RAN routing and location areas

The NCIM database models RAN routing and location areas using several database tables.

A routing area is the region within which an end user can move using the data service without having to update the Serving GPRS Serving Nodes (SGSN). The location area is the area within which an end user can move using the voice service without having to update the VLR (visitor location registrar, which indicates where you are physically located). Therefore RAN routing and location areas do not indicate geographic location but rather the responsibilities of the devices in the system.

The following UML diagram shows how NCIM models RAN routing and location areas.

UML diagram showing how NCIM models radio access network locations. — Figure 1. RAN location schema

Table 1 describes the NCIM relationship database tables and data dictionary that correspond to each class and relationship used to model radio access network entity location.

Table 1. Classes and relationships for radio access network entity location
NCIM table	Class or relationship	Data dictionary
collects	Relationship	collects
entityData	Class	entityData
ranGSMCell	Class	ranGSMCell
ranLocationArea	Class	ranLocationArea
ranRoutingArea	Class	ranRoutingArea
ranUtranCell	Class	ranUtranCell