Network
UE

start process

registration process

Call

process, soft handover and hard handover

process
Connection

mobility management process

78

Connection mobility management processes

Cell update process

URA update process

Inter-system handover process

79

Forward Handover

Forward Handover, including CELL UPDATE and URA UPDATE, is

originated by UE. URA UPDATE procedure is only used for UE under
URA_PCH state to process URA reselection, and to check if RRC
connection is right.

For UE under CELL_FACH and CELL_PCH state

cell reselection needed

In specific SA(Service Area)Timer T305 timed out (this timer is defined in

system broadcast message)

For UE under CELL_PCH and URA_PCH state

transfer data on up link needed (enter CELL_FACH state)

upon receiving paging message on PCCH, originate cell update

CELL UPDATE process can be used to re-establish unrecoverable errors of

RLC entitylosing connection, and to monitor RRC connection state.
80

Cell Update Flow

UE

RRC

DRNC
Source

DRNC
Target

1. CCCH: Cell Update

SRNC

RRC-relay

RNSAP

2. Uplink Signaling Transfer

Indication

RNSAP

3. Common Transp. Channel Resources

Initialization Request
RNSAP
RNSAP
4. Common Transp. Channel Resources
initialization Response
RNSAP
RNSAP

5. ALCAP Iur bearer setup

6. DCCH: Cell Update Confirm
RRC

RRC

RRC
7. DCCH: RNTI Relocation Complete

RNSAP

8. Common Transp. Channel Resources Release

RRC

RNSAP

81

URA Update Flow

UE

RRC

Source
RNC
1.CCCH: URA Update

Target
RNC

Serving
RNC

RRC-relay

[U-RNTI, URA update cause]

2.Uplink Signaling Transfer Indication
RNSAP

RNSAP

[new C-RNTI,D-RNTI, UL message]

3. Decision Not to
perform SRNS
relocation

4. Downlink Signaling Transfer Request

RNSAP

RRC

5.CCCH: URA Update Confirm

RNSAP

RRC-relay

82

Hard Handover FlowUMTS->GSM

UE

Node B

RNC
Serving

CN

RANAP 1. Relocation
Required

MSC

BSC

BTS

RANAP
MAP/E

2. Prepare
Handover

MAP/E
BSSMAP

3. Handover
Request

BSSMAP

BSSMAP 4. Handover BSSMAP

Request Ack
5. Prepare Handover
Response
MAP/E
MAP/E
6. Relocation
Command
RANAP
RRC

RANAP

7. DCCH : Inter-System Handover Command

RRC

8. Handover
Detect
BSSMAP

BSSMAP

9. Handover Complete
RR
BSSMAP
11. Send End Signal
Request
MAP/E
MAP/E

RANAP

10. Handover
Complete

RR
BSSMAP

12. Iu Release
Command

RANAP
13. Iu Release
RANAP Complete
RANAP
14. Send End Signal
Response
MAP/E
MAP/E

83

Hard Handover FlowGSM->UMTS

UE

Node B

RNC
Target

CN

MSC

BSC

1. Handover
BSSMAP Required
MAP/E
3. Relocation
Request
RANAP
4. Relocation
Request Ack
RANAP

2. Prepare
Handover

BTS

BSSMAP

MAP/E

RANAP
RANAP
5. Prepare Handover
Response
MAP/E
MAP/E
6. Handover
Command
BSSMAP

BSSMAP

7. Handover Command
RR

RANAP

8. Relocation
Detect

RR

RANAP

9. DCCH : Handover Complete

RRC

RRC
10. Relocation
Complete
RANAP

RANAP
11. Send End Signal
Request
MAP/E
MAP/E

BSSMAP
BSSMAP
14. Send End Signal
Response
MAP/E
MAP/E

12. Clear
Command
13. Clear
Complete

BSSMAP
BSSMAP

84

Cell Reselection FlowUMTS->GPRS

UE

Serving
RNC

CN

GPRS

1. UE releases connection with RNC

2. UE Access GPRS system

3. Inter-system information exchange

data transfer
4. Iu Release Command

RANAP

RANAP

4. Iu Release Complete

RANAP

RANAP

85

Cell reselection FlowGPRS->UMTS

UE

Serving
RNC

CN

GPRS

1. UE Access UMTS system(RNC)

2. Make signaling connection with CN

3. User plane bearers set up

4. Inter-system information exchange

data transfer

86

87