3 Definitions and abbreviations

38.4633GPPE1 Application Protocol (E1AP)NG-RANRelease 16TS

3.1 Definitions

For the purposes of the present document, the terms and definitions given in 3GPP TR 21.905 [1] and the following apply. A term defined in the present document takes precedence over the definition of the same term, if any, in 3GPP TR 21.905 [1].

Elementary Procedure: E1AP consists of Elementary Procedures (EPs). An Elementary Procedure is a unit of interaction between gNB-CU-CP and gNB-CU-UP. These Elementary Procedures are defined separately and are intended to be used to build up complete sequences in a flexible manner. If the independence between some EPs is restricted, it is described under the relevant EP description. Unless otherwise stated by the restrictions, the EPs may be invoked independently of each other as standalone procedures, which can be active in parallel. The usage of several E1AP EPs together is specified in stage 2 specifications (e.g., TS 38.460 [3]).

An EP consists of an initiating message and possibly a response message. Two kinds of EPs are used:

– Class 1: Elementary Procedures with response (success and/or failure).

– Class 2: Elementary Procedures without response.

For Class 1 EPs, the types of responses can be as follows:

Successful:

– A signalling message explicitly indicates that the elementary procedure successfully completed with the receipt of the response.

Unsuccessful:

– A signalling message explicitly indicates that the EP failed.

– On time supervision expiry (i.e., absence of expected response).

Successful and Unsuccessful:

– One signalling message reports both successful and unsuccessful outcome for the different included requests. The response message used is the one defined for successful outcome.

Class 2 EPs are considered always successful.

Conditional handover: as defined in TS 38.300 [4].

Conditional PSCell Change: as defined in TS 37.340 [19].

DAPS Handover: as defined in TS 38.300 [4].

gNB: as defined in TS 38.300 [4].

gNB-CU: as defined in TS 38.401 [2].

gNB-DU: as defined in TS 38.401 [2].

gNB-CU-CP: as defined in TS 38.401 [2].

gNB-CU-UP: as defined in TS 38.401 [2].

PDU Session Resource: as defined in TS 38.401 [2].

UE-associated signalling: When E1AP messages associated to one UE uses the UE-associated logical E1-connection for association of the message to the UE in gNB-CU-UP and gNB-CU-CP.

UE-associated logical E1-connection: The UE-associated logical E1-connection uses the identities GNB-CU-CP UE E1AP ID and GNB-CU-UP UE E1AP ID according to the definition in TS 38.401 [2]. For a received UE associated E1AP message the gNB-CU-CP identifies the associated UE based on the GNB-CU-CP UE E1AP ID IE and the gNB-CU-UP identifies the associated UE based on the GNB-CU-UP UE E1AP ID IE.

Public Network Integrated NPN: as defined in TS 23.501 [20].

Stand-alone Non-Public Network: as defined in TS 23.501 [20].

3.2 Abbreviations

For the purposes of the present document, the abbreviations given in TR 21.905 [1] 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 [1].

5GC 5G Core Network

5QI 5G QoS Identifier

CAG Closed Access Group

CGI Cell Global Identifier

CHO Conditional Handover

CN Core Network

CP Control Plane

CPC Conditional PSCell Change

DAPS Dual Active Protocol Stack

DL Downlink

EHC Ethernet Header Compression

EN-DC E-UTRA-NR Dual Connectivity

EPC Evolved Packet Core

IAB Integrated Access and Backhaul

MCG Master Cell Group

NID Network Identifier

NPN Non-Public Network

PNI-NPN Public Network Integrated Non-Public Network

NSSAI Network Slice Selection Assistance Information

RANAC RAN Area Code

SCG Secondary Cell Group

SDAP Service Data Adaptation Protocol

SNPN Stand-alone Non-Public Network

S-NSSAI Single Network Slice Selection Assistance Information

TNLA Transport Network Layer Association