Voice Call Handover Scheme between 3G

LTE and 3G CS Network

Kyungmin Kim

The Graduate School

Yonsei University

Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering

Voice Call Handover Scheme between 3G

LTE and 3G CS Network

A Masters Thesis

Submitted to the Department of Electrical and Electronic

Engineering and the Graduate School of Yonsei University

in partial fulfillment of the

requirements for the degree of

Master of science

Kyungmin Kim
December 2007
This certifies that the masters thesis
of Kyungmin Kim is approved.

___________________________
Thesis Supervisor: [Jaiyong Lee]

___________________________
[Seong-Lyun Kim]

___________________________
[Jang-Won Lee]

The Graduate School

Yonsei University
December 2007
 List of Contents

List of Contents ......................................................................................................... i

List of Figures......................................................................................................... iii

List of Tables ........................................................................................................... v

Abbreviation........................................................................................................... vi

Abstract ............................................................................................................... viii

Chapter 1 Introduction............................................................................................... 1

Chapter 2 Overview of Existing Approaches for SRSC ................................................... 3

2.1 Combinational approach ................................................................................ 3

2.2 Call Re-establish Approach ............................................................................ 5

2.2.1 3GPP R7 VCC Review......................................................................... 5

2.2.2 Call Re-establishment Approach ............................................................ 8

2.3 Gateway Approach...................................................................................... 11

Chapter 3 FW_MME Scheme Description .................................................................. 14

3.1 Motivation................................................................................................. 14

3.2 Functionality of FW_MME .......................................................................... 14

3.3 LTE to CS Handover Procedure..................................................................... 15

3.3.1 LTE Originating Call flow .................................................................. 16

3.3.2 LTE to CS Handover Procedure ........................................................... 18

3.4 CS to LTE Handover Procedure..................................................................... 19

3.4.1 CS Originating Call flow .................................................................... 20

3.4.2 CS to LTE Handover Procedure ........................................................... 21

Chapter 4 Analysis and Evaluation............................................................................. 25

4.1 Models for Mathematical Analysis................................................................. 25

4.1.1 Radio Link Delay .............................................................................. 25

i
 4.1.2 Network Node Queueing Delay ........................................................... 26

4.1.3 Internet and Remote Network Delay ..................................................... 28

4.2 Mathematical Analysis of Service Interruption Time ......................................... 29

4.2.1 Analytic Expressions for Partial Procedures ........................................... 29

4.2.2 Analytic Expressions for Service Interruption time .................................. 31

4.3 Numerical Result ........................................................................................ 35

4.3.1 Service Interruption Time Comparison .................................................. 35

4.3.2 Service Interruption Time and Error Rate of Air...................................... 37

Chapter 5 Conclusion .............................................................................................. 42

References............................................................................................................. 44

ii
 List of Figures

Figure 2.1 Combination of existing handover schemes .................................................... 3

Figure 2.2 Coverage assumption of combinational approach ............................................ 4

Figure 2.3 Conceptual operation of R7 VCC ................................................................. 5

Figure 2.4 R7 VCC handover signal flow: from PS to CS ................................................ 6

Figure 2.5 R7 VCC handover fignal flow: from CS to PS ................................................ 7

Figure 2.6 Conceptual operation of call re-establishment ................................................. 8

Figure 2.8 Call re-establishment handover signal flow: form CS to LTE........................... 10

Figure 2.9 Conceptual operation of gateway approach................................................... 11

Figure 2.10 Gateway approach handover signal flow: from LTE to CS............................. 12

Figure 2.11 Gateway approach handover signal flow: from CS to LTE............................. 13

Figure 3.1 Functionalities of FW_MME ..................................................................... 14

Figure 3.2 LTE originating call diagram ..................................................................... 16

Figure 3.3 LTE originating call flow .......................................................................... 17

Figure 3.4 LTE to CS handover signal flow ................................................................. 18

Figure 3.5 CS originating call diagram ....................................................................... 20

Figure 3.6 LTE originating call flow .......................................................................... 21

Figure 3.7 CS to LTE handover signal flow ................................................................. 22

Figure 4.1 M/M/1 queueing model of network node ..................................................... 26

Table 4.1 Arrival rate of each network node................................................................. 27

Table 4.2 Service rate of each network node ................................................................ 27

Figure 4.2 M/G/1 queueing model of network node ...................................................... 28

Figure 4.3 CS attachment signal flow ......................................................................... 29

Figure 4.4 PDP context activation.............................................................................. 30

Figure 4.5 IMS registration....................................................................................... 31

iii
Figure 4.6 Signal flow of call re-establishment: LTE to CS handover............................... 32

Figure 4.7 Signal flow of call re-establishment: CS to LTE handover............................... 33

Figure 4.7 Signal flow of gateway approach: LTE to CS handover .................................. 34

Figure 4.8 Signal flow of gateway approach: CS to LTE handover .................................. 34

Figure 4.9 Service interruption time for LTE to CS handover ......................................... 35

Figure 4.10 Service interruption time for CS to LTE handover........................................ 36

Figure 4.11 LTE to CS service interruption time vs. frame error rate................................ 37

Figure 4.12 CS to LTE service interruption time vs. frame error rate................................ 38

Figure 4.13 Service interruption time vs. propagation delay of air ................................... 39

Figure 4.14 Service interruption time vs. queueing delay variation of network node ........... 40

Figure 4.15 Service interruption time vs. queueing delay variation of network node: .......... 40

iv
 List of Tables

Table 4.1 Arrival rate of each network node................................................................. 27

Table 4.2 Service rate of each network node…….. ....................................................... 27

v
 Abbreviation

3G 3rd Generation

3G LTE 3rd Generation Long Term Evolution

3GPP 3rd Generation Partnership Project

BS Base Station (or Node B)

BSS Base Station Subsystem

CS Circuit Switched

CSCF Call Session Control Function

ENB Enhanced Node B (or BS)

I-CSCF Interrogating-CSCF

IMS IP Multimedia Subsystem

IMT International Mobile Telecommunication

IMPI IP Multimedia Private Identity

IMPU IP Multimedia Public User identity

IMSI International Mobile Subscriber Identity

IP Internet Protocol

MGCF Media Gateway Control Function

MGW Media GateWay

MIH Media Independent Handover

MME Mobility Management Entity

MSC Mobile service Switching Center

P-CSCF Proxy-CSCF

PDP Packet Data Protocol

PS Packet Switched

R7 Release 7

vi
RLP Radio Link Protocol

RRC Radio Resource Control

SAE System Architecture Evolution

S-CSCF Serving-CSCF

SIP Session Initiation Protocol

SRSC Single Radio Service Continuity

TMSI Temporal IMSI

UA User Agent

UE User Equipment

UMTS Universal Mobile Telecommunication System

VCC Voice Call Continuity

VoIP Voice over IP

vii
 Abstract

Voice Call Handover Scheme between 3G LTE and 3G CS Net-

work

Kyungmin Kim

Dept. of Electrical and

Electronic Engineering

The Graduate School

Yonsei University

Convergence of different network technologies is major trend of today's network evolution.

Therefore many network technologies coexist and each technology has different coverage and

different characteristic. In this environment, mobile node can move between heterogeneous

network technologies, and it can disrupt the continuity of ongoing session. Hence, the seam-

less handover scheme between different network technologies is necessarily required that is

called as inter-system handover. Inter-system handover has several difficulties that different

characteristic of network systems, network inter-working problem, and radio resource limita-

tion.

Voice call handover between 3G LTE and 3G CS network is a kind of inter-system hand-

over that today’s hot issue of 3GPP working group. To make a handover scheme between 3G

LTE and 3G CS, there are two critical problems that lack of interface between two network

systems and radio resource limitation to single radio. Moreover the characteristic of voice call

is very sensitive to service interruption time. Accordingly a special low latency handover

scheme is required to provide seamless service.

In this paper, the performances of existing inter-system handover schemes are evaluated.

viii
And an enhanced voice call handover scheme between 3G LTE and 3G CS system is proposed.

Also service interruption times of each handover scheme are analyzed. The result of the analy-

sis shows that the proposed scheme has the smallest service interruption time and only pro-

posed scheme can satisfy the strict requirement of service interruption time of voice call hand-

over that less than 300 ms. And finally we conclude that we can provide seamless voice call

handover using proposed scheme.

.Key words : Voice-Call, Handover, 3G LTE, ,3G CS, Inter-system,

ix
Chapter 1 Introduction

All IP convergence and inter-working between different network technologies are hot issues

of today’s network evolution. Since each network technology has different characteristic, to

couple different network technologies is difficult to effect. And many legacy telecommunica-

tion network systems do not support IP service, it is another problem of network evolution to

all IP convergence.

3G LTE system is one of a leading candidate for next generation network system. It assumes

IP based PS only network and voice call should be served by VoIP. Since 3G LTE system is

expected to have hot spot coverage, 3G system will exists as an infrastructure system of 3G

LTE system. Accordingly, voice call handover between 3G LTE system and 3G CS system is

necessarily required to provide seamless service. But complete handover scheme for 3G LTE

and 3G CS system does not exist.

To enable handover between 3G LTE and 3G CS, there are two critical problems. First prob-

lem is the absence of network interface between two network systems. For legacy intra-system

handover, network level backward handover can be executed by the inter-working of network

entities that exist in same network system. But for inter-system handover, network level

backward handover is hard to be achieved due to the absence of network interface. Hence lar-

ger handover latency is prospected compare to intra-system handover. The second problem is

the limitation of radio resource. For 3G LTE and 3G CS system, we can't use dual radio simul-

taneously because of spectrum interference and battery consumption issues. For this reason,

the voice call handover scenario between 3G LTE and 3G CS system is called as SRSC (Sin-

gle Radio Service Continuity). Therefore, for SRSC scenario, we can't use existing 'make be-

fore break' schemes like 3GPP VCC or IEEE 802.21 MIH that based on dual radio capability.

Thus we cannot but use 'break before make’ scheme that causes larger service interruption

time.

1
 There are some approaches to solve the problem of SRSC. They are categorized as three
categories that combinational approach, call re-establishment approach, and gateway approach.

First combinational approach has many problems that inefficient and indirect handover proc-

ess, network coverage problem, and large service interruption time. Second call re-

establishment approach provides direct and provides simpler handover process compare to the

combinational approach. But it also has large service interruption time problem. The last gate-

way approach has the smallest service interruption time among the tree approaches. But still

the service interruption time is unacceptable because to satisfy the strict requirement of voice

call and detailed session immigration procedure does not defined. Also authentication and

security problems should be concerned to be a complete solution. Therefore a new advanced

handover scheme that can satisfy the requirement for voice call is necessarily required.

The remainder of this paper is organized as follows: Section 2, we study about the three ap-

proaches solving SRSC problems. In section 3, the proposed FW_MME scheme is presented

and also detailed handover procedure is explained. In section 4, the performance analysis of

schemes for SRSC is done. And from the analysis, we compare the performance and confirm

the superiority of proposed scheme. And finally at section 6, we conclude this paper.

2
Chapter 2 Overview of Existing Approaches for SRSC

Approaches that solving SRSC problem can be categorized as three categories that combi-

national approach [1] [2], call re-establishment approach [3], and gateway approach [4] [5] [6].

Each approach has its own pros and cons, but no one can completely solve the problem of

SRSC.

2.1 Combinational approach

3G LTE 3G UMTS PS 3G UMTS CS

< PS to PS Handover > < R7 VCC Handover >

Figure 2.1 Combination of existing handover schemes

This approach does not use any new scheme for SRSC and uses only existing handover

methods and signaling. Figure 2.1 presents the conceptual operation of combinational ap-

proach. In this approach, when a mobile executes handover between 3G LTE and 3G UMTS

CS network, 3G UMTS PS network is necessarily required as an intermediate system. Thus

when LTE to CS handover occurs, LTE to UMTS PS handover is preceded and then, UMTS

PS to UMTS CS handover is progressed and vice versa for UMTS CS to LTE handover direc-

tion.

3
 3G UMTS CS

3G UMTS PS

3G LTE

Figure 2.2 Coverage assumption of combinational approach

By this inter-mediate network requirement, the network coverage of each network tech-

nologies is assumed as figure 2.2. To execute handover between LTE and UMTS PS system,

PS to PS handover method that will be included in 3GPP LTE standard is used. And For hand-

over between UMTS PS and UMTS CS, 3GPP R7 VCC method is used [7].

The advantage of this approach is that no modification to existing network system and no

requirement of new network entity or signaling. But the handover process is very complicated

and can't perform direct handover between two target network systems. Hence very large ser-

vice interruption time is prospected ant it will be too large to support voice call handover. Also

it has limitation of network coverage and many countries like North America can't satisfy this

requirement of coverage limitation.

4
2.2 Call Re-establish Approach

Second approach is call re-establish approach. The concept of this approach is based on R7

VCC and some modifications are added to solve the SRSC problem. Since the R7 VCC is the

foundation of call re-establishment approach, we need to review the R7 VCC and then we

study about call re-establishment approach.

2.2.1 3GPP R7 VCC Review

Figure 2.3 Conceptual operation of R7 VCC

R7 VCC is a kind of handover method between 3G UMTS PS and UMTS CS network. Dif-

ferently to SRSC scenario, R7 VCC is dual radio based scheme that UE can use dual radio

simultaneously. Therefore, when handover occurs, UE makes a new access leg with target

5
network domain while maintaining existing access leg which UE have kept. And by the func-

tion of domain transfer in VCC application server, the old access leg is switched to new access

leg. And then, by releasing of the old network resource the handover procedure completed. In

this case, 'make before break' method is used.

UE UMTS domain Visited IMS Home IMS

MSC/ MGCF/ Remote
CS IMS RNC P-CSCF I-CSCF I-CSCF S-CSCF VCC AS
MGW MGW End
IP Bearer

2. CC Setup
3. CAMEL

4. IAM
5. INVITE
6. INVITE
7. reINVITE
8. reINVITE
10. 183 session progress
11. 183

13. 183 session 12. 183

progress
Internet
14. PRACK
15. PRACK
16. PRACK
17. PRACK

18. 200 OK
19. 200
OK
20. ACK
21. 200
22. 200 OK OK
23. ANM
24. CC Connect 26. ACK
27. ACK
25. CC Connect ACK
28. ACK
29. ACK
CS Bearer IP Bearer

Figure 2.4 R7 VCC handover signal flow: from PS to CS

6
 UE UMTS domain Home IMS
MSC/ MGCF/ Remote
CS IMS RNC MGW
SGSN GGSN
MGW
P-CSCF S-CSCF VCC AS
End
CS Bearer IP Bearer

1. PDP Context Activation

2. IMS Registration

3. INVITE
4. INVITE 5. INVITE
6. reINVITE
7. reINVITE

8. 183 session progress

9. 183
11. 183 10. 183
12. 183 session progress
Internet
13. PRACK 14.
15. PRACK
PRACK
16. PRACK
17. PRACK

18. 200 OK
1. 200 OK
21. 200 OK 20. 200 OK
22. 200 OK
23. ACK
24. ACK 25. ACK

IP Bearer
27. BYE 26. BYE
28. REL
29. RLC
30. Disconnect
32. 200 OK 33. 200 OK
31. Release

Figure 2.5 R7 VCC handover fignal flow: from CS to PS

Figure 2.4 presents the detailed signal flow of PS to CS handover and figure 2.5 presents

the detailed signal flow of CS to PS handover. Though some detailed procedures are different,

the basic operation of both directions is same in wide sense.

7
2.2.2 Call Re-establishment Approach

Remote Leg Remote

IMS Announcemnet

VCC AS

CS access leg
PS access leg

LTE domain CS domain

LTE CS

Figure 2.6 Conceptual operation of call re-establishment

Dissimilarly to R7 VCC, UE can't use dual radio in SRSC scenario. Thus ‘make before

break’ can't be used and ‘break before make’ is used alternatively. When handover occurs,

beforehand UE changes its access leg, IMS VCC application server makes bearer for an-

nouncement to remote party. The function of this announcing bearer is to announce the state of

UE that it is in handover state and service will be interrupted for a while. After that UE re-

leases its old access leg and makes a new access leg with target network. And afterward this

process, the announcing bearer between MRF and remote party is switched to new end-to-end

bearer. Figure 2.6 presents the conceptual operation of call re-establishment approach.

8
 UE IMS

LTE CS MSC MME MGCF IM-MGW MRF I-CSCF S-CSCF AS Remote

IP Bearer

Notify (LTE to CS transition indication) Notify

200 OK 200 OK

CCCF request announcement port on MRF

UPDATE
(SDP MRF
endpoint )

Service Interruption UPDATE (SDP MRF endpoint)

200 OK
200 OK

Bearer for announcemnet

Notify ( PS to CS transition Preparation complete) Notify

UE releases LTE radio and

changes its domain to 3G CS
RRC setup and registration with MSC

Setup
IAM
INVITE INVITE
UPDATE
(Offer MGCF)

UPDATE (Offer MGCF)

200 OK
200 OK

200 OK 200 OK
ANM
Connect

CS Bearer IP Bearer

Figure 2.7 Call re-establishment handover signal flow: from LTE to CS

9
 UE IMS

LTE CS MSC MME MGCF IM-MGW MRF I-CSCF S-CSCF AS Remote

CS bearer IP bearer

CS to PS transition Notification via USSD

CCCF request announcement port on MRF

UPDATE
(SDP MRF
endpoint )

Service Interruption UPDATE (SDP MRF endpoint)

200 OK
200 OK

Bearer for announcemnet

CS to PS transition Prepare complete Notification via USSD

UE releases CS radio and

changes its domain to LTE
RRC setup and registration

INVITE INVITE

UPDATE
(Offer MGCF)

UPDATE (Offer MGCF)

200 OK
200 OK

200 OK 200 OK
ACK ACK

IP Bearer

Figure 2.8 Call re-establishment handover signal flow: form CS to LTE

Figure 2.7 and 2.8 present the detailed signal flow of call re-establishment approach for

both directions of handover. To enable these operations, some modifications are required to R7

VCC application server.

The advantages of call re-establishment approach are that direct handover between two do-

mains can be achieved and little effect to existing network system. Also this approach can be

applicable to other handover scenarios. But the critical disadvantage is large service interrup-

tion time.

10
2.3 Gateway Approach

Remote Leg
Remote

IMS

VCC AS

CS access leg

PS access leg
Voice
LTE domain IWF CS domain
Prepare Prepare
Handover Handover
LTE CS

Figure 2.9 Conceptual operation of gateway approach

The last approach to solve SRSC is gateway approach. In this approach, a special signaling

gateway is introduced to enable inter-working between 3G LTE and 3G CS system. By the

function of this gateway, the two network system can execute network level backward hand-

over to each other. The main advantage of this approach is relatively small service interruption

time. Figure 2.9 presents the conceptual operation of gateway approach

11
 UE LTE CS IMS
MGCF/
LTE CS ENB MME RNC MSC Gateway CSCF AS Remote
MGW

IP Bearer
Measurement Report HO
Required Handover Request

MAP HO
Relocation Request
Request
Relocation
Request ACK MAP HO
Response

Handover Prepare Response

Handover Command Service Interruption
RRC Setup

Handover Complete Relocation

Complete

Setup
IAM
INVITE INVITE
reINVITE
reINVITE
200 OK
200 OK
200 OK 200 OK
ANM
Connect

CS Bearer IP Bearer

Figure 2.10 Gateway approach handover signal flow: from LTE to CS

12
 UE LTE CS IMS
MGCF/
LTE CS ENB MME RNC MSC Gateway CSCF AS Remote
MGW

CS Bearer IP Bearer

Measurement Report HO
Required Handover
Request

HO Request
Radio Resource
Reservation

HO Response

HO Prepare
Response
Handover Command Service Interruption
RRC Setup

Handover Complete
Relocation Complete

PDP Context Activation

IMS registration

INVITE INVITE
reINVITE
reINVITE
200 OK
200 OK
200 OK 200 OK

IP Bearer

Figure 2.11 Gateway approach handover signal flow: from CS to LTE

Figure 2.10 and 2.11 present the detailed signal flow of gateway approach for both hand-

over directions. But still the service interruption time exceed 500 ms following our analysis

and this is unacceptable for voice call handover. Additionally, session level detailed immigra-

tion and authentication and security problems does not fully considered. Hence to be a com-

plete solution for SRSC, more research is required.

13
Chapter 3 FW_MME Scheme Description

3.1 Motivation

Since voice call is very sensitive to service interruption time, the service interruption time

should be smaller than 300ms to provide seamless service. But to satisfy this requirement,

SRSC has two critical problems that lack of interface between two target networks and single

radio limitation. And these problems make hard to achieve seamless handover. As we see

above, there are three approaches to solve the problem of SRSC, but they are not only incom-

plete but also can't satisfy the requirement of voice call. Therefore we need to propose a new,

handover scheme that has service interruption time less than 300 ms [8] and contains all de-

tailed procedure including session level immigration, authentication and security.

3.2 Functionality of FW_MME

Figure 3.1 Functionalities of FW_MME

To satisfy our goal that less than 300 ms service interruption time, network level fast hand-

over is essentially required and to enable network level fast handover, network interface be-

tween two target networks is necessarily required. Therefore we introduce a new network en-

tity FW_MME (Full Working Mobility Management Entity) and its major role is to support

14
inter-working of 3G LTE and 3G CS system. For 3G LTE system, MME manages the mobility

of UE and FW_MME is a kind of a MME that is placed in 3G LTE system. Differently to

MME, FW_MME has several additional functions to provide seamless voice call handover for

between 3G LTE and 3G CS system. Figure 3.1 presents the functionalities of FW_MME.

First, to support LTE-CS inter-working, FW_MME have MME and MSC functionality. And

then FW_MME have MGCF and MGW functionality to support seamless session immigration.

Additionally FW_MME has SIP UA functionality to support optimization of handover proce-

dure and to reduce service interruption time. Detailed operation of FW_MME and practical

usage of each function will be described with detailed handover process and signal flow.

3.3 LTE to CS Handover Procedure

Handover can occur for both directions that from LTE to CS, and from CS to LTE. First, we

study about the LTE to CS direction handover and at next section we study about CS to LTE

direction handover.

15
3.3.1 LTE Originating Call flow

AS
IMS Domain

P-CSCF S-CSCF

CS Domain LTE Domain

MSC
FW_MME SAE Gateway Remote
End
MGW

BSS ENB

UE-CS UE-LTE

Control Plane

User Plane

Figure 3.2 LTE originating call diagram

To understand the process of LTE to CS handover, first we need to define the architecture of

network systems and also modify the originating call flow. Figure 3.2 presents the architec-

tural diagram of originating call flow when UE initiate a call from 3G LTE system. Hence UE

has uses its LTE radio to make a new call. The control path formulated through ENB, IMS

CSCF and IMS application server. And the user bearer path formulated through ENB and SAE

gateway.

16
 UE CS LTE IMS

MSC/ FW_ SAE AS Remote

UE-CS UE-LTE BSS ENB P-CSCF S-CSCF
MGW MME Gateway (Proxy) End

1. INVITE 2. INVITE 3. INVITE

4. INVITE
5. INVITE
6. 200 OK
7. 200 OK HLR
10. 200 OK 9. 200 OK 8. 200 OK

UA 11. MME query

12.
13. MESSAGE
MESSAGE
[call info .]
[call info.]

IP Bearer

Figure 3.3 LTE originating call flow

Figure 3.3 presents the detailed call flow of LTE originated call. To describe the detailed

operation, we need to refer figure 3.3.

Procedure 1~5: UE sends SIP INVITE message to initiate a VoIP session and the INVITE

message transferred to IMS P-CSCF. Then the INVITE message transferred to S-CSCF and

application server. Then the application server sends the INVITE message to remote party. At

this point, every originating call for UE is anchored at IMS application server and it manages

the call state and provides session immigration capability when handover occurs.

Procedure 6~10: 200 OK response is transferred to UE through the network entities in re-

verse order of procedure 1~5

Procedure 11~13: IMS application server queries the address of FW_MME and registers

FW_MME as the SIP UA of UE and send the call information to FW_MME. Using thie in-

formation, FW_MME act as SIP UA of UE in the handover process.

17
3.3.2 LTE to CS Handover Procedure

UE CS LTE IMS

MSC/ FW_ SAE Remote

UE-CS UE-LTE BSS ENB P-CSCF S-CSCF AS
MGW MME Gateway End

IP Bearer
MSC

1. Measurement Report 2. HO
Required

4. HO 3. Prep HO Request
Request
5. HO
Request
Ack 6. Prep HO Response

7. IAM
8. ACM

UA
10. INVITE
9. INVITE w/ replaces
w/ replaces

11. INVITE
w/ replaces

12. INVITE w/ replaces

13. 200 OK
14. 200 OK
16. 200 OK 15. 200 OK

IP Bearer
17. BYE
18. BYE
21. BYE 20. BYE 19. BYE
22. 200 OK 23. 200 OK 24. 200 OK
25. 200 OK
26. 200 OK

MSC

27. HO Command

28. Radio Setup

29. HO Complete 30. HO Complete

CS Bearer CS Bearer IP Bearer

Figure 3.4 LTE to CS handover signal flow

Figure 3.3 presents the whole signal flow for LTE to CS handover. The detailed operation of

the handover process is described below.

Procedure 1~2: UE periodically measures the signal strength of its neighboring cells and

sends about the measurement report to supporting ENB. And if handover is required, the ENB

18
decides whether execute handover or not. When handover occurs, ENB sends ‘Handover Re-

quired’ message to FW_MME.

Procedure 3~8: When FW_MME receives the ‘Handover Required’ message, FW_MME

can classify which network domain the handover target cell belongs. And if the target cell be-

long to CS domain that not in LTE network, and using its MSC function, executes CS domain

inter-MSC handover process with target MSC [14]. By this inter-MSC handover process, the

CS bearer between FW_MME and handover target MSC in CS domain is established.

Procedure 9~16: After procedure 3~8, FW_MME sends SIP INVITE message with replace
header using its UA functionality. The function of this INVITE message is to change the exist-

ing UE-to-remote SIP session to FW_MME-to-remote session. And by the use of MGCF and

MGW functionalities, the FW_MME connects the IP bearer that exists between FW_MME

and remote to the CS bearer that will be established between FW_MME and CS domain.

Procedure 17~26: The remote party release the former SIP session with UE. Remote party

sends SIP BYE message to UE and UE response by the 200 OK message.

Procedure 27~30: These procedures are similar to CS inter-MSC handover. After session

immigration process (procedure 9~16) finished, FW_MME sends ‘Handover Command’ to

UE. Then, UE changes its radio to CS and executes radio setup with CS network [18], and

after radio link setup process, UE sends ‘Handover Complete’ to CS MSC and then this mes-

sage transferred to FW_MME. After this message transfer, the LTE to CS handover process

is completed.

3.4 CS to LTE Handover Procedure

In this section, we study about the CS to LTE handover procedure. Similar to section 3.3,

we first study about the call origination at CS domain and then we study about the handover

procedure.

19
3.4.1 CS Originating Call flow

AS
IMS Domain

P-CSCF S-CSCF

CS Domain LTE Domain

MSC
FW_MME SAE Gateway Remote
End
MGW

BSS ENB

UE-CS UE-LTE

Control Plane

User Plane

Figure 3.5 CS originating call diagram

Figure 3.5 presents the architectural call originating diagram from 3G CS system. UE uses

its CS radio to initiate call. To support seamless handover form CS to LTE domain, some spe-

cial process are added. Like R7 VCC, all originating call from CS is connected as a VoIP call.

At R7 VCC, IMS MGCF takes the place of CS-PS inter-working. Similar to this, the MGCF

and MGW functions of FW_MME take the place of CS-PS inter-working. Hence, FW_MME

act as IMS MGCF for CS originating call, and by CAMEL procedure, every originating call at

CS network is routed to FW_MME. As a result of call originating, the control path passes

20
through CS MSC, FW_MME, IMS CSCF and IMS application server. And user bearer path

formulated pass trough CS MGW, FW_MME, and SAE gateway.

UE CS LTE IMS

MSC/ FW_ SAE AS Remote

UE-CS UE-LTE BSS ENB P-CSCF S-CSCF
MGW MME Gateway (B2BUA) End

1. SETUP

2. CAMEL
Procedure

3. IAM
MGCF
4. INVITE 5. INVITE
6. INVITE
7. INVITE
8. 200 OK
9. 200 OK
11. 200 OK 10. 200 OK
12. ANM
13. CONNECT

CS Bearer IP Bearer

Figure 3.6 LTE originating call flow

Figure 3.6 presents the originating call flow for CS domain. This procedure is similar to R7

VCC except for the position of MGCF that FW_MME take the place of IMS MGW.

3.4.2 CS to LTE Handover Procedure

Network attachment procedure for LTE PS network is more complex than CS network be-

cause of PDP context activation and IMS registration. Therefore, CS to LTE handover is much

complicated than LTE to CS handover. Since voice call handover is very sensitive for service

interruption time, some optimization process is required to reduce service interruption time

[26]. Therefore we simplify the PDP context and IMS registration procedure by powerful

function of FW_MME.

21
 UE CS LTE IMS

MSC/ FW_ SAE Remote

UE-CS UE-LTE BSS ENB P-CSCF S-CSCF AS
MGW MME Gateway End

MSC

1. Measurement Report 2. HO
Required 3. Prep HO Request

4. Bearer
Setup

UA

5. Set IP Address for UE

6. Make registration
Info
8.
7. REGISTER
REGISTER
10. 200 OK 9. 200 OK
11. Store registration
result

MSC

12. Prep HO Response

13. HO Command

14. Radio Setup

MME

15. PDP Context Request

16. PDP Context Accept w/ registration info.

MSC

17. HO Complete
18. HO Complete
19. INVITE 20. INVITE 21. INVITE
22. Re-
INVITE
23. Re-INVITE
24. 200 OK
25. 200 OK
28. 200 OK 27. 200 OK 26. 200 OK

IP Bearer

Figure 3.7 CS to LTE handover signal flow

Figure 3.7 presents the whole signal flow for CS to LTE handover. The detailed operation of

the handover process is described below.

Procedure 1~2: UE periodically measures the signal strength of its neighboring cells and

sends about the measurement report to supporting BSS. And if handover is required, the BSS

sends ‘Handover Required’ message to MSC and the MSC decides whether executes handover

or not.

Procedure 3~4: When MSC decides handover, MSC executes inter-MSC handover proce-
dure with FW_MME. In this case, FW_MME is considered as another MSC to CS MSC.

22
Hence, MSC sends ‘Prepare Handover Request’ message to FW_MME. When FW_MME

receives this message, FW_MME prepare bearer with ENB.

Procedure 5: After bearer preparation, FW_MME executes PDP context activation proce-

dure with SAE gateway using its UA functionality and receives the IP address of UE and store

it.

Procedure 6~11: At procedure 6, FW_MME generates the IMS registration information us-
ing the information contained at ‘Prepare Handover Request’ message that is sent from MSC.

Using IMSI of UE, FW_MME generates IMPI and IMPU. Using these, FW_MME executes

IMS registration procedure as an UA. And then, at procedure 11, FW_MME stores the regis-

tration information. By this special operation, handover latency caused by IMS registration

can be greatly reduced.

Procedure 12~13: After PDP context activation and IMS registration finished, FW_MME

sends ‘Prepare Handover Response’ message to MSC. And then MSC sends ‘Handover Com-

mand’ message to UE.

Procedure 14: UE changes its radio to LTE and execute radio link setup with ENB The de-

tailed operation does not defined yet.

Procedure 15~16: After radio link setup, UE sends ‘PDP Context Request’ message to

FW_MME. When FW_MME receives this message, FW_MME sends ‘PDP Context Accept’

message with IP address of UE. Also this ‘PDP Context Accept’ message contains the IMS

registration information for UE. Therefore, by the ‘PDP context Accept’ message, UE receives

both of PDP context activation response and IMS registration response. Thus UE does not

need to execute additional PDP context activation or IMS registration process. By these spe-

cial treatments, much portion of the handover latency can be reduced.

Procedure 17~18: UE sends ‘Handover Complete’ message to FW_MME and FW_MME

reports it to CS MSC.

23
 Procedure 19~28: UE sends INVITE message to translate preceding call to new end-to-end
VoIP call. When IMS application server receives this INVITE message, IMS application

server changes it to Re-INVITE message and sends it to remote party. And the 200 OK re-

sponse message is transferred to UE pass through IMS application and CSCFs. And finally,

the handover process is completed.

24
Chapter 4 Analysis and Evaluation

4.1 Models for Mathematical Analysis

The elements that consist of handover delay can be divided into four basic elements that ra-

dio link delay, network node queueing delay, internet delay, and remote network delay. Each

delay element has different analytic model and takes different portion of handover delay [20]

[26].

4.1.1 Radio Link Delay

We have two kinds of radio resources that analysis about delay of radio link. The one is 3G

UMTS and the other is 3G LTE radio. First, for UMTS radio link, RLP is used for efficient

radio link control and to enhance the performance. Therefore equation (4.1) is the analytic

expression of delay caused by RLP [22]. For 3G LTE radio link, the detailed operation does

not defined yet, but RLP is expected to be used. Thus we assume RLP model for 3G LTE radio

link.

25
 k =# of frames
n = # of RLP retransmission trials
p = probability of a RLP frame being in error in the air link
Pf = seccess probability in RLP for n retranmission trials
Ttrans = end to end propagation delay over the air interface
τ = interframe time (typically order 20ms for GPRS) (4.1)
P(Cij ) = the first frame received correctly at the detination, being the
ith retransmission frame at the jth retranmission
n(n +1)
Pf = 1 − p(p(2 − p)) 2

k(Pf − (1 − p)) n j j(j + 1)

TRLP = Ttrans + (k − 1)τ + 2
[∑∑ P(Cij )(2jTtrans + ( + i)τ)]
Pf j i 2

3 micro second end to end propagation delay [24] and 3 retransmission trials are assumed.

And by 3GPP specification, 20 ms and 10 ms inter frame times are assume for UMTS and

LTE. And the data rate For UMTS CS is 9.6Kbps~128Kbps and for 3G LTE is

1Mbps~100Mbps.

4.1.2 Network Node Queueing Delay

Network Arrival Network

Arrival Departure
Node Departure Node

Service Rate : μ

Arrival Departure Arrival

Arrival Rate : λ Service Rate : μ Arrival Rate : λ Departure

Figure 4.1 M/M/1 queueing model of network node

Each network node has different characteristic and the delay caused by a network node can

be represented as a mathematical model using M/M/1 queueing model. Figure 4.1 shows the

26
M/M/1 queuing model for network node and Equation (4.2) is the analytic expression [25].

λ
μ : service rate, λ = message arrival rate, ρ =
μ
(4.2)
ρ Network Node
TqNetwork_Node = ,
λ Network Node (1 − ρ Network Node )

Table 4.1 presents the arrival rate of each network node and table 4.2 present the service

rate of each network node. And if the characteristic of a network node change, we can follow

the change by controlling these parameters [36].

Table 4.1 Arrival rate of each network node

λUE λNodeB λRNC λMSC λHLR λUE

50 100 200 300 300 50

λCSCF λMGCF λApplication λENB λMME λCSCF

500 500 500 100 900 500

Table 4.2 Service rate of each network node

μUE μNodeB μRNC μMSC μHLR μUE

2500 2500 5000 5000 5000 2500

μCSCF μMGCF μApplication μENB μMME μCSCF

5000 5000 5000 5000 5000 5000

27
4.1.3 Internet and Remote Network Delay

Arrival by UE
Arrival by UE
Network Arrival by others
Network
Departure
Arrival by others
Node Node
Departure

Service Rate : μ
Service Rate : μ
Arrival by UE Arrival by UE
Departure
Arrival by others Arrival by others

Arrival Rate : λ SIP , λ etc Arrival Rate : λ SIP , λ etc Departure

Figure 4.2 M/G/1 queueing model of network node

Delay caused by internet or remote network is very unstable and has much variation. Hence

for more accurate analysis, we use M/G/1 queueing model for internet and remote network

delay. Figure 4.2 presents the models of internet and remote delay and equation (4.3) is the

analytic expression of them [25]. For this case, ρetc = 0.5 and ρinternet = 0.4 and ρSIP=50 are

used.

λ
μ : service rate, λ = message arrival rate, ρ =
μ
1
(1 − ρ etc − ρ sip ) + R Internet
μs (4.3)
TqInternet/qRemote =
(1 − ρ etc ) + (1 − ρ etc − ρ sip )
R Internet = λ etc X etc
2
+ λ sip X sip
2
,
2
X etc , X s2 are the second moment of μ etc , μ s

28
4.2 Mathematical Analysis of Service Interruption Time

From the signal flows of handover in chapter 2 and 3, we can classify the service interrup-

tion period. And from the service interruption period, we can derive the equation of service

interruption time by applying the analytic model that is described in chapter 4.1.

4.2.1 Analytic Expressions for Partial Procedures

RRC message λENB λ RNC λENB

Radio Radio
TRRC = 2TRLP + 2TqNodeB + 1TqRNC
ENB RNC ENB Link Delay
Link Delay

RRC ETC
UE UMTS Domain UE UMTS Domain
MSC/ MSC/
CS IMS NodeB RN C
VLR
CS IMS NodeB R NC
VLR
RR C: Initial D irect Transfer [ C M Serviec Request ] R ANAP :Initial U E
R R C System Inform ation (BC CH ) M essage [C M Service
Request ]
RR C Connection Request (C CCH)
R ANAP: Direct
N BAP : R adio Link Transfer
Setup Response [Authentication
RRC: D ownlink D irect Transfer [Authentication R equest ] Request ]
Start R X
RR C: Uplink D irect Transfer [ Authentication Response ] RANAP: D irenct
Transfer
N BAP : R adio Link [Authentication
Setup R equest Response ]
ALC AP : Establish
R equest RAN AP: Security M ode
R R C: Security M ode C om m and Cam m and
ALC AP : Establish C N F
R R C: Security M ode Com plet
RAN AP: Security M ode
D C H-FP : Downlink com plete
Synchronization
R ANAP: Direct
D CH-FP: U plink Transfer [TMSI
synchronization Reallication C amm and ]
RRC: D L Direct Transfer [TM SI R eallocation C am m and ]
RR C: U L Direct Transfer [TM SI Reallocation C om plete ]
Start TX R ANAP: Direct
Transfer [TMSI
Reallocation Complete ]
RR C Connection Setup (C CC H)

N BAP : Radio link

R estore Indication
R RC: Setup
RR C: R R C C onnection Setup Com plete (D C CH) R ANAP: Setup

Figure 4.3 CS attachment signal flow

To derive the equations for service interruption time, first we need to define some partial

procedures. Figure 4.3 presents the detailed signal flow of CS attachment procedure. Left part

of figure 4.3 presents the RRC setup procedure. And right part of figure 4.3 presents the re-

mained procedures that include authentication and TMSI allocation. From the signal flow, CS

29
attachment procedure can be modeled as equation (4.4) and (4.5). And for LTE attachment

procedure, similar procedure is assumed. Equation (4.6) and (4.7) is the model of LTE at-

tachment procedure. For both case, attachment procedure includes RRC setup procedure.

TUMTS_RRC = 4TRLP + 7TNodeB + 4TRNC + 2TUE (4.4)

TCS_Attach = 11TRLP + 14TNodeB + 11TRNC + 3TMSC (4.5)

TLTE_RRC = 4TLTE_Radio + 7TENB + 2TUE (4.6)

TLTE_Attach = 11TLTE_Radio + 14TENB + 3TMME (4.7)

UE LT E D om ain

S AE
CS LT E EN B MME
Gatew at

D ir ect T r ansfer : Ac tivation PD P C ontex t R equest

R AB As signm ent R eauest

R espons e

ALC AP Iub D ata T r ans fer Bear er Setup

R adio Bear er Setup

R adio Bear er Setup C om plete

C r eate PD P C ontex t
R eques t

R espons e

D ir ec t T r ans fer : Activ ation PD P C ontex t R esponse

Figure 4.4 PDP context activation

30
 UE ENB/ MME P-CSCF HSS S-CSCF

Register
Cx-Query/
Cx-Select-Pull
Cx-Query Resp/
Cx-Select-Pull Resp
Register

Cx-put/Cx-Pull
Cx-Put Resp
/Cx-Pull Resp
401 (Unauthorized)
401 (Unauthorized)

Register
Register

200 OK
200 OK

Figure 4.5 IMS registration

Figure 4.4 and 4.5 present the detailed signal flow of PDP context activation and IMS regis-

tration. From the signal flows, we can derive equation (4.8) and (4.9) that the delay of PDP

context activation and IMS registration procedure for LTE system [27].

TPDP = 4TLTE_Radio + 4TENB + 4TMME + 4TSAE_GW (4.8)

TIMS_Reg = 4TLTE_Radio + 4TENB + 4TMME + 8TCSCF + 3THSS (4.9)

4.2.2 Analytic Expressions for Service Interruption time

Using above equations we can derive the analytic expressions of service interruption time

for call re-establishment approach. They are equation (4.10), (4.11) and figure 4.6 and 4.7

present the detailed signal flow of call re-establishment handover process. Since the delay of

RLP is depends on the size of message, TRLP_utu in equation (4.10) is the RLP delay with CS

user-to-user message. Therefore the value of TRLP_utu is calculated as equation (4.1) with CS

user-to-user message,

31
TCall_Re_LTEtoCS = 3TRemote + 3TInternet + 4TAS + 9TCSCF + TMME + TENB + TLTE_Radio
(4.10)
+ 2TMGCF + 2TMSC + 2TRNC + 2TNodeB + 2TRLP_utu + TCS_Attach

TCall_Re_CStoLTE = 3TRemote + 3TInternet + 4TAs + 9TCSCF + 3TMME + 3TENB

(4.11)
+ 3TLTE_Radio + TMGCF + TMSC + TRNC + TNodeB + TRLP_utu + TLTE_Attach

UE IMS

LTE CS MSC MME MGCF IM-MGW MRF I-CSCF S-CSCF AS Remote

IP Bearer

Notify (LTE to CS transition indication) Notify

200 OK 200 OK

CCCF request announcement port on MRF

UPDATE
(SDP MRF
endpoint)
UPDATE (SDP MRF endpoint)
Service Interruption
200 OK
200 OK

Bearer for announcemnet

Notify ( PS to CS transition Preparation complete) Notify

UE releases LTE radio and

changes its domain to 3G CS
RRC setup and registration with MSC

Setup
IAM
INVITE INVITE
UPDATE
(Offer MGCF)

UPDATE (Offer MGCF)

200 OK
200 OK

200 OK 200 OK
ANM
Connect

CS Bearer IP Bearer

Figure 4.6 Signal flow of call re-establishment: LTE to CS handover

32
 UE IMS

LTE CS MSC MME MGCF IM-MGW MRF I-CSCF S-CSCF AS Remote

CS bearer IP bearer

CS to PS transition Notification via USSD

CCCF request announcement port on MRF

UPDATE
(SDP MRF
endpoint )

Service Interruption UPDATE (SDP MRF endpoint)

200 OK
200 OK
Bearer for announcemnet

CS to PS transition Prepare complete Notification via USSD

UE releases CS radio and

changes its domain to LTE
RRC setup and registration

INVITE INVITE
UPDATE
(Offer MGCF)

UPDATE (Offer MGCF)

200 OK
200 OK

200 OK 200 OK
ACK ACK

IP Bearer

Figure 4.7 Signal flow of call re-establishment: CS to LTE handover

The analytic expressions of service interruption time for gateway approach are equation

(4.12), (4.13). And figure 4.8 and 4.9 presents the detailed signal flow of gateway approach.

TLTE_to_CS_interrupt = TRRC + 3TRLP_utu + 3TNodeB + 3TRNC + 3TMSC

(4.12)
+ 2TMGCF + 4TCSCF + 2TAS + 2TInternet + 2TRemote

TCS_to_LTE_interrupt = TRRC_LTE + TPDP + TIMS_reg + 3TLTE_radio + 3TENB

(4.13)
+ 3TMME + 4TCSCF + 2TAS + 2TInternet + 2TRemote

33
 UE LTE CS IMS
MGCF/
LTE CS ENB MME RNC MSC Gateway CSCF AS Remote
MGW

IP Bearer
Measurement Report HO
Required Handover Request

MAP HO
Relocation Request
Request
Relocation
Request ACK MAP HO
Response

Handover Prepare Response

Handover Command
Service Interruption

RRC Setup

Handover Complete Relocation

Complete

Setup
IAM
INVITE INVITE
reINVITE
reINVITE
200 OK
200 OK
200 OK 200 OK
ANM
Connect

CS Bearer IP Bearer

Figure 4.7 Signal flow of gateway approach: LTE to CS handover

UE LTE CS IMS
MGCF/
LTE CS ENB MME RNC MSC Gateway CSCF AS Remote
MGW

CS Bearer IP Bearer

Measurement Report HO
Required Handover
Request

HO Request
Radio Resource
Reservation

HO Response

HO Prepare
Response
Handover Command
Service Interruption
RRC Setup

Handover Complete
Relocation Complete

PDP Context Activation

IMS registration

INVITE INVITE
reINVITE
reINVITE
200 OK
200 OK
200 OK 200 OK

IP Bearer

Figure 4.8 Signal flow of gateway approach: CS to LTE handover

34
 And finally, the analytic expressions of proposed scheme are (4.14), (4.15). The detailed

signal flows are presented in previews chapter that figure 3.4 and 3.7.

TLTE_to_CS_interrupt = TRemote + TInternet + 2TS−CSCF + TAS + TFW_MME

(4.14)
+ TENB + TUE + TRRC + TNodeB + TMSC + TRLP_utu

TCS_to_LTE_interrupt = 2TRemote + 2TInternet + 6TS−CSCF + 2TAS

(4.15)
+ 2TFW_MME 5TENB + TUE + 5TLTE_Radio

4.3 Numerical Result

4.3.1 Service Interruption Time Comparison

1.6
Call Re-establish
Gateway
1.4 FW-MME
Service Interruption (second)

1.2

0.8

0.6

0.4

0.2
0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140
Data rate (Kbps)

Figure 4.9 Service interruption time for LTE to CS handover

Using the analytic models of service interruption time in section 4.2, we can compare the

service interruption time of three kinds of solution approach. Figure 4.9 presents the service

35
interruption time of LTE to CS handover for three kinds of approach. The result shows that

call re-establishment approach has the largest service interruption time. Gateway approach

reduces service interruption time using a signaling gateway. Thus it has smaller service inter-

ruption time than call re-establishment approach. Since our scheme introduces not only signal-

ing gateway but also optimizing methods, our scheme shows smallest service interruption time

among the three solutions. And if we look at the absolute service interruption time, only our

scheme can satisfy the requirement of voice call handover that less than 300 ms service inter-

ruption time.

1.3
Call Re-establish
Gateway
1.2
FW-MME

1.1
Service Interruption (second)

0.9

0.8

0.7

0.6

0.5
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Data rate (Mbps)

Figure 4.10 Service interruption time for CS to LTE handover

Figure 4.10 shows the service interruption time for CS to LTE handover. Similar to LTE to

CS handover, call re-establishment approach has largest service interruption time and gateway

approach has smaller service interruption time than call re-establishment approach. And our

scheme has smallest service interruption time. For CS to LTE handover, due to end-to-end SIP

session requirement, we can’t make a new access leg before radio transition. Therefore CS to

LTE handover has larger service interruption time than LTE to CS handover. Although our

scheme introduces some optimization method, our scheme has more than 300 ms service inter-

36
ruption. But about 500 ms service interruption time is reasonable in wide sense.

4.3.2 Service Interruption Time and Error Rate of Air

0.5

0.45
Service Interruption (second)

0.4 9.6 Kbps

19.2 Kbps
64 Kbps
128 Kbps
0.35

0.3

0.25
0 0.05 0.1 0.15 0.2 0.25 0.3 0.35 0.4
Frame Error Rate

Figure 4.11 LTE to CS service interruption time vs. frame error rate

In this section, more detailed analysis about our scheme is presented. Figure 4.11 presents

the service interruption time for LTE to CS handover corresponds to data rate and frame error

rate. The result shows two kinds of relation that the relation between service interruption time

and data rate and that between service interruption time and frame error rate. First, the service

time tends to decrease when data rate is high. But data rate higher than 64 Kbps does not

cause the decrease of service interruption time. This is because of the limitation of the size of

CS signaling message. And for second relation, service interruption time increases exponen-

tially as frame error rate increase. More than 30 % frame error rate can critically decrease the

performance.

37
 0.59

0.58

0.57

Service Interruption (second)

0.56
0.5 Mbps
1 Mbps
0.55
2 Mbps
10 Mbps
0.54

0.53

0.52

0.51

0.5
0 0.05 0.1 0.15 0.2 0.25 0.3 0.35 0.4
Frame Error Rate

Figure 4.12 CS to LTE service interruption time vs. frame error rate

Figure 4.12 presents the service interruption time for CS to LTE handover correspond to

data rate and frame error rate. For this case, more than 1Mbps data rate does not effect to ser-

vice interruption time. The reason of this is that more than 1Mbps data rate is large enough to

transmit control signal packet in one data frame. Also the frame error rate more than 30 % can

critically decrease the performance

38
4.3.3 Service Interruption Time and Propagation Delay of Air Link

0.55
LTE to CS handover
CS to LTE handover
0.5
Service Interruption (second)

0.45

0.4

0.35

0.3

0.25

0.2
-6 -5 -4 -3 -2
10 10 10 10 10
Propagation delay

Figure 4.13 Service interruption time vs. propagation delay of air

In this section, more detailed analysis about the effect of propagation delay is presented.

Figure 4.13 presents the service interruption time variation that corresponds to the propagation

delay variation of air link. When the range of propagation delay is smaller than 10-3 second,

the increment of propagation delay does not cause much increment of service interruption

time. But when the range of propagation delay is larger than 10-3 second, the increment of

propagation delay causes much increment of service interruption time. Since the speed of elec-

tro-magnetic wave is very fast that close to the speed of light, the propagation delay of air link

does not exceed 10-3 second for general telecommunication system. Therefore, the variation of

propagation delay does not cause much effect to service interruption time.

39
4.3.4 Service Interruption Time and Queueing Delay Variation of Net-
work Node

1.6
LTE to CS handover
CS to LTE handover
1.4
Service Interruption (second)

1.2

0.8

0.6

0.4

0.2
-4 -3 -2 -1
10 10 10 10
Order of Queueing delay

Figure 4.14 Service interruption time vs. queueing delay variation of network node

0.55
LTE to CS handover
CS to LTE handover
0.5
Service Interruption (second)

0.45

0.4

0.35

0.3

0.25

0.2
-4 -3 -2
10 10 10
Order of Queueing delay

Figure 4.15 Service interruption time vs. queueing delay variation of network node:

Observe in reasonable range

40
 In this section, more detailed analysis about the variation of queueing delay of network

node is presented. Figure 4.14 presents the service interruption time variation corresponds to

the queueing delay variation of network node. The result shows that increment of queueing

delay causes much increment of service interruption time. Since the general queueing delay of

network node is tens of millisecond [26], figure 4.15 presents for reasonable range of queue-

ing delay that order of 10-4~10-2 second. From the result of this section, the queueing delay of

network node is an effective factor of service interruption time.

41
Chapter 5 Conclusion

All IP convergence and inter-working between different network technologies is a major

trend of today’s network evolution. In this environment, mobile node can moves between dif-

ferent network technologies and the movement of mobile node can disrupt the continuity of

ongoing session. Thus handover between different network technologies is necessarily re-

quired that called inter-system handover. Since different network technologies have their own

characteristic, inter-system handover has difficult problem to be solved.

Voice call handover between 3G LTE and 3G CS system is one of inter-system handover and
it is a hot research topic of 3GPP working group. To provide handover between 3G LTE and

3G CS system, there are two critical problems that the absence of interface between two net-

work systems and radio resource limitation to single radio. Due to this single radio limitation,

the handover problem between 3G LTE and 3G CS system is called SRSC. Additionally the

characteristic of voice call handover that very sensitive to service interruption time makes the

problem more difficult. There are three kinds of approaches to solve this SRSC problem, that

combinational approach, call re-establishment approach and gateway approach. But no one

can provide complete handover solution and they can’t satisfy the strict service interruption

time requirement of voice call handover less than 300 ms.

In this paper FW_MME scheme has proposed to solve the SRSC problem, The FW_MME

scheme introduces a new powerful network entity called FW_MME and the FW_MME pro-

vides various functionalities to achieve seamless handover. Using the functionalities of

FW_MME first, we can achieve the inter-working between 3G LTE and 3G CS network. And

also we can achieve simplification of handover procedure especially on network attachment

procedure.

Analytic result shows that other approaches have more than 500 ms service interruption time

42
and they can’t satisfy the strict requirement of voice call handover that less then 300 ms. But

using proposed FW_MME scheme we can achieve strict voice call service interruption time

requirement that less than 300 ms. And finally, we can conclude that using proposed

FW_MME handover scheme we can provide seamless voice call handover between 3G LTE

and 3G CS system.

Further research is needed to reduce service interruption time for CS to LTE handover.

And research about the characteristic of internet and remote network with various parameters

also required to more accurate analysis.

43
References

[1] 3GPP S2-062718, “on CS Call continuity”, Aug 2006.

[2] 3GPP S2-062889, “RAN Impact for Single Radio VCC”, Sep 2006.

[3] 3GPP TR 23.806, “Voice Call Continuity between CS and IMS Study”, Dec 2006.

[4] 3GPP S2-063159, “Single Radio Voice Call Continuity”, Aug 2006.

[5] 3GPP S2-070735, “Single Radio VCC: Outline of Basic Scenarios”, Feb 2007.

[6] 3GPP S2-070745, “IMS-controlled Voice Call Continuity between CS Domain and the

LTE/SAE”, Feb 2007

[7] 3GPP TS 23.206, “Voice Call Continuity between Circuit Switched and IP Multimedia

Subsystem”, Sep 2006.

[8] 3GPP S1-99306 “Quality of Service”, May 1999

[9] 3GPP TS 23.002, “Network Architecture”, Dec 2005

[10] 3GPP TS 23.060, “General Packet Radio Service (GPRS); Service description; Stage 2”,

Jun 2006

[11] 3GPP TS 23.228, “IP Multimedia Subsystem”, Sep 2006.

[12] 3GPP TR 23.882, “3GPP System Architecture Evolution: Report on Technical Options

and Conclusions”, Nov 2006.

[13] 3GPP TS 24.228, “Signaling Flow for the IP multimedia call control based on Session

Initiation Protocol (SIP) and Session Description Protocol (SDP)”, Sep 2006.

[14] 3GPP TS 23.009, “Handover procedures”, Mar 2006

[15] 3GPP TS 25.413, “UTRAN Iu interface RANAP signaling”, Jun 2006

[16] 3GPP TS 29.002, “Mobile Application Part (MAP) specification”, Dec 2006

[17] 3GPP TS 43.129, “Packet-switched handover for GERAN A/Gb mode; Stage 2”, Jun

44
 2006

[18] 3GPP TS 08.08, “Mobile-services Switching Centre - Base Station System (MSC - BSS)

interface; Layer 3 specification”, Sep 2003

[19] 3G/UMTS complete mobile originated circuit switched call setup, www.3g4g.co.uk/ZG

[20] Nilanjan Banerjee,Wei Wu , Kalyan Basu and Sajal K. Das, "Analysis of SIP-based

mobility management in 4G wireless networks“, Computer Communications Volume 27,

Issue 8 , May 2004, Pages 697-707, Advances in Future Mobile/Wireless Networks and

Services

[21] Dirk Pescha, Maria Isabel Pousa and Gerry Fosterb;, “Performance evaluation of SIP-

based multimedia services in UMTS”, Computer Networks, Volume 49, Issue 3 , 19 Oc-

tober 2005, Pages 385-403, Selected Papers from the European Wireless 2004 Conference

[22] S.K. Das, E. Lee, K. Basu, S.K. Sen, “Performance optimization of VoIP calls over wire-

less links using H.323 protocol”, IEEE Transactions on Computers 52 (6) (2003) 742–752

[23] Fathi, H.; Chakraborty, S.S.; Prasad, R. “Optimization of SIP Session Setup Delay for

VoIP in 3G Wireless Networks”, Mobile Computing, IEEE Transactions on Volume 5, Is-

sue 9, Sept. 2006 Page(s):1121 - 1132 Digital Object Identifier 10.1109/TMC.2006.135

[24] Esmael Dinan, Aleksey Kurouchkin, and Sam Kettani “UMTS Radio Interface System

Planning and Optimization”, Bechtel Telecommunication Technical Journal Volumue 1,

Number 1, December 2002.

[25] L. Kleinrock, QUEUEING STSTEMS vol.1 Theory, Wiley, New York, 1975 [19] McNair,

J.; Fang Zhu; “Vertical handoffs in fourth-generation multinetwork environments” Wire-

less Communications, IEEE, Volume 11, Issue 3, June 2004 Page(s):8 - 15 Digital Object

Identifier 10.1109/MWC.2004.1308935

[26] 3GPP TR 25.853 v4.0.0 Delay Budget within the Access Stratum

[27] Kyungmin Kim, Hyunduk Jung, Jaiyong Lee, Eunhui Bae, and Sungho Choi, "Delay

Analysis of Voice Call Handover between UMTS CS, UMTS PS and WLAN," ITC-

45
 CSCC 2007, Busan, Korea, TA1-2

[28] Jaeho Lee, and Jaiyong Lee, "Route Enhancement Scheme using HMIP in Heterogeneous

Wireless Data Networks", Revised Selected Papers of ICOIN 2006, LNCS 3961,

Springer-Verlag, vol. 3961, pp. 21-30, Jan. 2006

[29] Hyosoon Park, Sunghoon Yoon, Taehyoun Kim, Jungshin Park, Misun Do, and Jaiyong

Lee, "VERTICAL HANDOFF PROCEDURE AND ALGORITHM BETWEEN

IEEE802.11 WLAN AND CDMA CELLULAR NETWORK," CIC2002, Seoul, Korea,

2002.11, pp217-221

[30] Taehyoun Kim and Jaiyong Lee, "Mobility and QoS Support in 4G Wireless Networks,"

Journal of Communication and Networks (JCN), vol. 7, no. 2, pp. 178-191, June 2005

[31] Taehyoun Kim, and Jaiyong Lee, "On Reducing IP Mobility Cost in Mobile Networks",

IEICE Transactions on Communications, vol. E89-B, no. 3, pp. 731-738, March 2006.

[32] Esmael Dinan, Aleksey Kurouchkin, and Sam Kettani “UMTS Radio Interface System

Planning and Optimization”, Bechtel Telecommunication Technical Journal Volumue 1,

Number 1, December 2002.

46
 국문요약

3G LTE 네트워크와 3G CS 네트워크 사이에서의 음성 호

핸드오버 방안

다양한 네트워크 기술들의 융합은 오늘날 네트워크 기술의 진화의 큰 흐름이다.

이 같은 변화에 따라 다양한 종류의 서로 다른 네트워크 기술은 공존하게 되며,

각각의 네트워크 기술들은 서로 다른 범위의 서비스 영역을 그리고 다양한 특성

을 가지게 된다. 이러한 환경에서 무선단말은 다양한 네트워크 기술들 사이를 이

동해 다닐 수 있으며 이 같은 단말의 움직임은 현재 사용하고 있는 세션의 연속

성을 유지하는데 문제를 일으킨다. 따라서 다양한 네트워크 기술들을 이동하는 단

말에게 끊김 없는 서비스를 제공하기 위한 핸드오버 기술이 요구된다. 그런데 이

러한 이종망간의 핸드오버를 제공하는 데에는 서로 다른 네트워크의 특성, 네트워

크 연동 문제, 라디오 자원의 제약 등으로 인한 어려움이 따른다.

3G LTE 네트워크와 3G CS 네트워크 사이에서의 음성호 핸드오버는 이 같은 이

종망 사이의 핸드오버 중 하나로 현재 3GPP의 주요한 연구주제 중 하나이다. 3G

LTE 네트워크와 3G CS 네트워크 사이에서 핸드오버를 제공 방안을 만드는 데에는

두 가지의 큰 문제점이 있다. 첫 번째 문제점은 두 네트워크 사이에 연동을 위한

인터페이스가 존재하지 않는다는 점이며 두 번째 문제점은 한번에 한가지 라디오

만 사용할 수 있다는 라디오 자원 활용 측면에서의 문제 점이다. 게다가 음성호의

경우 서비스가 끊어지는 시간에 매우 민감한 특성을 가지고 있어서 끊김 없는 핸

드오버를 제공하는데 더 많은 어려움이 따른다.

본 논문에서는 지금까지 제안된 3G LTE 네트워크와 3G CS 네트워크 사이의 핸

드오버 방안들을 평가하고 향상된 핸드오버 방안을 제시한다. 또한 제안된 핸드오

버 방안 및 기존의 핸드오버 방안들을 수학적으로 분석하여 각각의 성능을 비교

한다. 분석 결과는 제안된 방법이 가장 짧은 서비스 장애시간을 가지며, 또한 제

안된 방법만이 300 ms 이내라는 엄격한 음성 호 핸드오버의 요구조건을 만족시킬

47
수 있음을 보여준다. 이 같은 결과를 바탕으로 제안된 3G LTE 네트워크와 3G CS

네트워크 사이에서의 음성호 핸드오버 방안을 이용하여 끊김 없는 서비스를 제공

할 수 있음을 알 수 있다.

핵심이 되는 말 : 음성 호, 핸드오버, 3G LTE, 3G CS, 이종 망 간 핸드오버

48