The following Figure describes the UE triggered RNA update procedure involving context retrieval over Xn. The procedure may be triggered when the UE moves out of the configured RNA, or periodically.
The UE resumes from RRC_INACTIVE, providing the I-RNTI allocated by the last serving gNB and appropriate cause value, e.g., RAN notification area update.
The gNB, if able to resolve the gNB identity contained in the I-RNTI, requests the last serving gNB to provide UE Context, providing the cause value received in step 1.
The last serving gNB may provide the UE context (as assumed in the following). Alternatively, the last serving gNB may decide to move the UE to RRC_IDLE (and the procedure follows steps 3 and later of Figure 9.2.2.5-3) or, if the UE is still within the previously configured RNA, to keep the UE context in the last serving gNB and to keep the UE in RRC_INACTIVE (and the procedure follows steps 3 and later of Figure 9.2.2.5-2).
The gNB may move the UE to RRC_CONNECTED (and the procedure follows step 4 of Figure 9.2.2.4.1-1), or send the UE back to RRC_IDLE (in which case an RRCRelease message is sent by the gNB), or send the UE back to RRC_INACTIVE as assumed in the following.
The gNB triggers the release of the UE resources at the last serving gNB.
The following Figure describes the RNA update procedure for the case when the UE is still within the configured RNA and the last serving gNB decides not to relocate the UE context and to keep the UE in RRC_INACTIVE:
The UE resumes from RRC_INACTIVE, providing the I-RNTI allocated by the last serving gNB and appropriate cause value, e.g., RAN notification area update.
The gNB, if able to resolve the gNB identity contained in the I-RNTI, requests the last serving gNB to provide UE Context, providing the cause value received in step 1.
The last serving gNB stores received information to be used in the next resume attempt (e.g. C-RNTI and PCI related to the resumption cell), and responds to the gNB with the RETRIEVE UE CONTEXT FAILURE message including an encapsulated RRCRelease message. The RRCRelease message includes Suspend Indication.
The UE resumes from RRC_INACTIVE, providing the I-RNTI allocated by the last serving gNB and appropriate cause value, e.g., RAN notification area update.
The gNB, if able to resolve the gNB identity contained in the I-RNTI, requests the last serving gNB to provide UE Context, providing the cause value received in step 1.
The gNB may move the UE to RRC_CONNECTED (and the procedure follows step 4 of Figure 9.2.2.4.1-1), or send the UE back to RRC_IDLE (in which case an RRCRelease message is sent by the gNB), or send the UE back to RRC_INACTIVE, including a release with redirect indication (as assumed in the following).
The gNB keeps the UE in RRC_INACTIVE state by sending RRCRelease with suspend indication, including redirection information (frequency layer the UE performs cell selection upon entering RRC_INACTIVE).