3G/2G

Selection
Reselection
Handover
Content

Overview
Basic Theory
Typical Flows
Overview
When making the 3G/2G selection and
reselection handover, the function mainly refers
to cell selection and reselection, as well as
handover and reselection of CS and PS
services. Among which, 3G/2G chooses the
reselection handover of the CS service currently
in the handover way while 3G/2G chooses
reselection handover of the PS service currently
in the reselection way, and will support the
handover way in the future. For the video call
service, the 3G to 2G handover will be made in
the way in which the visible telephone returns to
the voice telephone and the return process
should be handled on the 3G side. Because the
handover process is the same as that of the
common voice call, this document doesnt
describe this process.
Content

Overview
Basic Theory
Typical Flows
Cell Selection and Reselection
A 3G user selects the 3G network in priority and always
stays in the 3G network during the 3G network initial
construction period. This way could guarantee 3G
registered users who directly and fast enjoy more fruitful
and colorful service functions so as to avoid unnecessary
handover and roaming from GSM to WCDMA. During the
3G network initial construction period, the network
capability is not an issue for guiding 3G users to select
the 3G network and effectively alleviating the load of 2G
network. During the network mature period, the network
should also guide 3G users to select 3G network in
priority. When the problem of network capability is
serious, the network should be extended and keep the
telephone traffics balance based on services and
handover of load.
Cell Selection Strategy

The modes of the PLMN selection and reselection

have two types: automatic and manual. Automatic
network selection is that UE should automatic select
a PLMN according to the priority sequence of PLMN,
while the manual network selection could show
users all current usable networks and could be
selected by users. The target of the PLMN selection
and reselection is to select a usable PLMN. For this
purpose, the UE should maintain a PLMN list, which
makes sort for the PLMN according to priority and
makes search in this selection process according to
this priority.
the PLMN reselection needs to be run in the
following two cases
Case one: The user manually requests to enable the
PLMN reselection;
Case two: The UE registers to the visited network
(VPLMN) and periodically searches the home
network (HPLMN), this period could be configured
by the operators.
Method

Method one: the 3G network uses the same PLMN

numbers as the 2G network; under this
circumstance the network sets the 3G configuration
as a prior wireless access technology, and the UE
could use the WCDMA as a wireless access in
priority when the UE makes the PLMN selection.
Method two: 3G and 2G have the different PLMN
numbers: under this circumstance the network
deploys 3G as HPLMN.
Cell Reselection Strategy

The principle of the cell reselection also guarantees

3G users to be hosted in the 3G network as the
network selection strategy.
Make use of cell reselection to realize inter-system
roaming and reselection under the idle mode, and
implement the process as the follow strategies:
Strategy one: The UE only makes the cell
reselection from 3G to 2G when the UE leaves the
3G coverage area, and then keeps the continuity of
the coverage.
Strategy two: Once the UE returns to the coverage
area of 3G, it makes the cell reselection from 2G to
3G.
the cell reselection threshold

Principle one: When the load of the 3G network is

normal:
If the quality of the 3G network could cater for the
requirements of the lowest service rate and UE can
be hosted in 3G network.
T2G3G > T3G2G , Makes 3G users hosted in the 2G
network could easily reselect the 3G network;
Principle two: When the load of the 3G network is
high:
Increase threshold from 2G to 3G, make sure the 2G
network can share the load of 3G network.
This process could be automatically implemented and
there is reversibility according to the network load
Cell Reselection Processes

Step one: Trigger condition: Current 3G cell CPICH

Ec/No< Qqualmin+Ssearch,RAT
Step two: Cell filter: S criterion
Step three: Cell sort: R criterion
Step four: Cell selection: Treselection
2G Cell Reselection To 3G Cell
If the 3G cell reselection list contains the frequency points of
UTRAN, MS could be reselected to the UTRAN when MS
meets the conditions provided as follows:
Condition one: Trigger condition, Qsearch_I (Idle State)/
Qsearch_C (Dedicated State) satisfies the diff-system test
threshold.
Condition two: The RSCP of the adjacent cell measured by MS
is at least FDD_Qoffset higher than the RLA_C of all the
adjacent cells and keeps at least 5 seconds (If MS reselect to
GSM cell within 15 seconds, then FDD_Qoffset also needs a
5db increment.
Condition three: If Ec/ No (measured by MS) FDD_Qmin, the
time lasts 5 seconds;
Besides, MS could not make the cell reselection of the UTRAN
after it is reselected to the GSM within 5 seconds. If many
UTRAN cells meet the above criterions, MS needs to select the
best cell of the RSCP.
3G->2G Inter-system Handover Types

The handover between the 3G->2G systems mainly

contains the follow three types:
First type: handover based on quality
Second type: handover based on load
Third type: handover based on mobile speed of the
MS
Besides, there are some inter-system handovers
which are based on BLER, uplink/downlink power
and service types.
handover types
Blind handover: When the GSM and the UMTS exist
in one coverage cell, the UE could directly make the
handover process without opening the compression
mode and diff-system test after the handover
condition is met.
Oriented-retry: When the UE launches the service in
the UTRAN cell which has satisfied the threshold of
load balance, the service could be set up in the
GSM adjacent cell at the RAB stage.
The handover of opening the compression mode:
After the UE meets conditions of handover, the UE
runs the compression mode and measures inter-
system adjacent cells, then makes inter-system
handover according to results of measurement.
CS Service 3G->2G Handover
The typical handover process includes the follow steps:
Measurement control-> Measurement report-> Handover
decision-> Handover implementing.
When the UE stays in the edge of the 3G system and triggers
the threshold of inter-system test from 3G to 2G, the 3G RNC
notifies the double-mode UE and starts the diff-system test.
After the UE makes measurement and satisfies the threshold, it
reports the measurement event while the RNC judges if to start
the inter-system handover signaling flow.
The UE that is at the connection state in the 3G system can
work continuously within the designated frequency in all the
time period, so it is required to enable the condensation mode
(as the UE has only one transceiver) for the 3G system and the
dual mode in the dif-system measurement so as to keep the
session during the period of dif-system measurement.
CS Service 2G->3G Handover
After the UE starts the CS services in the 2G cell,
the UE should measure the 3G adjacent cells and
report the 3G adjacent cell measurement
periodically.
When the measurement of 3G adjacent cells meets
the threshold of handover (this measurement is
judged by BSC), the BSC should launch the
handover process. Among which the UE covered by
2G cell makes measurement for 3G adjacent cells,
or could realize clock opening inter-system
measurement through different configurations or
opens the inter-system test after meets conditions.
The GSM system doesnt use the UE event report to
determine the handover.
PS Service 3G->2G Handover

The handover ways of the PS service are different

according to the state before the handover of the UE.
When the UE stays in the DCH state, the UTRAN
launches a cell change command for handover.
When the UE stays in the FACH state or the PCH
state, the UE automatically launches the cell
reselection.
The idle UE launches the cell reselection
automatically while the reselection flow should also
take the process of the context interaction between
the new and the old SGSN PDP as the UE with the
FACH state or PCH state stays at the PMM
connection state.
PS Service 2G->3G Handover

Making handover from 2G to 3G is a cell reselection

self-made by the UE. The UE launches the RRC
connection and registration in the 3G cell through
the way of cell reselection.
After the 3G cell is registered, the UE could send the
direct message service request for applying for
resources when the UE has requirements for
signaling or data services.
CS+PS Concurrent Service 3G->2G Handover

As the GSM doesnt support that the UE uses CS

and PS services at the same time for hybrid
concurrent services of CS+PS, the handover of the
hybrid service from 3G to 2G makes sure that the
successful handover of the CS services is the main
function.
The PS service will be released, but keeps the PMM
connection state. After the UE releases the CS
service in the 2G cell, the PS services can be
recovered.
Content

Overview
Basic Theory
Typical Flows
Typical Flows

2G->3G Cell Reselection

The UE gets the basic parameters of 3G
measurement through the 2Quater system messages,
After the UE gets the signal measurement of 3G
adjacent cells, whether to launch the 5 seconds timer,
and the signal strength of 3G cell could be observed
through the GPRS RR 3G Reselection
Measurements of UE code flow.
The UE launches the reselection processes after it
satisfies the conditions of reselection, the starting and
the end of reselection all could be observed from
EVENT messages of UE internal.
3G-2G Cell Reselection

The UE gets the inter-system measure parameters

from the system message SIB3
The UE gets the adjacent cells selection
parameters of the diff-system from the system
message SIB11
The UE detects the 2G signal and makes queuing.
The UE launches the reselection flow and
completes the reselection after the 2G signal meets
the conditions of reselection.
CS Service 3G->2G Blind Handover Process

The UE reports the 2D events in the 3G cell, which represents the quality
of the 3G signal to become worse.

The RNC decision makes blind handover after the 2D event is reported;
it should directly send the retry request,
while it doesnt need to launch the compression mode during the blind-handover
process.
CS Service 3G->2G Directed Retry

The UE launches the CS service from the 3G cell

and the service cant be accessed because of
reaching the conditioning threshold of the load, the
RNC responds to the messages about the RAB
allocation failure because of directed retry.
CS Service 3G->2G Directed Retry

Once the RNC responds to the RAB allocation

failure, it sends the requests of retry and makes the
handover among systems. The reason of the retry is
also a directed retry.
CS Service 3G->2G Handover Based On Coverage

The UE launches the CS service and reports the 2D event

in the 3G cell when the signal quality becomes worse because of coverage.
CS Service 3G->2G Handover Based On Coverage

The RNC sends the inter-system measure control to the UE, notifies
the UE to make inter-system measure while the RNC issues the
inter-system measure parameter 3A or 3C and the compressed mode parameters
CS Service 3G->2G Handover Based On Coverage

The RNC issues the compressed mode parameters to the NODEB.

After the UE tests the signal strength of diff-system adjacent cells

satisfies the report threshold of event, the UE forward tells the test reports. This example is 3C.
CS Service 3G->2G Handover Based On Coverage

The RNC launches the retry flow and makes the inter-system
handover after the UE reports the 3C.
CS Service 2G->3G Handover
The RNC receives the
Relocation Request issued
from CN and indicates the
requests of accessible
office retry. After the RNC
notifies the NODEB to set
up a wireless link, the RNC
responds the
RelocationDetect and the
RelocationComplete to the
CN for wireless resources
successful allocation, and
then the RNC indicates the
retry is successful. The
RNC makes interaction with
the UE and allocates the
new RNTI as well as the
RNC transmits the UTRAN
Mobility Information.
PCH State 3G->2G Handover

After the UE sets up the PS service, it stops transmitting data.

The state becomes the PCH state after the user-panel reports 4B0,
and then the user-panel deletes the wireless link.
PCH State 3G->2G Handover
The UE makes handover to
the 2G adjacent cells
through the way of
reselection under the PCH
state. Because of staying
under PMM connection state,
the RNC could receive the
request messages of the
SRNC contexts and make
transmission for the PDP
contexts and retransmission
of the PDU buffer. Eventually
the RNC releases the IU
interface and completes the
handover.
FACH State 3G->2G Handover

The UE stops transmitting for data after the UE sets up the PS service
and the user-panel reports 4B0.

The user-panel becomes FACH state after it reports 4B0, and then it deletes the
wireless link.
FACH State 3G->2G Handover
The UE makes handover to
2G adjacent cells by the way
of reselection under the
FACH state. Because of
staying under PMM
connection state, the RNC
could receive the request
messages of the SRNC
contexts and make
transmission for the PDP
contexts and retransmission
of the PDU buffer.
Eventually the RNC releases
the IU interface and
completes the handover.
DCH/HS State 3G->2G Handover

After the UE sets up the PS service in the 3G cell, it should report the
2D event because of the worse signal quality.
DCH/HS State 3G->2G Handover
DCH/HS State 3G->2G Handover

The RNC issues the compression mode parameters to the NODEB.

DCH/HS State 3G->2G Handover

The UE reports the test reports to RNC after the measurements

of diff-system adjacent cells meet the 3C threshold.

The RNC notifies the UE to make inter-system cells modification

after it receives the test report 3C, and the notification messages
contain the basic parameters of the GSM cell.
DCH/HS State 3G->2G Handover
The UE begins to make
interactive processes of
the SRNC contexts and
makes transmission for
the PDP contexts and
retransmission of the
PDU buffer after the UE
completes reselection.
Eventually the UE
releases the IU interface
and completes the
handover.
PS Service 2G->3G HandoverUE Directly sends
SERVICE REQUEST

The UE firstly launches the request of the RRC connection

by the way of reselection from 2G to 3G because of the
inter-system cell reselection.
PS Service 2G->3G HandoverUE Directly sends
SERVICE REQUEST

Considering about the initial direct transmission message here, the UE takes FOR=1
in Route Area Updating from the initial direct messages, this parameter describes
that the UE has the requirements of signaling and data. Besides, if the value taken
by the PDP CONTEXT STATUS in RAU is 0x200, then it presents the PDP is active
which appears the UE is under connection state in the GSM side before the UE
reselects to 3G. However, if the value is 0x00, it represents the PDP is inactive
and shows the UE is under idle state in GSM side before the UE reselects to 3G.
PS Service 2G->3G HandoverUE Directly sends
SERVICE REQUEST

The UE immediately launches the Service Request for setting up

PS service after the UE finishes RAC update. Whether the UE carries
the PDP CONTEXT STATUS message also could be observed.

The PS service is set up after the CN responds Service Accept to

the RNC and issues RAB allocation.
PS Service 2G->3G HandoverLaunch PS service
via RRC connection

The UE makes handover from 2G to 3G through the way of reselection. Firstly,

the UE launches the RRC connection requests for the inter-system cell reselection.

Considered about the initial direct transmission message here, the UE takes FOR=0
in Route Area Updating, this parameter describes that the UE doesnt have the requirements
of signaling and data. However, the value taken by the PDP CONTEXT STATUS is
0x200, then it presents the UE has been already under PMM connection state.
PS Service 2G->3G HandoverLaunch PS service
via RRC connection
From the above diagram, the IU resources are
immediately released by the subsequent CN.
PS Service 2G->3G HandoverLaunch PS service
via RRC connection

It is noteworthy of considering that the UE sends another direct message

Services Request with the active PDP information for setting up the service
after the IU is released. Because of the released IU resources, the above message is abandoned.
PS Service 2G->3G HandoverLaunch PS service
via RRC connection

The UE launches the RRC connection request again, the reason is that the UE
launches the interactive service for setting up the PS service.

After the RRC connection is set up, the UE could directly send the service request
affixed with the PDP CONTEXT STATUS message, which represents the UE stays
under the PMM connection state. If the UE stays in IDLE state, then the UE sets up
the PS service by the PDP active request and not by sending service request directly.
CS+PS Concurrent 3G->2G Handover

The UE sets up the CS+PS concurrent service. Because the quality of

the local cell becomes worse, the UE reports the 2D events, while the RNC
issues the parameters of the measure control and the compression mode
as well as the UE launches the measure of the diff-system.

The UE reports the 3C event when the UE finds the signal strength of the diff-system
meets the measure reports thresholds in the diff-frequency testing.
CS+PS Concurrent 3G->2G Handover

When the RNC launches the processes of the CS service retry,

the CS service makes handover to 2G, and then the CN issues
messages about the IU release because of retry successful.
The PS service is interrupted as well as kept the PMM connection state.
CS+PS Concurrent 3G->2G Handover

From the observed signaling, the UE keeps CS calling about 9 seconds

in the 2G side and on-hooks the CS service, (From retry completed
to SRNS context requests received: 10:29:12-10:29:21). After the
CS service is on-hooked, the PS service has a demand on the recovering.
The RNC receives the SRNS contexts requests as well as makes the
retransmission of the PDP contexts and the data PDU, and then the
PS service of the 2G side is recovered.