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LTE X2 Handover Messaging

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LTE X2 Handover Sequence Diagram

UE Target eNodeB
X2AP Handover Request X2AP Handover Request Acknowledge Handover Command X2AP SN Transfer Status Handover Confirm S1AP Path Switch Request

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Source eNodeB

MME

SGW

Begin forwarding downlink data from source to destination eNodeB

Modify Bearer Request

Modify Bearer Response

S1AP Path Switch Acknowledge

Marks the end for forwarding

X2AP UE Context Release Tracking Area Update Request Tracking Area Update Response

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Source eNodeB Target eNodeB X2AP Handover Request

eNodeB decides to initiate an X2 handover based on:
UE reported RRC downlink signal quality measurements Uplink signal quality measured at the eNodeB
X2AP Handover Request (Initiating Message)

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Old eNB UE X2AP Id Cause Handover desired for radio reasons PLMN Identity Target Cell Id eUTRAN Cell Identifier PLMN Id GU Group Id GUMMEI Id MME Code MME UE S1AP ID UE Context Information UE Security Capabilities AS Security Information Key eNB eRAB Id eRAB Level QoS Parameters UL GTP Tunnel Endpoint QCI Transport Layer Address GTP TEID MME Group Id

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eNodeB picks the target cell id for the handover. X2 handover is initiated if the If the target cell is served by the same MME as the current cell The message includes UE context information that identifies the UE on the S1AP interface.
Security parameters are also included in the message

Information about the radio bearers is included in the message. The per RAB information includes
QoS parameters GTP Tunnel Information
eRABs to be Setup List

eRAB 0

The message also includes RRC context information

RRC Context

eRAB N-1

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Target eNodeB Source eNodeB X2AP Handover Request Acknowledge

The target eNodeB receives performs admission control on receipt of the Handover Request. The target eNodeB responds with X2AP Handover Request Acknowledge. Information about the accepted RABs is included in the message.
The Uplink and Downlink GTP Tunnel information is included for each RAB. The tunnel assignments are made at the target to transport traffic during the handover.

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eRAB Id

X2AP Handover Request Acknowledge (Successful Outcome)

Old eNB UE X2AP Id UL GTP Tunnel Endpoint New eNB UE X2AP Id eRAB Admitted Item 0

Transport Layer Address GTP TEID Transport Layer Address GTP TEID

eRABs Admitted List

eRAB Admitted Item N1 DL GTP Tunnel Endpoint

Transparent Container

A Handover Command message sent via a transparent container.

The source eNodeB send this message to the UE.

Target to Source eNB Payload

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Source eNodeB Target eNodeB X2AP SN Transfer Status

The source eNodeB now sends the SN Transfer Status The following fields are present for each RAB

X2AP SN Status Transfer (Initiating Message)

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The uplink PDCP sequence number Uplink Hyper Frame Number The downlink PDCP sequence number Downlink Hyper Frame Number

eRAB Id Old eNB UE X2AP Id UL Count Value New eNB UE X2AP Id eRABs Subject to Status Transfer eRAB Subject to Status Transfer 0 DL Count Value eRAB Subject to Status Transfer N-1 HFN HFN PDCP SN PDCP SN

These fields are needed for continuing ciphering and integrity protection after the handover.

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Target eNodeB MME S1AP Path Switch Request
The target eNodeB requests switching of the S1-U GTP tunnel towards the target eNodeB. The MME identifies the UE with the eNB to UE S1AP ID The message includes the new cell id and the tracking area id Security capabilities of the target eNodeB are also included.
eNB UE S1AP ID
eRABs to be Switched DL List

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eRAB Id eRABs to be Switched DL Item 0 eRABs to be Switched DL Item N-1 PLMN Id EUTRAN CGI Cell Id PLMN ID TAI TAC Encryption Algorithms Integrity Protection Algorithms Transport Layer Address GTP TEID

S1AP Path Switch Request

UE Security Capabilities

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MME SGW Modify Bearer Request
The MME requests the SGW to switch the path to the target eNodeB. The S1-U TEID received from the target eNodeB is passed to the SGW. design with sequence diagrams telecom systems engineering object oriented design

Modify Bearer Request (initiating message)

Bearer Context to be Updated TEID/GRE Key

EPS Bearer Id S1-U eNodeB FTEID

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SGW MME Modify Bearer Response
SGW updates the bearer and responds back design with sequence diagrams telecom systems engineering object oriented design

Modify Bearer Response (initiating message)

Bearer Context Updated TEID/GRE Key

EPS Bearer Id S1 SGW F-TEID

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S1AP: MME Target eNodeB S1AP Path Switch Acknowledge
The target eNodeB requests switching of the S1-U GTP tunnel towards the target eNodeB. The MME identifies the UE with the eNB to UE S1AP ID The message includes the new cell id and the tracking area id Security capabilities of the target eNodeB are also included. design with sequence diagrams telecom systems engineering object oriented design

S1AP Path Switch Request

MME UE S1AP ID

eNB UE S1AP ID
eRABs to be Switched UL List Security Context eRABs to be Switched UL Item eRAB Id GTP TEID

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Sent when the target eNodeB has successfully completed the path switching and radio signaling for the handover.

X2AP UE Context Release (Initiating Message)

Target eNodeB Source eNodeB X2AP UE Context Release

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Old eNB UE X2AP ID New eNB UE X2AP ID

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UE-NAS MME-NAS Tracking Area Update Request

Sent if the just completed handover resulted in a Tracking Area Update
Tracking Area Update Request
Uplink NAS Transport

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PLMN Id

eUTRAN-CGI
Cell Id PLMN Id TAI TAC EPS Update Time Old GUTI Tracking Area Update Request M-TMSI Last Visited Tracking Area EPS Bearer Context Status Bearer Context Active TA Updating

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MME-NAS UE-NAS Tracking Area Update Accept

Sent if the just completed handover resulted in a Tracking Area Update
Tracking Area Update Request

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EPS Update Result Tracking Area Update Result T3412 T3402

TA Updated

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Thank You
Links LTE X2 Handover Sequence Diagrams EventStudio System Designer VisualEther Protocol Analyzer Telecom Call Flows TCP/IP Sequence Diagrams Telecom Networking Software Description

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Thank you for visiting EventHelix.com. The following links provide more information about telecom design tools and techniques:

Detailed message flow analysis of LTE X2 handovers Sequence diagram based systems engineering tool. Wireshark based visual protocol analysis and system design reverse engineering tool. GSM, SIP, H.323, ISUP, LTE and IMS call flows. TCP/IP explained with sequence diagrams. Real-time and embedded systems, call flows and object oriented design articles.

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