TSG#31 Highlights

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Previous Highlights: TSG#30| TSG#29 | TSG#28 | TSG#27 | TSG#26 | TSG#25 | TSG#24 | TSG#23 | TSG#22
TSG#21 | TSG#20 | TSG#19 | TSG#16 | TSG#15

Welcome!

Welcome to the latest edition of TSG Highlights! The aim is to provide you with a concise summary of the decisions and actions of the most recent 3GPP Technical Specification Group meetings held in March 2006 in Sanya, Hainan (China).

3GPP has four  TSGs: CT (Core Networks and Terminals); RAN (Radio Access Network); SA (Services and Systems Aspects) and GERAN (GSM EDGE Radio Access Network). This summary reports on the first three of these, as GERAN meetings take place separately from the other TSGs.

Please note, these summaries do not constitute formal, approved reports of the meetings – they are opinions only and also may not be complete. They are offered for guidance only.

TSG CT (Core Network and Terminals)

The meeting was held in Sanya, Hainan (China), on the 8th March to 10th March 2006.

General

CT #31 approved 337 CRs in releases ranging from R99 to Rel-7, which is an average number of CRs in single CT meeting.

Summary of approved CRs per release in the latest meetings: 

Release 99 Overview

•         Corrections to smartcard test cases

–        from now on TCs are defined only in the latest complete release

•         51.010 for Rel-4 is created, 11.10 in R99 is voided and points to Rel-4

–        SIM TCs will remain in Rel-4

–        USIM TCs will remain in Rel-6 until freezing of Rel-7

•         Mapping of SIM and USIM application data on UICC

–        TR 31.900 was made available only in the latest release and currently all the contents is in the Rel-7 version

Release-4 Overview
 

•         No corrections to Rel-4

•         Shifting of SIM TCs from R99 11.10 to Rel-4 51.010

Release-5 Overview

•         Rel-5 CR count is down by 44 % since CT #30

•         Rel-5 CRs are corrections under TEI-5 and IMS work item

Release-6 Overview

•         Rel-6 CR count is down by 30 % since CT #30

•         Correction CRs are still expected

•         All USIM TCs will be defined in Rel-6 until Rel-7 freezing

•         Still 12 critical references to IETF drafts

•         Corrections on the main work items

–        IMS, including presence and interoperability issues

–        Security

–        OSA enhancements

–        MBMS

–        WLAN

–        Non-IMS MMS

–        SCUDIF

–        ACBOP

–        Conversational services in A/Gb domain

–        TEI-6

Rel-6 is stabilising and the number of CRs is less than before, but correction CRs are still expected at least in following topics:

•         Inter-Operator Identifier (IOI) for charging

–        Late addition of requirement by SA5,

–        CT had to ask for clarification of the requirements from SA5,

–        Based on the received reply CT was able to approve all related CRs to complete its part of the IOI work for Rel-6.

•         SCUDIF.

–        Network initiated SCUDIF CRs were approved,

–        One CR is still needed to add prepaid charging.

•         OSA WSDL code

–        WSDL code has been on and off a couple of times already,

–        The latest version has been verified and CT5 would like to put it back to the OSA specifications.

Release-7 Overview

•         Rel-7 CR count is up by 84 % since CT #30

•         Active work items

–        The main IMS activity is now in the area of FBI

–        Three VGCS related work items

–        CSI

–        IETF protocol alignment

–        OSA

–        PCC

–        DTM HO for GERAN A/Gb mode

–        TEI-7

Release-7 Topics Under Discussion

•         TISPAN security concept

–        Unanimous agreement in 3GPP that Some User Equipment operating in normal service mode without USIM cannot be called UE

–        CRs to change from MO/MT to ‘UE originated/terminated’ do not require any procedural change to the protocols and were approved

–        Definition of NASS bundled authentication in 3GPP ?

–        Definition of NASS bundled authentication in TISPAN specs or in SA3 TR ?

•         Mapping of SIM and USIM data files on UICC

–        TR 31.900 is about SIM and USIM internal interworking

–        It was clarified that mapping of SIM and USIM data files is not mandatory as it depends on the operator’s configuration

–        31.900 now indicates which fields should be co-ordinated between SIM and USIM if mapping is required by the operator

–        No protocol changes are needed because of these CRs

•         CSI

–        All material from working time TR 24.879 was moved to normative TSs

–        Working time TR 24.879 was approved

–        Also TS 24.279 based on the TR was approved

•         IMS multimedia telephony

–        WID was proposed but not approved in the previous TSGs #30

–        This time LS was received from SA1 to inform they have started the FS work

–        CT WID is approved, but it is assumed that SA approves the parent feature WI

•         IMS emergency calls

–        Stage 3 work has been started by approving the first CRs

–        UE, P-CSCF, E-CSCF and S-CSCF procedures are added to 24.229

•         CableLabs requirements

–        It is understood in CT that normal 3GPP work process will be followed

–        The first (charging information) related CR has been approved in CT

•         (G)MM reject cause #12

–        Roaming problem has been detected in VPLMN use of #12

–        The problem was seen administrative and regulatory issue

–        CR to clarify the use of reject cause 12 was approved

–        No change to UE or network design

•         DIAMETER at Gi and Wi interface

–        WIs started long time ago, 0 % complete, scheduled for completion 09/2006

–        Two companies requested a possibility to contribute in the next plenary period

–        Both work items are kept, at least for now

•         Policy Control and Charging (PCC)

–        Work has started with good progress, but further stage 2 material is still needed

•         MAP security

–        MAP security is approaching completion with the TR 29.800 was approved and new TS created based on it

–        With the introduction of TCAP security the old MAPsec solution became obsolete and was removed from Rel-7 version of 29.002

–        The redundant procedures still remain in older releases

•         UICC phonebook dimension

–        SFI (Short File Identity) in the current design limits the phone book to 1000 entries

–        Discussion ongoing to make SFI optional, but no solution has been agreed.

New Specifications

•         TR 24.879 Combinining CS calls and IMS sessions

–        Temporary working time CSI TR was approved

–        All material has been shifted to normative TSs

–        CT does not intend to maintain the TR 24.879 any more

•         TS 24.279 Combinining CS calls and IMS sessions

–        Normative CSI TS was approved

•         TR 29.800 SS7 security GW architecture & protocol

–        Temporary working time TR was approved

•         TS 29.204 SS7 security GW architecture & protocol

–        Draft TS based on TR was provided for information and noted

–        It is assumed that the draft TS will come for approval in CT #32

Revised Work Items

The meeting approved 5 revised WIDs:

•         Rel-7 WID OSA Stage 2-3 [CT5]

•         Update of WID for Gx interface for Policy Control and Charging (PCC) [CT3]

•         Update of WID for Rx interface for Policy Control and Charging (PCC) [CT3]

•         Update of the IMSProtoc WID [CT1]

•         Update of WID for CSICS stage 3 [CT1]

New Work Items

•         FS to Introduce Multiplexing at Nb Interface with IP transport [CT3]

•         TCAPsec Gateway concept [CT4]

•         FS on introduce of M2PA in 3GPP [CT4]

•         Support of SMS and MMS over IP networks Stage 3

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TSG-RAN (Radio Access Network)

The meeting was held in Sanya, Hainan (China), on the 8th March to 10th March 2006.

TSG RAN meeting #31 took place in Horizon Resort, Yalong Bay, Sanya, Hainan, China. The meeting started at 9:00 on Wednesday 8^th March and finished on Friday 10^th at 15.45. 177 participants were registered and 220 documents were submitted.

 All meeting documents can be found at: ftp://ftp.3gpp.org/tsg_ran/TSG_RAN/TSGR_31/

Change Requests

The approved Change Requests (CRs) to TSG RAN specifications are summarized in the following table: 

ITU-R Issues

ITU-R WP8A is currently working in two draft recommendations on broadband access: M.[8A/BWA], "Radio interface standards for broadband wireless access systems in the mobile service operating below 6 GHz" and M.[8A/NBWA] “A broadband wireless metropolitan area network radio interface standard[s] for nomadic access systems in the mobile service operating below 6 GHz.”. The opinion of TSG RAN is that the focus should be on the first, a more encompassing document, although it will contribute to both if WP8A decides to continue also M.[8A/NBWA] (RP-060199)

Rel99, Rel-4, Rel-5 and Rel-6

No CRs to R99 specifications and very few to Rel-4 specifications. Most of the Rel-5 CRs are for the test specifications in WG5.

 It was agreed to freeze ASN.1 of 25.331 Rel-6.

 The report of MCC Task Force 160 (TTCN test cases) and its approved Terms of Reference were approved. (RP-060041 & RP-060042)

 A document introducing the requirements of the US FCC regarding the impact of HSDPA/EDCH channels in Hearing Aid Devices had been circulated in the WGs and was also presented in TSG RAN (RP-060140). It was asked that WG1 and WG2 pay particular attention to this issue and interference avoidance mechanisms are introduced if necessary.

Release 7 Work Items

TS 34.121-2, "User Equipment (UE) conformance specification; Radio transmission and reception (FDD); Part 2: Implementation Conformance Statement (ICS)" was presented and approved. This specification becomes multipart only now and for Rel-7. (RP-060055)

 The WI Improved Performance Requirements based on Receive Diversity & LMMSE Equalizer Receiver for HSDPA UE was closed. Requirements for HS-SCCH will be considered under TEI if needed

 Regarding the evaluation of MIMO schemes, it was agreed that WG1 will evaluate the two schemes proposed (PARC and D-TxAA) and results will be presented with the two types of receivers (PARC with SIC & MMSE, and D-TxAA with MMSE). WG4 will work in parallel on the performance and complexity issues. Regarding TDD, PARC was agreed for 3.84 Mcps and 7.68 Mcps

 Work on 7.68 Mcps TDD is finished in WG1, WG2 & WG3. The CRs from these groups are approved (sec. 9.6). The following specifications were also approved:

-   TS25.202: 7.68Mcps TDD Option; Overall Description: Stage 2 (RP-060117)

-   TR25.809: 7.68Mcps TDD Option: Physical Layer (RP-060116)

 The following Testing Work Items were completed and their CRs approved

-   Network Sharing (testing)

-   Testing of Performance of Receiver diversity for HSDPA

-   Testing of Improved Minimum Performance for HSDPA

-   UE conformance testing for UMTS 2600 MHz

-   UE Conformance Test for UMTS in 900 MHz band

The Study on UTRA FDD Tower Mounted Amplifiers was concluded. No WI arises for the time being.

Long Term Evolution

A document was presented proposing to take as an assumption that the system should also support UE’s with a single Rx antenna. It was agreed that the WGs should focus on fulfilling the requirements of 25.913, no matter how many antennas are necessary (RP-060134).

It was proposed to explicitly introduce in TR25.913 the options of dedicated Broadcast carrier and shared carrier (between unicast & multicast), together with detailed performance requirements for Enhanced MBMS. Various CRs were discussed, and finally a proposal was agreed by email after the meeting (RP-060220)

A 1.6 MHz carrier bandwidth was introduced, for compatibility with 1.28 Mcps TDD (RP-060210).

It was agreed that the WGs would produce a concept evaluation for LTE to assist TSG RAN in making the decisions required before starting the Work Item phase (RP-060169 & RP-060170)

Regarding the LTE network architecture, the following working assumptions were agreed:

-   RRC termination will be in the eNode B

-   Outer ARQ termination will be in the eNodeB

New Work Items / Study Items

The following Work Items were approved:

-   7.68 Mcps TDD Enhanced Uplink (RP-060119)

-   1.28 Mcps TDD Enhanced Uplink (RP-060202)

-   Extended UMTS 1.7/2.1 GHz (RP-060180)

-   Extended WCDMA Cell Range (RP-060212)

-   Building Block: Additional minimum UE performance requirement for non-HSDPA channels based on type 1 enhanced receiver (Rx-Diversity) (RP-060182)

-   Work Task: Additional minimum UE performance requirement for downlink physical channels in support of MTCH and MCCH operation based on type 1 enhanced receiver

    (Rx-Diversity) (RP-060183)

-   Work Task: Additional minimum UE performance requirement for downlink physical channels in support of E-DCH operation based on type 1 enhanced receiver (Rx-Diversity)

-   Work Task: Additional minimum UE performance requirement for downlink physical channels in support of DCH/HS-DSCH operation based on type 1 enhanced receiver

    (Rx-Diversity) (RP-060185).

This is a revision of the WI previously named "Improved Performance Requirements for non-HSDPA channels based on Enhanced Receiver, Type 1" to align with the new framework set by RP-060182 above.

 The following Work Items for testing were approved:

-   Conformance Test Aspects – IMS Call Control Rel-6 enhancements (RP-060047)

-   Conformance Test Aspects –UMTS 1.7/2.1 GHz Band (RP-060048)

-   Conformance Test Aspects – Improved Performance of HSDPA Receiver type 3 (RP-060049)

-   Conformance Test Aspects – MBMS (RP-060050)

-   TDD HSDPA testing (RP-060203)

 A Study Item for the evolution of HSDPA & EDCH for FDD was extensively debated and approved (RP-060217)

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TSG-SA (Service and System Aspects)

The meeting was held in Sanya, Hainan (China), on the 13th March to 16th March 2006.

Summary of Major Decisions

RAN approved a study item on HSPA evolution (referred to as HSPA+).  It was agreed that the system architecture aspects of this work would be handled within the SAE item. There is a need for close coordination between RAN and SA in this work. It was also noted that the migration aspects are also included in the SAE work.

In addition, the following guidance was agreed as part of incorporating HSPA+ into SAE:

- As a working principle, the study phase on HSPA+ is not expected to be used to question agreed LTE/SAE working assumptions.

- The study phase on HSPA+ is not expected to impact the SAE timeplan (i.e. key decisions and the proposed meetings where these decisions are to be made, as identified in the Joint Meeting of SA WG2, RAN WG2 and RAN WG3 in February 2006).

Work on LTE and SAE is progressing with several key decisions being reached on terminating functionality in eNodeB.  A revised workplan for SAE was endorsed (SP-060166).

It was agreed that the AIPN TS (22.258) would be moved to Rel 8.  CRs resulting from the AIPN work resulted in the creation of other Rel 8 specs. The AIPN TR remains in Rel 7.

At SA#30 it had been agreed that support of A5/2 should be discouraged. The CRs to accomplish this were approved at this meeting.

Although 100% of the CRs required to complete SCUDIF charging in Rel 6 were not completed, it was agreed to retain the functionality and await the completion of pre-paid functionality.

There has been significant harmonization of OAM&P and charging between ITU-T SG4, NGNMFG, ATIS TMOC, TMC, and ETSI-TISPAN.

As a result of agreements reached at the workshop on Network Selection, several CRs were agreed as well as a work item to progress this work.

A LS was generated toward TISPAN recommending that they align TISPAN release schedules with 3GPP releases and also encourage them to continue their efforts in aligning with 3GPP working methods (SP-060233).

Another LS was generated recommending how to document any optional functionality that might arise due to incorporation of TISPAN or Cablelabs requirements into IMS.  It also recommended an approach for dealing with multiple industry definitions of UE. (SP-060234).

SA recommended to SA3 several principles for dealing with security issues arising from TISPAN or Cablelabs requirements on IMS.  The recommendations included documenting NAS bundled authentication as a TR. (SP-060235)

CT was granted an exception to continue work on adding WSDL back into the Rel 6 OSA specifications (SP-060188)
It was agreed that the Rel 7 target for stage 2 completion is June 2006.  SA2 is requested to provide a list of those items for which the stage 2 is not complete in June.  A re-assessment of the stage 2 work should be made in June 2006 and decisions made on items in Rel-7 and completion dates. CT WGs should continue working on their WIs, assuming they will be part of Rel-7 for the time being.

TRs were approved on Transferring of emergency call data (SP-060025), IMS Multimedia Telephony service and associated supplementary services for IMS (SP-060223), Identification of Communication Services in IMS (SP-060150), Multimedia Telephony over IMS- Optimization opportunities (SP-060005), MBMS User Service Guidelines (SP-060004), Early Implementation for SIM card based Generic Bootstrapping Architecture (GBA) (SP-060063), and Interworking of Liberty Alliance Identity Federation Framework (ID-FF), Identity Web Services Framework (ID-WSF) and Generic Authentication Architecture (GAA) (SP-060070).

TSs were approved on Service Requirements for Personal Network Management (SP-060213), IMS emergency sessions (SP-060151), Network Domain Security; TCAP user security (SP-060210), and Specification of A8_V MILENAGE algorithm: An example algorithm for the Key Generation function A8_V (SP-060067). In addition TS 32.403 was split into 4 parts (with one more part to come) (SP-060107-SP-060110).

New work items were approved for Network selection enhancements (SP-060220), Enhancements for VGCS Applications (SP-060036), Multimedia Telephony Service for IMS (SP-060224), One Tunnel solution for Optimization of Packet Data Traffic (SP-060142), IMS Multimedia Telephony; media handling and interaction (SP-060225), and MTOSI XML Harmonization (SP-060095).  The IMS Emergency Call WID was updated to include I-WLAN (SP-060143).  The Fixed Broadband IMS (FBI) WID was updated to include Cablelabs aspects. Voice Call Continuity  (SP-060211),  Identification of Communication Services in IMS (SP-060216), and Evolution of policy control and flow based bearer level charging (SP-060217) were updated to include SA5 aspects.  Finally, Optimizations for Multimedia Telephony over IMS (SP-060226) was updated to avoid conflict with the new IMS Multimedia Telephony; media handling and interaction WID mentioned above.

A new study item was created for IMS utilizing multicast bearer services (SP-060148).  The study items for Customized Alerting Tone (CAT) (SP-060040) and IMS enhancements and optimizations for real time communication (SP-060147) were updated.

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