Sending a Data Unit to a Radio Access Network Node, and Transmitting a Data Unit to a User Equipment

A method performed by a first Radio Access Network (RAN) node for sending a data unit to a second RAN node, the method comprising:

• receiving a first data unit for transmission to a User Equipment (UE);
• determining that a packet delay budget (PDB) for the first data unit and/or a set of data units including the first data unit will not be satisfied by transmission of the first data unit and/or the set of data units by the first RAN node;
• and
• sending the first data unit to a second RAN node for transmission to the UE.

A method performed by a second Radio Access Network (RAN) node for transmitting a data unit to a user equipment (UE), the method comprising:

• receiving, from a first RAN node, a request to send, to the second RAN node for transmission to the UE, a first data unit and/or one or more of a set of data units including the first data unit;
• selecting a process for the first RAN node to send at least the first data unit to the second RAN node for transmission to the UE;
• sending, to the first RAN node, a response to the request, wherein the request includes information identifying the selected process;
• receiving, from the first RAN node, at least the first data unit according to the selected process;
• and
• transmitting at least the first data unit to the UE.

A first Radio Access Network (RAN) node for sending a data unit to a second RAN node, the first RAN node comprising a processor and a memory, the memory containing instructions executable by the processor such that the first RAN node is operable to:

• receive a first data unit for transmission to a User Equipment (UE);
• determine that a packet delay budget (PDB) for the first data unit and/or a set of data units including the first data unit will not be satisfied by transmission of the first data unit and/or the set of data units by the first RAN node;
• and
• send the first data unit to a second RAN node for transmission to the UE.

A second Radio Access Network (RAN) node for transmitting a data unit to a User Equipment (UE), the second RAN node comprising a processor and a memory, the memory containing instructions executable by the processor such that the second RAN node is operable to:

• receiving, from a first RAN node, a request to send, to the second RAN node for transmission to the UE, a first data unit and/or one or more of a set of data units including the first data unit;
• select a process for the first RAN node to send at least the first data unit to the second RAN node for transmission to the UE;
• send, to the first RAN node, a response to the request, wherein the request includes information identifying the selected process;
• receive, from the first RAN node, at least the first data unit according to the selected process;
• and
• transmit at least the first data unit to the UE.