Basic UMTS Procedures

Basic UMTS Procedures PDF

The procedures described in the first phase of UMTS specifications concentrate
predominantly on the air interface and UTRAN.
The Core Network is considered as an evolved GSM network, hence the procedures
are those specified for the GSM Core Network, including GPRS. As network
operators move to an All-IP network, the procedures in the core network will reflect
this and will be based more on the IETF (Internet Engineering Task Force)
specifications.
As the core network is not the subject for UMTS standardisation, it follows that the
way it interacts with UE will remain essentially that specified for GSM. Hence, when
considering UMTS procedures, we can initially concentrate on the Air Interface and
UTRAN.
It is still useful to examine the Non-Access stratum and Core Network procedures in
order to show the overall system operation, and how UTRAN and Air Interface
procedures fit into the bigger picture.