What is the Area of Tracking Area Identity?
Today, we’re going to dive into the concept of Tracking Area Identity (TAI), a crucial element in LTE networks. In previous discussions, we’ve touched on various components of LTE, including network architecture and mobility management. Now, we’ll focus on how the network identifies and manages different areas where your mobile device operates, specifically using the Tracking Area Identity.
The Tracking Area Identity (TAI) is a unique identifier used in LTE (Long Term Evolution) networks to denote a specific geographical area where a user equipment (UE) is located. It plays a key role in the Mobility Management Entity (MME), which is responsible for handling tasks like mobility management and session management. The TAI is used for efficient location tracking and ensuring that mobile devices can roam across the network smoothly.
In simple terms, the TAI is like a “label” for the area your device is currently located in. It allows the LTE network to efficiently track where you are and ensures that you can maintain a stable connection, even as you move from one area to another. This is especially important as it helps to handle things like paging, tracking, and handovers when you are moving through the network.
The Tracking Area is essentially a collection of cells, and these cells are grouped together based on their location. This grouping enables the network to organize its coverage areas in a way that allows for optimal management of resources. When a mobile device moves from one tracking area to another, the network can easily track and update its location information, making it easier for services like voice calls, data sessions, and other network services to continue without interruptions.
One key function of TAI is in the process of mobility management. When a UE moves across different tracking areas, it updates its location with the network. This location update is necessary for services like paging and call setup, ensuring that the network knows where to reach your device. The TAI plays a critical role in ensuring that the network can accurately and quickly locate a device when necessary, reducing delays and improving overall user experience.
TAI is made up of the following components:
- PLMN ID (Public Land Mobile Network Identifier): This uniquely identifies the mobile network operator.
- Tracking Area Code (TAC): A code that identifies a specific tracking area within the operator’s network.
For example, as a user moves from one city to another, the UE will transition between different tracking areas, and the TAI will change accordingly. The network will update its tracking information to ensure that your service doesn’t drop during the handover. Without TAI, managing large numbers of users across various geographical areas would be difficult, potentially leading to connection drops or delays.
To summarize, the Tracking Area Identity is an essential part of LTE mobility management. It helps the network maintain accurate location tracking of mobile devices, making it possible for users to stay connected as they move across different network areas. As we’ve seen in previous articles, LTE networks are all about ensuring seamless connectivity, and TAI is just one of the many technologies that contribute to this goal.