NAS Attach Request

The UE initiates the Attach procedure by the transmission, to the eNodeB, of an Attach Request. Following parameters are included in this message.

IMSI or old GUTI, last visited TAI (if available), UE Core Network Capability, UE Specific DRX parameters, Attach Type, ESM message container (Request Type, PDN Type, Protocol Configuration Options, Ciphered Options Transfer Flag), KSIASME, NAS sequence number, NAS-MAC, additional GUTI, P-TMSI signature, Voice domain preference and UE's usage setting) message together with RRC parameters indicating the Selected Network and the old GUMMEI.

The old GUTI may be derived from a P TMSI and RAI.

IMSI is included

• if the UE does not have a valid GUTI or
• if the UE does not have a valid P TMSI available, or
• if the UE is configured to perform Attach with IMSI at PLMN change and is accessing a new PLMN. 

The UE stores the TIN in detached state.

• If the UE's TIN indicates "GUTI" or "RAT-related TMSI" and the UE holds a valid GUTI then the old GUTI indicates this valid GUTI. 
• If the UE's TIN indicates "P TMSI" and the UE holds a valid P TMSI and related RAI then these two elements are indicated as the old GUTI. Mapping a P TMSI and RAI to a GUTI 
• If the UE holds a valid GUTI and the old GUTI indicates a GUTI mapped from a P-TMSI and RAI, then the UE indicates the GUTI as additional GUTI. If the old GUTI indicates a GUTI mapped from a P-TMSI and RAI and the UE has a valid P-TMSI signature associated to it, the P-TMSI signature shall be included.

The UE sets the voice domain preference and UE's usage setting according to its configuration. If available, the last visited TAI shall be included in order to help the MME produce a good list of TAIs for any subsequent Attach Accept message. Selected Network indicates the PLMN that is selected for network sharing purposes. The RRC parameter "old GUMMEI" takes its value from the "old GUTI" contained in the Attach Request.

If the UE has valid security parameters, the Attach Request message is integrity protected by the NAS-MAC in order to allow validation of the UE by the MME. KSIASME, NAS sequence number and NAS-MAC are included if the UE has valid EPS security parameters. NAS sequence number indicates the sequential number of the NAS message. If the UE does not have a valid EPS security association, then the Attach Request message is not integrity protected.

The UE network capabilities indicate also the supported NAS and AS security algorithms. PDN type indicates the requested IP version (IPv4, IPv4/IPv6, IPv6). Protocol Configuration Options (PCO) are used to transfer parameters between the UE and the PDN GW, and are sent transparently through the MME and the Serving GW. The Protocol Configuration Options may include the Address Allocation Preference indicating that the UE prefers to obtain an IPv4 address only after the default bearer activation by means of DHCPv4.

If the UE intends to send PCO which require ciphering (e.g., PAP/CHAP usernames and passwords) or send an APN, or both, the UE shall set the Ciphered Options Transfer Flag and send PCO or APN or both only after authentication and NAS security setup have been completed (see below). If the UE has UTRAN or GERAN capabilities, it sends the NRSU in the PCO to indicate the support of the network requested bearer control in UTRAN/GERAN.

Request Type is included in the ESM message container and indicates "Handover" when the UE has already an activated PDN GW/HA due to mobility with non-3GPP accesses. Attach Type indicates whether it is an EPS attach or a combined EPS/IMSI attach or an Emergency Attach.

For an Emergency Attach the UE sets both the Attach Type and the Request Type to "Emergency" and the IMSI shall be included if the UE does not have a valid GUTI or a valid P-TMSI available. The IMEI shall be included when the UE has no IMSI, no valid GUTI and no valid P-TMSI.