The Intra and Inter-3G_MSC handover/relocation procedures in this functional unit consist of:

1. signalling between the UE/MS and the 3G_MSC;
2. signalling between the RNS/BSS and the 3G_MSC for access management.

Signals exchanged with functional unit 3 are indicated in subclause 12.3.

These procedures relate to the call control in 3G_MSC-B of the "3G_MSC handover/relocation" connection with 3G_MSC-A. For these procedures the following apply: Call set-up:

• the connection is set up by 3G_MSC-A. 3G_MSC-B should provide, if possible, the following backward signals:
• signals indicating unsuccessful call set-up and, if possible, the cause of call failure;
• address complete signal;
• answer signal (see note).
• there will be no indication that the call applies to a 3G_MSC handover/relocation. This information has to be derived from the UE/MS Handover Number received during call set-up in relation to the earlier MAP-PREPARE-HANDOVER request/MAP-PREPARE-HANDOVER response procedure between 3G_MSC-A and 3G_MSC-B.

Call clearing:

• call clearing consists of two parts after inter-3G_MSC handover/relocation: clearing of the RNS-UE/MS or the BSS-UE/MS connection and clearing of the inter-3G_MSC connection, these cases are only applicable to calls successfully handed over or relocated. If a request to release the call is generated by the network while the UE/MS is re-tuning from one RNS/BSS to another RNS/BSS, then 3G_MSC-B shall begin clearing the call to the network and queue the call release to the UE/MS until the UE/MS has resumed communication;
• the MAP is used to transfer information between 3G_MSC-A and 3G_MSC-B in order to make it possible for 3G_MSC-B to send the appropriate signals to the UE/MS, specified in TS 24.008, and still leave the call control to 3G_MSC-A. 3G_MSC-A normally initiates release of the connection between 3G_MSC-A and 3G_MSC-B. Exceptionally 3G_MSC-B is allowed to release the connection if no MAP-SEND-END-SIGNAL response is received, or if the 3G_MSC Handover/Relocation is to be aborted;
• when the Signalling System no 7 ISDN User Part is used, the normal symmetric release procedures apply. When a signalling system is used without a symmetric release possibility or a fault condition occurs, the following may apply:
  • when 3G_MSC-B receives a clear-forward signal from 3G_MSC-A, it shall release the radio resources;
  • in fault situation e.g. machine malfunction or loss of the connection on interface Iu or interface A, 3G_MSC-B may send a clear-back signal to 3G_MSC-A.

The procedures of functional unit 3 are given in form of SDL diagrams in Figure 44. To easily distinguish the interface concerned the messages received or sent from this unit are prefixed with either 'MAP' for a MAP message, 'A' for an A Interface message, 'Iu' for an Iu-Interface message or 'I' for an ISDN/PSTN message. The procedure in functional unit 3 include:

1. inter 3G_MSC handover/relocation from 3G_MSC-A;
   This case is initiated by 3G_MSC-A, and includes allocation and establishment of the new radio resources. The procedure is outlined in subclauses 8.1.1 and 8.1.2. for UMTS to GSM handover, clauses 8.2.1 and 8.2.2 for GSM to UMTS handover and subclauses 8.3.1 and 8.3.2 for relocation.
2. intra-3G_MSC UMTS to GSM handovers within the area controlled by 3G_MSC-B;
   This procedure is the same as that of ii) in clause 11.3, except that the Iu-RELOCATION-REQUIRED is received by 3G_MSC-B. After successful completion of the intra-3G_MSC handover, 3G_MSC-B shall notify 3G_MSC-A by sending an A-HANDOVER-PERFORMED message.
3. intra-3G_MSC GSM to UMTS handovers within the area controlled by 3G_MSC-B;
   This procedure is the same as that of ii) in subclause 11.3, except that the A-HANDOVER-REQUIRED is received by 3G_MSC-B. After successful completion of the intra-3G_MSC handover, 3G_MSC-B shall notify 3G_MSC-A by sending an A-HANDOVER-PERFORMED message.
4. intra-3G_MSC SRNS Relocation within the area controlled by 3G_MSC-B;
   This procedure is the same as that of ii) in subclause 11.3, except that the Iu-RELOCATION-REQUIRED is received by 3G_MSC-B. After successful completion of the intra-3G_MSC SRNS relocation, if security algorithms have been changed, 3G_MSC-B shall notify 3G_MSC-A by sending an A-HANDOVER-PERFORMED or an Iu-LOCATION-REPORT message, depending on the access network protocol used encapsulated on the E-interface (see subclauses 4.4.1 and 6.2.3).
5. subsequent handover/relocation to another 3G_MSC (3G_MSC-A or 3G_MSC-B');
   The initiation procedure is essentially the same as that of i) of subclause 11.3. The Handover Command to the BSS or the Relocation Command to the RNS is now generated by 3G_MSC-B after the A-HO-REQUEST-ACKNOWLEDGE or Iu-RELOCATION-REQUEST-ACKNOWLEDGE is received from 3G_MSC-A (via functional unit 4). The procedure is terminated in 3G_MSC-B when 3G_MSC-B receives a terminate procedure indication from functional unit 4.

Timers in 3G_MSC-B The following procedures are supervised by timers in order to avoid a deadlock when responses are not received or the procedures fail. The following timers are defined for UMTS to GSM handover: The following timers are defined for GSM to UMTS handover: The following timers are defined for SRNS Relocation:

The MAP procedures for handover/relocation are defined in TS 29.002. They include:

• procedures for basic handover/relocation;
• procedures for subsequent handover/relocation;
• procedures for obtaining the handover number from the VLR.

These procedures are outlined in clause 8.

The interworking between the Handover/Relocation control procedures and the MAP procedures for handover/relocation is defined in TS 29.010. It includes:

• interworking at basic handover/relocation completion;
• interworking at subsequent handover/relocation initiation.

This interworking is not described in the present document.

GSM phase 1 is not supported.

If the 3G_MSC-B accepts an Inter-3G_MSC GSM to UMTS handover procedure according to MAP and BSSMAP protocols while using a RANAP protocol towards RNS-B, 3G_MSC-B has to perform the protocol interworking between RANAP on the Iu-Interface and encapsulated BSSMAP on the E-interface. The same holds if 3G_MSC-B initiates a subsequent inter-MSC UMTS to GSM handover while using a RANAP protocol towards RNS-A. If during the supervision, i.e. while the UE/MS is not in the area of MSC-A or 3G_MSC-A, the protocol used encapsulated on the E-interface and the protocol used between 3G_MSC-B and the serving BSS or RNS are different, then 3G_MSC-B has to perform the protocol interworking between BSSAP and RANAP.