LTE/UMTS IRAT Features Tutorial

Xingkai Bao
Alcatel-Lucent
10/01/2012

LTE/WCDMA IRAT Features Overview

LTE to WCDMA mobility
LTE to WCDMA blind redirection: ready in LA2, LA3, LA4
LTE to WCDMA blind enhanced redirection: ready in LA4 and beyond
LTE to WCDMA idle reselection: Ready in LA2, LA3, LA4
LTE to WCDMA PSHO: Ready in LA3, LA4, LA5 and beyond

WCDMA to LTE mobility

WCDMA to LTE idle Reselection: ready in LA2 LA3 LA4 and beyond
WCDMA to LTE redirection: Under development
WCDMA to LTE PSHO: Under development

Voice calls in LTE network

Circuit switched voice call fall back (CSFB) via redirection: Ready in LA3
CSFB via enhanced redirection: Ready in LA4 (ALU SGSN not ready)
CSFB via PSHO: ready in LA3 and beyond
Single radio voice call continuity (SRVCC): droped from LA5 to LA6
Enhanced SRVCC (eSRVCC): planned in LA6

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LTE/WCDMA IRAT Network Diagram in Deployment Phase 1

UTRAN
Iu-PS

IuB

NB
NB

SGSN
SGSN

RNC
RNC
SS7

LTE
LTE HSS
HSS
WCDMA
WCDMA HLR
HLR

Gn-signaling

UE
S6a

Internet / Servers

MME
MME
S1-mme
Gn-data
S11
E-UTRAN

eNB
eNB

SGi/Gi

S10
S5/S8

S1-u

SGW
SGW

Gx

PGW
PGW // GGSN
GGSN

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PCRF
PCRF

LTEWCDMA IRAT Mobility Features in Deployment Phase 1

LTE to WCDMA reselection
LTE in idle mode. LTEs RRC connection is released when it becomes idle already
Routing area update procedure

LTE to WCDMA redirection

LTE RRC connection is released, and WCDMA bearers are re-established
Large PS data interruption time, and data is lost
LE5.0 data interruption time: 3.2-5.0sec, Avg: 3.4sec

WCDMA to LTE reselection

Idle mobility from WCDMA to LTE
WCDMA RRC stays in PCH for 10 second, and LTE RSRP>-104dBm
LE5.0 reselection time(From UE makes decision to TAU complete): 8-10 sec Avg:
8.9sec

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LTE -> WCDMA/GSM Cell Reselection/Routing Area Update

(Ref: 23.401 V8.15.0)
MS

eNodeB

New SGSN

Old MME

SGW

Old SGSN

PGW

HSS

UE reselects from LTE to UTRAN

or GERAN
(M1) Routing Area Update Request:
(M2) SGSN Context Request:
(M3) SGSN Context Response:
ME1: Security Functions
(M4) SGSN Context Acknowledge:
(M5) Update PDP Context Request:
(M6) Update PDP Context Response:
(M7) Update Location:
(M8) Cancel Location:
(M9) Cancel Location Ack:
(M10) Insert Subscriber Data:
(M11) Insert Subscriber Data Ack:
(M12) Update Location Ack:
(M13) Routing Area Update Accept:
(M14) Routing Area Update Complete:
(M15) Delete Session Request:
(M16) Delete Session Response:
ME2: S1-AP S1 Release:

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LTE to WCDMA Redirection

(FTS for FRS84807, 5.1.2.3)
UE

eNodeB

MME

SGW

SGSN

ME1: Uplink and Downlink User Plane

UE sends event A2_blind
when radio conditions in
service cell are very bad.
Threshold for A2_blind is
lower than threshold for
A2_MG
(M1) RRC-MeasurementReport (event A2_blind)
eNodeB decides to redirect
the UE to GERAN/UTRAN
carrier without
measurements on target cell
(M2) RRC-ConnectionRelease (cause=other, redirectedCarrierInfo, optional IdleModeMobilityControlInfo)
(M3) S1-AP-UE Context Release Request (cause=Inter-RAT redirection)
S1 connection released by MME and
S1-U bearers removed in SGW
(M4) S1-AP-UE Context Release Command
(M5) S1-AP-UE Context Release Complete
ME2: Cell Selection
ME3: Routing Area Update
ME4: Uplink and Downlink User Plane

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Lucent
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GERAN UTRAN

PGW

WCDMA-> LTE Cell Reselection/Tracking Area Update

(TS 23.401 v 8.15.0)
UE

eNodeB

RNC BSC

old MME

MME

SGSN

SGW

PGW

PCRF

HSS

Trigger to start TAU Procedure

(M1) Tracking Area Update Request
(M2) Tracking Area Update Request
(M3) SGSN Context Request
(M4) SGSN Context Response
ME1: Security procedures
(M5) Context Acknowledge
(M6) Create Session Request
(M7) Modify Bearer Request
(M8) PCEF Initiated CC Request IP-CAN Session Establishment
(M9) CC Answer IP-CAN Session Establishment
(M10) Modify Bearer Response
(M11) Create Session Response
(M12) Update Location Request
(M13) Cancel Location
(M14) Cancel Location Acknowledge
(M15) Cancel Location
(M16) Iu Release Command
(M17) Iu Release Complete
(M18) Cancel Location Acknowledge
(M19) Update Location Acknowledge
(M20) Tracking Area Update Accept
(M21) Tracking Area Update Complete

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Lucent
Proprietary

LTE/WCDMA IRAT Network Diagram in Deployment Phase 2

UTRAN
IuB

NB
NB

Iu-CS

RNC
RNC

Circuit
Voice
Network

UMTS
UMTS
MSC
MSC
SS7

SGs

LTE
LTE HSS
HSS
WCDMA
WCDMA HLR
HLR

Iu-PS

UE

SS7

S6a
Gn-signaling

MME
MME

SGSN
SGSN

Internet / Servers

S1-mme
Gn-data
S11
E-UTRAN

eNB
eNB

SGi/Gi

S10
S5/S8

S1-u

SGW
SGW

Gx

PGW
PGW // GGSN
GGSN

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PCRF
PCRF

LTEWCDMA IRAT Mobility Features in Deployment Phase 2

LTE to WCDMA Circuit Switched Call Fall Back (CSFB) through redirection
Mobile Originated CSFB
UE initiates a voice call, UE fall back to 3G WCDMA for both PS data and
CS call
PS data interruption time: 3-5 seconds
CS call setup time: about 4-5 seconds

Mobile Terminated CSFB

Network initiates a voice call, UE fall back to 3G WCDMA for both PS data
and CS call
PS data interruption time: 3-5 seconds
CS call setup time: about 4-5 seconds

Idle CSFBs

LTE is idle mode, MO or MT, the UE fall back to 3G WCDMA with CS call
RRC connection is firstly established
RRC connection is then released
Reestablish the LTE RRC waits about 200 ms

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LTEWCDMA IRAT Mobility Features in Deployment Phase 2

CSFB through enhanced redirection (eCSFB)
The enhancement is on the UTRAN container on each LTE sectors UTRAN neighbor
All UMTSs MIB and SIB information are sent to UMTS in the LTE RRC connection release. The UE
does not need to wait for MIB and SIB information after it connects to WCDMA
MIB: Master Information Block
SIB1: The system information block type 1 contains NAS system information as
well as UE timers and counters to be used in idle mode and in connected mode.
SIB3: The system information block type 3 contains parameters for cell
selection and re-selection.
SIB5: The system information block type 5 contains parameters for the
configuration of the common physical channels in the cell.
SIB7: The system information block type 7 contains the fast changing
parameters UL interference and Dynamic persistence level

CS call setup time is 0.5 seconds shorter

PS data interruption time is 0.3 seconds shorter
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Mobile Originating CSFB using Redirection

UE/MS

eNodeB

BSS/RNS

MSC

MME

S-GW

SGSN

1a. Extended Service Request

eNB initiated
handover based on
CSFB Indication

1b. S1-AP message with CS Fallback indicator

2. Optional Measurement Report Solicitation
3a. NACC, 3b. RRC connection release
4. S1-AP: S1 UE Context Release Request

Release with
Redirection

5. S1 UE Context Release
6. LA Update or Combined RA/LA Update or RA Update or LA Update and RA Update

RRC Connection and

SGSN Relocation
Procedures

7a. Suspend (see 23.060)

7b. Suspend Request / Response
9. CS MO call

8. Update bearer(s)

Circuit Call Request

10a. Service Reject

In case MSC is
changed

10b. Location Area Update

10c. CS MO call

11. Routing Area Update or Combined RA/LA Update

Source: 3GPP TS 23.272

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Mobile Terminating CSFB using Redirection

UE/MS

eNodeB

BSS/RNS

1a. CS Paging Notification

1b. Extended Service Request

MSC

MME

SGSN

S-GW

Page request is sent

to MME

1a. Paging Request

1a. Service Request
1c. CS Paging Reject

Service request from

UE after user
answers the
terminating call with
CSFB indication.

1d. S1-AP message with CS Fallback indicator

2. Optional Measurement Report
3a. NACC,

3b. Signalling connection release

4. S1-AP: S1 UE Context Release Request

Redirection, mobile
retunes to 3G. RAB
are established in 3G

5. S1 UE Context Release
6. LA Update or Combined RA/LA Update or RA Update or LA Update and RA Update
7a. Suspend (see TS 23.060)
7b. Suspend Request / Response
8. Update bearer(s)

Page response in 3G.

Circuit call is
established.

9. Paging Response
9a. Signalling Connection Release

9a. Connection Reject

9b. Location Area Update or Combined RA/LA Update

If the
MSC is
changed

10. CS Call Establishment procedure

Source: 3GPP TS 23.272

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Mobile Terminating Call In Idle Mode

UE

eNodeB

MME

RNC/BSC

MSC
VLR

HSS

G-MSC
1. IAM

2. SRI procedure in TS 23.018

Mobile termination
request delivered to
MSC

3. IAM
4. Paging Request

Page request is sent

to MME

5. Paging
6. Paging
7a. Extended Service Request

Service request from

UE after user
answers the
terminating call with
CSFB indication.

7a. Service Request

7b. Initial UE Context Setup

8a. PS handover
8b. CCO/NACC or RRC Connection Release

PS HO or redirection,
mobile retunes to
3G.

8c. Location Area Update

8d. Paging Response

8d. Paging Response

9a. Establish CS connection

9b. Signalling Connection Release

9b. Connection Reject

Location Area Update and Roaming Retry for CS Fallback (clause 7.5)

Source: 3GPP TS 23.272

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Option 1:
MSC is not
changed
Option 2:
MSC is
changed

Page response in 3G.

Circuit call is
established.

LTEWCDMA IRAT Network Diagram in Deployment Phase 3

UTRAN
IuB

Iu-CS

RNC
RNC

NB
NB

Circuit
Voice
Network

UMTS
UMTS
MSC
MSC
SS7

SGs

LTE
LTE HSS
HSS
WCDMA
WCDMA HLR
HLR

Iu-PS
S12

UE

SS7

S6a

Direct Utran tunnel

S3

SGSN
SGSN

MME
MME

Internet / Servers

S1-mme
S11

E-UTRAN

eNB
eNB

Gn-data
S10

S4

S5/S8

S1-u

SGW
SGW

SGi/Gi
Gx

PGW
PGW // GGSN
GGSN

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PCRF
PCRF

LTEWCDMA IRAT Mobility Features in Deployment Phase 3

New features supported
LTE to WCDMA PS Handover (PSHO)
LTE to WCDMA CSFB through PSHO

Interface change
Gn-c link S3 link between LTE MME and UMTS SGSN
Gn-d link should be only used by GGSN, not for data forwarding
New S12 link between LTE SGW and UMTS RNC
New S4 link between LTE SGW and UMTS SGSN

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LTE to WCDMA PS Handover (PSHO) Introduction

PSHO has much less data interruption time than redirection
Redirection: 3-7 seconds
PSHO:470-700 milliseconds

PSHO has two Phases

Preparation phase
Setup bearer and context in WCDMA
Setup the data forwarding tunnel between eNodeB and RNC

Execution phase
Mobility from eUtran to Utran
Data is forwarded from eNodeB to RNC

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LTE to WCDMA PS Handover (PSHO) Introduction

Data forwarding from eNodeB to RNC
No data is lost during the PS handover
Direct data forwarding
Indirect data forwarding with indirect tunnel
Indirect data forwarding with direct tunnel

PSHO without data forwarding

Data will be lost during PS handover
Longer data interruption time: about 650 milliseconds
CSFB through PSHO
PS data handover to WCDMA much faster
CS call setup time is faster by 0.4 to 0.5 seconds due to UtranContainer is sent to UE
before handover execution

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Call Follow for the Preparation Phase

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Call Follow for the Execution Phase

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RF trigger Mechanism in PSHO

Blind PSHO
Trigger event: A1_belowServingFloor
This feature is in 3GPP but not supported in real products

PS Handover with Measurement Gap

Trigger event 1: A2_enterCoverageAlarm
After UE sends the measurement report to eNodeB, eNodeB configs the UE to enter
measurement gap mode. The UE then measures the signal strength of both LTE and WCDMA
back and forth
Trigger event 2: B2_mobilityToUtran
After the UE sends the measurement report to eNodeB, eNodeB sends the handover_required
message to MME to indicate the handover preparation start
Trigger event 3: A1_leaveingCoverageAlarm
If the UE is in measurement gap mode, but the LTEs RSRP becomes stronger than the
A1_leaveingCoverageAlarm thresholds, the eNB indicates the UE to exit measurement gap
mode

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Data Forwarding Mechanism in LTE to WCDMA PSHO

Data forwarding
No data loss during PSHO
Reduce the data interruption time during PSHO: 470-480ms in lab
Direct data forwarding from eNB to RNC
eNodeBRNC
The fastest way to conduct PSHO: 470-480ms in lab
Indirect data forwarding from eNB to RNC
Through indirect tunnel
eNBSGWPGWGGSNSGSNRNC
Through direct S3/S4 tunnel
S4 tunnel is between SGW and SGSN
eNBSGWSGSNRNC
Through direct S12 tunnel
S12 link is between SGW and RNC
eNodeBSGWRNC
No Data Forwarding
Data is lost during PSHO
Data interruption time is increased to 680ms in lab
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CSFB through PSHO Introduction

The data mobility is through PSHO but not redirection when CSFB happens
Much shorter data interruption time
470-500ms compared to 3-5 seconds

No data is lost during lost

Higher successful rate due to measurement gap
B1 measurement gap is configured for CSFB through PSHO
Only measure WCDMA signal strength
Different from the B2 event which needs both LTE and WCDMA
measurement

Much shorter CS call setup time

B1 measurement gap increase the RF trigger by 100ms
Attaching WCDMA RRC is much faster which saves 2.6 seconds

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LTEWCDMA IRAT Network Diagram in Deployment Phase 4

Circuit
Voice
Network

MGC-8

UTRAN
IuB

Iu-CS

MSC
MSC
MGW
MGW

RNC
RNC

NB
NB

Iu-PS

MRF

SDM
SDM
IBC4

P-CSCF

WMM
WMM
S1-mme
S4

Gm
Rx

S11
Gx

SGW/PGW
SGW/PGW

ISC

MGW

Direct Utran tunnel

eNB
eNB

TAS

ICS

S6a

S1-u

SCC AS
ISC

Sv

E-UTRAN

CTS

MGCF

SS7

UE

SCG

PCRF
PCRF

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IMS

LTEWCDMA IRAT Mobility Features in Deployment Phase 4

Single Radio Voice Call Continuity (SRVCC)
Designed for VoIP in LTE (VoLTE)s mobility to 3G
Triggered by RF condition: LTEs signal strength is too weak
VoLTE call moves to 3G (WCDMA) CS call
When LTEs RF signal strength becomes strong again
Voice call stays in 3G (WCDMA)

Anchored the call in IMS SCC AS (5420 SCG)

SCC AS manages the leg switching between LTE and UMTS
SCC AS for a subscriber is always set in his home PLMN

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LTEWCDMA IRAT Network Diagram in Deployment Phase 5

Circuit
Voice
Network

MGC-8

UTRAN
IuB

Iu-CS

MSC
MSC
MGW
MGW

RNC
RNC

NB
NB

Iu-PS

MRF

SDM
SDM
IBC4

P-CSCF
ATCF
ATGW

WMM
WMM
S1-mme
S4

Gm
Rx

S11
Gx

SGW/PGW
SGW/PGW

ISC

MGW

Direct Utran tunnel

eNB
eNB

TAS

ICS

S6a

S1-u

SCC AS
ISC

Sv

E-UTRAN

CTS

MGCF

SS7

UE

SCG

PCRF
PCRF

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IMS

LTEWCDMA IRAT Mobility Features in Deployment Phase 4

New network elements added
ATCF
ATGW
New feature: enhanced SRVCC (eSRVCC)
Working scenario is similar to SRVCC but more efficient
Moving the anchor for the call to the visited IMS network
Anchor no longer in the SCC AS in the subscribers home network
Reducing the media latency significantly
Need new SDM support

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Thank you!

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