Packet Data Connection Processing States Lifecycle

Last updated: May 24, 2006

This section is only applicable to the lab application.

As shown in the figure below, there are several key state transitions in the packet data connection processing lifecycle. The Session Application Type must be set to the Default Packet Application before an AT initiates a packet data connection with the test set. For the key steps and messaging to establish a packet data connection (DPA), see Packet Data Connection Call Flow .

Packet Data Connection Processing Lifecycle

1. Once the access terminal (AT) is powered on, it acquires the system and then moves into Idle state (see Idle State ).
2. Before the AT can send or receive any data, it must first establish a session, and then open a data connection. Most ATs will immediate initiate a session once they reach the idle state. That way, when the user is ready to retrieve some data, the AT can immediately move from the session open to connected state. Only the AT can initiate a session. The test set can't send data to the AT unless the AT has established a session. The AT initiates a session by sending a UATI Request (see UATI Request State ).
3. The session is then configured through the negotiation of configurable attributes such as Session Application Type, Preferred Control Channel Cycle, Probe Sequence Max, etc. (see Session Negotiate State ). Note that the Session Application Type must be set to Default Packet Application before an AT initiates a packet data connection with the test set.
4. Once this is complete, the session is open (see Session Open State ) and configured to Default Packet Application (DPA) on Stream 1 Application (0x15). To change any of the configurable attributes for the session, the session must be renegotiated.
5. The packet data connection can then be initiated from the AT (the AT must be assigned an IP address. See Data Channel Parameters ). For example, the user may use AT to browse a web page or download e-mails. If the AT is initiating the connection, it simply sends a Connection Request (see Connection Request State ). (Note that you can not start packet data connection by paging AT from the test set.)
6. When receiving the connection request from the AT, the test set starts the traffic channel establishment procedure.
7. When this is complete, the AT will indicate it is ready to start data transmission by sending an Xon request to the test set. The PPP establishment procedure is then performed during which the AT is assigned an IP address. See AT Initiated Packet Data Connection from Idle State .
8. When this is complete, a packet data connection is established between the AT and the test set. The AT and the test set can use the assigned traffic channel to send packet data to each other. The data status is "Connected" (see Connected State ).
9. The AT may handoff to a new frequency because it is moving out of the current frequency coverage area, or perhaps the current frequency is heavily loaded and the network wants to balance the load (see Handoff State ).
10. The connection may be closed to the Dormant State by either the test set (see AN Initiated Connection Close to Dormant State ) or the AT (see AT Initiated Connection Close to Dormant State ). For example,
    • the F2 ( Force Dormant ) on the Call Control 1 of 3 menu) or the CALL:FUNCtion:DATA:DORMant is executed by the test set, or
    • the test set receives a Connection Close message from the AT (for example, if the AT's data activity timer expiries, or the packet data connection is terminated in some AT-dependent manner).
    • If for some reason the PPP connection can not be maintained or the AT, the data connection will go to Session Open State (see Session Open State
11. While in the dormant state, either the AT or the test set can re-activate the packet data connection to the Connected state by sending a Connection Request message:
    • The test set receives an IP datagram addressed to the AT. The datagram may come from another host on the network or from the test set itself when the user presses the Start Ping ( F3 on Ping Control menu) (see AN Initiated Packet Data Connection Re-activation from Dormant State ).
    • AT has a connection request to retrieve data (see AT Initiated Packet Data Connection Re-activation from Dormant State ).
12. The session may be closed by either the test set or AT (see Session Closing State ).