WCDMA Call Flow

Daniel Ahiabuike
WCDMA Architecture

Radio Access Network Core Network

UTRAN

Node B RNC MSC GMSC External

Uu Iub Iu CS
VLR Networks
HLR
UE Iur
EIR

Uu Node B Iub RNC SGSN GGSN Internet

Iu PS Gn
Connection states

CS Calls

UE Node B RNC MSC

RRC Connection Iu Connection

RL Connection

PS Data Sessions

UE Node B RNC SGSN GGSN

RRC Connection Iu Connection GTP Connection

RL Connection
Technical Terms

Packet Data Protocol (PDP) Context

This refers to the packet routing state. For an active PDP context, packet routing is enabled i.e data transfer. In
an inactive state, data transfer is disabled.

Radio Access Bearer

RAB carries the subscriber data between the Ue and the Core Network. Its characteristics depends on the type
of data to be transported - voice or packet data.

RRC Connection Iu Connection

Signaling Bearer Radio Access Bearer

Ue RNC MSC
 PS Mobility Management (PMM)
This covers all procedures and methods required to maintain knowledge about a UEs locations when it is
moving in the network.

PMM Detached State:

No communication between the UE and the SGSN
SGSN hold no valid location or routing information for the UE, hence it is unreachable.
PMM Attached State:
UEs location is known in the SGSN with an accuracy of a serving RNC
Location of the UE is tracked by the serving RNC
UE performs the routing area update procedure when RAI changes
A PS signaling connection is established between the UE and the SGSN
Circuit Switching vs Packet Switching
Circuit switching is a communication method which involves dedicated point-to-point connection. The
communication path of a user is considered rented and cannot be used by other users until the connection is
terminated. Packet switching, however is a more modern way of sending data by breaking it down to pieces called
packets and transmitting based on the destination address in each packet.

Cost
Since the communication path of Circuit Switching is dedicated and can be used by only one user at a
time, it is more expensive than Packet Switching where several users use the same communication path
at the same time thereby sharing the cost.

Reliability
Packet Switching breaks the information into small packets and transmits them over a congested
medium such as the Internet, there is bound to be lost packets along the way. However, there are
various protocols built to prevent huge data losses in a packet switched network. Meanwhile, Circuit
switching reserves the whole communication path, and it can almost be said that the information can
get across with no loss. This makes circuit switching very preferable when it comes to real time
communication such as calls.
Part 1

Circuit Switched Calls

UE INITIATED CALL FLOW (CS)

PROCEDURE OVERVIEW

Connection Setup
Security Procedures (Identity / Authentication / Security mode)
Call Setup Request and RAB Assignment
Call Connection
Call Disconnection
UE INITIATED CALL FLOW (CS)
Procedure Overview
Connection Setup

UE Node B RNC MSC

RRC Connection Request

(RACH)
RRC Conn. Setup
(FACH)
RRC Conn. Setup Complete
(DCCH)

RL setup Req.

RL setup Resp. Conn. Req.

Conn. Resp.

RRC Connection

RL Connection
Iu Connection
UE INITIATED CALL FLOW (CS)

Security Procedures (Identity / Authentication / Security mode)

UE Node B RNC MSC

Purpose:
Connection Setup
Identity Request: Used by the CN Identity Request Procedure
to request the UE identity (IMEI,
IMSI)
(Identity Request)
(Identity Request)
Authentication: UE
Authentication (Identity Response.) (Identity Request)
Authentication
Security Mode: Control Of
Integrity and Ciphering Operation. (Authentication Request)
(Authentication Request)

(Authentication Response)
(Authentication Response)
Security Mode

Security Mode Command

Security Mode Command

Security Mode Complete

Security Mode Complete
UE INITIATED CALL FLOW (CS)
Procedure Overview
Call Setup Request and RAB Assignment

UE Node B RNC MSC

Connection Setup

Security Procedures (Identity / Authentication / Security mode)

(Call Setup Req.)

(Call Setup Req.)

(Call Proceeding)
(Call Proceeding)

RAB Assignment Req.

RAB Setup
(DCCH)
RAB Setup Complete
(DCCH)

RAB Assignment Resp.

UE INITIATED CALL FLOW (CS)
Procedure Overview
Call Connection

UE Node B RNC MSC

Connection Setup

Security Procedures (Identity / Authentication / Security mode)

Call Setup Request and RAB Assignment

[*]
(Alerting)
(Alerting)

(Connect) (Connect)

(Connect Ack)
[*]
(Connect Ack)

Call Connected
UE INITIATED CALL FLOW (CS)
Procedure Overview
Call Disconnection

Purpose:
UE Node B RNC MSC
Network resources release
(Iu, RRC and RL) Call Connected

(Disconnect)
(Disconnect)

Iu Release Command

Iu Release Complete
RRC Connection Release

RRC Con. Release Complete

RL Deletion Request

RL Deletion Response

Call Disconnected
Part 2

Packet Switched Data Sessions

UE INITIATED CALL FLOW (PS)

PROCEDURE OVERVIEW
Establish RRC and RL connections
Attach Procedure
Make an Attach Request
Carry out Security Procedures
Complete the Attach Request
PDP context activation and set-up RABs for the connection
Create GTP connections and activate PDP Context at the GGSN
PS Call activation (Data Transfer)
PS Call Deactivation
UE INITIATED CALL FLOW (PS)

Check Point One

UE Detached No PDP Contexts

UE Node B RNC SGSN GGSN

UE State: Idle PMM Detached PDP Context Inactive Connections: None

UE INITIATED CALL FLOW (PS)
Procedure Overview
Connection Setup

UE Node B RNC SGSN

RRC Connection Request

(RACH)
RRC Conn. Setup
(FACH)
RRC Conn. Setup Complete
(DCCH)

RL setup Req.

RL setup Resp.
UE INITIATED CALL FLOW (PS)

Check Point Two

UE Detached No PDP Contexts RRC Connected

UE Node B RNC SGSN GGSN

RRC Connection (DCCH)

UE State: RRC Connected PMM Detached PDP Context Inactive Connections: RRC
UE INITIATED CALL FLOW (PS)
Procedure Overview
PMM Attach Procedure

UE Node B RNC SGSN

RRC Connection Setup

(PMM Attach Request)

(PMM Attach Request)

Conn. Setup Req.

Security Procedures (Identity request, Authentication and Security mode)

(PMM Attach Accept)

(PMM Attach Accept) Conn. Setup Resp.

(PMM Attach Complete)

(PMM Attach Complete)

UE INITIATED CALL FLOW (PS)
Check Point Three
UE Attached No PDP Contexts RRC Connected

UE Node B RNC SGSN GGSN

RRC Connection (DCCH) Iu Connection

UE State: RRC Connected PMM Attached PDP Context Inactive Connections: RRC , Iu
UE INITIATED CALL FLOW (PS)
Procedure Overview
UE PDP Context Activation Request and RAB Set-Up

UE Node B RNC SGSN

RRC Connection Setup

PMM Attach Procedure

(Activate PDP Context Req)

(Activate PDP Context Req)

RAB Assignment Req.

RAB Setup
(DCCH)

RAB Setup Complete

(DCCH)

RAB Assignment Resp

 UE INITIATED CALL FLOW (PS)
Procedure Overview
GGSN PDP Context Create and UE PDP Context Activation Accept

,
UE Node B RNC SGSN GGSN

RRC Connection Setup

PMM Attach Procedure

Context Activation Request and RAB Set-Up

Create PDP Context Request

Create PDP Context Response

(Act PDP Context Acc)

(Act PDP Context Acc)
UE INITIATED CALL FLOW (PS)
Procedure Overview
PS Call Active (Data Transfer)

UE Node B RNC SGSN GGSN

RRC Connection Setup

PMM Attach Procedure

Context Activation Request and RAB Set-Up

GGSN PDP Context Create and UE PDP Context Activation Accept

PS Call Active (Data Transfer)

UE INITIATED CALL FLOW (PS)
Check Point Four
UE Attached One PDP Context
Internet

UE Node B RNC SGSN GGSN

RRC Connection (DCCH) Iu Connection GTP Connection

UE State: RRC Connected PMM Attached PDP Context Active Connections: RRC , Iu , GTP
UE INITIATED CALL FLOW (PS)
Procedure Overview
PS Call Deactivation

UE Node B RNC SGSN GGSN

PS Call Active (Data Transfer)

(Deact PDP Context Req)

(Deact PDP Context Req)
Delete PDP Context Request

Delete PDP Context Response

(Deact PDP Context Acc)
(Deact PDP Context Acc)

(PMM Detach Request)

(PMM Detach Request)
(PMM Detach Accept)
(PMM Detach Accept)
Iu Release Command

Iu Release Complete
RRC Connection Release
RRC Conn Rel Complete
RL Deletion Request
RL Deletion Complete

PS Call Deactivated
Thank You!