GPRS

CALL FLOWS

GPRS Architecture
GPRS Attach
Function

HLR
Gr

Detach Function
Um

PDP Context
Activation

PDP Context
Deactivation

Radio
Interface
MS

Gn

Gb/IuPS

IP Network

BSC/RNC

Gn

SGSN

GGSN

Gs

Routing Area
Update

DNS

MSC/VLR

Gi

GPRS Attach Function

GPRS Attach
Function

An MS (Mobile Subscriber) shall perform a GPRS Attach

to the SGSN in order to obtain access to the GPRS
services.

In the attach procedure, MS provides its identity and the

type of attach (GPRS attach only, GPRS Attach while
already IMSI attached, or combined GPRS / IMSI attach).

The identity may be the MS's Packet TMSI(P-TMSI) or

IMSI(if the MS has not a valid P-TMSI).

After having executed the GPRS attach, the MS is in

READY state and MM contexts are established in the MS
and the SGSN; the MS may then activate PDP contexts.

Detach Function

PDP Context
Activation

PDP Context
Deactivation

Routing Area
Update

GPRS Attach Procedure (1)

Gr
Um

GPRS Attach
Function

MS

Gb

Radio
Interface

BSS

Gs
SGSN

MSC/VLR

1a. Attach Request (ATRQ)

HLR

2. Identification
Detach Function

3a. Authentication &

Ciphering

PDP Context
Activation

3b. Send Authentication

Info
4a. Update Location
5a. Insert Subscriber
Data
5b. Insert Subscriber Data Ack

PDP Context
Deactivation

4b. Update Location

Ack
6a. Location
Update
Request

Routing Area
Update

7a. Update Location

8a. Insert Subscriber

Data
8b. Insert Subscriber Data
Ack
7b. Update Location
6b. Location UpdateAck
Accept
1b. Attach
Accept(ATAC)
9. Attach Complete(ACOM)
4

10. TMSI Reallocation

Complete

GPRS Attach Procedure (2)

GPRS Attach
Function

Detach Function

PDP Context
Activation

PDP Context
Deactivation

Routing Area
Update

1a) ATRQ - message sent from MS to SGSN that

contains: IMSI or P-TMSI and Attach Type.
2) Identification if the MS is unknown in SGSN, the last
one sends an Identity Request (Identity Type = IMSI);
the MS responds with Identity Response (IMSI).
3a) Authentication & Ciphering - authentication of the
MS by the network and establishment of a new GSM
ciphering key (Kc); the SGSN sends the message
Authentication & Ciphering Request (ACRQ) that
contains the Random Number (RAND) provides by AC
(Authentication Center); the MS responds with
Authentication & Ciphering Response that contains
the SRES number used for authentication; if ciphering
is enabled, Kc is the input for GPRS Encryption
Algorithm (GEA).
3b) Send authentication info if the SGSN has not any
more triples for authentication (RAND, SRES, Kc), it
shall request another triples from AC located in HLR.

GPRS Attach Procedure (3)

GPRS Attach
Function

Detach Function

PDP Context
Activation

PDP Context
Deactivation

Routing Area
Update

4a) Update Location - if the SGSN number has changed

since the GPRS detach, or if it is the first attach, then
the SGSN informs the HLR.
5a,b) Insert Subscriber Data the HLR sends the GPRS
subscription data for the given MS to SGSN; the last
one answer with the message Insert Subscriber Data
Acknowledge.
6a,b) Location Update Request - if Attach Type in step 1
indicated GPRS Attach while already IMSI attached, or
combined GPRS/IMSI attached, then the VLR shall be
updated if the Gs interface is installed.
7a,b) Update Location VLR performs an location
update request to HLR

8a,b) Insert Subscriber Data the HLR sends IMSI and

GSM Subscriber Data to VLR

GPRS Attach Procedure (4)

GPRS Attach
Function

Detach Function

PDP Context
Activation

PDP Context
Deactivation

Routing Area
Update

1b) Attach Accept if the authentication was

finished successfully and the GPRS
Subscription Data exists in HLR then SGSN
shall accept the request; otherwise it shall
perform an Attach Reject.
9) Attach Complete this message is sent
only if the P-TMSI or VLR TMSI was changed
by SGSN in previous step.
10) TMSI Reallocation Complete - this
message is sent only if the P-VLR TMSI was
changed during the attach procedure.

Detach Function

GPRS Attach
Function

Detach Function

PDP Context
Activation

PDP Context
Deactivation

Routing Area
Update

Allows an MS to inform the network that it does not want to

access the SGSN-based services any longer.
Allows the network to inform an MS that it does not have access
to the SGSN-based services any more.

MS-Initiated Detach Procedure

Gs

GPRS Attach
Function

MS

Um

Gb

Gn

Radio
Interface

Frame Relay

GPRS
Backbone

BSS

SGSN

Gs

GGSN

1a. Detach Request(DTRQ)

Detach Function

2a. Delete PDP Context

Request(DPCRQ)
2b. Delete PDP Context
Response(DPCR)

PDP Context
Activation

3. IMSI Detach Indication

PDP Context
Deactivation

4. GPRS Detach Indication

Routing Area
Update

1b. Detach Accept(DTAC)

VLR

Detach Messages (1)

GPRS Attach
Function

Detach Function

PDP Context
Activation

PDP Context
Deactivation

Routing Area
Update

10

The MS detaches by sending Detach Request (Detach Type, PTMSI, P-TMSI Signature, Switch Off) to the SGSN.
Detach Type indicates which type of detach is to be performed
(GPRS Detach only, IMSI Detach only or combined GPRS and
IMSI Detach).
Switch Off indicates whether detach is due to a switch off situation
or not.
P-TMSI Signature is used to check the validity of the Detach
Request message; if P-TMSI Signature is not valid or is not
included, the authentication procedure should be performed.

Detach Messages (2)

GPRS Attach
Function

Detach Function

PDP Context
Activation

PDP Context
Deactivation

Routing Area
Update

The active PDP contexts in the GGSNs regarding this particular

MS are deactivated by the SGSN sending Delete PDP Context
Request (TEID) to the GGSNs; the GGSNs acknowledge with
Delete PDP Context Response (TEID).
TEID = Tunnel Endpoint Identifier is used by the GPRS tunnelling
protocol between GSNs (GPRS Support Nodes).
If IMSI detach, the SGSN sends an IMSI Detach Indication (IMSI)
message to the VLR.
If the MS wants to remain IMSI-attached and is doing a GPRS
detach, the SGSN sends a GPRS Detach Indication (IMSI)
message to the VLR; the VLR removes the association with the
SGSN and handles paging and location update without going via
the SGSN.

11

Network-Initiated Detach Procedure

Gs

GPRS Attach
Function

MS

Um

Gb

Gn

Radio
Interface

Frame Relay

GPRS
Backbone

BSS

SGSN

Gs

GGSN

1a. Detach Request(DTRQ)

Detach Function

2a. Delete PDP Context

Request(DPCRQ)
2b. Delete PDP Context
Response(DPCR)

PDP Context
Activation

PDP Context
Deactivation

Routing Area
Update

12

3. IMSI Detach Indication

1b. Detach Accept(DTAC)

VLR

Detach Messages (2)

GPRS Attach
Function

Detach Function

PDP Context
Activation

PDP Context
Deactivation

Routing Area
Update

13

If the MS was both IMSI and GPRS-attached, the SGSN sends a

GPRS Detach Indication (IMSI) message to the VLR; the VLR
removes the association with the SGSN and handles paging and
location update without going via the SGSN.
The MS sends a Detach Accept message to the SGSN any time
after step 1a.

PDP Context Activation (1)

GPRS Attach
Function

Detach Function

PDP Context
Activation

PDP Context
Deactivation

Routing Area
Update

In order to transfer data over GPRS, the MS must activate at least

one PDP Context (Packet Data Protocol).
The SGSN knows from the subscription data the parameters (S
for Subscribed): PDP type (S), PDP address (S), APN (S), and
VPLMN address allowed.
The SGSN knows the parameters requested by the MS (R for
Requested): PDP type (R), PDP address (R), and APN (R).
In case of "an APN chosen by the SGSN default APN - the
activated PDP context is always linked with a dynamic PDP
address.
An MS may have multiple subscription records for the same PDP
type and the same PDP address, but with different APNs.

14

PDP Context Activation (2)

GPRS Attach
Function

Detach Function

PDP Context
Activation

PDP Context
Deactivation

Routing Area
Update

15

An MS may have one or two subscription records with the same

PDP type and the same APN: one with a static PDP address, one
with a dynamic PDP address.
If APN (S) = wild card (*), it means either:
- that a default APN has to be chosen by the SGSN if no
APN (R) has been provided;
Or
- that a PDP context with dynamic PDP address may be
activated towards any APN requested by the MS.

PDP Context Activation (3)

GPRS Attach
Function

Detach Function

MS

Um

Gb

Gn

Radio
Interface

Frame Relay

GPRS
Backbone

BSS

Gn

DN
S

1. Activate PDP Context Req.

(APCR)

2. DNS Query
PDP Context
Activation

PDP Context
Deactivation

Routing Area
Update

16

3. DNS Response
4. Create PDP Context Request
5. Create PDP Context Response
6. Activate PDP Context Accept(APAC)

GGSN

PDP Context Activation (4)

GPRS Attach
Function

Detach Function

PDP Context
Activation

PDP Context
Deactivation

Routing Area
Update

The MS sends an Activate PDP Context Request (PDP Type,

PDP Address, Access Point Name, QoS Requested, PDP
Configuration Options) message to the SGSN.
The MS shall use PDP Address to indicate whether it requires the
use of a static PDP address; the MS shall leave PDP Address
empty to request a dynamic PDP address.
The MS may use Access Point Name to select a reference point
to a certain external network and/or to select a service.
Access Point Name is a logical name referring to the external
packet data network and/or to a service that the subscriber
wishes to connect to.
QoS Requested indicates the desired QoS profile.

17

PDP Context Activation (5)

GPRS Attach
Function

Detach Function

PDP Context
Activation

PDP Context
Deactivation

Routing Area
Update

18

SGSN performs a DNS query in order to find out the IP address

for GGSN.
The result of the query depends by the given APN and the MCC
(Mobile Country Code) and MNC (Mobile Network Code); the
input for DNS looks like:
apn.mncXXX.mccXXX.gprs
The response shall be the GGSN IP address if the input exist, or
an error message (Server failure).

PDP Context Activation (6)

GPRS Attach
Function

Detach Function

PDP Context
Activation

PDP Context
Deactivation

Routing Area
Update

19

The SGSN sends a Create PDP Context Request (PDP Type,

PDP Address, Access Point Name, QoS Negotiated) message to
the affected GGSN.
The GGSN may use Access Point Name to find an external
network and optionally to activate a service for this APN.

The PDP Context accepted by SGSN may be rejected by MS if

the minimum accepted (QoS) of the MS is higher than accepted
context by SGSN.

PDP Context Deactivation

GPRS Attach
Function

MS

Um

Gb

Gn

Radio
Interface

Frame Relay

GPRS
Backbone

BSS

1. Deactivate PDP Context Req.

Gn

DN
S

Detach Function

PDP Context
Activation

2. Security Functions

3. Delete PDP Context Request

PDP Context
Deactivation

Routing Area
Update

20

4. Delete PDP Context Response

6. Deactivate PDP Context Accept

GGSN

Routing Area Update (1)

GPRS Attach
Function

Detach Function

PDP Context
Activation

PDP Context
Deactivation

Routing Area
Update

The MS detects that a new RA has been entered by periodically

comparing the RAI (Routing Area Identity) stored in its MM
context with that received from the new cell.
A routing area update takes place in the following situations:
1) When a GPRS-attached MS detects that it has entered a
new RA (Routing Area).
2) When the periodic RA update timer has expired.
3) When the MS has new access capabilities to indicate to
the network.
4) When a suspended MS is not resumed by the BSS (Base
Station System).

21

Routing Area Update (2)

Gr

GPRS Attach
Function

Detach Function

PDP Context
Activation

PDP Context
Deactivation

Routing Area
Update

22

MS

Um

Gb

Gn

Radio
Interface

Frame Relay

GPRS
Backbone

BSS

SGSN

1a. Routing Area Update Request

(RARQ)
2. Authentication
1b. Routing Area Update Accept
(RAAC)
3. Routing Area Update Complete
(RACO)

Gr

GGSN

HLR