Methods of resuming a radio bearer and related wireless terminals and network nodes

A wireless terminal (UE) comprising:

• a transceiver configured for wireless communication with a wireless communication network;
• and
• a processor coupled with the transceiver, wherein communications between the processor and the wireless communication network are provided through the transceiver, and wherein the processor is configured to:
• transmit a connection resume request from the wireless terminal (UE) to a base station (eNB) of the wireless communication network;
• receive a connection resume message at the wireless terminal (UE) from the base station (eNB) after transmitting the connection resume request;
• responsive to receiving the connection resume message, perform reconfiguration of a connection with the base station (eNB) based on the connection resume message;
• provide a security key for the connection with the base station (eNB) responsive to receiving the connection resume message;
• resume a radio bearer responsive to receiving the connection resume message;
• transmit a connection resume complete message from the wireless terminal (UE) to the base station (eNB);
• and
• transmit uplink data using the radio bearer after resuming the radio bearer.

A method of operating a node of a wireless communication network, the method comprising:

• transmitting a connection suspend message from the node to a wireless terminal (UE);
• after transmitting the connection suspend message, receiving a connection resume request at the node from the wireless terminal (UE);
• responsive to receiving the connection resume request, transmitting a connection resume message from the node to the wireless terminal (UE);
• and
• transmitting a connection reconfiguration message from the node to the wireless terminal (UE), wherein the connection reconfiguration message is multiplexed with the connection resume message and the connection resume message includes an indication to delay resuming a radio bearer of the connection until after the wireless terminal has performed reconfiguration based on the connection reconfiguration message.

A node of a wireless communication network, the node comprising:

• a transceiver configured for wireless communication with a wireless terminal (UE);
• and
• a processor coupled with the transceiver, wherein communications between the processor and the wireless terminal (UE) are provided through the transceiver, and wherein the processor is configured to:
• transmit a connection suspend message from the node to the wireless terminal (UE);
• receive a connection resume request at the node from the wireless terminal (UE) after transmitting the connection suspend message;
• transmit a connection resume message from the node to the wireless terminal (UE) responsive to receiving the connection resume request;
• and
• transmit a connection reconfiguration message from the node to the wireless terminal (UE), wherein the connection reconfiguration message is multiplexed with the connection resume message and the connection resume message includes an indication to delay resuming a radio bearer of the connection until after the wireless terminal has performed reconfiguration based on the connection reconfiguration message.