UE Modes

• Idle mode
• Connected mode
• Camping on a cell
• Idle mode tasks
– PLMN selection
– Cell selection and reselection

References:
• 3GPP TS 25.301-4.1.0: overview on UE modes
• 3GPP TS 25.304 and 25.122: details on idle mode
• 3GPP TS 25.303: details on connected mode

UMTS Networks Andreas Mitschele-Thiel, Michael Söllner 12-Nov-08 1

Overview on Modes and States (PS mode)

UE SGSN GGSN
SM PDP context
SM: t t (active,
( inactive))

HLR
PMM state (detached, idle, connected)
RNC
Signaling connection

RRC connection

UE mode
PMM: Packet Mode Mobility Management
( l GMM – GPRS Mobility
(also M bilit MManagement)
t)
SM: Session Management
UMTS Networks Andreas Mitschele-Thiel, Michael Söllner 12-Nov-08 2
Overview on Modes and States (CS mode)

UE MSC GMSC
CM call state (active,
CM: ( ti null)
ll)

VLR HLR
MM state (detached, idle, connected)
RNC
Signaling connection

RRC connection

UE mode
MM: Mobility Management
CM: Connection Management

UMTS Networks Andreas Mitschele-Thiel, Michael Söllner 12-Nov-08 3

Relations between CM/SM, MM/PMM and RRC
States

CM/SM state(s) Subscrip- PDCP inactive active

(UE-SGSN-GGSN) tion address
Core
Network
MM/PMM state detached idle connected
(
(UE, SGSN, HLR))

Signaling none yes

connection
(UE-SGSN)
UTRAN
RRC state idle connected
(UE-RNC) Paging using Addressing
TMSI/P-TMSI using RNTI

UMTS Networks Andreas Mitschele-Thiel, Michael Söllner 12-Nov-08 4

UE Modes
Idle mode (paging area is known; paging needed)
– UE is identified by non-access stratum identities such as IMSI, TMSI
and P-TMSI
– UTRAN has no own information about the individual UEs in idle mode
(no RRC connection)
– UTRAN can only l address
dd e.g. allll UEs
UE in
i a cellll or allll UEs
UE monitoring
it i a
specific paging occasion

Connected mode (cell or URA is known; RRC connection)

– connected mode is entered when the UTRAN establishes and
maintains information about the individual UE (RRC connection)
– RRC connection is established between UE and Serving RNC
– UE is assigned a radio network temporary identity (U-RNTI and
possibly a C-RNTI)
C RNTI) to be used as UE identity on common transport
channels (RACH, FACH, PCH)
– connected mode does not require assignment of physical channel
resources

UMTS Networks Andreas Mitschele-Thiel, Michael Söllner 12-Nov-08 5

UE Idle Mode – Camping on a cell

Purpose of camping on a cell in idle mode:

• UE receives system information from the PLMN (BCH)
• UE is able to establish an RRC connection (access of the network on
the control channel of the cell on which it is camped – RACH/FACH)
• PLMN knows (in most cases) the registration area of UE
=> paging on control channels within the registration area (PCH)
• UE mayy receive cell broadcast services ((BCH))

„„Limited service“ state:

If
– UE is unable to find a suitable cell to camp on, or
– USIM is not inserted
inserted, or
– location registration failed,
UE attempts to camp on a cell irrespective of the PLMN identity, and
enters a "limited
limited service"
service state in which only emergency calls are possible

Source: 3GPP 25.304

UMTS Networks Andreas Mitschele-Thiel, Michael Söllner 12-Nov-08 6
 UE Idle Mode – Camping on a cell

UE is switched on
– a PLMN is selected and
– UE searches for a suitable cell of this PLMN to camp on

Functions executed when camped on a cell

(i.e. UE is in idle mode and has chosen a cell)
– UE monitors system information
– UE monitors paging information (PLMN is not aware of the cell chosen
by the UE; PLMN is not aware of the UE in „limited service state“)
state )
– UE executes a cell reselection if it finds a more suitable cell to camp on
– UE executes a location registration to register its presence in the
registration area by means of a NAS registration procedure if the new
cell is in a different registration area (LA or RA)
Source: 3GPP 25.304

UMTS Networks Andreas Mitschele-Thiel, Michael Söllner 12-Nov-08 7

 UE Idle Mode – Tasks
Manual Mode Automatic mode

PLMN Selection
andd Reselection
R l ti registration with
Indication UMTS network
to user Location PLMNs
Registration available
response no exchange of
signaling with
PLMN UMTS network
selected
NAS Control
Cell Selection
and Reselection
R di measurements
Radio t

Registration
R i t ti
location registration
g
Area with UMTS network
changes
CM requests
Location
Registration
Source: 3GPP 25.304

UMTS Networks Andreas Mitschele-Thiel, Michael Söllner 12-Nov-08 8

 g o h e re w h e n e v e r a
n e w P L M N is

UE Idle Mode – s e le c t e d

States and c e ll in f o rm a t io n n o c e ll in f o rm a t io n
s to re d fo r th e P L M N 1 s to re d fo r th e P L M N

Transitions S to re d
in f o rm a t io n
C e ll S e le c tio n
n o s u it a b l e c e l l f o u n d
In itia l
C e ll S e le c tio n

n o s u it a b l e
c e ll fo u n d s u it a b le c e ll f o u n d 2 s u it a b le c e ll f o u n d
n o s u it a b l e
c e ll fo u n d
C e ll S e le c tio n N A S in d ic a t e s t h a t
w h e n le a v in g s u it a b le C am ped r e g is t r a t io n o n s e le c t e d
c o n n e c te d c e ll f o u n d P L M N is r e je c te d
m ode n o r m a lly ( e x c e p t w ith c a u s e # 1 4
o r # 1 5 [5 ][1 6 ])

re tu rn to le a v e tr ig g e r
id le m o d e id le m o d e s u it a b le
c e ll f o u n d

C o n n e c te d
C e ll
m ode R e s e le c tio n n o s u it a b l e
E v a lu a tio n c e ll f o u n d
P ro c e s s
g o h e re
when no
U S IM in
th e U E
A n y C e ll
n o a c c e p ta b le c e ll fo u n d S e le c t io n
Limitted servicce state

U S IM in s e r te d

a c c e p t a b le
c e ll f o u n d
1

C e ll S e le c tio n
a c c e p t a b le
w h e n le a v in g Cam ped on s u it a b le
c e ll fo u n d
c o n n e c te d c e ll f o u n d 2
m ode a n y c e ll

re tu rn to le a v e t r ig g e r
id le m o d e id le m o d e a c c e p ta b le
c e ll fo u n d

C o n n e c te d
m ode C e ll
(E m e rg e n c y R e s e le c t io n n o a c c e p ta b le
c a l ls o n l y ) E v a lu a t io n c e ll fo u n d
P ro c e s s
UMTS Networks Andreas Mitschele-Thiel, Michael Söllner 12-Nov-08 9
 UE Idle Mode – PLMN reselection
The NAS provides a list of equivalent PLMNs that the AS uses for PLMN
selection, cell selection, cell reselection and handover

PLMN reselection: if necessary, the UE will look for more suitable cells on
other PLMNs at regular
g time intervals

If the UE loses coverage of the registered PLMN,

– either a new PLMN is selected automatically (automatic mode)
– or an indication of which PLMNs are available is given to the user
(manual selection)

Registration is not performed by UEs only capable of services that need no

registration (emergency call)

Source: 3GPP 25.304

UMTS Networks Andreas Mitschele-Thiel, Michael Söllner 12-Nov-08 10

UE Idle Mode – Cell Selection and Reselection
When camped on a cell, the UE shall regularly search for a better cell
according to the cell reselection criteria
If a better cell is found, that cell is selected
The change of cell may imply a change of radio access technology (RAT),
e.g. from UMTS to GSM

The NAS is informed if the cell selection and reselection results in changes
in the received system information

For normal service, the UE has to camp on a suitable cell, tune to that
cell's control channel(s) so that the UE can:
– receive system information from the PLMN
– receive registration area information from the PLMN, e.g. LA or RA
– receive other AS and NAS information
If registered:
– receive paging and notification messages from the PLMN and
– initiate call setup for outgoing calls or other actions from the UE

UMTS Networks Andreas Mitschele-Thiel, Michael Söllner 12-Nov-08 11