Method and arrangement for handling radio resources

• US 9,629,173 B2
• Filed: 06/19/2014
• Issued: 04/18/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/2014
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Karlsson, Josefin, Hurd, Magnus
• Primary Examiner(s): Masur, Paul H
• Assistant Examiner(s): JAHANGIR, KABIR U
• Application Number:
  US14/407,029
• Publication Number:
  US 20160219605A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,034 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/56 based on priority criteria
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/563 of the wireless resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/12 Setup of transport tunnels
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/22 Manipulation of transport tunnels

Abstract

Herein are described a number of network nodes and methods therein for handling radio resources. The method to be performed by a base station, BS, comprises receiving an Initial Context Setup message from an MME as part of a Service Request procedure, where the Initial Context Setup message comprises information indicating which at least one EPS bearer, out of a number of EPS bearers associated with a UE, that has triggered initiation of the Service Request procedure. The method further comprises deciding whether or not to allocate radio resources for the requested service based on a priority value associated with the at least one indicated EPS bearer; and allocating radio resources for the requested service in accordance with the decision.

Claims

1. A method for handling radio resources performed by a base station, in a wireless communication network, the method comprising:

receiving, from a Mobility Management Entity (MME) an Initial Context Setup message as part of a Service Request procedure, said Initial Context Setup message comprising information for a plurality of Evolved Packet System (EPS) bearers and an indication of which at least one EPS bearer of the plurality of EPS bearers triggered an initiation of the Service Request procedure;

deciding whether or not to allocate radio resources for the requested service based on a priority value associated with the at least one EPS bearer indicated by the indication; and

allocating radio resources for the requested service in accordance with the deciding.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the deciding is based on the priority value indicating a highest priority is associated with the at least one EPS bearer indicated by the indication.

3. A method for handling radio resources performed by a Mobility Management Entity, MME, operable in a wireless communication system, the method comprising:

indicating, in an Initial Context Setup Request transmitted toward a Base Station, BS, a plurality of Evolved Packet System (EPS) bearers and an identifier of at least one EPS bearer of the plurality of EPS bearers triggered an initiation of a Service Request procedure, wherein the EPS bearer identified by the identifier is associated with a priority value used in a determination as to whether to allocate radio resources to a requested service.

4. The method according to claim 3,

wherein the Service Request is initiated by a node of the wireless communication system other than a user equipment (UE), the method further comprising:

receiving, from a Serving GateWay a Downlink Data Notification message comprising information identifying the at least one EPS bearer of the plurality of EPS bearers that triggered initiation of the Service Request procedure, wherein the indicating in the Initial Context Setup Request comprises indicating the information in the Initial Context Setup Request.

5. The method according to claim 3,

wherein the Service Request is initiated by a user equipment (UE), the method further comprising:

receiving, from the UE, a Service Request message comprising information indicating the at least one EPS bearer of the plurality of EPS bearers that triggered initiation of the Service Request procedure, wherein the indicating in the Initial Context Setup Request comprises indicating the information in the Initial Context Setup Request.

6. A method for handling radio resources performed by a User Equipment (UE) operable in a wireless communication system, the method comprising:

as part of a Service Request procedure initiated by the UE,

transmitting a Service Request message towards a Mobility Management Entity (MME), comprising information identifying a plurality of Evolved Packet System (EPS) bearers associated with the UE, and an indication of at least one EPS bearer in the plurality of EPS bearers that triggered initiation of the Service Request procedure, wherein the at least one EPS bearer that triggered initiation of the Service Request procedure are each associated with a priority value, and wherein a base station (BS) is configured to decide whether to allocate radio resources for the requested service based on the priority value associated with each of the at least one EPS bearers.

7. A method for handling radio resources performed by a Serving GateWay operable in a wireless communication system, the method comprising:

as part of a Service Request procedure initiated by a node of the wireless communication system;

transmitting, to a Mobility Management Entity a Downlink Data Notification message comprising information identifying a plurality of Evolved Packet System (EPS) bearers and an indicator of which at least one EPS bearer of the plurality of EPS bearers triggered an initiation of the Service Request procedure, wherein the at least one EPS bearer is associated with a priority value used by a base station to decide whether or not to allocate radio resources to a requested service.

8. A base station (BS) comprising at least one processor and memory, wherein the BS is operable in a wireless communication network, and wherein the memory stores instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to:

receive an Initial Context Setup message as part of a Service Request procedure, wherein the Initial Context Setup message comprises information identifying a plurality of Evolved Packet System (EPS) bearers and an indication of which at least one EPS bearer of the plurality of EPS bearers triggered an initiation of the Service Request procedure;

decide whether or not to allocate radio resources for a requested service based on a priority value associated with the at least one EPS bearer, resulting in a decision; and

allocate radio resources for the requested service in accordance with the decision.

9. The base station according to claim 8, wherein the decision is based on the priority value indicating a highest priority is associated with the at least one EPS bearer.

10. A Mobility Management Entity (MME) comprising at least one processor and memory, wherein the MME is operable in a wireless communication system, and wherein the memory stores instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the processor to:

as part of a Service Request procedure,

transmit an Initial Context Setup Request towards a Base Station (BS), wherein the Initial Context Setup Request comprises identifiers for a plurality of Evolved Packet System (EPS) bearers and an indication of which at least one EPS bearer of the plurality of EPS bearers triggered an initiation of the Service Request procedure, wherein the at least one EPS bearer is associated with a priority value used by the BS to decide whether or not to allocate radio resources for a requested service.

11. The MME according to claim 10, the memory storing further instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:

when the Service Request is initiated by a node of the wireless communication system other than a User Equipment (UE);

receive, from a Serving GateWay (SGW) a Downlink Data Notification message, indicating the at least one EPS bearer that triggered the initiation of the Service Request procedure, wherein transmitting the Initial Context Setup Request comprises transmitting information from the Downlink Data Notification message in the Initial Context Setup Request.

12. The MME according to claim 10, being further configured to:

when the Service Request is initiated by a user equipment (UE);

receive, from the UE, a Service Request message indicating which the at least one EPS bearer, that triggered the initiation of the Service Request procedure, wherein transmitting the Initial Context Setup Request comprises transmitting information from the Service Request in the Initial Context Setup Request.

13. A User Equipment (UE) operable in a wireless communication system comprising at least one processor and memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to:

transmit a Service Request message towards a Mobility Management Entity (MME), wherein the Service Request message comprises information identifying a plurality of Evolved Packet System (EPS) bearers and an indication of which at least one EPS bearer of the plurality of EPS bearers triggered an initiation of a Service Request procedure, thus enabling a base station to decide whether or not to allocate radio resources for the requested service based on a priority value associated with the at least one EPS bearer.

14. A Serving GateWay (SGW) operable in a wireless communication system;

the SGW comprising at least one processor and memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to;

as part of a Service Request procedure initiated by a node of the wireless communication system;

transmit to a Mobility Management Entity (MME) a Downlink Data Notification message comprising information identifying a plurality of Evolved Packet System (EPS) bearers and an indication of at least one EPS bearer out of the plurality of EPS bearers that triggered initiation of the Service Request procedure, wherein the at least one EPS bearer that triggered initiation of the Service Request procedure is associated with a priority value used by a base station to decide whether or not to allocate radio resources for a requested service.