3gpp Change Request

3GPP Change Requests - Reference

Quick Start: For workflow overview and submission checklist, see workflow.md.

Overview

Change Requests (CRs) are documents submitted to 3GPP Working Groups to create revised versions of specifications. They represent the formal mechanism for modifying 3GPP specs after initial approval.

What is a CR?

A CR is a temporary document (tdoc) to a meeting which specifies in precise detail changes to be made to a specification. It consists of:

• CR Cover Sheet: Describes why a change is needed and summarizes how the change is made
• Attached Parts of Spec: Word™ "Track Changes" (revision marks) identifying affected sections
• Summary of Changes: Brief explanation of the proposed modification

Why Changes Are Needed

Three main reasons for creating a CR:

1. Add a new feature to a Release still under development
2. Correct / clarify / enhance an existing feature in a Release still under development
3. Correct an error in a spec which is functionally frozen

CR Development and Approval

Submission Process

1. WG Level: Any 3GPP member organization can propose a CR to the Working Group responsible for the spec
2. WG Agreement: WG discusses and agrees CR is valid and required
3. TSG Approval: WG presents CR to parent TSG plenary for final approval
4. MCC Incorporation: After TSG approval, 3GPP Support Team (MCC) incorporates CR into new spec version

CR Status Meanings

CR Number Format

<specnumber_no_dot>*_CR*<4-character_CR_number>*[r*<revision_number>*]

Components:

• <specnumber_no_dot>: Spec number without dot (e.g., 21.456 for TS 21.456)
• *: Literal asterisk
• <4-character_CR_number>: 4-digit CR number padded with leading zeros (e.g., 0095)
• [r*<revision_number>*]: Lowercase 'r' + revision number (only for revised CRs)
• <release>: Release identifier (Rel-4, Rel-5, etc.)

Examples:

• Initial: 31.102_0095 - CR 0095 to spec 31.102
• First revision: 31.102_0095_r1 - Revision 1 of spec 31.102
• Mirror CR: 31.103_0095 - Mirrored CR to spec 31.103

CR Database

Netovate Search Tool

3GPP has an agreement with Netovate to provide a free CR database search:

• URL: http://netovate.com/cr-search/
• Access: Free web-based search tool
• Features: Search by spec number, CR number, or status

3GPP CR Database

Available on 3GPP FTP:

• Directory: /ftp/Information/Databases/Change_Request/
• Format: MS Access™ (.mdb) database
• Access: Direct download or via portal

CR Status Tracking

Each spec maintains a history box listing all CRs that have been approved for that specification.

Step-by-Step Instructions

3GPP provides detailed step-by-step instructions for writing CRs:

• URL: https://www.3gpp.org/specifications-technologies/specifications-by-series/change-requests-step-by-step

Key Sections:

1. Header (meeting details, WG document number)
2. Spec number, CR number
3. CR revision number (for revised CRs only)
4. Current version
5. Title
6. Source to WG
7. Source to TSG
8. Work item code
9. Date
10. Category
11. Release
12. Consequences if not approved
13. Clauses affected
14. Other specs affected
15. Other comments
16. CR revision history
17. Filename convention
18. Body of CR
19. Other considerations

CR Categories

CRs are classified by category to indicate their nature:

• Category F (Corrective): Corrective CRs, typically to earliest Release version
• Category A (Mirror): Mirrors of CRs to previous Release versions
• Mirror CRs require: Same WI code per Release
• Mirror CRs are marked: Category A in spec history

Category Definitions

Important CR Concepts

Mirror CRs

For specs maintained in multiple parallel Releases:

• Each Release needs its own mirror CR
• Use same WI code (Work Item code) for all mirror CRs
• Example: Spec 21.456 has mirror CRs in Release 4, Release 5, etc.

Corrective Release 7 CRs

Special category for early LTE (Release 7) features that need to work on both Release 4 and Release 5 specs.

Editorial Updates

CRs for pure editorial changes (no technical content) are typically implemented by MCC as "dot-one" versions (e.g., 21.456.1) rather than full CRs.

Work Items

Each CR must be associated with a Work Item (WI) code:

• Obtained from official WI list: https://www.3gpp.org/ftp/Specs/html-info/WI-List.htm
• Format: 6-digit numeric code (e.g., 123456)
• Purpose: Justifies the new feature or modification

CR Submission Checklist

1. Unique_ID value from Work Item
2. TDoc number of Work Item Description (WID) document
3. Name of rapporteur for TS/TR (or contact coords for TR)
4. Target date from WID (approval date)
5. Source to WG (responsible 3GPP member)
6. Source to TSG (if presented directly to TSG)
7. Work item code (from WI list)
8. Release (one only)
9. Category (TEI for technical enhancements)
10. Title (descriptive, not redundant)
11. Reason for change
12. Summary of changes
13. Consequences if not approved
14. Clauses affected (list individually)
15. Other specs affected
16. Other comments (optional)
17. Date (format: yyyy-MM-dd)
18. Release (Rel-4, Rel-5, etc.)
19. (U)SIM - ME/UE - Radio Access Network - Core Network checkboxes
20. UICC field (change to (U)SIM or ISIM)

CR Revision History

Optional field in CR document to track changes as CR passes through revisions:

• Revision 1: Initial CR
• Revision 2: First revision of CR
• Revision 3: Subsequent revisions

File Naming Convention

Word™ files for CRs follow 3GPP naming:

*<specnumber_no_dot>*_CR*<4-character_CR_number>*[r*<revision_number>*]

Zip™ archive containing CRs:

• Word™ files (CR cover sheet + body + attachments)
• Zip™ file named according to convention
• Contains multiple CRs packaged together for a TSG meeting

CR Lifecycle

Draft → WG Agreement → TSG Approval → MCC Incorporation → Published Spec

Change Request Workflow

1. Draft CR

Member organization creates CR document ↓

2. Submit to WG

WG discusses and agrees CR is valid ↓

3. WG Presents to TSG

WG presents CR at TSG plenary for approval ↓

4. TSG Approval

TSG approves CR (becomes decision) ↓

5. MCC Incorporates

MCC incorporates CR into new spec version ↓

6. Publish

New spec version becomes available

Common Pitfalls

1. Multiple Releases: One spec may be maintained in multiple Releases
2. Parallel CRs: Need separate CRs for each Release with same WI code
3. Editorial Changes: Use "dot-one" versions, not full CRs
4. Wrong Release: Can't use Release 6 WI code for Release 4 spec
5. Out-of-date Specs: Writing CR to old version that's been updated

Best Practices

1. Always use WI codes from official list
2. Check spec version before writing CR (is it in Release 4, Release 5, or current?)
3. Target correct Release: Each CR should target only one Release (unless mirror CR)
4. Use proper categories: TEI for technical enhancements, F for correctives
5. Mirror CR requirements: Include mirror CRs for all affected Releases if maintaining parallel versions
6. Document revisions: Use CR revision history field for tracking changes
7. Format dates correctly: Use yyyy-MM-DD format

Cross-References

• 3gpp-basics - 3GPP organization and structure
• 3gpp-working-groups - Working Group responsibility for specs
• 3gpp-tdocs - CRs as meeting documents (tdocs)
• 3gpp-releases - Understanding Release structure
• 3gpp-portal-authentication - Some CR documents may require EOL access

Resources

• 3GPP Official: https://www.3gpp.org/
• 3GPP Portal: https://portal.3gpp.org/
• Step-by-step: https://www.3gpp.org/specifications-technologies/specifications-by-series/change-requests-step-by-step
• CR Database: /ftp/Information/Databases/Change_Request/
• WI List: https://www.3gpp.org/ftp/Specs/html-info/WI-List.htm
• Netovate: http://netovate.com/cr-search/