LTE EPS Connection Management States
This page describes LTE EPS Connection Management States. EPS connection management (ECM) states are maintained by NAS layers within the UE and MME. These states will decide signalline connections between UE and EPC. There are two LTE ECM states viz. ECM IDLE and ECM CONNECTED.
An LTE UE in ECM IDLE state does not have NAS signalling connection to the MME entity. UE completes cell selection and cell reselection when it is in ECM IDLE state.
The location of UE in the ECM IDLE state is known to MME to the accuracy of Tracking Area List allocated.
Following procedures are executed when LTE UE is in EMM-registered amd ECM-IDLE states:
• TAU triggered by mobility and periodic TAU(Tracking Area Update) timer T3412
• TAU triggered for MME load balancing (meaning relocating UE's signalling connection to a different MME).
• TAU triggered for the UE to signal a change of its core network capability or its UE specific DRX cycle.
• responding to paging messages by performing a service request procedure
• performing the service request procedure when the uplink user plane data is to be sent
THE UE and MME enter ECM-CONNECTED state after a NAS signalling connection has been established. From UE perspective, this corresponds to establishing an RRC connection between UE and eNodeB. From MME perspective, this corresponds to establishing an S1 connection between eNodeB and MME.
Initial NAS messages which are used ro initiate a transition from ECM-IDLE to ECM-CONNECTED are as follows.
All these procedures require UE to be in RRC connected mode.
• ATTACH REQUEST
• Tracking Area Update REQUEST
• Service Request
• Detach request
The location of UE in ECM-CONNECTED state is known by MME to an accuracy of the serving eNodeB.
LTE UE mobility is handled using handovers rather than cell re-selection when UEs are in ECM-CONNECTED states.
UE continue to complete TAU due to mobility when in ECM CONNECTED state, i.e. when UE moves into a cell which
does not belong to a Tracking Area within the UE's list of registered tracking areas.
LTE UE make the transition from ECM-CONNECTED to ECM IDLE when their signalling connection is released or when their signalling connection
fails.
REFERENCES: 3GPP TS 23.401 , 3GPP TS 24.301
LTE RELATED LINKS
LTE PSS SSS
LTE RS DMRS SRS
LTE PUSCH
LTE PUCCH
LTE PRACH
LTE PMCH
LTE PHICH
LTE PDSCH
LTE PDCCH
LTE PCFICH
LTE PBCH