for provision of IMS services). This reference point
corresponds to Gi for 3GPP accesses.
X2
Reference point between two different gNodeBs used for UE
handoffs.
A high-level description of some of the components shown in the RANs 120A and 120B and the core network 140 of FIG. 1B is now provided. However, these components are each well-known in the art from various 3GPP and Open Mobile Alliance (OMA) Technical Specifications (TSs), and the description contained herein is not intended to be an exhaustive description of all functionalities performed by these components.
Referring to FIG. 1B, the MME 215 is configured to manage the control plane signaling for the Evolved Packet System (EPS). MME functions include: Non-Access Stratum (NAS) signaling, NAS signaling security, Mobility management for UEs 102 including support for inter-RAN and intra-RAN handovers, P-GW and S-GW selection, and MME selection for handovers with a change of MME.
The S-GW 230 is the gateway that terminates the interface toward the RAN 120A. For each UE 102 attached to the core network 140 for a 5G-based system, at a given point of time, there can be a single S-GW 230. The functions of the S-GW 230 include: serving as a mobility anchor point, packet routing and forwarding, and setting the Differentiated Services Code Point (DSCP) based on a Quality of Service (QoS) Class Identifier (QCI) of an associated EPS bearer.