Step 0.
Based on OAM configuration, RAN nodes announce in SIBs over the radio interface information about the MBS FSA IDs and frequencies of neighbouring cells.
Step 1.
To establish broadcast MBS session, the AF performs TMGI allocation and MBS session creation as specified in
clause 7.1.1.2 or
clause 7.1.1.3. The MBS service type indicates to be broadcast service. The MBS FSA ID(s) of a broadcast MBS session are communicated in the service announcement towards the UE. The UE compares those MBS FSA IDs(s) with the MBS FSA ID(s) in SIBs for frequency selection.
Step 2.
The MB-SMF may use NRF to discover the AMF(s) supporting MBS based on the MBS service area and select the appropriate one(s). Then the MB-SMF sends the Namf_MBSBroadcast_ContextCreate (TMGI, N2 SM information ([LL SSM], 5G QoS Profile), MBS service area, [MBS FSA ID(s)]) messages to the selected AMF(s) in parallel if the service type is broadcast service. The MB-SMF may include a maximum response time in the request.
Step 3.
The AMF transfers the MBS Session Resource Setup Request message, which contains the N2 SM information in the received Namf_MBSBroadcast_ContextCreate Request to all NG-RANs which support MBS in the MBS service area. The AMF includes the MBS service area.
Step 4.
NG-RAN creates a Broadcast MBS Session Context and stores the TMGI and the QoS Profile in the MBS Session Context. The LL SSM are optional parameters and only provided by MB-SMF to NG-RAN if N3mb multicast transport is configured to be used in the 5GC. If MBS FSA ID(s) were received, the NG-RAN may use those MBS FSA ID(s)s to determine cells/frequencies within the MBS service area to broadcast MBS session data based on OAM configuration about the MBS FSA IDs and related frequencies.
Depending on the NG-RAN's preference to use multicast or unicast transport over N3mb and the availability of the LL SSM, step 5a or step 5b is executed.
Step 5a.
If NG-RAN prefers to use N3mb multicast transport (and if LL SSM is available in NG-RAN), the NG-RAN joins the multicast group (i.e. LL SSM).
Step 5b.
If NG-RAN prefers to use N3mb unicast transport (or if the LL SSM is not available in NG-RAN) between the NG-RAN and MB-UPF, NG-RAN allocates its N3mb DL Tunnel endpoint to receive downlink MBS session data.
Step 6.
The NG-RAN reports successful establishment of the MBS Session resources (which may include multiple MBS QoS Flows) by sending MBS Session Resource Setup Response (TMGI, N2 SM information ([N3mb DL Tunnel Info])) message(s) to the AMF. If NG-RAN prefers to use N3mb unicast transport (or if the LL SSM is not available in NG-RAN) between the NG-RAN and MB-UPF, NG-RAN provides its N3mb DL Tunnel Info as part of the N2 SM information. For more details, refer to
TS 38.413.
Step 7.
The AMF transfers the Namf_MBSBroadcast_ContextCreate Response () to the MB-SMF. The AMF should respond success when it receives the first success response from the NG-RAN(s). And if all NG-RAN(s) report failure, the AMF should respond failure. The MB-SMF stores the AMF(s) which responds success in the MBS Session Context as the downstream nodes. If the AMF receives the NG-RAN response(s) from all involved NG-RAN(s), the AMF should include an indication of completion of the operation in all NG-RANs. If received from NG-RAN node, the N3mb DL Tunnel Info and NG-RAN ID are included in the response.
Step 8.
[Conditional] If N3mb unicast transport is to be used (i.e. N3mb DL Tunnel Info is present in the
Namf_MBSBroadcast_ContextCreate Response message from AMF) in a deployment where NG-RAN nodes share a common user plane entity, the MB-SMF only establishes the shared tunnel towards the DL GTP tunnel endpoint if the shared tunnel has not yet been established (as determined based on the stored DL GTP Tunnel endpoint(s) for the MBS session). The MB-SMF also stores the received DL GTP Tunnel and corresponding NG-RAN Node ID for the MBS session. For the deployment where NG-RAN nodes do not share a common user plane entity, the DL GTP tunnel will not be used by other NG-RAN nodes. In a deployment where NG-RAN nodes do not share a common user plane entity, the MB-SMF always establishes the shared tunnel towards the DL GTP tunnel endpoint.
To establish the shared tunnel towards the DL GTP tunnel endpoint, the MB-SMF sends an N4mb Session Modification Request to the MB-UPF to allocate the N3mb unicast transport tunnel for a replicated MBS stream for the MBS Session.
Step 8a-8b.
If the AF subscribed to a Delivery Status Indication (see
clause 7.3.5), the MB-SMF notifies the AF as specified in step 2 of
clause 7.3.5. The MB-SMF notifies the AF The MB-SMF notifies the AF directly by invoking
Nmbsmf_MBSSession_StatusNotify service operation, or the MB-SMF notifies the AF via NEF/MBSF (if deployed) by invoking
Nmbsmf_MBSSession_StatusNotify service operation to the NEF/MBSF which then invokes
Nnef_MBSSession_StatusNotify service operation to the AF.
Step 9.
NG-RAN broadcasts the TMGI representing the MBS service over radio interface. Step 9 can take place in parallel with step 6.
Step 10.
Another NG-RAN may report successful establishment of the MBS Session resources (which may include multiple MBS QoS Flows) by sending MBS Session Resource Setup Response (TMGI, N2 SM information ([N3mb DL Tunnel Info])) message after the AMF transferred the Namf_MBSBroadcast_ContextCreate Response () to the MB-SMF.
Step 11.
The AMF transfers the Namf_MBSBroadcast_ContextStatusNotify request () to the MB-SMF. When the AMF receives the response from all NG-RAN nodes, the AMF includes an indication of the completion of the operation. If the AMF does not receive responses from all NG-RAN nodes before the maximum response time elapses since the reception of the Namf_MBSBroadcast_ContextCreate Request, then the AMF should transfer the Namf_MBSBroadcast_ContextStatusNotify request () which indicates partial success or failure.
Step 12.
[Conditional] If N3mb unicast transport is to be used (i.e. N3mb DL Tunnel Info is present in the MBS Session Start Response message from AMF), the handling in MB-SMF and MB-UPF is the same as specified in step 8.
Step 13.
The AF starts transmitting the DL media stream to MB-UPF using the N6mb Tunnel, or optionally un-tunnelled i.e. as an IP multicast stream using the HL MC address.
Step 14.
The MB-UPF transmits the media stream to NG-RAN via N3mb multicast transport or unicast transport.
Step 15.
The NG-RAN transmits the received DL media stream using DL PTM resources.