Question: In E-UTRAN, what is the primary purpose of the MME EARLY STATUS TRANSFER message sent from the Mobility Management Entity (MME) to the Evolved NodeB (eNB)?
Option 1: To acknowledge successful handover completion in S1-based procedures.
Option 2: To request resource allocation for incoming UEs during S1 setup.
Option 3: To transfer COUNT value(s) of initial downlink SDU(s) during specific S1 handover scenarios.
Option 4: To initiate a periodic UE capability update in idle mode.
Explanation: The MME EARLY STATUS TRANSFER message is specifically utilized to convey the COUNT value(s) associated with the first forwarded downlink Service Data Unit(s) (SDU(s)) under particular conditions, notably during S1 DAPS Handover and S1 handovers triggered by time-based conditions. This ensures seamless continuity of service for User Equipment (UE) across different eNBs, highlighting its role in managing handover processes efficiently within the E-UTRAN architecture.