Method for radio access bearer reconfiguration in a communications system

In a Universal Mobile Telecommunication System (UMTS) comprising a Radio Network Controller (RNC), a method of performing Radio Access bearer (RAB) negotiation or renegotiation/reconfiguration comprising the steps of:

• at the RNC, determining that a modification of at least one RAB needs to be made;
• sending a RAB Modify Request Message to a core network, the RAB Modify Request Message specifying the modification that needs to be made;
• and
• receiving a RAB Assignment Request Message from the core network.

In a communication system comprising a Radio Network Controller (RNC), a method of performing Radio Access bearer (RAB) configuration comprising the steps of:

• receiving a RAB Assignment Request Message containing a requested parameter value for each of a plurality of RAB parameters for a particular RAB, wherein for each of the plurality of RAB parameters, a range or set of acceptable values is provided;
• at the RNC, determining whether each of the requested parameter values can be accommodated;
• and
• if the RNC cannot accommodate one of the requested parameter values for one of the plurality of RAB parameters, sending a RAB Assignment Response Message to the CN specifying a parameter value in the range of acceptable values for the one of the plurality of RAB parameters.