This Technical Report describes the architectural aspects of specific UTRAN and E-UTRAN base stations, known as Home NodeBs and Home eNodeBs, which provide services in e.g. residential or enterprise deployments.
To achieve this, the objectives are to (a) document the architectural assumptions taken by other working groups as part of their previous and ongoing work on Home Node B/Home eNodeB and Closed Subscriber Groups (CSG), and to (b) identify any outstanding issues not properly addressed in Rel-8.
Starting from the resulting architectural baseline, the intention is to derive architectural requirements arising from the outstanding Rel-8 issues and the Rel-9 requirements on Home NodeB and Home eNodeB as laid down by SA WG1 in TS 22.220. Based on this, the objective is to discuss and conclude on solutions for the architectural issues arising from those requirements.
The following documents contain provisions which, through reference in this text, constitute provisions of the present document.
References are either specific (identified by date of publication, edition number, version number, etc.) or non-specific.
For a specific reference, subsequent revisions do not apply.
For a non-specific reference, the latest version applies. In the case of a reference to a 3GPP document (including a GSM document), a non-specific reference implicitly refers to the latest version of that document in the same Release as the present document.
For the purposes of the present document, the terms and definitions given in TR 21.905 and the following apply. A term defined in the present document takes precedence over the definition of the same term, if any, in TR 21.905.
Closed access mode:
HNB/HeNB operates as a CSG cell.
Closed Subscriber Group (CSG):
A Closed Subscriber Group identifies subscribers of an operator who are permitted to access one or more cells of the PLMN but which have restricted access (CSG cells).
CSG cell:
A cell, part of the PLMN, broadcasting a specific CSG identity. A CSG cell is accessible by the members of the closed subscriber group for that CSG identity. All the CSG cells sharing the same identity are identifiable as a single group for the purposes of mobility management and charging.
CSG identity:
An identifier broadcast by a CSG cell or cells and used by the UE to facilitate access for authorised members of the associated Closed Subscriber Group. The scope and uniqueness of the CSG identity is within one PLMN, i.e. a certain value of a CSG identity may exist in more than one PLMN.
Allowed CSG list:
A list stored in the network and the UE containing all the CSG identity information of the CSGs to which the subscriber belongs.
Home based network:
An IP based network in the H(e)NB owner's premises that is connected to the H(e)NB.
Hybrid access mode:
HNB/HeNB operates as a CSG cell where at the same time, non-CSG members are allowed access.
Open access mode:
HNB/HeNB operates as a normal cell, i.e. non-CSG cell.
CSG owner:
A CSG owner is the owner of one or more H(e)NBs, that have been configured as a CSG cell(s) for a particular CSG. A CSG owner can, under the H(e)NB operator's supervision, add, remove and view the list of CSG members.
HNB:
A HNB is a Customer-premises equipment that connects a 3GPP UE over UTRAN wireless air interface to a mobile operator's network using broadband IP backhaul.
HeNB:
A HeNB is a Customer-premises equipment that connects a 3GPP UE over E-UTRAN wireless air interface to a mobile operator's network using broadband IP backhaul.
H(e)NB Gateway:
H(e)NB Gateway is a mobile network operator's equipment (usually physically located on mobile operator premises) through which the H(e)NB gets access to mobile operator's core network. For HeNBs, the HeNB Gateway is optional.
H(e)NB Operator:
A H(e)NB Operator is the PLMN operator under whose license a H(e)NB operates. A H(e)NB needs to be configured and authorised by the H(e)NB operator.
H(e)NB Owner:
A H(e)NB Owner has a contractual relationship with the H(e)NB operator, related to running one or more H(e)NBs in the H(e)NB owner's premises.
H(e)NB SubSystem:
A H(e)NB SubSystem consists of the H(e)NB and, optionally, the H(e)NB Gateway belonging to it.
For the purposes of the present document, the abbreviations given in TR 21.905 and the following apply. An abbreviation defined in the present document takes precedence over the definition of the same abbreviation, if any, in TR 21.905.
CSG: