1/2/2020 Core Network Evolution - How CUPS changes the Call Flow?

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Core Network Evolu on - How CUPS changes the Call Flow?
Comparison
April 02, 2018 | By Karim Rabie @ Saudi Telecom Company
Architecture

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Integra on o
Comments (8) SUMMARY
Control and User Plane Separa on of EPC nodes (CUPS) is one of the main Work Items of 3GPP Release
18 09/20/2019
14. An Architectural enhancement feature that introduces the concept of separa on between Control
Netmanias O
Share Plane and User Plane of EPC nodes (SGW, PGW, & TDF) following the architecture below. Opposite to the
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expecta ons of having the new interfaces (Sxa, Sxb) based on GTP; the new reference points introduced Control and
a new protocol (PFCP - Packet Forwarding Control Plane).
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Understandi
Table of Contents
NFV Comme
1. E-UTRAN A ach Procedure perspec ve
2. SGW-U/PGW-U Selec on Criteria 11/24/2018
3. References Netmanias B

Control and User Plane Separation of EPC nodes (CUPS) is one of the main Work Items of 3GPP Release 14.
MEC as enab
Transforma
An Architectural enhancement feature that introduces the concept of separation between Control Plane and
User Plane of EPC nodes (SGW, PGW, & TDF) following the architecture below.
09/29/2018
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MEC - Are w

08/16/2018
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VoLTE Call Se
(including PC

08/01/2018
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Network-bas
Overhyped &

05/23/2018
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What is a Mo

08/28/2017
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View All (174)

5G (7) Backbone (2) Back
(1) Carrier Ethernet (3) Charg
EMM (16) EPS (2) Goog
Adaptive Streaming (3) Ha
Initial Attach (2) IoT (2) Kor
Identification (2) LTE-A (1) M
NAT (7) Netflix (1) Netwo
Network Protoco
(1) PCRF (3) QoS (3) RCS (3)
Telecom (1) Samsung (3) Sec
Transparent Cache (1) Video S
Wi-Fi (1) YouTube (2)

Opposite to the expectations of having the new interfaces (Sxa, Sxb) based on GTP; the new reference
points introduced a new protocol (PFCP - Packet Forwarding Control Plane).

In this article, I am covering two CUPS technical bullets that - together with the last article - may cover the
main CUPS technical aspects.
1. How CUPS changes Call Flows.
2. The Selection Criteria for SGW-U and PGW-U.

E-UTRAN Attach Procedure

To keep the call flow simple and organized, I am cutting the flow into 5 parts with a simple description for
every message flow and I am also highlighting the CUPS added messages in red. I will also make use of the
call flow to explain the Sx Session Establishment procedure.

Steps from 1 to 8 are the same following the standard EUTRAN Attach Call Flow (3GPP TS 23.401) so I am
just providing a summary below.

1- The UE initiates the Attach procedure by the transmission, to the eNodeB, of an EMM message - Attach
Request - with an ESM message Container (piggybacked) that carries PDN Connectivity Request.

2- If the UE identifies itself with GUTI and the MME has changed since detach, the new MME uses the GUTI
received from the UE to derive the old MME/SGSN address and send an Identification Request (old GUTI,
complete Attach Request message) to the old MME/SGSN to request the IMSI. The old MME first verifies the
Attach Request message by NAS MAC and then responds with Identification Response (IMSI, MM Context).

3- If the UE is unknown in both the old MME/SGSN and new MME, the new MME sends an Identity Request
to the UE to request the IMSI. The UE responds with Identity Response (IMSI).

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4- MME shall send The authentication data request shall include the IMSI, the Serving Network identity i.e.
MCC + MNC, and the Network Type (i.e. E-UTRAN). Upon the receipt of the authentication data request
from the MME, the HSS may have pre-computed the required number of EPS authentication vectors (RAND,
Kasme, XRES, AUTN) and retrieve them from the HSS database or may compute them on demand and send
the requested info to MME.

5- The MME sends to the USIM via ME the random challenge RAND and an authentication token AUTN for
network authentication from the selected authentication vector. Upon receipt of this message, the USIM
shall verify the freshness of the authentication vector by checking whether AUTN can be accepted as
described in TS 33.102[4]. If so, the USIM computes a response RES.

6- The MME sends an Update Location Request (MME Identity, IMSI, ME Identity (IMEISV), MME
Capabilities, ULR-Flags, Homogeneous Support of IMS Over PS Sessions) message to the HSS.

7- The HSS sends Cancel Location (IMSI, Cancellation Type) to the old MME. The old MME acknowledges
with Cancel Location Ack (IMSI) and removes the MM and bearer contexts.

8- The HSS acknowledges the Update Location message by sending an Update Location Ack (IMSI,
Subscription data) message to the new MME.

9- The new MME selects a Serving GW as described in 3GPP TS 23.401 clause 4.3.8.2 on Serving GW
selection function and allocates an EPS Bearer Identity for the Default Bearer associated with the UE.

10- MME sends a Create Session Request to SGW. The message includes the PDN GW Address selected by
MME.

11- At this point, SGW-C selects the SGW-U that will be the Tunnel endpoint for eNB/S1-U and PGW/S5
interfaces. SGW-U Selection Criteria is described later in this article.

12a- SGW-C sends Session Establishment Request message to the selected SGW-U for creating a Sx
session for the UE/PDN Connection.

The CP function assigns a new Session ID and provides it to the UP function. The Session ID is stored by
both entities and used to identify the Sx session context during their interaction. The CP function stores
also the relation between the Session ID and PDN connection in unsolicited reporting mode and can then
correlate events reported by the UP function to them.

The Sx Session Establishment Request message is a very rich message that includes a set of Identifiers
together with composite Information Elements/Rules such PDR (Packet Detection Rule), FAR (Forwarding
Action Rule), URR (Usage Reporting Rule), QER (QoS Enhancement Rule), and BAR (Buffering Action
Rule)which instruct and dictate the UP Function how to behave.

12b- The UP function responds with Sx session establishment response message with a "Cause" that shows
with the acceptance or the rejection. SGW-UP will send the created PDR associated to the Sx Session in
case of Success

13- The Serving GW creates a new entry in its EPS Bearer table and sends a Create Session Request
message to the PDN GW indicated by the PDN GW address received in the previous step.

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14- If dynamic PCC is deployed and the Handover Indication is not present, the PDN GW performs an IP-
CAN Session Establishment procedure and thereby obtains the default PCC rules for the UE.

15a- The PGW-C shall select new PGW-U. PGW-U Selection Criteria is described later in this article. If the
network is configured to perform F- TEIDu allocation in the CP function then PGW-C allocates F-TEIDu for
the default bearer. Then the PGW-C sends a Sx Session Establishment Request to the selected PGW-U for
creating a Sx session for the UE. The PGW-C shall include the F-TEIDu of the default bearer received from
the SGW. The F-TEIDu for the default bearer shall be included if the PGW-C has allocated the same.

15b- If the network is configured to perform F-TEIDu allocation in the UP function, the PGW-U allocates F-
TEIDu for the bearer. The PGW-U sends a Sx Session Establishment Response to the PGW-C confirming the
successful creation of the Sx session. It shall include the F-TEIDu for the bearer if it has allocated the
same.

16- The PDN GW returns a Create Session Response message to the Serving GW that includes (PDN GW
Address for the user plane, PDN GW TEID of the u ser plane, PDN GW TEID of the control plane, PD N Type,
PD N Address, EPS Bearer Identity, .....).

17a- In this step, SGW-C instructs SGW-U with the TEID of the PGW-U received via SGW-C. For that, The
SGW-C sends Session Modification Request to the SGW-U. The SGW-C shall include the F-TEIDu of the
default bearer received from the PGW.

17b- The SGW-U sends a Sx Session Modification Response to the SGW-C confirming the success of the Sx
session modification.

18- The Serving GW returns a Create Session Response message to the new MME.

19- The new MME sends an Attach Accept message to the eNodeB. This message is contained in an
S1_MME control message Initial Context Setup Request.

20- The eNodeB sends the RRC Connection Reconfiguration message including the EPS Radio Bearer
Identity to the UE, and the Attach Accept message will be sent along to the UE.

21- The UE sends the RRC Connection Reconfiguration Complete message to the eNodeB. For further
details, see TS 36.331.

22- The eNodeB sends the Initial Context Response message to the new MME. This Initial Context
Response message includes the TEID of the eNodeB and the address of the eNodeB used for downlink
traffic on the S1_U reference point.

23- The UE sends a Direct Transfer message to the eNodeB/MME, which includes the Attach Complete (EPS
Bearer Identity, NAS sequence number, NAS-MAC) message.

24- The new MME sends a Modify Bearer Request (EPS Bearer Identity, eNodeB address, eNodeB TEID,
Handover Indication) message to the Serving GW.

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25a- In this step, SGW-C updates SGW-U with the TEID of the eNB-S1U received via MME/eNB. The SGW-
C sends a Sx Session Modification Request to the SGW-U. The SGW-C shall include the F- TEIDu of the
default bearer received from the eNodeB.

25b- The SGW-U sends a Sx Session Modification Response to the SGW-C confirming the success of the Sx
session modification.

26- If the Handover Indication is included in step 24, SGW-C sends a Modify Bearer Request (Handover
Indication) message to the PGW-C to prompt the PGW-C to tunnel packets from non-3GPP access to 3GPP
access system and immediately start routing packets to SGW-C for the default and any dedicated EPS
bearers established.

27a- If the Handover Indication is included in step 26, the PGW-C updates the old PGW-U session
corresponding to the non-3GPP access by sending "Sx session modification request" message to the PGW-U
(session ID) and instructs the PGW-U to start routing the downlink packets to the SGW/SGW-U.

27b- The PGW-U sends "Sx session modification response" message to the PGW-C.

28- The PDN GW acknowledges by sending Modify Bearer Response to the Serving GW.

29- The Serving GW acknowledges by sending Update Bearer Response (EPS Bearer Identity) message to
the new MME. The Serving GW can then send its buffered downlink packets.

30- After the MME receives Modify Bearer Response (EPS Bearer Identity) message, if Request Type does
not indicate handover and an EPS bearer was established and the subscription data indicates that the user
is allowed to perform handover to non-3GPP accesses, and if the MME selected a PDN GW that is different
from the PDN GW identity which was indicated by the HSS in the PDN subscription context, the MME shall
send a Notify Request including the APN and PDN GW identity to the HSS for mobility with non-3GPP
accesses. The message shall include information that identifies the PLMN in which the PDN GW is located.

31- The HSS stores the APN and PDN GW identity pair and sends a Notify Response to the MME.

Note - I believe that this is the right time for

MBB professionals to start studying the PFCP protocol
with the same interest that the community
always showed for GTP.

SGW-U/PGW-U Selection Criteria

CUPS is bringing some interesting Selection features for both SGW-U and PGW-U selection with a flexibility
that was missed in Pre-R14 EPC and I believe that the richness of these features will be one of the main
differentiators between Vendors' solutions.

SGW-U is selected by SGW-C following the below scenarios.

1. Close to UE; Based on SGW-U Location and the UE Location info sent in the Create Session Request
message from MME to SGW.
2. SGW-U Dynamic Load which can be reported by SGW-U to SGW-C.
3. SGW-U Relative Static Capacity.
4. Based on the Functionalities, Features, & capabilities that UE requires/declares together with the info
that MME enriches in the Create Session Request to SGW-C. In this scenario, SGW-C can build a logic
on the info communicated from UE/MME to SGW. An example of this parameters are

CIoT capabilities - Select SGW-U for NB-IoT Terminals

UE Usage Type - Select SGW-U for certain Usage Types (e.g. Smart Meter)
APN (for selection of combined SGW/PGW) - with CUPS, SGW-U can be selected for a certain
APN/PDN - Great news!

On the other, PGW-U is selected by PGW-C following the below options.

1. PGW-U dynamic load, either on node level or APN level.

2. PGW-U relative static capacity (among PGW-Us supporting the same APN).
3. The PGW-U location configured in the PGW-C and the UE location information provided by the MME.
4. Based on the Functionalities, Features, & capabilities that UE requires/declares together with the info
that MME enriches in the Create Session Request to SGW-C/ PGW-C (e.g. APN, mapped UE Usage
Type, UE location information) or from the PCRF (e.g. need to perform DPI) with the capabilities of
the UP function so as to fulfill the service for the UE, e.g. if L7 based traffic detection is needed then a
certain PGW-U supporting corresponding functionality needs to be selected.

I end this article with optimistic expectations for CUPS as I see that PoCs based on PFCP have already
started with expected commercial deployments in 2018 and that actually opens the door to positioning the
User Plane function in edge DCs and making the first steps towards MEC, Multi-access Edge Computing.

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Thanks and waiting for your insights.

References
3GPP TS 23.214 Architecture enhancements for control and user plane separation of EPC nodes;
Stage 2 - R14.
3GPP TS 29.244 Interface between the Control Plane and the User Plane of EPC Nodes; Stage 3 -
R14.
3GPP TS 23.401 General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) enhancements for Evolved Universal Terrestrial
Radio Access Network (E-UTRAN) access - R14.
3GPP TR 29.844 Study on Control and User Plane Separation of EPC Nodes - R14.

onlyashu19 2018-04-03 15:35:29

Thanks for explaining in detail.......quite an effort !!

kangqiao 2018-04-03 18:24:52

Thanks

Abhishek @ Cisco via LinkedIn 2018-04-16 14:00:40

CUPS gives an opportunity to the operator to write policies that were not possible in non-SDN cases.

Muhammad Israr 2018-09-11 19:59:01

Nice Article, selecting SGW-U base on Apn is a relief :) . Great flexibility to route U-plan base on multiple creterias.

이심현 2019-01-09 15:05:52

Thank you for the good article.
Could you explain what happens in the case of "Dedicated bearer activation"?

niladribpal 2019-07-06 15:48:06

Thanks for sharing such a nice article to understand the basics of CUPS.

harpreet13 2019-08-01 00:30:21

What is the purpose of GTP-U/ data plane between S/PGW-U and S/PGW-C?

nurul 2019-08-30 02:58:00

Thanks Karim. Excellent Article.

One query: which Session Establishment should happen first?

- PGW-C to PGW-U (step 15)
or SGW-C to SGW-U (step 12)
I thought, PGW will be done before SGW. Thus step 15 will happen before step 12.
Please clarify

BR
Amin

Thank you for visiting Netmanias! Please leave your comment if you have a question or suggestion.

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