System And Method Of Communicating A Priority Indication In A Call Control/Bearer Control Telecommunication System

In a separated call control, bearer control telecommunications network, a method of communicating a call control level priority indication between a first telecommunications node and a second telecommunications node via the bearer network including the steps of:

• determining a call control level priority indication;
• assigning a bearer level priority indication to a priority indication field in a bearer network protocol message in accordance with a priority level of a bearer network protocol;
• transmitting the bearer network protocol message via the bearer network from the first telecommunication node towards the second telecommunication node.

In a telecommunication system, the system including a separated Call Control and Bearer Control architecture between a first telecommunication node and a second telecommunication node, an improvement including:

• call control level priority determining means adapted to determine a call control level priority indication;
• logic means adapted to logically map the call control level priority indication to a priority indication field in a bearer network message in accordance with a priority level of a bearer network protocol;
• a transmitter adapted to transmit the bearer network protocol message within a bearer network via the bearer network from the first telecommunication node towards the second telecommunication node.

A bearer network protocol data unit for use in a telecommunications system having a separated Call Control and Bearer Control architecture, the bearer protocol data unit including:

• a data payload field for communicating user data, and
• at least one header field including a priority indication field serving to provide a priority designation of the bearer protocol data unit,
• the priority indication field including an attribute based on a call control level priority indication for a call set up message.

In a separated call control, bearer control telecommunications network, a method of communicating a call control level priority indication between a first telecommunications node and a second telecommunications node via a bearer network including the steps of:

• determining a bearer network priority level of a bearer network protocol message;
• assigning a call control level priority indication to a call, the call control level priority indication being related to the bearer network priority level.

In a telecommunication system, the system including a separated Call Control and Bearer Control architecture between a first telecommunication node and a second telecommunication node, an improvement including:

• priority determining means adapted to determine a bearer network priority level of a bearer network protocol message;
• call control level priority assigning means adapted to assign a call control level priority indication to a call, the call control level priority indication being related to the bearer network priority level.