Mobility Management

(GPRS to UMTS)

PCS & Wireless Internet LAB

Speaker: Phone Lin
Email: [email protected]

Introduction

z Universal Mobile Telecommunication System (UMTS) is a third

generation mobile network evolved from the second generation
systems such as GSM and General Packet Radio Service(GPRS).
z In this talk, we consider the core network evolution path from
GSM/GPRS to UMTS.
z The Core Network (CN) consists of two service domains, a circuit-
switched (CS) service domain (i.e., PSTN/ISDN) and a packet-
switched (PS) service domain ( i.e., IP).
z In the CS domain, an Mobile Station (MS) is identified by IMSI and
TMSI. In the PS domain, an MS is identified by IMSI and P-TMSI.

2
GPRS Network

z To be simplified (but may be misleading), GPRS is evolved from

GSM by introducing two new core network nodes Serving GPRS
Support Node (SGSN) and Gateway GPRS Support Node (GGSN).
z Existing GSM nodes (BSS, MSC/VLR, and HLR) are upgraded.
z GPRS BSS consists of Base Transceiver Station (BTS) and Base
Station Controller (BSC) where the BSC is connected to the SGSN
through frame relay link.
z The BTS communicates with the MS through the radio interface Um
based on the TDMA technology.
z Three operation modes are defined for GPRS MS:
q Class A MS allows simultaneous CS and PS connections.
q Class B MS provides automatic choice of CS or PS connection, but only
one at a time.
q Class C MS only supports PS connection.
3

UMTS Network

z UMTS is evolved from GPRS by replacing the radio access network.

z The UTRAN (UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access Network) consists of
Node Bs (the 3G term for BTS) and Radio Network Controllers (RNCs)
connected by an ATM network.
z The RNC and the Node B serving an MS are called the Serving Radio
Network System (SRNS).
z In UMTS, every Node B is connected to an RNC through the Iub
interface.
z Every RNC is connected to an SGSN through the IuPS interface, and
to an MSC through the IuCS interface.
z An RNC may connect to several RNCs through the Iur interface.
z Unlike RNCs in UMTS, the BSCs in GPRS/GSM do not connect to each
other.
z The IuCS, IuPS, Iub, and Iur interfaces are implemented on the ATM
network.
4
UMTS User Equipment

z The User Equipment (UE; the 3G term for MS) connects

with Node Bs through the radio interface Uu based on
the WCDMA (Wideband CDMA) technology.
z Three operation modes are defined for UMTS UE:
q PS/CS mode UE is equivalent to GPRS Class A MS.
q PS mode UE is equivalent to GPRS Class C MS.
q CS mode UE can only attach to the CS domain.

Core Network Evolution

z In terms of the core network evolution from GPRS to

UMTS, both SGSN and MSC need to be modified.

z Other core network nodes such as HLR (specifically,

HLR packet domain subscription data), VLR
(specifically, VLR and SGSN association), and GGSN
(specifically, PDP contexts) are basically the same.

z The SGSN and the MS are modified (specifically MM

and PDP contexts and the related procedures).

6
Control Planes for UMTS and GPRS (2/2)

z Unlike GPRS, the LLC layer is not supported in UMTS. In GPRS, reliable
communication between MS and SGSN is guaranteed by LLC.
z In UMTS, Radio Resource Control (RRC) protocol is responsible for reliable
connection between MS and UTRAN, and Signaling Connection Control Part
(SCCP) is responsible for reliable connection between UTRAN and SGSN.
z Specifically, radio resources are managed by RRC exercised between the MS
and the UTRAN.
z On top of SCCP, the Radio Access Network Application Part (RANAP) protocol
supports transparent mobility management signaling transfer between the MS
and the CN which are not interpreted by the UTRAN.
z RANAP is also responsible for serving RNC relocation, radio access bearer (
RAB) management, and so on.
z In both GPRS and UMTS the GPRS Mobility Management (GMM) protocol
supports mobility management functionality, which is the focus of this paper.
In 3GPP 23.121, GMM for UMTS is also referred to as UMTS MM (UMM).
7

Mobility Management (MM) Messaging

z The mobility management (MM) messages are

exchanged among GPRS/UMTS nodes through various
interfaces described in two aspects:
q Between the MS and the SGSN
q Between the SGSN and Core Network Nodes (HLR, VLR, GGSN)

8
MM Messaging between MS and SGSN

z In GPRS , the mobility management (MM) messages are

delivered through the Gb and the Um interfaces.
q Specifically, an LLC link provides signaling connection between
the MS and the SGSN in GPRS.

z In UMTS , the MM message transmission is performed

through the Iu and the Uu interfaces.
q In UMTS, the signaling connection consists of an RRC connection
between the MS and UTRAN, and an Iu connection (“ one RANAP
instance”) between the UTRAN and the SGSN.

MM Messaging between SGSN and

Other CN Nodes

z In both GPRS and UMTS, GSM Mobile Application Part

(MAP) is used to interface SGSN and the GSM nodes.
q For example, Gr for HLR and Gs (the BSSAP+ protocol or
BSS Application Protocol + ) for MSC/VLR. SGSNs and
GGSNs communicate by using the GPRS Tunneling
Protocol (GTP) through the Gn interface.
q Specifically, a GTP tunnel i s established between two GPRS
nodes to deliver the packets. This tunnel is identified by a
tunnel endpoint identifier (TEID), an IP address and a UDP
port number.

10
The Gs Interface (1/2)

z The Gs interface merits further discussion.

q In GPRS and UMTS (Release 99), procedures such as attach,
paging and location update are defined separately for CS and PS.
q For example, LA update is performed for CS and RA update is
performed for PS.
q To save radio resources, execution of similar procedures for both
CS and PS can be combined. Examples are combined PS/CS
attach and combined RA/LA update.
q Furthermore, activities such as CS paging can be performed by
using the PS mechanism, so that the MS only needs to monitor
single paging channel.
q The above optimizations are achieved only if the Gs interface
exists so that SGSN and MSC/VLR can communicate to combine
the PS and CS activities.

11

The Gs Interface (2/2)

z The GPRS (UMTS) network is in Network Mode I if the Gs

Interface exists. Otherwise, it is in Network Mode Ⅱ. Note that an
extra network mode(Mode Ⅲ)is defined for GPRS when the Gs is
not present. This network mode has been removed from UMTS.

z Initiated by SGSN, a Gs association can be created between SGSN

and MSC/VLR by storing the SGSN number in the VLR and storing
the VLR number in the SGSN.

z With this association, messages regarding CS activities can be

passed between the VLR and the SGSN.

12
User Plane

z Protocols for user data transmission are defined in the

user plane.
q In GPRS, the SubNetwork Dependent Convergence Protocol
(SNDCP) carries out transmission of NPDUs ( Network Packet Data
Units) on top of the LLC link between the MS and the SGSN.
q In UMTS, the Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP) carries
out NPDU transmission on top of the RLC connection between the
MS and the UTRAN, and the GTP-U (GTP for the user plane)
protocol carries out transmission of NPDUs on top of the UDP/IP
link (Iu link).
q Packets of user data transmission may be lost when some MM
signaling procedures are executed.

13

Summary: GPRS and UMTS

Architecture

z In both GPRS and UMTS, IMSI is used as the common

user Identity, and common MAP signaling is applied to
both systems as well as GSM.
z Unlike GPRS, UMTS Radio network parameters and
radio resources are managed in the UTRAN.
z Link GPRS BSS, the UTRAN does not coordinate MM
procedures that are logically between the MS and CN.

14
Concepts of MM

z In order to track the MSs, the cells (i.e., BTSs/Node Bs) in GPRS
/UMTS service area are partitioned into several groups. To deliver
services to an MS, the cells in the group covering the MS will page the
MS to establish the radio link.

z In the CS domain, cells are partitioned into location areas (LAs). The
LA of an MS is tracked by the VLR.

z In the PS domain, the cells are partitioned into routing areas ( RAs ).
An RA is typically a subset of an LA. The RA of an MS is tracked by
the SGSN.

z In GPRS, the SGSN also tracks the cell of an MS in PS connection

(i.e., when packets are delivered between the MS and the SGSN).

z In UMTS, the cells in an RA are further partitioned into UTRAN RAs

(URAs). The URA and the cell of an MS are tracked by the UTRAN.

15

MM Functions (1/4)

z The MM functions for PS-based services are

(1) PS attach procedure allows an MS to be “known”by the
PS service domain of the network.
q For example, after the MS is powered on, the PS attach procedure
must be executed before the MS can obtain access to the PS
services.
q Note that the term “PS attach” is used in UMTS and the term
“GPRS attach” is used in GPRS.
q Similarly, we have the term “CS attach” for UMTS and “IMSI
attach” for GPRS.

(2) PS detach procedure allows the MS or the network to inform

each other that the MS will not access the SGSN-based services.

16
MM Functions (2/4)

(3) Security procedures include authentication, user identity

confidentiality (e.g., P-TMSI reallocation and P-TMSI signature) and
ciphering. Here, we elaborate more on P-TMSI signature.
q When the SGSN allocates the P-TMSI to an MS, it may also send
the P-TMSI signature to the MS.
q Then when the next MS identity checking is performed, e.g., in the
attach procedure, the MS sends the P-TMSI signature to the SGSN
for comparison.
q If the comparison fails, the authentication procedure must be used
by the SGSN to authenticate the MS.
q GPRS Ciphering is performed between the MS and the SGSN.
UMTS ciphering is performed between the UTRAN and MS.

17

MM Functions (3/4)

(4) Tunneling of non-GSM signaling message

procedures support communication between
GPRS/UMTS and non-GSM systems (e.g.,
EIA/TIA IS-136).
q The SGSN forwards the signaling messages to the non-
GSM MSC/VLR using the BSSAP+ protocol in the Gs
interface.

18
MM Functions (4/4)

(5) Subscriber management procedures are used by the

HLR to inform the SGSN about changes of the PS
subscriber data.
(6) Service request procedure (UMTS only) is used by the
MS to establish a secure connection to the SGSN, so
that the MS can send uplink signaling message or user
data.
q This procedure is used, for example, when the MS replies a page
from the UMTS network or when the MS attempts to request
resource reservation.
q In GPRS, LLC link is always established between the MS and
SGSN after the attach procedure. Therefore, the service request
procedure is not needed and is not defined in GPRS.

19

MM States

z In GPRS and UMTS, an MM finite state machine is exercised in

both SGSN and MS to characterize the mobility management
activities for the MS.

z In GPRS, the states in the machine are IDLE, STANDBY and

READY.

z For UMTS PS service domain, these states are renamed as

PMM-DETACHED, PMM-IDLE and PMM-CONNECTED.

z The MM state machines for both GPRS and UMTS are basically
the same.

z The MM states are stored in the MM contexts maintained by the

MS and the SGSN.

20
IDLE or PMM-DETACHED

zThe MS is not known (i.e., not attached) to

GPRS (UMTS/PS). That is, the MS is not
reachable by the network.
zIn this state, the MS may perform attach
procedure.

21

STANDYBY or PMM-IDLE

zThe MS is attached to GPRS (UMTS/PS); that

is, both the MS and SGSN have established MM
contexts.
zIn this state, the MS may perform the detach
and location update procedures.
zThe SGSN may perform paging procedure.
zThe MS is tracked by the SGSN at the RA level.

22
READY or PMM-CONNECTED

z PDUs can only be delivered in this state.

z In GPRS, the SGSN tracks the MS at the cell level.
z In UMTS, a PS signaling connection is established
between the MS and the SGSN (that is, the MS is in
RRC Connected mode).
z The SGSN tracks the MS with accuracy of the RA level,
and the serving RNC is responsible for cell level
tracking.
z In UMTS, serving RNC relocation is executed in this
state.

23

MM State Transitions

zIDLE to READY (PMM-DETACHED PMM-

CONNECTED): This transition is triggered by
an MS when the MS performs GPRS/PS
attach.

24
STANDBY to IDLE
(PMM-IDLE to PMM-DETACHED) (1/3)

z This transition can be triggered by MS or SGSN.

z This transition is triggered by the SGSN when tracking
of MS is lost. In this case, SGSN performs an implicit
GPRS/PS detach.
z A mobile reachable timer is maintained in the SGSN to
monitor the periodic RA update procedure.
z If the SGSN does not receive RA update request
message from the MS after the timer expires, the MS is
considered detached.

25

STANDBY to IDLE
(PMM-IDLE to PMM-DETACHED) (2/3)

z The mobile reachable timer is used only when the MM

state is STANDBY/PMM-IDLE.
z This transition may also be triggered by SGSN when the
SGSN receives a Cancel Location message from the
HLR.
z In this case, the MM and the PDP contexts are already
moved to the new SGSN that serves the MS, and the
contexts in the old SGSN can be deleted.
z Note that the MS will be associated with the new SGSN
in this case.

26
STANDBY to IDLE
(PMM-IDLE to PMM-DETACHED) (3/3)

zThis transition is triggered by the MS when the

MS performs implicit detach due to removal of
the SIM card or the battery.
zThis case is defined for UMTS, but not for
GPRS.

27

STANDBY to READY
(PMM-IDLE to PMM-CONNECTED)

zThis transition is triggered by the MS.

zIn GPRS, this transition occurs when the MS
sends an LLC PDU to the SGSN, possibly in
response to a page from the SGSN.
zIn UMTS, this transition occurs when the service
request procedure is executed (possibly in
response of a page from the SGSN) to establish
the PS signaling connection between the MS
and the SGSN.

28
READY to STANDBY
(PMM-CONNECTED to PMM-IDLE) (1/2)

z This transition is triggered by either SGSN or MS.

z In GPRS, a READY timer is maintained in the MS and
the SGSN.
z If no LLC PDU is transmitted before the timer expires,
then this MM transition occurs.
z The length of the READY timer can only be changed by
the SGSN.
z The MS is informed of the READY timer value change
through messages such as Attach Accept and Routing
Area Update Accept.

29

READY to STANDBY
(PMM-CONNECTED to PMM-IDLE) (2/2)

zThis MM transition may also occur when the

SGSN forces to do so, or when abnormal RLC
condition is detected during radio transmission.
z In UMTS, this MM transition occurs when the
PS signaling connection is released or broken
(e.g., RRC connection failure), or when the URA
update timer at the RNC expires.

30
READY to IDLE
(PMM-CONNECTED to PMM-DETACHED)

z This transition can be triggered by MS or SGSN.

z This transition is triggered by MS or SGSN when the MS
or the network-initiated GPRS/PS detach is performed.
z This transition is triggered by SGSN when the SGSN
receives a Cancel Location message from the HLR, or
when the SGSN rejects a
z RA update or an attach request from the MS.
z In UMTS, the PS signaling connection is released after
this transition. Specifically, both RRC and SCCP
connections are released. In GPRS,
z LLC link is removed after this transition.
31

MM and PDP Contexts

z Mobility Management (MM) context provides mobility

information of an MS.
z Packet Data Protocol (PDP) context provides
information to support packet delivery between an MS
and the network.
z While an MS may be associated with several PDP
contexts, it only has one MM context.
z The MM context is maintained in MS and SGSN.
z The PDP contexts are maintained in MS, SGSN, and
GGSN.

32
MM Context

zThe following fields in the MM context are

maintained in both GPRS and UMTS SGSN:
q IMSI, MM state, P-TMSI, P-TMSI signature,
q International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI),
q Mobile Station ISDN Number (MSISDN),
q routing area, VLR number, new SGSN address
q MS network access capability,
q authentication triplets, Kc (currently used ciphering key),
selected ciphering algorithm, subscribed charging
characteristics, and several flags.

33

MM SGSN Context: GPRS vs UMTS

(Location Information) (1/2)

zGPRS SGSN maintains cell identity (current cell

in READY state, or the last known cell in
STANDBY or IDLE state) and cell identity age
(time elapsed since the last LLC PDU was
received from the MS at the SGSN).
zThese two fields are not maintained in UMTS
SGSN because cell tracking is performed by the
serving RNC.

34
MM SGSN Context: GPRS vs UMTS
(Location Information) (2/2)

z UMTS SGSN maintains the service area code (SAC),

and the elapsed time since the last SAC was received at
the SGSN.
z The SAC is used to uniquely identify an area consisting
of one or more cells belonging to the same location
area.
z SAC and the location reporting procedure are used in
UMTS for location service (LCS) and other services
such as emergency calls .
z These fields are not maintained in GPRS SGSN
because the concept of SAC does not exist in GPRS.
35

MM SGSN Context: GPRS vs UMTS

(Security Info)

z UMTS provides enhanced security functions over

GPRS, and thus extra security parameters are
maintained in the UMTS SGSN MM contexts.
z Specifically, UMTS SGSN maintains authentication
vectors, CK (currently used ciphering key), IK (currently
used integrity key), and KSI (key set identifier).
z GPRS SGSN maintains CKSN (ciphering key sequence
number of Kc). KSI in UMTS corresponds to CKSN in
GSM, and they have the same format.
z The CK parameter in UMTS is equivalent to Kc in
GPRS.
36
MM SGSN Context: GPRS vs UMTS (Radio
Resource Info) (1/2)

zGPRS SGSN maintains radio access capability

(MS's GPRS multislot capabilities and so on)
and discontinuous reception (DRX) parameters,
radio priority SMS (the RLC/MAC radio priority
level for uplink SMS transmission).
z DRX allows discontinuous radio transmission to
save the power consumption of the MS.

37

MM SGSN Context: GPRS vs UMTS (Radio

Resource Info) (2/2)

z In UMTS, the radio resources are controlled by UTRAN.

Thus, the above fields are not kept in the UMTS SGSN
MM context.
z In GPRS if DRX mode is selected, the MS may specify
the DRX parameters that indicate the delay for the
network to send a page request or a channel
assignment to the MS.
z DRX usage is independent of the MM states. However,
during the GPRS attach and RA update, the GPRS MS
shall not apply DRX in READY state.
z In UMTS, DRX parameter was not shown in the SGSN
MM context in 3G TS 23.060 Version 3.2.1. In Version
3.6.0, this parameter is added in UMTS SGSN MM
context . 38
PDP Contexts in SGSN (1/3)

z PDP route information (PDP context identifier, PDP

state, PDP type, and PDP address)
z Access Point Name (APN) information (APN subscribed
and APN in use)
z QoS information (QoS profile subscribed, QoS profile
requested and QoS profile negotiated)
z N-PDU information (GTP-SND and GTP-SNU). The
GTP-SND (GTP-SNU) parameter is the GTP sequence
number of the N-PDU to be sent from the SGSN to the
MS (GGSN).
z Charging information (charging id)
39

PDP Contexts in SGSN (2/3)

z Other routing information ( NSAPI, TI, TEID for Gn/Gp ,

GGSN address in use, and VPLMN address allowed).
z Network layer Service Access Point Identifier (NSAPI) is
used by LLC (in GPRS) or RLC (in UMTS) to route the
N-PDUs to appropriate higher layer protocols such as
signaling, SMS, or packet data protocols.
z Transaction identifier (TI) is used to represent NSAPI for
some session management signaling messages.
z VPLMN specifies the GPRS/UMTS networks visited by
the MS.

40
PDP Contexts in SGSN (3/3)

zSubscribed Charging Characteristics can be

normal, prepaid, flat-rate, and /or hot billing.
zIn the early GPRS/UMTS version, charging
characteristics for PDP contexts are maintained
in the SGSN.
zIn the latest version, charging characteristics are
included in SGSN MM context.

41

PDP SGSN Context: GPRS vs UMTS

(1/2)

zCore Network to Radio Access Network

Connection
q The UMTS maintains the TEID for the Iu interface and the IP
address of the RNC currently used.
q These two fields are not maintained in the GPRS SGSN

zRadio Resource Information

q The GPRS SGSN maintains radio priority (the RLC/MAC
radio priority level for uplink user data transmission).
q These fields are not kept in UMTS SGSN.

42
PDP SGSN Context: GPRS vs UMTS
(2/2)

zPDU Information
q GPRS SGSN maintains Send N-PDU number (SNDCP
sequence number of the next downlink N-PDU to be sent to
the MS), Receive N-PDU number (SNDCP sequence
number of the next uplink N-PDU to be received from the
MS), packet flow identifier and aggregate BSS QoS profile
negotiated.
q On the other hand, UMTS SGSN maintains PDCP -SND (the
next PDCP sequence number to be sent to the MS) and
PDCP -SNU (the next PDCP sequence number expected
from the MS).

43

MM Radio Resource Information (1/2)

z Both GPRS and UMTS, the radio resource information

for SMS is kept in the MM context, while the radio
resource information for user data is maintained in the
PDP context.
z The PDP context is defined for data transfer in the user
plane. The MM context is defined for mobility
management signaling in the control plane.

44
MM Radio Resource Information (2/2)

z SMS is delivered through the control plane by using

common channel, which is more efficient than delivery
through the user plane.
z Through the control plane, the same SMS transfer
procedure is used for both CS and PS domains .
z Thus, the radio resource information for SMS is kept in
the MM context.

45

MS MM Context

zIMSI, MM State, P-TMSI, P-TMSI signature

zRouting Area
zMS network access capability
zCKSN/KSI, Ciphering Algorithm
zDRX Parameters

46
MS MM Context: GPRS vs UMTS

zLocation Information
q GPRS MS maintains cell identity.
q In UMTS, cell tracking is not conducted at the mobility
management layer between the MS and the SGSN.
q Thus, cell identity is not maintained in the MM context of the MS.
Instead, it is maintained between the MS and the UTRAN.

z Security Information
q UMTS MS maintains extra security parameter CK next.

47

MS MM Context: GPRS vs UMTS

(Radio Resource Info)

z GPRS MS maintains radio priority SMS.

z In UMTS, the SMS as well as signaling are delivered
through dedicated control channels.
z Thus the radio priority is not maintained in the UMTS
MS.
z The GPRS MS maintains the MS radio access
capability,(e.g., multislot capability and power class)
z The UMTS MS maintains UE capability (e.g., power
control, code resource, UE mode, and PDCP capability).

48
MS PDP context

z PDP type, PDP address, PDP state, dynamic address

allowed,
z APN requested, NSAPI, TI,
z QoS profile requested, QoS profile negotiated, and
z A flag

49

MS PDP Context: GPRS vs UMTS

zRadio Information
q The GPRS MS maintains radio priority.
q In UMTS, the radio priority for data delivery is determined
by QoS profile, and the radio priority is not kept separately
in the MS.

zPDU Delivery Information

q GPRS MS maintains BSS packet flow identifier, Send N-PDU
number and Receive N-PDU number.
q UMTS MS maintains PDCP -SND and PDCP -SNU.

50
Relationship between MM States &
Contexts (1/3)

zThe status of an MM/PDP context is affected by

the MM states
zIDLE (PMM-DETACHED)
q The PDP context in the GGSN is deleted.
q The MM and PDP contexts in MS and SGSN may or may not be
deleted.
q If the MM state moves from STANDBY/PMM-IDLE to IDLE/MM-
DETACHED because the mobile reachable timer expires (e.g., the
MS is temporarily out of the GPRS/UMTS coverage), then these
two contexts shall not be deleted.
q In this case, the location and routing information is stale.

51

Relationship between MM States &

Contexts (2/3)

zSTANDBY (PMM-IDLE)
q In the STANDBY/PMM-IDLE state, valid MM contexts are
maintained in the MS and the SGSN.
q In this state, the PDP context can be activated and deactivated.
q In UMTS, when the PDP context is activated in this state, no
Iu/radio connection is established between the MS and the
network because PDU delivery is not allowed in this state.
q In GPRS the LLC link is connected.

52
Relationship between MM States &
Contexts (3/3)

zREADY (PMM-CONNECTED)
q In the READY/PMM-CONNECTED state, valid MM contexts
are maintained in the MS and the SGSN.
q As in the STANDBY/PMM-IDLE state, the MS may initiate
PDP context activation and deactivation.
q In this state, the signaling connection is established in
UMTS.

53

Attach: Step 1 (1/3)

zThe MS initiates the attach procedure by

sending the Attach Request message to the
SGSN.
zIn GPRS, besides the MS network access
capability, the message includes parameters
such as MS radio access capability.
zThese radio related parameters are not included
in UMTS Attach Request message.

54
Attach: Step 1 (2/3)

zThe UMTS message includes the ``follow on

request'' field to indicate if there is pending
uplink traffic that needs Iu connection after the
attach procedure is completed.
zThis field is not needed in GPRS because the Iu
interface does not exist.
zFurthermore, the security parameters for UMTS
and for GPRS are different.

55

Attach: Step 1 (3/3)

zWhen the receives the attach request at the end

of Step 1, there are several possibilities:
q If the MS has changed SGSN since last detach, then Step 2 is
executed so that the new SGSN can obtain the MS identity (i.e.,
IMSI) form the old SGSN.
q If the MS has not changed SGSN, then the received P-TMSI is used
by the SGSN to identify the MM context of the MS.
q If the MM context has not been deleted since last detach (i.e., the
MS is known by the new SGSN), then Steps 2-6 are skipped, and
Step 7 is executed.
q Otherwise (the MS is not known by the old and the new SGSNs),
Step 2 is skipped, and Step 3 is executed.

56
Attach: Step 2

z The MS is known by the old SGSN.

z The new SGSN sends the Identification Request
message to the old SGSN.
z The P-TMSI is used to obtain the IMSI and
authentication information from the old SGSN.
z If the old SGSN cannot find the MM context for the MS,
then Step 3 is executed.
z Otherwise the IMSI is returned to the new SGSN, and
Step 4 is executed.

57

Attach: Steps 3-5

z Step 3. The MS is unknown in both the old and the new SGSNs.
The new SGSN asks the MS to supply IMSI through the Identity
Request and Response messages exchange.
z Step 4. Authentication is mandatory if the MM context of the MS
has been deleted since last detach. The equipment (IMEI) may be
optionally checked.
z Step 5. If the MS has moved from the old SGSN to the new SGSN
since last detach or if the MS is performing the first attach, then the
RA update procedure is executed so that the new SGSN can obtain
the current MM context of the MS.

58
Attach: Step 6

z If the Gs interface does not exist, then this step is

skipped.
z Otherwise (Gs exists), the attach type in Step 1 is
checked.
z If attach type indicates (1) combined PS/CS attach or (2)
PS attach and the MS is already CS attach, then LA
update is performed.
z The LA update is required so that the SGSN-VLR
association is established and the VLR can maintain
current LA information of the MS.

59

Attach: Step 7

z For GPRS, if attach is successful, then the SGSN

selects radio priority SMS and sends the Attach Accept
message to the MS.
z P-TMSI is included in the message if the SGSN
allocates a new P-TMSI.
z In UMTS, radio priority SMS is not maintained in mobility
management.
z However, this parameter is still reserved in the UMTS
Attach Accept message in order to support handoff
between UMTS and GSM networks.

60
Attach: Steps 8 and 9

z Step 8. If P-TMSI or TMSI have been changed, the MS

sends the Attach Complete message to the SGSN to
acknowledge receipt of the TMSIs.
z Step 9. If TMSI has been changed, the SGSN sends the
TMSI Reallocation Complete message to the VLR.
z After PS attach, the MS is in the READY (for GPRS) or
the PMM-CONNECTED (for UMTS) state and MM
contexts are established in the MS and the SGSN.

61

Detach

z The PS detach procedures are basically the same for both GPRS
and UMTS.
z The network or the MS may request detach explicitly.
z When PS detach is executed, the MS will not receive the SGSN-
based service.
z Implicit PS detach is executed by the network (without notifying the
MS) if the mobile reachable timer expires or when radio path is
disconnected due to errors.
z After implicit PS detach is performed, the MS's MM context is
deleted after an implementation dependent timeout period.
z The PS detach procedure also inactivates the PDP contexts.

62
Location Update

z In location management, the MS informs the network of

its location through RA and LA update procedures.
z The update procedures are executed in two situations.
z Normal location update is performed when the MS
detects that the location has been changed.
z Periodic location update is exercised even if the MS
does not move. That is, the MS periodically reports its
``presence'' to the network.

63

Periodic Location Update (1/9)

z Periodic RA update allows the network to detect if an

MS is still attached to the network.
z A periodic RA update timer is maintained in both the MS
and the SGSN.
z Every time this timer expires, the MS performs periodic
RA update.
z The periodic RA update timer value is set by the SGSN,
and is sent to the MS through the RA Update Accept or
the Attach Accept messages when the MS visits an RA.
z This value cannot be changed before the MS leaves the
RA.
64
Periodic Location Update (2/9)

zRA update is periodically performed for a PS-

attached MS that is not CS-attached.
zOn the other hand, LA update is periodically
performed for a CS-attached MS that is not PS-
attached.

65

Periodic Location Update (3/9) : PS/CS

attached MS

zFor a PS/CS attached MS, two cases are

considered:
q CASE I: The MS is not engaged in a CS connection
q CASE II: The MS is engaged in a CS connection

66
Periodic Location Update (4/9) : PS/CS
attached MS (CASE I)-1/2

zFor a PS/CS attached MS in Network Mode I,

periodic RA update is performed, and LA update
must not be performed.
zIn this case, the VLR relies on SGSN to receive
periodic RA updates.
zIf the SGSN detects that the MS is lost, the
SGSN detaches the MS, and notifies the VLR of
this detach by the IMSI Detach Indication
message.

67

Periodic Location Update (5/9) : PS/CS

attached MS (CASE I)-2/2

zFor normal location update, combined RA/LA

update is performed when the MS changes
locations.
zIn Network Mode II, the RA update (to the
SGSN) and LA update (to the VLR) are
performed separately.
zIn this case, the LA update is always performed
before RA update.

68
Periodic Location Update (6/9) : PS/CS
attached MS (CASE II)-1/5

zDuring a CS connection, the network knows that

the MS is attached, and no periodic location
update is performed.
zIn terms of normal location update, two cases
are considered.

69

Periodic Location Update (7/9) : PS/CS

attached MS (CASE II)-2/5

zClass A MS (GPRS) or PS/CS MS (UMTS)

q During CS connection, RA update is exercised when the MS
changes RAs.
q LA update is not performed when the MS changes LAs.
q Suppose that only inter-RA crossings occur during CS
connection, then at the end of the CS connection, no action
is required.

70
Periodic Location Update (7/9) : PS/CS
attached MS (CASE II)-3/5

zClass A MS (GPRS) or PS/CS MS (UMTS)

q For Network Mode I, if there are inter-SGSN or inter-LA
crossings during CS connection, then at the end of the CS
connection, combined RA/LA update is executed to modify
the SGSN-VLR association.
q For Network Mode II, if there are inter-LA crossings during
CS connection, then at the end of the CS connection, LA
update is performed.

71

Periodic Location Update (7/9) : PS/CS

attached MS (CASE II)-4/5

zClass B MS (GPRS)
q During CS connection, the MS does not execute any RA/LA
updates.
q For Network Mode I, at the end of the CS connection, RA
update is performed if inter-RA crossings occur in CS
connection, and combined RA/LA update is performed if
inter-SGSN or inter-LA crossings occur in CS connection.

72
Periodic Location Update (7/9) : PS/CS
attached MS (CASE II)-5/5

zClass B MS (GPRS)
q For Network Mode II, at the end of the CS connection, RA
update is performed if inter-RA or inter-SGSN crossings
occur in CS connection.
q LA update is performed if inter-LA crossings occur in CS
connection.

73

Combined RA/LA Update: Step 1 (1/2)

zThe MS sends the Routing Area Update

Request message to the new SGSN.
zThis message is not ciphered so that the new
SGSN can process the message.
zFor both GPRS and UMTS, the update type can
be RA update, periodic RA update, combined
RA/LA update, or combined RA/LA update with
IMSI attach.

74
Combined RA/LA Update: Step 1 (2/2)

z The “follow on request”' parameter is used in UMTS to indicate if the

Iu connection should be kept for pending uplink traffic. This
parameter does not exist in GPRS.
z In GPRS, before the BSS passes the message to the SGSN, it adds
the cell global identity information (including cell, RA and LA
identities).
z In UMTS, the RNC adds the routing area identity information
(including RA and LA identities).
z For inter-SGSN update, Steps 2-9 are executed. Otherwise (intra-
SGSN update), these steps are skipped.

75

Combined RA/LA Update: Step 2 (1/2)

z To obtain the MM and PDP contexts of the MS, the new

SGSN sends the SGSN Context Request message to
the old SGSN.
z Basically, the old SGSN validates the old P-TMSI
signature, and returns the MM and the PDP contexts of
the MS using the SGSN Context Response message.
z The old SGSN starts a timer. The MM context in the old
SGSN is deleted when both of the following conditions
are satisfied: the timer expires, and the old SGSN
receives the Cancel Location message from the HLR.

76
Combined RA/LA Update: Step 2 (2/2)

z This timer mechanism ensures that if the MS initiates another inter-

SGSN routing area update before the current update procedure is
completed, the old SGSN still keeps the MM context.
z In GPRS, the old SGSN stops assigning SNDCP N-PDU numbers
to downlink N-PDUs received. The old SGSN will forward buffered
packets to the new SGSN at Step 4a.
z In UMTS, packet forwarding is not performed between the SGSNs.
Also, the temporary logical link identity (TLLI) included in the GPRS
SGSN Context Request message is not found in the UMTS
message.

77

Combined RA/LA Update: Step 3

z If the old P-TMSI signature checking at Step 2 fails,

security function involving MS, BSS/UTRAN, new
SGSN, and the HLR is performed.
z If this security procedure also fails, then the old SGSN
continues as if the SGSN Context Request message is
never received and this procedure exits.
z Otherwise (security check successes), Step 4 is
executed.

78
Combined RA/LA Update: Step 4

z The new SGSN sends the SGSN Context Acknowledge message to

the old SGSN, which invalids the SGSN-VLR association in the old
MM context.
z In GPRS, this message includes the address of the new SGSN,
which is used to inform the old SGSN that new SGSN is ready to
receive the buffered packets to be forwarded from the old SGSN.
z The new SGSN address is not included in the UMTS SGSN Context
Acknowledge message.
z Step 4a (GPRS only). The old SGSN then tunnels the buffered N-
PDUs to the new SGSN. No packets are forwarded from the old
SGSN to the new SGSN in UMTS.

79

Combined RA/LA Update: Steps 5-7

z Step 5. The new SGSN sends the Update PDP Context Request
message to the corresponding GGSNs. With this message, the
GGSN PDP contexts are modified. The GGSNs return the Update
PDP Context Response messages.
z Step 6. The SGSN issues the Update Location message to inform
the HLR that the SGSN for the MS has been changed.
z Step 7. The HLR and the old SGSN exchange the Cancel Location
message pair. The MM and the PDP contexts in the old SGSN is
not deleted until the timer described in Step 2 expires.

80
Combined RA/LA Update: Steps 8 and 9

z The HLR inserts the subscriber data to the new SGSN.

z For each PDP context, the new SGSN checks if the context is new,
active, or inactive.
z If the PDP context is active, then extra tasks are performed by the
SGSN.
z For example, the SGSN compares if the received “QoS subscribed‘”
value is the same as the value of the QoS negotiated parameter.
z If not, the SGSN should initiate the PDP context modification
procedure to adjust the QoS parameters of the context.

81

Combined RA/LA Update: Steps 10-12

z Steps 10-12 are executed if the new SGSN detects that the LA has
been changed or the update type in Step 1 indicates combined
RA/LA update with IMSI (CS) attach.
z Step 10 (LA Update). Through a table lookup technique, the SGSN
translated RA identity (RAI) into the VLR number and sends the
Location Update Request message to the VLR (after Step 8 is
executed). The VLR creates or updates the SGSN-VLR association
by storing the SGSN number.
z Step 11. The standard GSM location update procedure is
performed.
z Step 12. The new VLR allocates a new TMSI and responds with
Location Update Accept to the SGSN. Allocation of TMSI is optional
if the VLR is not changed.

82
Combined RA/LA Update: Steps 13-15

z Step 13. The new SGSN sends the Routing Area Update Accept
message to the MS.
q In GPRS, the new SGSN also confirms all mobile -originated N-PDUs
successfully transferred before the start of the update procedure.
z Step 14. The MS sends the Routing Area Update Complete
message to the new SGSN to confirm the reallocation of the TMSI.
q In GPRS, the MS also confirms all received mobile-terminated N-PDUs
before the RA update procedure started.
q This information is used by the new SGSN to check if the packets
forwarded from the old SGSN have been received by the MS. If so, these
redundant packets are discarded.

z Step 15. If a new TMSI has been received by the MS, then the
TMSI Reallocation Complete message is sent to the VLR.

83

Combined RA/LA Update (GPRS vs UMTS)

z In terms of RA update, the major differences between

UMTS and GPRS are the following:
q In GPRS, packet forwarding is performed between old and new
SGSN during RA update.
q In UMTS, packet forwarding is handled at the RNC level, and the
SGSN is not involved.
q In the RA update, the UMTS MS may determine if the Iu connection
should be maintained, which is not needed in GPRS.

z Note that for a pure intra-SGSN RA update, Steps 2 -12,

14 and 15 are not executed. For a pure inter-SGSN RA
update, Steps 10-12, and 15 are not executed.

84
SRNC and DRNC (2/6)

z Packets are routed between the MS and the GGSN. The

MS communicates with two Node Bs (B1 and B2).
z In WCDMA , an MS is allowed to transmit signal through
multiple radio paths connected to different Node Bs, and
the signals are merged in a network node (RNC1).
z In a packet routing path between the core network and
the MS, the RNC that directly connects to the SGSN is
called the serving RNC (SRNC).

85

SRNC and DRNC (3/6)

z When the MS moves toward Node B3, the radio link

between the MS and B1 is removed due to radio path
loss, and the radio link between B3 and the MS is
added.
z In this case, B3 is connected to RNC2, and an Iur link
between RNC1 and RNC2 is established so that the
signal received by B3 can be forwarded to RNC1
through RNC2.
z RNC1 then combines the signals from B2 and B3, and
forwards it to SGSN1. In this case, RNC1 is the SRNC,
and RNC2 is called the drift RNC (DRNC).

86
SRNC and DRNC (4/6)

zDRNC transparently routes the data through the

Iub and the Iur interfaces.
zIt only performs Layer 1 and partial Layer 2
functionality (e.g., MAC for common and shared
channels).
zThus, the RLC connections are defined between
the SRNC and the MS, and the DRNC is
bypassed.

87

SRNC and DRNC (6/6)

z Suppose that the MS moves away from B2, and the

radio link between the MS and B2 is disconnected.
z In this case, the MS does not communicate with any
Node Bs connected to RNC1.
z The routing path is now MS--B3--RNC2--RNC1--
SGSN1--GGSN.
z In this case, it does not make sense to route packets
between the MS and the core network through RNC1.

88
PS SRNC Relocation

zSRNC relocation may be performed to remove

RNC1 from the routing path.
zSuppose that RNC2 connects to SGSN2. Then
after RNC relocation, the packets are routed to
the GGSN through RNC2 and SGSN2. At this
point, RNC2 becomes the serving RNC.
zSRNC relocation may also be executed when
hard handoff occurs (and the MS is in the PMM-
CONNECTED state).

89

PS SRNC Relocation with Hard

Handoff (2/2)

zBefore the relocation, the communication path is

GGSN--SGSN1--RNC1--B2--MS, and the MS is
not connected to any Node Bs of RNC2.
zDuring hard handoff and SRNC relocation, the
radio link connected to the MS is switched from
B2 to B3.
zAfter the relocation, the communication path is
GGSN--SGSN2--RNC2--B3--MS.

90
CS SRNC Relocation (2/2)

zThe SRNC relocation procedures for PS and

CS services are different.

zBefore CS relocation, the call path is MSC1—

RNC1--RNC2--MS.

zAfter the relocation, the call path is MSC1--

MSC2--RNC2--MS, and MSC1 becomes the
anchor MSC.

91

PS SRNC Relocation Procedure (1/2)

zThis procedure is only performed for an MS in

PMM-CONNECTED state
q Before CS relocation, the call path is MSC1— RNC1—
RNC2— MS.
q After the relocation, the call path is MSC1— MSC2— RNC2—
MS, and MSC1 becomes the anchor MSC.

92
PS SRNC Relocation Procedure: Steps 1
and 2

z Step 1. RNC1 determines that RNC2 is the target for

relocation, and informs SGSN1 of this decision through
the Relocation Required message.
z Step 2. If both RNC2 and RNC1 are connected to SGSN1 (intra
SGSN relocation), Steps 2-4 are skipped, and the relocation
procedure proceeds to Step 5. Otherwise, it is an inter-SGSN
SRNC relocation. In this case, suppose that RNC2 connects to
SGSN2. Then SGSN1 sends the MM and the PDP contexts of the
MS to SGSN2 by using the Forward Relocation Request message.

93

PS SRNC Relocation Procedure: Steps 3

and 4

z Step 3. SGSN2 and RNC2 exchange the Relocation

Request and Response message pair to establish the Iu
user plane transport bearers between SGSN2 and
RNC2, and exchange routing information required for
packet delivery.

z Step 4. SGSN2 sends the Forward Relocation

Response message to SGSN1. The message indicates
that SGSN2 and RNC2 are ready to receive the
downstream packets buffered in RNC1 (i.e., the packets
that have not been acknowledged by the MS).

94
PS SRNC Relocation: Step 5

z Step 5. SGSN1 sends the Relocation Command

message to RNC1. This message instructs RNC1 to
forward the buffered downstream packets to RNC2.

z Note that Steps 1-5 reserve the core network resources

for the new path. Before Step 6 is executed, the packets
are routed through the old path.

95

PS SRNC Relocation: Step 6

z RNC1 receives the Relocation Command message, it starts the

data-forwarding timer.

z Expiration of this timer will be checked at Step 12.

z RNC1 sends the Relocation Commit message to RNC2, which

provides information about the buffered packets (e.g.,
sequence numbers) to be tunneled to RNC2.

z RNC1 stops exchanging packets with the MS, and forwards the
buffered packets (which are sent from GGSN) to RNC2.

z RNC2 switches all bearers from the RNC1 to the SGSN.

96
PS SRNC Relocation: Step 7

z Immediately after RNC2 is successful switched at

Step 6, RNC2 sends Relocation Detect message to
SGSN2.

z The purpose of this message is to inform the SGSN2

that RNC2 is starting the SRNC operation, and the
CN should switch the packet routing path from
RNC1 to RNC2.

97

PS SRNC Relocation: Step 8 (1/2)

z RNC2 restarts the RLC connections.

z RNC2 and the MS exchange information to identify the last

upstream packets received by RNC2 and the last downstream
packets received by the MS. This is achieved by exchanging
the RNTI Reallocation and Complete message pair.

z In the RNTI Reallocation message, RNC2 provides RA, LA, and

possibly RRC information.

z Since the RA has been changed, the MS also triggers the RA

update procedure shown at Step 13.

98
PS SRNC Relocation: Step 8 (2/2)

z After the MS has reconfigured itself, it sends the RNTI Reallocation

Complete message to the RNC2.

z The packet exchange with the MS can start.

z Note that the message RNTI Reallocation is not found in 3GPP

specifications (specifically, 3GPP 25.331 ). Instead, we found that
two messages, UTRAN Mobility Information and UTRAN Mobility
Information Confirm, can be used by UTRAN to allocate a new
RNTI and to convey other UTRAN mobility related information to an
MS.

z Note that in Steps 6-8, the UTRAN connection point is moved from
RNC1 to RNC2.
q In this period, packet exchange between the MS and network is stopped
for lossless relocation.
99

PS SRNC Relocation: Step 9

z After Step 7, the SGSN2 switches the user plane from

RNC1 to RNC2.

z For inter SGSN SRNS relocation, SGSN2 and every

corresponding GGSN exchange the Update PDP
Context Request and Response message pair to modify
the GGSN address, SGSN TEID,and QoS profile
negotiated stored in the GGSN PDP context.

z This operation switches the GGSN connection from

SGSN1 to SGSN2.

100
PS SRNC Relocation: Step 10

z After Step 8, RNC2 sends the Relocation Complete

message to SGSN2.

z This message triggers resource release of the old Iu

connection.

z For intra-SGSN SRNC relocation (i.e., SGSN2 is

SGSN1), the procedure proceeds to Step 12 to release
the old Iu connection.

z For inter-SGSN SRNS relocation, Steps 11 and 12 are

executed to release old Iu connection.

101

PS SRNC Relocation: Steps 11-13

z [Step 11.] SGSN2 instructs SGSN1 to release the old Iu

connection by exchanging the Forward Relocation
Complete and Acknowledge message pair.

z [Step 12.] SGSN1 sends the Iu Release Command

message to RNC1. When the data-forwarding timer set
in Step 6 expires, RNC1 returns the Iu Release
Complete message to SGSN1, and the old Iu
connection is released.

z [Step 13.] The RA update procedure described in

Section is triggered by the MS at Step 8.

102
Combined Hard Handoff with SRNC
Relocation

zThe message flow is similar to the PS SRNC

Relocation with the following differences.
q The SRNC relocation procedure (without hard handoff) is initiated
by RNC1 without involving the MS.

q For combined hard handoff with SRNC relocation, at the

beginning, RNC1 decides that the MS is involved, and the MS
reconfigures physical channel immediately after Step 5. Thus,
RNTI relocation at Step 8 is not needed.

q Also, in the combined procedure, the SRNC context (of RNC1)

must be forwarded through the path SGSN1--SGSN2--RNC2.

103

UMTS-GPRS Intersystem Change

z When a GPRS/UMTS dual mode MS moves from a cell supporting

GSM/GPRS radio technology to a cell supporting WCDMA radio
technology (or vice versa), a UMTS-GPRS intersystem change may
take place.

z To provide this feature, mechanisms should exist to derive the area

identities (for LA, RA, and cell) and the routing-related information
from one system to another.

z We describe UMTS-GPRS intersystem change using simple

examples where the GSM/GPRS cells and the UMTS cells are
connected to the same SGSN.

z In this case, the SGSN supports both the Gb and IuPS interfaces.

104
UMTSàGPRS

zFor SGSN change from UMTS to GPRS, if the

MS is in the PMM-IDLE state, then the normal
GPRS RA update procedure is executed.

zIf the MS makes the intersystem change

decision when it is in the PMM-CONNECTED
state, then it stops the transmission to the
network, and the following steps are executed
for intra SGSN change.

105

UMTSàGPRS: Step 1

[Step 1.] An LLC link is established between the MS and

the SGSN.

z The MS sends the Routing Area Update Request

message to the SGSN through the new BSS.

z This step is exactly the same as Step 1 of normal RA

update procedure initiated by a GPRS MS.

106
UMTSàGPRS: Step 2

[Step 2.] The SGSN exchanges the SRNS Context Request and
Response messages with the old SRNS to obtain the following
information:

z GTP-SND and GTP -SNU are used to resume transmission to the

GGSN.

z PDCP -SNU is used to resume transmission to the MS for loss-less

relocation.

z The SGSN converts the PDCP sequence number into the SNDCP
sequence number and saved it in the GPRS PDP context.

z The SRNS stops sending packets to the MS, and starts buffering
the packets received from the GGSN.

107

UMTSàGPRS: Steps 3 and 4

[Step 3.] Security functions may be executed as in Step 3 of RA

Update procedure.

z If the MS is not allowed to attach in the RA, or if subscription

checking fails, then the SGSN rejects this RA update.

[Step 4.] At this point, the SGSN is ready to receive packets.

z The SGSN sends the SRNS Data Forward Command message to

the old SRNS, which instructs the SRNS to forward the buffered
packets to the SGSN.

z The SRNS starts a data-forwarding timer. Before this timer expires,

the Iu connection between the SRNS and the SGSN will be
maintained (see Step 6).

108
UMTSàGPRS: Steps 5 and 6

[Step 5.] For the packets received by the old SRNS from the SGSN,
but have not been sent to the MS, the packets are tunneled back
from the SRNS to the SGSN.

[Step 6.] When the SGSN timer set at Step 4 expires, the Iu Release
Command and Complete messages are exchanged to release the
Iu connection.

z If the type parameter in the Routing Area Update Request message

at Step 1 is combined RA/LA update (for Network Mode I), or if the
LA has been changed, then the SGSN triggers LA update that
involves the SGSN, new VLR, old VLR and the HLR.

109

UMTSàGPRS: Steps 7 and 8

[Step 7.] The SGSN updates the MM and PDP contexts. New P-TMSI
and new TMSI may be allocated.

z The SGSN sends the Routing Area Update Accept message to the
MS.

[Step 8.] The MS returns the Routing Area Update Complete message
to the SGSN if a new P-TMSI is allocated or if the MS needs to
acknowledge the packets received from the network.

z If a new TMSI is allocated to the MS, then the SGSN sends a TMSI
Reallocation Complete message to the new VLR (this message is
not shown).

110
GPRSàUMTS

z For SGSN change from GPRS to UMTS, if the MS is in

the STANDBY state, then the normal UMTS RA update
procedure is executed.

z If the MS makes the intersystem change decision when

it is in the READY state, then it stops the transmission to
the network by disconnecting the LLC link.

111

GPRSàUMTS: Steps 1 and 2

z [Step 1.] The MS establishes an RRC connection to the

new SRNS, and sends the Routing Area Update
Request to the SGSN through the SRNS.
z [Step 2.] The SGSN stops the transmission to the old
BSS. The security functions may be executed among
SGSN, SRNS, and MS.
q If the type parameter in the Routing Area Update Request message at Step
1 is combined RA/LA update (for Network Mode I), or if the LA has been
changed, then the SGSN triggers LA update that involves the SGSN, new
VLR, old VLR and the HLR.

112
GPRSàUMTS: Step 3

z[Step 3.] The SGSN updates the MM and PDP

contexts for the MS. A new P-TMSI may be
allocated.
q The SGSN sends the Routing Area Update Accept message
to the MS.
q Reception of the new P-TMSI is acknowledged by the MS
through the Routing Area Update Complete message.
q If a new TMSI is allocated to the MS, then the SGSN sends a
TMSI Reallocation Complete message to the new VLR (this
message is not shown).

113

GPRSàUMTS: Steps 4-6

z [Step 4.] If the MS has pending uplink data or signaling,

it sends the Service Request message to the SGSN.
z [Step 5.] The SGSN requests the SRNS to set up the
radio bearer between the SRNS and the MS. The N-
PDU sequence numbers in GPRS PDP context of the
SGSN is used to derive PDCP sequence numbers for
the next packets to be delivered in the UTRAN radio
bearer.
z [Step 6.] Packet transmission is resumed between
SGSN, SRNS, and MS

114
GPRSàUMTS vs UMTSàGPRS

zA major difference between the two message

flows is that packet forwarding is not required in
intra SGSN change from GPRS to UMTS. The
reason is that in GPRS, the packets are
buffered in SGSN.
zNote that for inter SGSN change from GPRS to
UMTS, packet forwarding will occur from the old
SGSN to the new SGSN.

115

Summary

z This talk describes mobility management evolution from GPRS to

UMTS.

z In the UMTS architecture, the radio access network UTRAN is

introduced. Most radio management functions handled in GPRS
core network have been moved to UTRAN in UMTS.

z The GPRS mobility management functionality has been significantly

modified to accommodate UMTS. We pronounced the differences
between the GPRS and the UM- TS procedures.

z For further reading for UMTS core network architecture, the reader
is referred to 3GPP 23.121. The UMTS protocol stacks are
introduced in 3GPP 23.060. The complete 3GPP specifications can
be found in www.3gpp.org.

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