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Content for  TS 23.401  Word version:  18.4.0

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5.3.3.2  E-UTRAN Tracking Area Update without S-GW Changep. 173

Reproduction of 3GPP TS 23.401, Fig. 5.3.3.2-1: E-UTRAN Tracking Area Update without S-GW change
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Step 1.
One of the triggers described in clause 5.3.3.0 for starting the TAU procedure occurs.
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Step 2.
The UE initiates a TAU procedure by sending, to the eNodeB, a Tracking Area Update Request (UE Core Network Capability, MS Network Capability, Preferred Network behaviour, Support for restriction of use of Enhanced Coverage, active flag, signalling active flag, EPS bearer status, old GUTI, Old GUTI Type, last visited TAI, P-TMSI signature, additional GUTI, KSISGSN, KSIASME, NAS sequence number, NAS-MAC, Voice domain preference and UE's usage setting, UE has UE Radio Capability ID assigned for the selected PLMN, Requested IMSI Offset, Release Request indication, Paging Restriction Information, Unavailability Period Duration, Start of Unavailability Period) message together with RRC parameters indicating the Selected Network and the old GUMMEI. An exception is that, if the TAU was triggered for load re-balancing purposes (see clause 4.3.7.3), the old GUMMEI is not included in the RRC parameters. The UE shall set the Old GUTI Type to indicate whether the Old GUTI is a native GUTI or is mapped from a P-TMSI and RAI.
If the UE's TIN indicates "GUTI" or "RAT-related TMSI" and the UE holds a valid GUTI then the old GUTI indicates this valid GUTI. If the UE's TIN indicates "P-TMSI" and the UE holds a valid P-TMSI and related RAI then these two elements are indicated as the old GUTI. Mapping a P-TMSI and RAI to a GUTI is specified in Annex H. When the UE is in connected mode (e.g. in URA_PCH) when it reselects to E-UTRAN, the UE shall set its TIN to "P-TMSI".
If the UE holds a valid GUTI and the old GUTI indicates a GUTI mapped from a P-TMSI and RAI, then the UE indicates the GUTI as additional GUTI. If the old GUTI indicates a GUTI mapped from a P-TMSI and RAI, and the UE has a valid P-TMSI signature, the P-TMSI signature shall be included.
The additional GUTI in the Tracking Area Update Request message allows the new MME to find any already existing UE context stored in the new MME when the old GUTI indicates a value mapped from a P-TMSI and RAI.
Alternatively, when a UE only supports E-UTRAN, it identifies itself with the old GUTI and sets the Old GUTI Type to 'native'.
The RRC parameter "old GUMMEI" takes its value from the identifier that is signalled as the old GUTI according to the rules above. For a combined MME/SGSN the eNodeB is configured to route the MME-code(s) of this combined node to the same combined node. This eNodeB is also configured to route MME-code(s) of GUTIs that are generated the UE's mapping of the P-TMSIs allocated by the combined node. Such an eNodeB configuration may also be used for separate nodes to avoid changing nodes in the pool caused by inter RAT mobility.
The last visited TAI shall be included in order to help the MME produce a good list of TAIs for any subsequent TAU Accept message. Selected Network indicates the network that is selected. Active flag is a request by the UE to activate the radio and S1 bearers for all the active EPS Bearers by the TAU procedure. Signalling active flag is a request by UE using Control Plane CIoT EPS Optimisation to maintain the NAS signalling connection after Tracking Area Update Procedure is completed in order to transmit pending Data using the Data Transport in Control Plane CIoT EPS Optimisation or NAS signalling. The UE's ISR capability is included in the UE Core Network Capability element. The EPS bearer status indicates each EPS bearer that is active in the UE. The TAU Request message shall be integrity protected by the NAS-MAC as described in TS 33.401. KSIASME is included if the UE has valid security parameters. NAS sequence number indicates the sequential number of the NAS message.
In the RRC connection establishment signalling associated with the TAU Request, the UE indicates its support of the CIoT EPS Optimisations relevant for MME selection.
For UE using CIoT EPS Optimisation without any activated PDN connection, there is no active flag or EPS bearer status included in the TAU Request message. For a UE with a running Service Gap timer in the UE the UE shall not set the active flag or the signalling active flag in the TAU request message (see clause 4.3.17.9) except for network access for regulatory prioritized services like Emergency services or exception reporting.
If the UE has any PDN connection of PDN Type "non-IP" or "Ethernet", the UE shall send the EPS bearer status in the TAU Request message.
KSISGSN is included if the UE indicates a GUTI mapped from a P-TMSI in the information element "old GUTI".
The UE sets the voice domain preference and UE's usage setting according to its configuration, as described in clause 4.3.5.9.
The UE includes extended idle mode DRX parameters information element if it needs to enable extended idle mode DRX, even if extended idle mode DRX parameters were already negotiated before.
If a UE includes a Preferred Network Behaviour, this defines the Network Behaviour the UE is expecting to be available in the network as defined in clause 4.3.5.10.
If the UE supports RACS as defined in clause 5.11.3a, and if the UE is provisioned with a UE Radio Capability ID for use in the selected PLMN (i.e. PLMN-assigned for the specific PLMN or manufacturer-assigned), the UE includes a flag that indicates it has an assigned UE Radio Capability ID for use in the selected PLMN but the actual UE Radio Capability is provided to MME after security context is established in step 6 (see below).
If a Multi-USIM UE wants to enter ECM-IDLE state it includes the Release Request indication and optionally provides Paging Restriction Information.
If a Multi-USIM UE needs to modify the Paging Occasions in order to avoid paging collisions, it sends a Requested IMSI Offset to the MME, in order to signal an alternative IMSI as described in clause 4.3.33.
If the UE is using a eNodeB that provides discontinuous coverage (e.g. for satellite access with discontinuous coverage), the UE may include an Unavailability Period Duration and Start of Unavailability Period, see clause 4.13.8.2.
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Step 3.
The eNodeB derives the MME address from the RRC parameters carrying the old GUMMEI, the indicated Selected Network and the RAT (NB-IoT or WB-E-UTRAN). If that GUMMEI is not associated with the eNodeB, or the GUMMEI is not available or the UE indicates that the TAU procedure was triggered by load re-balancing, the eNodeB selects the MME as described in clause 4.3.8.3 on "MME Selection Function". The eNodeB forwards the TAU Request message together with the CSG access mode, CSG ID, TAI+ECGI of the cell from where it received the message and with the Selected Network to the MME. CSG ID is provided by RAN if the UE sends the TAU Request message via a CSG cell or a hybrid cell. CSG access mode is provided if the UE sends the TAU Request message via a hybrid cell. If the CSG access mode is not provided but the CSG ID is provided, the MME shall consider the cell as a CSG cell. For SIPTO at the Local Network with stand-alone GW architecture the eNodeB includes the Local Home Network ID in the Initial UE Message and in Uplink NAS Transport message if the target cell is in a Local Home Network.
To assist Location Services, the eNodeB indicates the UE's Coverage Level to the MME.
If the MME supports RACS, and the MME detects that the selected PLMN is different from the currently registered PLMN for the UE, the MME provides the UE Radio Capability ID of the newly selected PLMN in the UE context to the eNodeB as described in clause 5.11.3a.
In the case of satellite access for Cellular IoT, the MME may verify the UE location and determine whether the PLMN is allowed to operate at the UE location, as described in clause 4.13.4. If the UE receives a TAU Reject message with cause value indicating that the selected PLMN is not allowed to operate at the present UE location, the UE shall attempt to select a PLMN as specified in TS 23.122.
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Step 4.
The new MME differentiates the type of the old node, i.e. MME or SGSN, as specified in clause 4.3.19, uses the GUTI received from the UE to derive the old MME/S4 SGSN address and sends a Context Request (old GUTI, MME Address, UE Validated, complete TAU Request message, P-TMSI Signature, CIoT EPS Optimisation support inidication) message to the old MME/S4 SGSN to retrieve the user information. UE Validated indicates that the new MME has validated the integrity protection of the TAU message, e.g. based on native EPS security context for the UE. To validate the Context Request the old MME uses the complete TAU Request message and the old S4 SGSN uses the P-TMSI Signature and responds with an appropriate error if integrity check fails in old MME/S4 SGSN. This shall initiate the security functions in the new MME. If the security functions authenticate the UE correctly, the new MME shall send a Context Request (IMSI, complete TAU Request message, MME Address, UE Validated) message to the old MME/S4 SGSN with the UE Validated set. If the new MME indicates that it has authenticated the UE or if the old MME/old S4 SGSN authenticates the UE, the old MME/old S4 SGSN starts a timer.
If the UE with emergency bearers is not authenticated in the old MME/old S4 SGSN (in a network supporting unauthenticated UEs) the old MME/old S4 SGSN continues the procedure with sending a Context Response and starting the timer also when it cannot validate the Context Request.
If a RLOS attached UE is not successfully authenticated in the old MME and/or the Context Request cannot be validated, the old MME continues the procedure with sending a Context Response and starting the existing timer.
If the new MME supports CIoT EPS Optimisation, CIoT EPS Optimisation support indication is included in the Context Request indicating support for various CIoT EPS Optimisations (e.g. support for header compression for CP CIoT EPS Optimisation, etc.).
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Step 5.
If the Context Request is sent to an old MME the old MME responds with a Context Response (IMSI, ME Identity (IMEISV), unused EPS Authentication Vectors, KSIASME, KASME, EPS Bearer Context(s), Serving-GW signalling Address and TEID(s), MS Info Change Reporting Action (if available), CSG Information Reporting Action (if available), UE Time Zone, UE Core Network Capability, UE Specific DRX Parameters, Change to Report (if present), Remaining Running Service Gap timer, LTE-M UE Indication) message. If the new MME supports CIoT EPS Optimisation and the use of header compression has been negotiated between the UE and old MME, the Context Response also includes the Header Compression Configuration which includes the information necessary for the ROHC channel setup but not the RoHC context itself.
If the Context Request is sent to an old S4 SGSN the old S4 SGSN responds with a Context Response (IMSI, ME Identity (if available), unused Authentication Quintets, CK, IK, KSISGSN, EPS Bearer Context(s), Serving-GW signalling Address and TEID(s), ISR Supported, MS Info Change Reporting Action (if available), CSG Information Reporting Action (if available), UE Time Zone, UE Core Network Capability, UE Specific DRX Parameters, Change to Report (if present)) message. The Authentication Quintets are maintained by the old S4 SGSN. TS 33.401 gives further details on the transfer of security related information.
Change to Report flag is included by the old MME or the old S4 SGSN if reporting of change of UE Time Zone, or Serving Network, or both towards Serving-GW / PDN-GW was deferred by the old MME or old S4 SGSN.
If the Context Response message did not include IMEISV and the MME does not already store the IMEISV of the UE, the MME shall retrieve the ME Identity (IMEISV) from the UE.
The PDN-GW Address and TEID(s) (for GTP-based S5/S8) or GRE Keys (PMIP-based S5/S8 at the PDN-GW(s) for uplink traffic and the TI(s), is part of the EPS Bearer Context. ISR Supported is indicated if the old SGSN and associated Serving-GW are capable to activate ISR for the UE.
The new MME shall ignore the UE Core Network Capability contained in the Context Response only when it has previously received an UE Core Network Capability in the Tracking Area Update Request. If the UE is not known in the old MME/old S4 SGSN or if the integrity check for the TAU request message fails, the old MME/old S4 SGSN responds with an appropriate error cause.
If the DL Data Buffer Expiration Time for the UE has not expired (see High latency communication in clause 4.3.17.7), the old MME/old S4-SGSN indicates Buffered DL Data Waiting in the Context Response. When this is indicated, the new MME shall setup the user plane in conjunction to the TAU procedure for delivery of the buffered DL data.
If the UE receives emergency bearer services from the old MME/old S4 SGSN and the UE is UICCless, IMSI can not be included in the Context Response. For emergency attached UEs, if the IMSI cannot be authenticated, then the IMSI shall be marked as unauthenticated. Also, in this case, security parameters are included only if available.
For a RLOS attached UE, the old MME includes an RLOS indication to the new MME. If the RLOS attached UE in the old MME does not have a USIM, IMSI can not be included in the Context Response. If the RLOS attached UE has USIM but the IMSI cannot be successfully authenticated, then the IMSI shall be marked as unauthenticated. Also, in this case, security parameters are included only if available.
If SIPTO at the Local Network is active for a PDN connection in the architecture with stand-alone GW, the old MME/old S4 SGSN shall include the Local Home Network ID of the old cell in the EPS Bearer context corresponding to the SIPTO at the Local Network PDN connection.
For UE using CIoT EPS Optimisation without any activated PDN connection, there is no EPS Bearer Context(s) included in the Context Response message.
Based on the CIoT EPS Optimisation support indication, old MME only transfers the EPS Bearer Context(s) that the new MME supports. If the new MME does not support CIoT EPS Optimisation, EPS Bearer Context(s) of non-IP PDN connection are not transferred to the new MME. If the new MME does not support Ethernet PDN Type, EPS Bearer Context(s) of Ethernet PDN type are not transferred to the new MME. If the EPS Bearer Context(s) of a PDN connection has not been transferred, the old MME shall consider all bearers of that PDN connection as failed and release that PDN connection by triggering the MME requested PDN disconnection procedure specified in clause 5.10.3. The buffered data in the old MME is discarded after receipt of Context Acknowledgement.
If the EPS Bearer Context(s) are to be transferred to the new MME, the old MME also includes the Serving-GW IP address and TEID for both S1-U and S11-U, if available.
If the Old MME is aware the UE is a LTE-M UE, it provides the LTE-M UE Indication to the new MME.
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Step 6.
If the integrity check of TAU Request message (sent in step 2) failed, then authentication is mandatory. The authentication functions are defined in clause 5.3.10 on "Security Function". Ciphering procedures are described in clause 5.3.10 on "Security Function". If GUTI allocation is going to be done and the network supports ciphering, the NAS messages shall be ciphered.
If this TAU request is received for a UE which is already in ECM_CONNECTED state and the PLMN-ID of the TAI sent by the eNodeB in Step 3 is different from that of the GUTI included in the TAU Request message, the MME shall delay authenticating the UE until after Step 21 (TAU Complete message).
If the new MME is configured to allow emergency bearer services for unauthenticated UE the new MME behave as follows:
  • where a UE has only emergency bearer services, the MME either skip the authentication and security procedure or accepts that the authentication may fail and continues the Tracking Area Update procedure; or
  • where a UE has both emergency and non-emergency bearer services and authentication fails, the MME continues the Tracking Area Update procedure and deactivates all the non-emergency PDN connections as specified in clause 5.10.3.
If the new MME is configured to support Restricted Local Operator Services, the new MME, based on local regulation and operator policy, may skip the authentication and security procedure, or may perform authentication if security parameters are available or obtainable from HSS and continues the Tracking Area Update procedure regardless of the authentication result.
If the UE indicated it has a UE Radio Capability ID assigned for use in the selected PLMN in step 2, the MME may request the UE to provide the UE Radio Capability ID in Security Mode Command, if the MME needs to get the UE Radio Capability ID from the UE e.g. at inter-PLMN mobility. If enquired by the MME the UE shall include the UE Radio Capability ID in Security Mode Command Accept for the supported UE radio capabilities.
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Step 7.
If the old node is an old MME the new MME sends a Context Acknowledge message to the old MME. The old MME marks in its context that the information in the GW and the HSS are invalid. This ensures that the MME updates the GWs and the HSS if the UE initiates a TAU procedure back to the MME before completing the ongoing TAU procedure.
If the old node is an old S4 SGSN the MME sends a Context Acknowledge (ISR Activated) message to the old SGSN. Unless ISR Activated is indicated by the MME, the old S4 SGSN marks in its context that the information in the GWs is invalid. This ensures that the old S4 SGSN updates the GWs if the UE initiates a RAU procedure back to the old S4 SGSN before completing the ongoing TAU procedure. If ISR Activated is indicated to the old S4 SGSN, this indicates that the old S4 SGSN shall maintain its UE context including authentication quintets and stop the timer started in step 4. In this case, if the Implicit Detach timer is running, the old S4 SGSN shall re-start it with a slightly larger value than the UE's GERAN/UTRAN Deactivate ISR timer. Also, in this case, if the old SGSN has maintained the Serving-GW address for user plane and S4 GTP-U TEID, the old SGSN shall remove Serving-GW address for user plane and S4 GTP-U TEID locally. When ISR Activated is not indicated and this timer expires the old SGSN deletes all bearer resources of that UE. As the Context Acknowledge from the MME does not include any S-GW change the S4 SGSN does not send any Delete Session Request message to the S-GW. The MME shall not activate ISR if the associated Serving-GW does not support ISR.
If the security functions do not authenticate the UE correctly, then the TAU shall be rejected, and the MME shall send a reject indication to the old MME/old S4 SGSN. The old MME/old S4 SGSN shall continue as if the Identification and Context Request was never received.
For UE using CIoT EPS Optimisation without any activated PDN connection, the steps 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13 are skipped.
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Step 8.
Void.
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Step 9.
If the MME has changed the new MME adopts the bearer contexts received from the old MME/SGSN as the UE's EPS bearer contexts to be maintained by the new MME. The MME establishes the EPS bearer(s) in the indicated order. The MME deactivates the EPS bearers which cannot be established.
The MME verifies the EPS bearer status received from the UE with the EPS bearer contexts it maintains and releases any network resources related to EPS bearers that are not active in the UE. If there is no bearer context at all, the MME rejects the TAU Request. If the MME has changed the new MME sends a Modify Bearer Request (new MME address and TEID, ISR Activated, RAT type, LTE-M RAT type reporting to PGW flag) message per PDN connection to the Serving-GW. If there is no need for the SGW to send the signalling to the PDN-GW, the MME may send Modify Access Bearers Request (new MME address and TEID) per UE to the Serving-GW to optimise the signalling. The PDN-GW address is indicated in the bearer contexts. If indicated, the information ISR Activated indicates that ISR is activated. If it is a mobility from a SGSN to a MME and if the MME supports location information change reporting, the MME shall include the User Location Information (according to the supported granularity) in the Modify Bearer Request, regardless of whether location information change reporting had been requested in the previous RAT by the PDN-GW. If it is an inter MME mobility and if the PDN-GW requested location information change reporting, the MME includes the User Location Information IE in this message if it is different compared to the previously sent information. If the PDN-GW requested User CSG information, the MME also includes the User CSG Information IE in this message. If either the UE Time Zone has changed or Context Response message indicated pending UE Time Zone change reporting (via Change to Report flag), the MME includes the UE Time Zone IE in this message. If either the Serving Network has changed or Context Response message indicated pending Serving Network change reporting (via Change to Report flag) the MME includes the new Serving Network IE in this message. In network sharing scenarios Serving Network denotes the serving core network. If the old node is an old MME at a Tracking Area Update with a MME change ISR Activated shall not be indicated.
When the Modify Access Bearers Request or Modify Bearer Request does not indicate ISR Activated the S-GW deletes any ISR resources by sending a Delete Bearer Request to the other CN node that has bearer resources on the S-GW reserved.
If the new MME receives the EPS bearer context with SCEF, then the new MME updates the SCEF as defined in TS 23.682.
For Control Plane CIoT EPS Optimisation, if the DL data is buffered in the Serving-GW, and if this is a Tracking Area Update without MME change and the DL Data Buffer Expiration Time in the MM context for the UE in the MME has not expired, or if this is a Tracking Area Update with MME change and the old MME/old S4-SGSN indicated Buffered DL Data Waiting in the Context Response in step 5, the MME shall also indicate S11-U tunnelling of NAS user data and include its own S11-U IP address and MME DL TEID for DL data forwarding by the SGW in the Modify Bearer Request. The MME may also do so without DL data buffered in the SGW.
If the UE is using the LTE-M RAT type and the PDN-GW expects the LTE-M RAT type reporting as specified in clause 5.11.5, the MME also includes the LTE-M RAT type reporting to PGW flag to indicate to the Serving-GW to forward the LTE-M RAT type to the PDN-GW.
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Step 10.
If the RAT type has changed, or the Serving-GW has received the User Location Information IE or the UE Time Zone IE or User CSG Information IE and/or the Serving Network IE from the MME in step 9, the Serving-GW informs the PDN-GW(s) about this information that e.g. can be used for charging, by sending the message Modify Bearer Request (RAT type) per PDN connection to the PDN-GW(s) concerned. User Location Information IE and/or UE Time Zone IE and/or User CSG Information IE and/or Serving Network IE are also included if they are present in step 9.
If the Modify Bearer Request message is not sent because of above reasons and the PDN-GW charging is paused, then the SGW shall send Modify Bearer Request message with PDN Charging Pause Stop Indication to inform the PDN-GW that the charging is no longer paused. Other IEs are not included in this message.
If LTE-M RAT type and the LTE-M RAT type reporting to PGW flag were received at step 9, the Serving-GW shall include the LTE-M RAT type in the Modify Bearer Request message to the PGW. Otherwise the Serving-GW includes RAT type WB-E-UTRAN.
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Step 11.
If dynamic PCC is deployed, and RAT type information or UE location information needs to be conveyed from the PDN-GW to the PCRF, then the PDN-GW shall send this information to the PCRF by means of an IP-CAN Session Modification procedure as defined in TS 23.203.
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Step 12.
The PDN-GW updates its context field to allow DL PDUs to be routed to the correct Serving-GW. PDN-GW returns a Modify Bearer Response (MSISDN) to the Serving-GW. The MSISDN is included if the PDN-GW has it stored in its UE context. If there has been a RAT change towards E-UTRAN and location information change reporting is required and supported in the target MME, the PDN-GW shall provide MS Info Change Reporting Action in the Modify Bearer Response.
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Step 13.
The Serving-GW updates its bearer context. If ISR Activated is indicated in step 9 and RAT Type received in step 9 indicates E-UTRAN, then the Serving-GW only updates the MME Control Plane Address stored locally and keep the SGSN related information unchanged. Also, in this case, if the Serving-GW has maintained the SGSN address for user plane and S4 GTP-U TEID, the Serving-GW removes the SGSN address for user plane and S4 GTP-U TEID locally. Otherwise the Serving-GW shall update all of the information stored locally for this UE with the related information received from the MME. This allows the Serving-GW to route Bearer PDUs to the PDN-GW when received from eNodeB. The Serving-GW shall return a Modify Bearer Response (Serving-GW address and TEID for uplink traffic, MS Info Change Reporting Action) message to the new MME as a response to a Modify Bearer Request message, or a Modify Access Bearers Response (Serving-GW address and TEID for uplink traffic) as a response to a Modify Access Bearers Request message. If the Serving-GW cannot serve the MME Request in the Modify Access Bearers Request message without S5/S8 signalling other than to unpause charging in the PDN-GW or without corresponding Gxc signalling when PMIP is used over the S5/S8 interface, it shall respond to the MME with indicating that the modifications are not limited to S1-U bearers, and the MME shall repeat its request using Modify Bearer Request message per PDN connection.
When the MME receives the Modify Bearer Response or the Modify Access Bearers Response message, the MME checks if there is a "Availability after DDN Failure" monitoring event or a "UE Reachability" monitoring event configured for the UE in the MME and in such a case sends an event notification (see TS 23.682 for further information).
For Control Plane CIoT EPS Optimisation, if the MME address and MME DL TEID are provided in step 9, the Serving-GW includes Serving-GW address and Serving-GW UL TEID in the Modify Bearer Response message. The DL data is sent to the MME from the Serving-GW.
The buffered DL data is sent to the UE as described in steps 12-14 of clause 5.3.4B.3.
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Step 14.
The new MME verifies whether it holds subscription data for the UE identified by the GUTI, the additional GUTI or by the IMSI received with the context data from the old CN node.
If there are no subscription data in the new MME for this UE, or for some network sharing scenario (e.g. GWCN) if the PLMN-ID of the TAI supplied by the eNodeB is different from that of the GUTI in the UE's context, then the new MME informs the HSS of the change of MME by sending an Update Location Request (MME Id, IMSI, ULR-Flags, MME Capabilities, Homogenous Support of IMS Voice over PS Sessions, UE SRVCC capability, equivalent PLMN list, ME Identity (IMEISV)) message to the HSS. ULR-Flags indicates that update location is sent from an MME and the MME registration shall be updated in HSS. The HSS does not cancel any SGSN registration. The MME capabilities indicate the MME's support for regional access restrictions functionality. The inclusion of the equivalent PLMN list indicates that the MME supports the inter-PLMN handover to a CSG cell in an equivalent PLMN using the subscription information of the target PLMN. The "Homogenous Support of IMS Voice over PS Sessions" indication (see clause 4.3.5.8A) shall not be included unless the MME has completed its evaluation of the support of "IMS Voice over PS Session" as specified in clause 4.3.5.8. The ME Identity is included if step 5 caused the MME to retrieve the IMEISV from the UE.
If the UE initiates the TAU procedure in a VPLMN supporting Autonomous CSG Roaming and the HPLMN has enabled Autonomous CSG Roaming in the VPLMN (via Service Level Agreement) and the MME needs to retrieve the CSG subscription information of the UE from the CSS, the MME initiates the Update CSG Location Procedure with CSS as described in clause 5.3.12.
If the MME determines that only the UE SRVCC capability has changed, the MME sends a Notify Request to the HSS to inform about the changed UE SRVCC capability.
If all the EPS bearers of the UE have emergency ARP value, the new MME may skip the update location procedure or proceed even if the update location fails.
If the UE is RLOS attached, the new MME skips the update location procedure and the TAU procedure proceeds.
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Step 15.
The HSS sends a Cancel Location (IMSI, Cancellation type) message to the old MME with a Cancellation Type set to Update Procedure.
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Step 16.
When receiving a Cancel Location message and the timer started in step 4 is not running, the old MME removes the MM and bearer contexts. Otherwise, the contexts are removed when the timer expires. It also ensures that the MM context is kept in the old MME for the case the UE initiates another TAU procedure before completing the ongoing TAU procedure to the new MME. The old MME acknowledges with a Cancel Location Ack (IMSI) message.
So an old MME deletes all the bearer resources of the UE in any case when the timer started in step 4 expires, which is independent on receiving a Cancel Location message.
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Step 17.
When receiving the Context Acknowledge message and if the UE is Iu Connected, the old SGSN sends an Iu Release Command message to the RNC after the timer started in step 4 has expired.
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Step 18.
The RNC responds with an Iu Release Complete message.
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Step 19.
The HSS acknowledges the Update Location Request by returning an Update Location Ack (IMSI, Subscription Data) message to the new MME after the cancelling of the old MME context is finished. If all checks are successful, the MME constructs an MM context for the UE. The Subscription Data may contain the CSG subscription data for the registered PLMN and for the equivalent PLMN list requested by MME in step 14.
The subscription data may contain Enhanced Coverage Restricted parameter. If received from the HSS, MME stores this Enhanced Coverage Restricted parameter in the MME MM context.
The subscription data may contain Service Gap Time. If received from the HSS, the MME stores this Service Gap Time in the MME MM context for the UE and passes it to the UE in the Tracking Area Update Accept message if the UE has indicated Service Gap Control capability.
The subscription data may contain Subscribed Paging Time Window parameter that applies to the UEs on a specific RAT, e.g. NB-IoT. If received from the HSS, MME stores this Subscribed Paging Time Window parameter in the MME MM context.
If the UE initiates the TAU procedure at a CSG cell, the new MME shall check whether the CSG ID and associated PLMN is contained in the CSG subscription and is not expired. If the CSG ID and associated PLMN is not present or expired, the MME shall send a Tracking Area Update reject message to the UE with an appropriate cause value. The UE shall remove the CSG ID and associated PLMN from its Allowed CSG list if present.
If the Update Location is rejected by the HSS, the new MME rejects the TAU Request from the UE with an appropriate cause sent in the TAU Reject message to the UE. In such cases, the new MME releases any local MME EPS Bearer contexts for this particular UE.
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Step 20.
If due to regional subscription restrictions or access restrictions (e.g. CSG restrictions) (received in update location procedure in step 19) the UE is not allowed to access the TA:
  • The MME rejects the Tracking Area Update Request with an appropriate cause to the UE.
  • For UEs with emergency EPS bearers, i.e. at least one EPS bearer has an ARP value reserved for emergency services, the new MME accepts the Tracking Area Update Request and deactivates all non-emergency PDN connections as specified in clause 5.10.3. If the Tracking Area Update procedure is initiated in ECM-IDLE state, all non-emergency EPS bearers are deactivated by the Tracking Area Update procedure without bearer deactivation signalling between the UE and the MME.
If the TAU request message includes Paging Restriction Information, the MME may accept or reject the Paging Restriction Information requested by the UE based on operator policy. If the MME rejects the Paging Restriction Information, the MME removes any stored Paging Restriction Information from the UE context and discards the UE requested Paging Restriction Information. If the MME accepts the Paging Restriction Information from the UE, the MME stores the Paging Restriction Information from the UE in the UE context and then enforces it in the Network Triggered Service Request procedure as described in clause 5.3.4.3. The MME informs the UE about the acceptance/rejection of the requested Paging Restriction Information in the TAU Accept message. If the TAU Request message does not include any Paging Restriction Information, the MME shall delete any stored Paging Restriction Information for this UE and stop restricting paging accordingly.
If the TAU Request message includes a Release Request indication, the MME does not activate the user plane setup procedure in the subsequent steps and triggers the S1 release procedure as described in clause 5.3.5 after the completion of TAU procedure.
The MME responds to the UE with a Tracking Area Update Accept (GUTI, TAI-list, EPS bearer status, NAS sequence number, NAS-MAC, ISR Activated, IMS Voice over PS session supported, Emergency Service Support indicator, LCS Support Indication, Supported Network Behaviour, Service Gap Time, Enhanced Coverage Restricted, Indication of support of 15 EPS bearers per UE, PLMN-assigned UE Radio Capability ID, Accepted IMSI Offset, Paging Restriction Information acceptance/rejection, Enhanced Discontinuous Coverage Support, Return To Coverage Notification Not Required, Unavailability Period Duration, the Start of Unavailability Period, Maximum Time Offset) message. If the active flag is set the Handover Restriction List may be sent to eNodeB as eNodeB handles the roaming restrictions and access restrictions in the Intra E-UTRAN case. If the active flag is set in the TAU Request message the user plane setup procedure is activated in conjunction with the TAU Accept message. If this is a Tracking Area Update without MME change and the DL Data Buffer Expiration Time in the MM context for the UE in the MME has not expired, or if this is a Tracking Area Update with MME change and the old MME/old S4-SGSN indicated Buffered DL Data Waiting in the Context Response in step 5, the user plane setup procedure is activated even if the MME did not receive the active flag in the TAU Request message. If the new MME receives the Downlink Data Notification message or any downlink signalling message while the UE is still connected, the user plane setup procedure may be activated even if the new MME did not receive the active flag in the TAU Request message. The procedure is described in detail in TS 36.300. The message sequence should be the same as for the UE triggered Service Request procedure specified in clause 5.3.4.1 from the step when MME establish the bearers(s). The EPS bearer status indicates the active bearers in the network. The UE removes any internal resources related to bearers not marked active in the received EPS bearer status. If the EPS bearer status information was in the TAU Request, the MME shall indicate the EPS bearer status to the UE. If ISR Activated is indicated to the UE, this indicates that its P-TMSI and RAI shall remain registered with the network and shall remain valid in the UE. At a Tracking Area Update with an MME change ISR Activated shall not be indicated. At a Tracking Area Update without an MME change, if ISR is activated for the UE when the MME receives the Tracking Area Update Request, the MME should maintain ISR by indicating ISR Activated in the Tracking Area Update Accept message. Handover Restriction List is described in clause 4.3.5.7 "Mobility Restrictions". The MME sets the IMS Voice over PS session supported as described in clause 4.3.5.8.
For UE using CIoT EPS Optimisation without any activated PDN connection, there is no EPS bearer status included in the TAU Accept message.
The MME indicates the CIoT EPS Optimisations it supports and prefers in the Supported Network Behaviour information as defined in clause 4.3.5.10.
If there is a Service Gap timer running for the UE in the MME, the MME shall ignore the active flag and signalling active flag and not perform any of the actions related to these flags except if the TAU Request message has been received when the UE has a PDN connection for emergency bearer services established or is establishing a PDN connection for emergency bearer services or if the UE is configured to use high priority access (AC 11-15) in selected PLMN.
The MME shall include the Service Gap Time in the TAU Accept message if the UE has indicated Service Gap Control capability and either if Service Gap Time was received in step 19 from HSS in the subscription information or if the Service Gap Time in the subscription information has been updated by HSS User Profile management (i.e. the Insert Subscriber Data procedure in clause 5.3.9.2).
If the UE included support for restriction of use of Enhanced Coverage in step 1, the MME sends Enhanced Coverage Restricted parameter to the eNodeB in the S1-AP message as defined in clause 4.3.28. The MME also sends the Enhanced Coverage Restricted parameter to the UE in the TAU Accept message. UE shall store Enhanced Coverage Restricted parameter and shall use the value of Enhanced Coverage Restricted parameter to determine if enhanced coverage feature should be used or not.
If the MME successfully obtained Header Compression Configuration parameters in step 5 it indicates he continued use of previous negotiated configuration to the UE in the Header Compression Context Status for each EPS Bearer of the UE. When Header Compression Context Status indicates that the previous negotiated configuration can no longer be used for some EPS bearers, the UE shall stop performing header compression and decompression when sending or receiving data using Control Plane CIoT EPS Optimisation on these EPS bearers.
The MME checks if there is a "Availability after DDN Failure" monitoring event or a "UE Reachability" monitoring event configured for the UE in the MME for which an event notification has not yet been sent. In such a case an event notification is sent (see TS 23.682 for further information).
If the MME did not receive the Voice support match indicator in the MM Context, then the MME may send a UE Radio Capability Match Request to the eNodeB as described in clause 5.3.14. If the MME hasn't received Voice support match indicator from the eNodeB then based on implementation MME may set IMS Voice over PS session supported Indication and update it at a later stage. After step 14, and in parallel to any of the preceding steps, the MME shall send a Notify Request (Homogeneous Support of IMS Voice over PS Sessions) message to the HSS:
  • If the MME has evaluated the support of IMS Voice over PS Sessions, see clause 4.3.5.8, and
  • If the MME determines that it needs to update the Homogeneous Support of IMS Voice over PS Sessions, see clause 4.3.5.8A.
The Emergency Service Support indicator informs the UE that Emergency bearer services are supported. LCS Support Indication indicates whether the network supports the EPC-MO-LR and/or CS-MO-LR as described in TS 23.271. Indication for support of 15 EPS bearers per UE indicates the network supports 15 EPS bearers as defined in clause 4.12.
When receiving the TAU Accept message and there is no ISR Activated indication the UE shall set its TIN to "GUTI". When ISR Activated is indicated and the UE's TIN indicates "GUTI" the UE's TIN shall not be changed. When ISR Activated is indicated and the TIN is "P-TMSI" or "RAT-related TMSI" the UE shall set its TIN to "RAT-related TMSI".
For an MME change ISR is not activated by the new MME to avoid context transfer procedures with two old CN nodes.
For an emergency attached UE, emergency ISR is not activated.
If the TAU procedure is initiated by manual CSG selection and occurs via a CSG cell, the UE upon receiving TAU Accept message shall add the CSG ID and associated PLMN to its Allowed CSG list if it is not already present. Manual CSG selection is not supported if the UE has emergency bearers established.
If the UE included extended idle mode DRX parameters information element, the MME includes extended idle mode DRX parameters information element in the TAU accept if it decides to enable extended idle mode DRX with Paging Time Window length assigned considering Subscribed Paging Time Window (if available) and the local policy. Additionally, for a UE using an eNodeB that provides discontinuous coverage (e.g. for satellite access with discontinuous coverage), the MME may consider Unavailability Period Duration and/or Start of Unavailability Period as described in clause 4.13.8.2 when determining extended idle mode DRX parameters.
If the user plane setup is performed in conjunction with the TAU Accept message and the TAU is performed via a hybrid cell, then the MME shall send an indication whether the UE is a CSG member to the RAN along with the S1-MME control message. Based on this information, the RAN may perform differentiated treatment for CSG and non-CSG members.
If the UE receives a Service Gap Time in the TAU Accept message, the UE shall store this parameter and apply Service Gap Control (see clause 4.3.17.9).
If the UE has indicated support for dual connectivity with NR in the TAU Request and the UE is not allowed to use NR as Secondary RAT, the MME indicates that to the UE in the TAU Accept message.
If the user plane setup is performed and if RACS is supported and MME has UE Radio Capability ID in UE context, valid for the PLMN the UE is currently in, it signals the UE Radio Capability ID to the eNodeB as defined in clause 5.11.3a. If the eNodeB does not have mapping between the specific UE Radio Capability ID and the UE radio capabilities, it shall use the procedure described in TS 36.413 to retrieve the mapping from the Core Network.
When the UE supports RACS, and the MME needs to configure the UE with a UE Radio Capability ID, and the MME already has the UE radio capabilities for the UE, the MME may provide the UE with the UE Radio Capability ID for the UE radio capabilities the UCMF returns to the MME for this UE.
If the UE had included a UE Specific DRX parameter for NB-IoT in the Tracking Area Update Request, the MME includes the Accepted NB-IoT DRX parameter.
If the UE provided a Requested IMSI Offset in step 2, but the network prefers a different value, the MME provides the UE with an Accepted IMSI Offset different from the one provided in step 2. Otherwise the value of the Accepted IMSI Offset the MME sends is the value of the Requested IMSI Offset sent by the UE in step 2. The MME stores the value of the alternative IMSI derived (see clause 4.3.33) from the Accepted IMSI Offset provided to the UE in the UE context.
If a Multi-USIM UE does not provide a Requested IMSI Offset in step 1, the MME erases any alternative IMSI value in the UE context.
If the Multi-USIM UE has indicated one or more Multi-USIM specific Capabilities are supported in the UE Core Network Capability in step 2, the MME shall indicate whether the corresponding one or more Multi-USIM specific features described in clause 4.3.33 are supported based on network capability and preference by the network (based on local network policy) by providing one or more of the Connection Release Supported, Paging Cause Indication for Voice Service Supported, Reject Paging Request Supported, Paging Restriction Supported and Paging Timing Collision Control Supported indications. The MME shall only indicate Paging Restriction Supported together with either Connection Release Supported or Reject Paging Request Supported. The UE shall only use Multi-USIM specific features that the MME indicated as being supported. In case of Emergency attached UE, the MME shall not indicate support for any Multi-USIM feature to the UE.
If both UE and network support discontinuous coverage, the MME provides the Enhanced Discontinuous Coverage Support indication as described in clause 4.13.8.1.
For a UE using a eNodeB that provides discontinuous coverage (e.g. for satellite access with discontinuous coverage), the MME may provide Return To Coverage Notification Not Required, which requests the UE in ECM_IDLE state to not perform the TAU procedure when it returns to coverage, and/or provide the UE with an Unavailability Period Duration and/or Start of Unavailability Period if available, as described in clause 4.13.8.2. The MME may also provide a Maximum Time Offset as described in clause 4.13.8.6.
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Step 21.
If the GUTI was changed, or the MME indicates an Accepted IMSI Offset to the UE in step 20, the UE acknowledges the new GUTI or the Accepted IMSI Offset value by returning a Tracking Area Update Complete message to the MME.
When the "Active flag" is not set in the TAU Request message and the Tracking Area Update was not initiated in ECM-CONNECTED state, the MME releases the signalling connection with UE, according to clause 5.3.5. For a UE using Control Plane CIoT EPS Optimisation, when the "Signalling active flag" is set, the new MME shall not release the NAS signalling connection with the UE immediately after the TAU procedure is completed.
In the case of a rejected tracking area update operation, due to regional subscription, roaming restrictions, or access restrictions (see TS 23.221 and TS 23.008) the new MME should not construct an MM context for the UE. In the case of receiving the subscriber data from HSS, the new MME may construct an MM context and store the subscriber data for the UE to optimise signalling between the MME and the HSS. A reject shall be returned to the UE with an appropriate cause and the S1 connection shall be released. Upon return to idle, the UE shall act according to TS 23.122.
If the new MME is unable to update the bearer context in one or more P-GWs, the new MME shall deactivate the corresponding bearer contexts as described in clause "MME Initiated Dedicated Bearer Deactivation Procedure". This shall not cause the MME to reject the tracking area update.
The new MME shall determine the Maximum APN restriction based on the received APN Restriction of each bearer context in the Context Response message and then store the new Maximum APN restriction value.
The bearer contexts shall be prioritized by the new MME. If the new MME is unable to support the same number of active bearer contexts as received from old MME/SGSN, the prioritisation is used to decide which bearer contexts to maintain active and which ones to delete. In any case, the new MME shall first update all contexts in one or more P-GWs and then deactivate the context(s) that it cannot maintain as described in clause "MME Initiated Dedicated Bearer Deactivation Procedure". This shall not cause the MME to reject the tracking area update.
The new MME shall not deactivate emergency service related EPS bearers, i.e. EPS bearers with ARP value reserved for emergency services.
If the tracking area update procedure fails a maximum allowable number of times, or if the MME returns a Tracking Area Update Reject (Cause) message, the UE shall enter EMM-DEREGISTERED state.
If the new MME identifies that the RAT type has changed, the MME checks the subscription information to identify for each APN whether to maintain the PDN connection, disconnect the PDN connection with a reactivation request, or, disconnect the PDN connection without reactivation request. If the MME decides to deactivate a PDN connection it performs MME-initiated PDN Connection Deactivation procedure after the tracking area update procedure is completed but before the S1/RRC interface connection is released. Existing ESM cause values as specified in TS 24.301 (e.g. #39, "reactivation requested"; #66 "Requested APN not supported in current RAT and PLMN combination"; and for a dedicated bearer, possibly #37 "EPS QoS not accepted") are used to cause predictable UE behaviour. If all the PDN connections are disconnected and the UE does not support "attach without PDN connectivity", the MME shall request the UE to detach and reattach.
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