Variable transmission rate services in a radio access network

Claim 5

The method in claim 2 , wherein the transmission rate of information is regulated in a downlink direction from the radio network controller node to the radio base station node.

Claim 6

The method in claim 2 , wherein the transmission rate of information is regulated in an uplink direction from the radio base station node to the radio network controller node.

Claim 7

The method in claim 2 , further comprising: permitting an increase of the transmission rate of information when the load condition is relieved.

Claim 8

The method in claim 1 , wherein the first RAN node and second RAN node correspond to a serving radio network controller and a drift radio network controller, respectively.

Claim 9

In a mobile radio communications system including a core network, a radio access network with a serving radio network controller (SRNC) coupled to an SRNC radio base station and a drift radio network controller (DRNC) coupled to a DRNC radio base station, and a user equipment unit capable of communicating with one or more base stations over a radio interface, a method comprising: establishing connection to the user equipment unit via the SRNC, the DRNC, and the DRNC base station; the SRNC sends a set of transport formats to be supported by the DRNC for the connection, wherein the set of transport formats includes a minimum bit rate and one or more higher bit rates; and the DRNC performs an admission control operation for the connection and reserves resources to support the minimum bit rate; monitoring a condition in a cell corresponding to the DRNC base station; based on the condition in the cell, making a first request that the SRNC change a bit rate the SRNC is allowed to use; and the SRNC changes the bit rate for the connection in response to the first request, wherein when a congestion condition is detected in the cell, the DRNC sends a message to the SRNC restricting which one or ones of the transport formats from the transport format set may be employed.

Claim 10

In a mobile radio communications system including a core network, a radio access network with a serving radio network controller (SRNC) coupled to an SRNC radio base station and a drift radio network controller (DRNC) coupled to a DRNC radio base station, and a user equipment unit capable of communicating with one or more base stations over a radio interface, a method comprising: establishing connection to the user equipment unit via the SRNC, the DRNC, and the DRNC base station; the SRNC sends a set of transport formats to be supported by the DRNC for the connection, wherein the set of transport formats includes a minimum bit rate and one or more higher bit rates; and the DRNC performs an admission control operation for the connection and reserves resources to support the minimum bit rate; monitoring a condition in a cell corresponding to the DRNC base station; based on the condition in the cell, making a first request that the SRNC change a bit rate the SRNC is allowed to use; and the SRNC changes the bit rate for the connection in response to the first request, wherein when a congestion condition is detected in the cell, the DRNC sends a message to the SRNC restricting which one or ones of the transport formats from the transport format set may be employed.

Claim 11

The method in claim 7 , further comprising: a changed condition is detected in the cell, making an additional request that the SRNC change the bit rate the SRNC is allowed to use in accordance with the changed condition; and changing the bit rate for the connection in response to the additional DRNC request.

Claim 12

The method in claim 7 , wherein the set of transport formats includes a guaranteed bit rate from the DRNC to be supported by the DRNC for the connection, and the DRNC performs the admission control operation for the connection taking into account the guaranteed bit rate.

Claim 13

The method in claim 9 , wherein the guaranteed bit rate is a minimum bit rate lower than a maximum bit rate permitted for the connection.

Claim 14

The method in claim 10 , wherein the DRNC is not permitted to request a change in bit rate lower than the guaranteed bit rate.

Claim 15

For use in a mobile radio communications system including a core network, a radio access network with a serving radio network controller (SRNC) coupled to an SRNC radio base station and a drift radio network controller (DRNC) coupled to a DRNC radio base station, and a user equipment unit capable of communicating with one or more base stations over a radio interface, a method comprising: establishing connection to the user equipment unit via the SRNC, the DRNC, and the DRNC base station; monitoring a condition in a cell corresponding to the DRNC base station; based on the condition in the cell, making a first request that the SRNC change a bit rate the SRNC is allowed to use; and the SRNC changes the bit rate for the connection in response to the first request, wherein the connection is mapped to one or more dedicated transport channels, the SRNC sends to the DRNC a set of transport formats for each transport channel, and the first request limits which ones of the transport formats are allowed to be used for the one or more transport channels.

Claim 16

For use in a mobile radio communications system including a core network, a radio access network with a serving radio network controller (SRNC) coupled to an SRNC radio base station and a drift radio network controller (DRNC) coupled to a DRNC radio base station, and a user equipment unit capable of communicating with one or more base stations over a radio interface, a method comprising: establishing connection to the user equipment unit via the SRNC, the DRNC, and the DRNC base station; monitoring a condition in a cell corresponding to the DRNC base station; based on the condition in the cell, making a first request that the SRNC change a bit rate the SRNC is allowed to use; and the SRNC changes the bit rate for the connection in response to the first request, wherein the connection is mapped to one or more dedicated transport channels, the SRNC sends to the DRNC a set of transport formats for each transport channel, and the first request limits which ones of the transport formats are allowed to be used for the one or more transport channels.

Claim 17

The method in claim 12 , wherein if the connection is in soft handover between two cells, the SRNC limits the bit rate for the connection in both cells to the lower of the bit rates permitted in the two cells.

Claim 18

The method in claim 12 , wherein the condition is a load or congestion condition in the cell based on measured interference or transmission power.

Claim 19

In a mobile radio communications system including a core network, a radio access network with a serving radio network controller (SRNC) coupled to an SRNC radio base station and a drift radio network controller (DRNC) coupled to a DRNC radio base station, and a user equipment unit capable of communicating with one or more base stations over a radio interface, a method comprising: establishing connection to the user equipment unit via the SRNC, the DRNC, and the DRNC base station; monitoring a condition in a cell corresponding to the DRNC base station; based on the condition in the cell, making a first request that the SRNC change a bit rate the SRNC is allowed to use; and the SRNC changes the bit rate for the connection in response to the first request, wherein the connection is mapped to one or more dedicated channels, and the SRNC determines how to respond to the request based one or more attributes associated with the transport channels.

Claim 20

In a mobile radio communications system including a core network, a radio access network with a serving radio network controller (SRNC) coupled to an SRNC radio base station and a drift radio network controller (DRNC) coupled to a DRNC radio base station, and a user equipment unit capable of communicating with one or more base stations over a radio interface, a method comprising: establishing connection to the user equipment unit via the SRNC, the DRNC, and the DRNC base station; monitoring a condition in a cell corresponding to the DRNC base station; based on the condition in the cell, making a first request that the SRNC change a bit rate the SRNC is allowed to use; and the SRNC changes the bit rate for the connection in response to the first request, wherein the connection is mapped to one or more dedicated channels, and the SRNC determines how to respond to the request based one or more attributes associated with the transport channels.

Claim 21

The method in claim 15 , wherein for a real time type of service, the SRNC initiates a rate control procedure with the core network to limit the rate at which information associated with the connection is provided to the radio access network.

Claim 22

The method in claim 15 , wherein for a non-real time type of service, the SRNC schedules delivery of information associated with the connection over the transport channel in accordance with a change in a maximum allowed bit rate.

Claim 23

Apparatus for use in a radio access network, comprising: a first RAN node configured to establish a connection between an external network and a user equipment unit over a radio interface via radio access network (RAN), where the connection is supported by the first RAN node and a second RAN node, and the second RAN node configured to regulate a transmission rate of information associated with the user equipment unit from the first RAN node to the second RAN node based on a rate control request from the second RAN node, wherein the first RAN node is configured to request a guaranteed bit rate from the second RAN node to be supported by the second RAN node for the connection, and the second RAN node is configured to perform an admission control operation for the connection taking into account the guaranteed bit rate, wherein the guaranteed bit rate is a minimum bit rate lower than a maximum bit rate permitted for the connection, and wherein the second RAN node is configured to not request a change in bit rate lower than the guaranteed bit rate.

Claim 24

Apparatus for use in a radio access network, comprising: a first RAN node configured to establish a connection between an external network and a user equipment unit over a radio interface via radio access network (RAN), where the connection is supported by the first RAN node and a second RAN node, and the second RAN node configured to regulate a transmission rate of information associated with the user equipment unit from the first RAN node to the second RAN node based on a rate control request from the second RAN node, wherein the first RAN node is configured to request a guaranteed bit rate from the second RAN node to be supported by the second RAN node for the connection, and the second RAN node is configured to perform an admission control operation for the connection taking into account the guaranteed bit rate, wherein the guaranteed bit rate is a minimum bit rate lower than a maximum bit rate permitted for the connection, and wherein the second RAN node is configured to not request a change in bit rate lower than the guaranteed bit rate.

Claim 25

The apparatus in claim 18 , wherein the rate control request is made based on a congestion condition being monitored by the second RAN node.

Claim 26

The apparatus in claim 19 , wherein the second RAN node is configured to detect the congestion condition and lower the transmission rate of information.

Claim 27

The apparatus in claim 20 , wherein an increase of the transmission rate of information is permitted by the second RAN node when the congestion condition is relieved.

Claim 28

The apparatus in claim 18 , wherein the first RAN node and second RAN node correspond to a serving radio network controller and a drift radio network controller, respectively.

Claim 29

The apparatus in claim 18 , wherein the transmission rate is regulated in a downlink direction from the radio network controller node to the radio base station node.

Claim 30

The apparatus in claim 18 , wherein the transmission rate is regulated in an uplink direction from the radio base station node to the radio network controller node.

Claim 31

Apparatus for use in a radio access network, comprising a radio network controller node configured to establish a connection between an external network and a user equipment unit over a radio interface via radio access network (RAN), where the connection is supported by the radio network controller node and a radio base station node, and the radio base station node configured to regulate a transmission rate of information associated with the user equipment unit from the radio network controller node to the radio base station node based on a rate control request from the radio base station node, wherein when a load condition is detected by the radio base station node, the radio base station node is configured to request the radio network controller node to lower the transmission rate of information, and in response, the radio network controller node is configured to lower the transmission rate of information.

Claim 32

Apparatus for use in a radio access network, comprising a radio network controller node configured to establish a connection between an external network and a user equipment unit over a radio interface via radio access network (RAN), where the connection is supported by the radio network controller node and a radio base station node, and the radio base station node configured to regulate a transmission rate of information associated with the user equipment unit from the radio network controller node to the radio base station node based on a rate control request from the radio base station node, wherein when a load condition is detected by the radio base station node, the radio base station node is configured to request the radio network controller node to lower the transmission rate of information, and in response, the radio network controller node is configured to lower the transmission rate of information.

Claim 33

A radio access network (RAN) configured to provide radio access bearer services between a core network and wireless user equipment units (UEs) over a radio interface, comprising: a serving radio network controller (SRNC) coupled to an SRNC radio base station having a first cell area; a drift radio network controller (DRNC) coupled to a DRNC radio base station having a second cell area, where when the core network requests a connection to a user equipment unit, a connection is established through the SRNC and SRNC base station over the radio interface to the user equipment unit in the first cell area, and when the connection is handed over to the second cell area, the connection is established to the user equipment unit by way of the SRNC, the DRNC, and the DRNC base station; the DRNC being configured to monitor a condition in the second cell area corresponding the DRNC base station, and based on the condition in the second cell area, to make a first request that the SRNC change a bit rate at which the SRNC is permitted to send information from the core network to the DRNC for the connection; and the SRNC being configured to change the bit rate for the connection in response to the first request, wherein the connection is mapped to one or more dedicated transport channels, the SRNC is configured to send to the DRNC a set of transport formats for each transport channel, and the first request limits which ones of the transport formats are allowed to be used for the one or more transport channels.

Claim 34

A radio access network (RAN) configured to provide radio access bearer services between a core network and wireless user equipment units (UEs) over a radio interface, comprising: a serving radio network controller (SRNC) coupled to an SRNC radio base station having a first cell area; a drift radio network controller (DRNC) coupled to a DRNC radio base station having a second cell area, where when the core network requests a connection to a user equipment unit, a connection is established through the SRNC and SRNC base station over the radio interface to the user equipment unit in the first cell area, and when the connection is handed over to the second cell area, the connection is established to the user equipment unit by way of the SRNC, the DRNC, and the DRNC base station; the DRNC being configured to monitor a condition in the second cell area corresponding the DRNC base station, and based on the condition in the second cell area, to make a first request that the SRNC change a bit rate at which the SRNC is permitted to send information from the core network to the DRNC for the connection; and the SRNC being configured to change the bit rate for the connection in response to the first request, wherein the connection is mapped to one or more dedicated transport channels, the SRNC is configured to send to the DRNC a set of transport formats for each transport channel, and the first request limits which ones of the transport formats are allowed to be used for the one or more transport channels.

Claim 35

The RAN in claim 26 , wherein if the DRNC detects a changed condition in the cell, the DRNC is configured to make a second request that the SRNC change the bit rate the SRNC is allowed to use in accordance with the changed condition, and in response to the second request, the SRNC is configured to change the bit rate for the connection.

Claim 36

The RAN in claim 26 , wherein the SRNC is configured to request a guaranteed bit rate from the DRNC to be supported by the DRNC for the connection, the set of transport formats including a minimum bit rate and one or more higher bit rates, and wherein the DRNC is configured to perform an admission control operation for the connection taking into account the guaranteed bit rate.

Claim 37

The RAN in claim 28 , wherein the guaranteed bit rate is a minimum bit rate lower than a maximum bit rate permitted for the connection.

Claim 38

The RAN in claim 29 , wherein the DRNC is not permitted to request a change in bit rate lower than the guaranteed bit rate.

Claim 39

The RAN in claim 26 , wherein the SRNC performs a radio link reconfiguration to release not allowed transport formats from the one or more dedicated transports channels.

Claim 40

The RAN in claim 26 , wherein if the connection is in soft handover between two cells, the SRNC limits the bit rate for the connection in both cells to the lower of the bit rates permitted in the two cells.

Claim 41

The RAN in claims 26 , wherein the condition is a load or congestion condition in the cell as measured by interference or power levels.

Claim 42

A radio access network (RAN) configured to provide radio access bearer services between a core network and wireless user equipment units (UEs) over a radio interface, comprising: a serving radio network controller (SRNC) coupled to an SRNC radio base station having a first cell area; a drift radio network controller (DRNC) coupled to a DRNC radio base station having a second cell area, where when the core network requests a connection to a user equipment unit, a connection is established through the SRNC and SRNC base station over the radio interface to the user equipment unit in the first cell area, and when the connection is handed over to the second cell area, the connection is established to the user equipment unit by way of the SRNC, the DRNC, and the DRNC base station; the DRNC being configured to monitor a condition in the second cell area corresponding the DRNC base station, and based on the condition in the second cell area, to make a first request that the SRNC change a bit rate at which the SRNC is permitted to send information from the core network to the DRNC for the connection; and the SRNC being configured to change the bit rate for the connection in response to the first request, wherein the connection is mapped to one or more transport channels, and the SRNC determines how to respond to the first request based one or more attributes associated with the transport channels.

Claim 43

A radio access network (RAN) configured to provide radio access bearer services between a core network and wireless user equipment units (UEs) over a radio interface, comprising: a serving radio network controller (SRNC) coupled to an SRNC radio base station having a first cell area; a drift radio network controller (DRNC) coupled to a DRNC radio base station having a second cell area, where when the core network requests a connection to a user equipment unit, a connection is established through the SRNC and SRNC base station over the radio interface to the user equipment unit in the first cell area, and when the connection is handed over to the second cell area, the connection is established to the user equipment unit by way of the SRNC, the DRNC, and the DRNC base station; the DRNC being configured to monitor a condition in the second cell area corresponding the DRNC base station, and based on the condition in the second cell area, to make a first request that the SRNC change a bit rate at which the SRNC is permitted to send information from the core network to the DRNC for the connection; and the SRNC being configured to change the bit rate for the connection in response to the first request, wherein the connection is mapped to one or more transport channels, and the SRNC determines how to respond to the first request based one or more attributes associated with the transport channels.

Claim 44

The RAN in claim 34 , wherein for a real time type of service, the SRNC is configured to initiate a rate control procedure with the core network to limit the rate at which information associated with the connection is provided to the radio access network over the transport channel.

Claim 45

The RAN in claim 35 , wherein for a non-real time type of service, the SRNC is configured to schedule delivery of information associated with the connection over the transport channel in accordance with the change in bit rate.