Packet Data Connection Processing States

Packet Data Connection Processing States

Last updated: June 20, 2006

This section is only applicable to the lab application.

There are several key transitions during packet data connection processing lifecycle (see Packet Data Connection States and Transitions ).

Packet Data Connection States and Transitions

Packet Data Connection States Description

Once the test set completes a process (successfully or in error conditions) during packet data service (SO33 or SO33 (+F-SCH)) operation, the test set will always end up in one of the three stable states ("Idle", "Idle Dormant" or "Connected + Data") and display in the Active Cell status area on the test set's front panel.

   
NOTE
In the following description, the base station (BS) is interchangeable with the test set and the packet data serving node (PDSN) refers to either the internal or external PDSN depending upon your External PDSN State setting (see Data Channel Parameters ).
   

  • Idle: indicates there is no physical traffic channel (RF link) established between the MS and the BS and no logical PPP connection between the MS and the PDSN. In this case, the data connection status ( CALL:STATus[:STATe]:DATA? ) returns OFF. The test set will go to this state,
    • when the test set initially powers up or presets, or when the MS powers on and camps on the test set. This state remains until a packet data connection occurs.
    • when the test set sends a Release Order to the MS by pressing the F3 ( End Call ) on Call Control 1 of 3 menu, or receives a Release Order (ORDQ = 2) from the MS due to some reason (for example, when you exit the MS's web browser, or press the End Call key on the MS, or terminate the data connection in some MS-dependent manner).
  • Idle Dormant: indicates no physical traffic channel exists between the MS and the BS, but the PPP connection is maintained between the MS and the PDSN. In this case, the data connection status ( CALL:STATus[:STATe]:DATA? ) returns DORM (dormant).
    • The dormant state is an important advantage of the packet data service offering since it allows the MS's natural state to be dormancy, where the MS does not utilize any radio resources and has minimal power consumption. The subsequent sessions (when the MS comes out of dormancy) can be started without having to re-establish PPP link again and the connection time is faster.
    • The test set will transition from the connected state to dormant state when receiving a Release Order (ORDQ = 0) from the MS due to some reason (for example, the packet data inactivity timer times out, or other MS-dependent manner), or in response to pressing the F2 ( Force Dormant ) on the Data Channel menu (accessed by pressing F2 ( Data Channel Info ) on Call Control 3 of 3 menu) (see also CALL:FUNCtion:DATA:DORMant ). Note that if Force Dormant ( F2 ) operation results in a response of Release Order (ORDQ = 2) from the MS, the test set will transition to idle state and prompt with an error 'Force dormant failed due to MS messaging'.
    • The packet data connection can be reactivated from dormancy to the connected state when an IP packet arrives from the network destined to the mobile station (for example, file transfer over FTP, ping the MS from the test set, etc.).
  • Connected + Data: indicates a physical traffic channel exists between the MS and the BS, and a logical (PPP) connection is maintained between the MS and the PDSN. The test set will indicate this state when a packet data connection is successfully established (see How Do I Originate a Packet Data Connection From My Wireless Device? ). Packet data can be exchanged between the MS and the external network on the active packet data connection. In this case, the data connection status ( CALL:STATus[:STATe]:DATA? ) returns DCON (data connected). While in this state,
    • the test set will transition to dormant state when receiving a Release Order (ORDQ = 0) from the MS due to some reason (for example, the packet data inactivity timer times out, or other MS-dependent manner), or in response to pressing the F2 ( Force Dormant ) on the Data Channel menu (accessed by pressing F2 ( Data Channel Info ) on Call Control 3 of 3 menu).
    • the test set will transition to idle state if the F3 ( End Call ) on Call Control 1 of 3 menu is pressed, or a Release Order (ORDQ = 2) is received from the MS due to some reason (for example, when you exit the MS's web browser, or press the End Call key on the MS, or terminate the data connection in some MS-dependent manner). If you press the F2 ( Force Dormant ) and the MS responses with a Release Order (ORDQ = 2) instead of the expected Release Order (ORDQ = 0), the test set will also transition to idle state and prompt with an error 'Force dormant failed due to MS messaging'.

Related Topics

Test Set Packet Data Network Emulation

Call Processing State Synchronization

Data Channel