Processing different size packet headers for a packet-based conversational service in a mobile communications system

For use in a mobile radio communications system, a radio node configured to employ a packet-based conversational service supported by a radio bearer established between a mobile radio terminal and a radio access network, where the radio bearer is configured to transmit packets whose headers have a first level of compression, comprising:

• a packet detector for detecting one or more packets to be transmitted over the radio bearer whose headers are less compressed than the first level, and
• a controller configured to reduce an impact on capacity or coverage of the mobile radio communications system when the one or more packets are transmitted over the radio bearer.

A radio node configured to process different size packet headers for a packet-based conversational service supported by a radio bearer established between a mobile radio terminal and a radio access network, where the radio bearer is configured to transmit packets whose headers have a first level of compression, comprising:

• a packet detector for determining whether a packet to be transmitted over the radio bearer exceeds a predetermined length associated with the first level of header compression, and
• a controller configured to segment a packet whose packet header exceeds the predetermined length and have the packet transmitted over the radio bearer as segments rather than as a packet.

For use in a mobile radio communications system, a radio node configured to employ a packet-based conversational service supported by a radio bearer established between a mobile radio terminal and a radio access network, where the radio bearer is configured to transmit packets whose headers have a first level of compression, comprising:

• a packet detector for detecting one or more packets to be transmitted over the radio bearer whose headers are less compressed than the first level, and
• a controller configured to reduce an impact on capacity or coverage of the mobile radio communications system when the one or more packets are transmitted over the radio bearer by adapting a rate at which the one or more packets are provided to the radio bearer or by temporarily reconfiguring the radio bearer to accommodate the less compressed headers of the one or more packets.