Voip service state aware hand over execution

A method for supporting hand over (HO), the method comprising:

• detecting, by a network node, a traffic flow associated with VoIP and related to a radio access (RA) node and a user equipment (UE);
• sending, by the network node, a VoIP session notification to the RA node, the VoIP session notification identifying the traffic flow;
• the network node determining a VoIP state of the traffic flow;
• the network node deriving) a prediction related to a time to a VoIP state change for the traffic flow;
• and
• the network node sending a VoIP state report for the traffic flow to the RA node, said VoIP state report comprising the determined VoIP state and the prediction, which VoIP state report enables the RA node to decide whether to delay or trigger a HO of the UE based on said information.

A radio access (RA) node for handling hand over (HO), the RA node comprising:

• a receiver for receiving:
• 1) a VoIP session notification transmitted by a network node, said VoIP session notification identifying a traffic flow associated with VoIP related to a user equipment (UE), and 2) a VoIP state report for the identified traffic flow, said VoIP state report comprising a determined VoIP state, and a prediction related to a time to a VoIP state change;
• and
• a processing apparatus, comprising one or more processors, configured such that, when said UE is a candidate for a HO, the processing apparatus decides whether to delay or to trigger the HO based on the VoIP state and the prediction.

A network node for supporting hand over (HO), the network node comprising:

• a receiver;
• a transmitter;
• and
• a processing apparatus comprising one or more processors, wherein the processing apparatus is configured to:
• detect a traffic flow associated with VoIP related to a radio access (RA) node and a user equipment (UE);
• employ the transmitter to send a VoIP session notification to the RA node, said VoIP session notification identifying the traffic flow associated with VoIP;
• determine a VoIP state of the traffic flow;
• derive a prediction related to a time to a VoIP state change for the traffic flow;
• and
• employ the transmitter to send a VoIP state report for the traffic flow to the RA node, said VoIP state report comprising the determined VoIP state and the prediction, which VoIP state report enables the RA node to decide whether to delay or trigger a HO of the UE based on said information.