n IP-CAN session is established after a primary Packet Data Protocol (PDP) context

initiated by the UE is activated.

When a subscriber goes online, the subscribers UE initiates the IP-CAN session
establishment flow.
Figure 1 shows the message flow of UE-initiated IP-CAN session establishment.
Figure 1 Message flow of UE-initiated IP-CAN session establishment
http://localhost:7904/pages/CEC1230A/01/CEC1230A/01/resources/upcc/maintenance/
signaling/figure/fig20_d621.png
http://localhost:7904/pages/CEC1230A/01/CEC1230A/01/resources/public_sys-
resources/icon-note.gif NOTE:
The message flow of UE-initiated IP-CAN session establishment in quasi-associated
mode is the same as the message flow in direction connection mode. In quasi-
associated mode, the policy and charging rules function (PCRF) interworks with the
policy and charging enforcement function (PCEF) though the Diameter routing agent
(DRA). In direct connection mode, the PCRF connects to the PCEF directly.
1. The UE attaches to the PS network.
2. The UE sends an Activate PDP Context Request message to the serving GPRS
support node (SGSN).
The Activate PDP Context Request message contains information elements (IEs)
such as network service access point identifier (NSAPI), access point name (APN),
PDP type, PDP Address, Requested QoS, traffic flow template (TFT) (optional),
and protocol configuration option (PCO) (optional).
3. The SGSN validates the IEs such as PDP type (optional), PDP address (optional),
and APN (optional) based on the subscription data. If the IEs are valid, the SGSN
selects a PCEF based on the APN and sends a Create PDP Context Request
message to the selected PCEF. The following IEs may be included in the Create
PDP Context Request message:
1. PDP type
2. PDP address
3. APN
4. Requested QoS
5. tunnel endpoint identifier (TEID)
6. NSAPI
7. Mobile Station International ISDN Number (MSISDN)
8. Selection mode
9. Charging characteristics
10. Trace reference
11. Trace type
12. Trigger ID
13. operation and maintenance center (OMC) flag
14. PCO
15. Network indicator
16. Maximum APN
 17. international mobile station equipment identity and software version
(IMEISV)
18. cell global identity (CGI)/service area identity (SAI)
19. RAT type
20. S-CDR CAMEL information
21. CGI/SAI/routing area identity (RAI) change report indicator
22. NRSN
4. The PCEF validates the Create PDP Context Request message, determines the
default charging mode based on charging characteristics, authentication
information, or local data configuration, and performs the following operations
based on its capability and load:
0. Selects a QoS rule.
1. Generates a charging ID.
2. Sends an authentication request to the authentication, authorization, and
accounting (Authentication, Authorization and Accounting (AAA)) server.
3. Assigns an IP address for the UE.
If the operations are successful, the PCEF creates a new entry in its PDP context
table and IP-CAN session table. If the policy and charging control (PCC) function is
enabled for the designated APN, the PCEF selects a PCRF and associates the
PCRF with the current IP-CAN session.
Then, the PCEF sends a Credit-Control-Request (CCR) message to the selected
PCRF, indicating the establishment of the IP-CAN session. The following attribute
value pairs (AVPs) may be included in the CCR message:
4. Session-Id
5. CC-Request-Type (INITIAL_REQUEST)
6. CC-Request-Number
7. Bearer-Identifier
8. Bearer-Operation (ESTABLISHMENT)
9. Subscription-Id (international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI)/MSISDN)
10. Framed-IP-Address (UE IP address)
11. IP-CAN-Type (3GPP (0))
12. 3GPP-RAT-Type
13. User-Equipment-Info (IMEISV)
14. QoS-Information
15. 3GPP-SGSN-MCC-MNC
16. 3GPP-SGSN-Address
17. RAI
18. 3GPP-User-Location-Info
19. Called-Station-ID (APN)
20. Online/Offline (default charging mode)
21. TFT-Packet-Filter-Information (mapped TFT on the Gn interface)
22. Access-Network-Charging-Address (PCEF GPRS Tunneling Protocol-
Control plane (GTP-C) address)
23. Access-Network-Charging-Identifier-Gx (GCID)
Figure 2 shows a captured CCR message.
 Figure 2 Captured CCR message
http://localhost:7904/pages/CEC1230A/01/CEC1230A/01/resources/upcc/maintena
nce/signaling/figure/fig_cn_90_35_0000036_01.png
5. The PCRF makes a multi-dimensional authorization decision for the IP-CAN
session based on available information such as subscription information, time,
location, service, dynamic AF session. Then, the PCRF sends a Credit-Control-
Answer-I (CCA-I) message containing the authorization result to the PCEF. The
following AVPs may be included in the CCA-I message:
0. Session-Id (the same as that contained in the CCR-Initial message)
1. Result-Code/Experimental-Result
2. CC-Request-Type/CC-Request-Number (the same as that contained in the
CCR-Initial message)
3. Event-Trigger
4. Charging-Rule-Install (At least one Charging-Rule-Install AVP is contained.)
5. Charging-Information (default online charging system (OCS)/offline charging
system (OFCS))
6. Online/Offline (It indicates the default charging mode. If the Online or Offline
AVP is contained in the CCA-Initial message sent by the PCRF, the IP-CAN
session is charged based on the Online or Offline AVP. If the Online or
Offline AVP is not contained in the CCA-Initial message, the charging mode
is determined by the configuration on the PCEF.)
7. QoS-Information
Figure 3 shows a captured CCA message.
Figure 3 Captured CCA message
http://localhost:7904/pages/CEC1230A/01/CEC1230A/01/resources/upcc/maintena
nce/signaling/figure/fig_cn_90_35_0000037_01.png
6. The PCEF determines whether the authorization is successful based on the value
of the Result-Code or Experimental-Result AVP contained in the CCA-Initial
message. If the authorization is successful, the PCEF saves the default
OCS/OFCS, charging mode, and authorized QoS, generates related policy and
control database (PCDB) and charging control database (CCDB), continues all
required steps for primary PDP context activation, and sends a Create PDP
Context Response message to the SGSN.