INTRODUCTION

General Overview

The protocols in the Connection Control Plane are control protocols, and do not carry data on behalf of other protocols. The protocols in this plane use the Signaling Protocol to transmit and receive messages (with the exception of the Overhead Messages Protocol that sends some information blocks using the MAC Layer).

The Connection Control Plane controls the state of the air-link by managing the states of individual MAC Layer protocols, and by providing individual MAC Layer protocols with operating parameters.

There may be more than one InUse instance of the Connection Control Plane at the access terminal, with one instance for each access network that the access terminal communicates with. This chapter describes the interaction between one InUse instance at the access terminal and a corresponding InUse instance at one access network. The access terminal procedures are applicable only to the InUse instance being referred to. For example,

• "The access terminal shall transition to InActive State" shall be interpreted to mean that "This InUse instance of the access terminal shall transition to the InActive State".

• "The access terminal has an assigned MACID" shall be interpreted to mean that "This InUse instance of the access terminal has an assigned MACID".

In case a reference to more than one InUse instance is required, the reference will be stated explicitly. For example

• "If ExampleVariable is set to zero in all InUse instances at the access terminal, the access terminal shall issue an Example command", shall be interpreted to mean that the instance of the protocol currently being referred to shall check ExampleVariable across all InUse instances, and issue the Example command if the condition is satisfied.

The access terminal and the access network maintain a connection whose state dictates the form in which communications between these entities can take place. The connection between the access terminal and the access network can be in one of the following four states:

• Initialization State: In this state, the access terminal acquires an access network.

• Idle State: In this state, the access terminal does not have MAC resources assigned by the access network, and the access terminal may perform procedures related to page reception or access. This state is used when none of the InUse instances at the access terminal are in Connected State.

• Suspended State: In this state, the access terminal does not have MAC resources assigned by the access network, and does not perform procedures related to page reception or access. This state is used when at least one of the InUse instances at the access terminal is in Connected State.

• Connected State: In this state, the access terminal has MAC resources s assigned by the access network.

The Connection Control Plane provides the following connection-related functions

•  Manages initial acquisition of the network.

• Manages opening and closing of connections.

• Maintains an approximate access terminal location in either connection states.

• Manages the radio link between the access terminal and the access network when a connection is open.

• Performs supervision at the access terminal both when the connection is open and when it is closed.

The Connection Control Plane performs these functions through the following protocols:

• Air Link Management Protocol: This protocol maintains the overall connection state in the access terminal and the access network. The protocol activates one of the following three protocols as a function of its current state.

• Initialization State Protocol: This protocol performs the actions associated with acquiring an access network.

• Idle State Protocol: This protocol performs the actions associated with an access terminal that has acquired the network, but does not have an assigned MAC resource. Mainly, these are keeping track of the access terminal's approximate location in support of efficient Paging (with assistance from the Active Set Management protocol), the procedures leading to the opening of a connection, and support of access terminal power conservation.

• Connected State Protocol: This protocol performs the actions associated with an access terminal that has an open connection. These actions primarily include managing the radio link between the access terminal and the access network.

• Active Set Management Protocol: This protocol maintains an active set to provide an efficient radio link between the access terminal and the access network. This protocol is also responsible for keeping track of the access terminal's location, and the activation and deactivation of various MAC Layer Protocols.

• Overhead Messages Protocol: This protocol broadcasts and receives essential parameters over the Superframe Preamble MAC and the Forward Traffic Channel MAC. This protocol also performs supervision on the parameters.