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Tuesday, September 7, 2010

Single Radio Voice Call Continuity (SRVCC)

SRVCC is an LTE functionality that allows a VoIP/IMS call in the LTE packet domain to be
moved to a legacy voice domain (GSM/UMTS or CDMA 1x).
Consider a case where a new LTE network operator wants to move voice services to VoIP
over IMS in conjunction with the deployment of an LTE access network. In the absence of
other options, this operator would need to provide ubiquitous LTE coverage on day 1 to
have a competitive VoIP service. However SRVCC enabled LTE may not require complete
LTE coverage.
SRVCC provides the ability to transition a voice call from the VoIP/IMS packet domain to
the legacy circuit domain. Variations of SRVCC are being standardized to support both
GSM/UMTS and CDMA 1x circuit domains. For an operator with a legacy cellular network
who wishes to deploy IMS/VoIP-based voice services in conjunction with the rollout of an
LTE network, SRVCC offers VoIP subscribers with coverage over a much larger area than
would typically be available during the rollout of a new network.
SRVCC functions as follows. As an SRVCC-capable UEe engaged in a voice call determines
that it is moving away from LTE coverage, it notifies the LTE network. The LTE network
determines that the voice call needs to be moved to the legacy circuit domain. It notifies the
MSC server of the need to switch the voice call from the packet to the circuit domain and
initiates a handover of the LTE voice bearer to the circuit network. The MSC server
establishes a bearer path for the mobile in the legacy network and notifies the IMS core
that the mobiles call leg is moving from the packet to the circuit domain. The circuit-packet
function in the IMS core then performs the necessary inter-working functions. When the
mobile arrives on-channel in the legacy network, it switches its internal voice processing
from VoIP to legacy-circuit voice, and the call continues.

If the legacy circuit network also has an associated packet capability and is capable of
supporting concurrent circuit/packet operations, the subscribers data sessions can be
handed over to the legacy network in conjunction with switching the voice call from the
packet to the circuit domain. In this case when the voice call finishes and the mobile reenters LTE coverage, these packet sessions can be handed back to the LTE.
If operators look to limit LTE deployments to high traffic areas and at the same time wish to
transition voice service in those areas to VoIP, then SRVCC is exactly what they need.
If on the other hand operators do not plan to migrate their voice service to VoIP, then
SRVCC is not for them. If an operator does plan to migrate to VoIP and also plans to roll out
ubiquitous LTE coverage, then the question of whether or not to adopt SRVCC is more
complicated. While SRVCC does not require modifications to what is certainly the
operators largest legacy investment, the RAN, it does require a significant modification of
the operators legacy core and also requires full deployment of IMS circuit-packet
continuity services. Given the cost of these changes, deployment of SRVCC purely as an
interim measure to allow early rollout of VoIP-based services may not make financial
sense.
Source: Motorola's WhitePaper on "LTE Inter-technology Mobility"
vikram k
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13 comments:
Mahesh Thursday, June 30, 2011
Why not the same PS call(IMS) will not do a HO to UTRAN as a general PS handover. In that case
what is the use of SRVCC.
Reply

Samarth Sunday, September 25, 2011

Here, in SRVCC, we are talking about the scenario where UE is moved out of LTE coverage area.
Since, there is no LTE coverage, PS calls for voice(VOIP,using IMS)is not possible.So, we have to
fallback to enhanced MSC for voice using SRVCC(Using CS domain).
Reply

Samarth Sunday, September 25, 2011

follow up if you have any further queries...
Reply

Kirn Gill Thursday, November 10, 2011

Except that the classic UTRAN supports packet sessions. HSPA and it's evolution, HSPA+, can in
practice provide low enough RAN latency to allow packet-switched voice service to be handed
over to a HSPA or HSPA+ data session. There is no real reason to fall back to CS unless there is
real concern that the legacy RAN's PS performance is just that bad.
Bandwidth isn't a concern with a HSPA-enabled UTRAN. A VoLTE PS call only needs ISDN
bandwidth (64kbit/s full duplex) + IP packet header overhead (about an additional 20%), which
could be reduced significantly by using the legacy AMR or GSM-EFR voice codecs - which may
even enable PS voice sessions to persist over a GERAN/ERAN, if the latency isn't too great. IMS
is based on SIP and RTP, and I've have numerous successful and usable, jitter-free SIP/RTP calls
over GPRS/EDGE using the AMR codec - there is no reason to believe that a VoLTE call using the
right codec could not fall back to the PS domain of UTRAN or GERAN and still deliver adequate
end-user performance.
Reply

Utkarsh Kumar Tuesday, April 03, 2012

Functionally, for an end user... there is no difference between CSFV and SRVCC.. correct ?
Reply
Replies
Samarth Monday, June 04, 2012
Yes probably...

Henry De Dios Wednesday, June 25, 2014

The difference between CSFB and SRVCC is that CSFB take place when an UE places
or receives a new call. SRVCC is a mechanism used to transfer (handover) an active,
already in place, voice call from a VoLTE scenario to a CS scenario.
Reply

Saikiran V Monday, June 04, 2012

Have a query, suppose the UE and EPC supports SRVCC, is it mandatory for UE to do combined
attach or is it fine for UE to do EPS only attach and can still do SRVCC
Reply
Replies
Samarth Monday, June 04, 2012
Eps attach only...combined attached is for csfb

Reply

Adesh Kumar Tuesday, September 11, 2012

I agree with Kirn Gill. Why isn't a PS handover of the VOIP PS Bearer be done to UMTS/GERAN
instead of the SRVCC (PS Bearer handed over to CS Bearer)
Reply

kiran prabhakar koona Monday, December 17, 2012

so in case of SRVCC if it is a EPS attach only, how does UE know about the neighbour 2G/3G
network? is it just from the SIB's sent by EPC? When the LTE coverage is bad and UE has to
switch from LTE to CS network is it a fresh registration to the CS network?
Reply

akshay Wednesday, January 16, 2013

SRVCC is possible only when UE is in CS/PS modes of operation as in PS only modes, MSC will
never come into picture. In both these cases the specification states that combined attach is
performed. Hence we can conclude that combined attach is performed.
Reply

Tomek Wednesday, June 05, 2013

Hi,
During INITIAL ATTACH in LTE UE has to indicate that is capable of SRVCC and request
COMBINED EPS/ IMSI ATTACH
In case of ATTACH ACCEPT network need to accept COMBINED EPS/ IMSI ATTACH and should
indicate whether voice over IMS is supported or not:

IMSVoPS = (IMS Vo PS Session in S1 Mode supported)

Regarding neighbours:
The UE shall support measuring UTRAN/ GERAN carriers in the RRC connected state.
Network is telling UE which cell should be measure by measurement request/config in RRC
RECONFIGURATION MESSAGE

TROMEK
Reply

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