Technical Reference
July 2008
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Copyright © Actix 2008. All rights reserved. All trademarks are hereby acknowledged.
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Contents
1 INTRODUCTION .........................................................................................4
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Actix Radioplan UMTS Events July 2008 Technical Reference Introduction 4
1 Introduction
Actix Analyzer allows engineers to examine drive test data and scanner data to fully
optimize a UMTS network. It lets engineers understand the causes and reasons for drop
calls and access failures.
Analyzer offers an unprecedented capability to execute a detailed examination of message
flows and automating statistical analyses of performance. Analyzer significantly accelerates
the rollout, troubleshooting and optimization of the UMTS network. Actix has embedded
intelligence in the software to allow the RF engineer to visualize specific events and
understand real problems occurring in the network.
Actix solutions embody our extensive experience as the market leader in optimization
solutions for CDMA, UMTS and GSM. All of the lessons learned and the techniques
developed over a 10-year period have been incorporated into these powerful, vendor-
independent solutions for UMTS infrastructure.
This document provides an overview of the key events, information attributes implemented
into the software. For additional information on Analyzer (and other Actix products),
including white papers and other literature, please refer to www.actix.com.
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2 UMTS Events
2.1 UMTS Scanner Events Detection and Information Attributes
2.1.1 Threshold Options and Preferences
Analyzer has thresholds and preference allowing engineers to define the levels of EcIo,
Timers, etc. necessary to peg events. The following thresholds and preferences are
available:
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Using Scanner Ec/Io measurements to implement 3GPP handoff algorithms for the Active Set
Shown below is the list of attributes available for modification by the user, as indicated in
the 3GPP specifications:
Setting 3GPP handoff algorithm attributes including Reporting Range: Hysteresis Event and Time to
Trigger Event
The parameters depicted in the picture are based on the WCDMA events defined in the
3GPP TR 25.922 V4.1.0 (2001-09) Radio Resource Management Strategies specification.
Max. Active Set Size (up to 8). Specify the maximum size of the Active Set (1-8).
Disable active set simulation. Select this check box to turn off the active set simulation
feature. This will usually give faster file loading times, and will mean that the lines to cells
feature in the map will be based on the measured SC (if it's available) rather than the
simulated active set. This option is off (deselected) by default.
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The engineer needs to look at each SC and try to find out what is the best way to optimize
the area. See the training document for a full detailed description on optimization
techniques.
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• It counts the number of times when the first best SC in the Monitored set is
stronger than the first best SC in the Active set, within an 8-second window
leading up to the drop.
• If that number is greater than the number of times the Active set is stronger than
the Monitored set, it sets a Handover problem (assuming we have no Active set
update messages)
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If RRC Connection Setup or Setup Complete was received and the call fails to proceed after
that point, it would be considered as a call setup failure during the RRC Connection Setup.
If the call fails between the CM Service Request (or GPRS MM Service Request for PS Calls)
and the CC Setup (or the end of the Security Mode Command Complete for PS calls), it
would be considered as a call setup failure during security procedures.
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If the call fails between the CC Call Proceeding and the Radio Access Bearer Setup
Complete, it would be considered as a call setup failure during the RAB Setup procedure.
When any of the following messages is received, the call is considered as successful.
• CC Alert
• CC Connect
• CC Connect Acknowledge
Note: These attributes are also set during the initial stages
of a PS call
*
At least one of those messages (RRC Connection Request, MM CM Service Request) needs to be
present to initiate the call setup.
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• GSM_Um_Msg_Type == CC Setup
*
At least one of those messages (RRC Connection Request, RR Paging Response) needs to be
present to initiate the call setup.
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▫ (GSM_Um_Msg_Type == CC Release)
▫ AND any of the above messages with NOT a normal cause for ending the
call (CauseCodeCC is greater than 31)
• When in Call (Outgoing Call Ok or Incoming Call Ok), you get one of the following
messages:
▫ GSM_Um_Msg_Type == CC Disconnect (1) OR
▫ GSM_Um_Msg_Type == CC Release Complete OR
▫ GSM_Um_Msg_Type == CC Release
AND any of the above messages with a normal cause for ending the call (CauseCodeCC is
equal or less than 31)
In fact in UMTS it is possible to establish a PDP Context without actually transfer any data
(this is typical of “Always-on” network). So the main trigger for the detection of PS Call is
the attempt to setup a PS Radio Bearer with rate greater than 0 kbps (some networks
allow to establish a dummy bearer of 0 kbps…).
However, because many operators tend to identify a PS Call with the setup of a PDP
context, whenever it is applicable. Session Management messages are used as trigger for
setting attributes like Successful/Failed PS Call Setup.
An Originating PS Call attempt is detected by one of the following triggers:
• RRC: RRC Connection Request with Establishment Cause equal to any of the
following:
▫ RRC_OriginatingStreamingCall
▫ RRC_OriginatingInteractiveCall
▫ RRC_OriginatingBackgroundCall
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▫ RRC_OriginatingSubscribedTrafficCall
• RRC: Radio Bearer Setup message with assignment of physical resources to that
PS Radio Bearer (PS Rate in DCH > 0 kbps) if PS call attempt not already detected*
• RRC: RRC Connection Request with Establishment Cause equal to any of the
following:
▫ RRC TerminatingStreamingCall
▫ RRC TerminatingInteractiveCall
▫ RRC TerminatingBackgroundCall
• RRC: Radio Bearer Setup Complete if PS Rate in DCH > 0 kbps and a PDP Context
is already active for that Radio Bearer
• SM: Activation PDP Context Accept and the PS rate assigned during the RB Setup
procedure is greater than zero (NOTE: during the PDP Context activation a PS
Radio Bearer Setup procedure always occurs)
• RRC: Radio Bearer Setup Complete if PS Rate in DCH > 0 kbps and a PDP Context
is already active for that Radio Bearer
*
A typical case is where a RB is setup either in DCH without configuring physical resources
(Ch.Code) or in FACH
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• SM: Activation PDP Context Accept and the PS rate assigned during the RB Setup
procedure is greater than zero (NOTE: during the PDP Context activation a PS
Radio Bearer Setup procedure always occurs)
• RRC: RRC Connection Release with cause other than “Normal Release”
• UE drops to idle*
• RRC: RRC Connection Release with cause other than “Normal Release”
• UE drops to idle*
*
The algorithm use to detect a UE dropping to idle is based on one of the following events:
- SystemInfo messages from UE in Cell_DCH. The event is actually detected after an internal
configurable timer expires, in order to handle RRC re-establishment procedures
- RRC Connection Request from UE in Cell_FACH/Cell_PCH
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• When in Call (Outgoing Call Ok PS or Incoming Call Ok PS), each of the following
events denotes a successfully completed PS call:
▫ Uu_RRC_MsgType == RRCConnectionRelease with cause “Normal Release”
or “User inactivity”
▫ Deactivation PDP Context Request with cause “Regular deactivation”
• When in Call (Outgoing Call Ok PS or Incoming Call Ok PS), each of the following
events denotes a PS Call drop:
▫ Uu_RRC_MsgType == RRCConnectionRelease with cause other than
“Normal Release” and “User inactivity”
▫ UE drops to idle and does not re-establish via RRC Connection re-
establishment procedure.
▫ Deactivation PDP Context Request with cause other than “Regular
deactivation”
• Uu_RRC_MsgType == RRCConnectionRequest
▫ If the RRC Connection Request message is retransmitted, the starting point
for the Uu_TimeBetweenRRC_REQandCallStart remains the first RRC
Connection Request message
The ending point for the timer is the following event:
• If during PDP Context Activation the logging tool skip the RB Setup message, the
message sequence stalls and restarts only when UE returns to idle, unless the
network sends a PDP context Reject.
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Uu RRC ID
RRC Counter is set to 1
Start Of 0 Uu_RRC_ID is set to 0
File
1
RRC Connection Setup
1
RRC Connection complete
1
RRC Connection Release
Uu_RRC_ID is set to 0
0
RRC Connection Request 2 If still within the N300 & T300 time frame
State Signaling
Idle UMTS System Information or RRC is released
RRC Request UL-CCCH RRCConnectionRequest
RRC Setup DL-CCCH RRCConnectionSetup
RRC Connected UL-DCCH RRCConnectionSetupComplete
Wait_for_ReEstablishment RRC Connection has dropped, and the event is wait
to see if the RRC reestablish
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Example:
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• Uu_RRC_MsgType == PhysicalChannelReconfigurationComplete
• Uu_RRC_MsgType == RadioBearerReconfigurationComplete
• Uu_RRC_MsgType == TransportChannelReconfigurationComplete
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• Uu_RRC_MsgType == HandoverfromUTRANcommand-GSM
And then
CellChangeOrderfromUTRAN
• Uu_RRC_MsgType == CellChangeOrderfromUTRAN
And then
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• Uu_RRC_MsgType == HandoverfromUTRANcommand-GSM
And then
• Uu_RRC_MsgType == HandoverFromUTRANFailure
OR
CellChangeOrderfromUTRAN
• Uu_RRC_MsgType == CellChangeOrderfromUTRAN
And then
• Uu_RRC_MsgType == CellChangeOrderFromUTRANFailure
OR
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• Using the geographic information in the log file and the SC, the network element
database is searched to identify the Sector and Cell IDs of the SC
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Then
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Example:
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Thus if:
ITC=0 -> Voice Call,
ITC=1 -> Video Call,
ITC=2 (set in CM Service request) -> emergency call
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no phys.ch.
512 kbps
384 kbps
128 kbps
64 kbps
8 kbps (SF 64)
8 kbps (SF 128)
Attribute Uu_PS_RateDuration indicates the duration (in msec.) of the previous PS
Allocated rate. Like Uu_PS_AllocatedRate, it is set at the completion of the RRC procedure
by which the network assigns a new rate to the PS Radio Bearer.
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Attribute Uu_PSRate_DCH indicates the bit rate assigned by the network to a PS Radio
Bearer. Supported values are as above
It changes every time the network assigns a new rate to the user via RRC signaling (e.g.
Radio Bearer Setup). The new value is set at the start of the RRC procedure by which the
network assigns a new rate to the PS Radio Bearer.
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Actix Analyzer UMTS Events Technical Reference July 2008 Appendix 36
3 Appendix
3.1 Appendix 1 RRC Flow diagram
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