Variable transmission rate services in a radio access network

In a mobile radio communications system including a core network, a radio access network with a serving radio network controller (SRNC) coupled to an SRNC radio base station and a drift radio network controller (DRNC) coupled to a DRNC radio base station, and a user equipment unit capable of communicating with one or more base stations over a radio interface, a method comprising:

• establishing connection to the user equipment unit via the SRNC, the DRNC, and the DRNC base station;
• the SRNC sends a set of transport formats to be supported by the DRNC for the connection, wherein the set of transport formats includes a minimum bit rate and one or more higher bit rates;
• and
• the DRNC performs an admission control operation for the connection and reserves resources to support the minimum bit rate;
• monitoring a condition in a cell corresponding to the DRNC base station;
• based on the condition in the cell, making a first request that the SRNC change a bit rate the SRNC is allowed to use;
• and
• the SRNC changes the bit rate for the connection in response to the first request,
• wherein when a congestion condition is detected in the cell, the DRNC sends a message to the SRNC restricting which one or ones of the transport formats from the transport format set may be employed.

For use in a mobile radio communications system including a core network, a radio access network with a serving radio network controller (SRNC) coupled to an SRNC radio base station and a drift radio network controller (DRNC) coupled to a DRNC radio base station, and a user equipment unit capable of communicating with one or more base stations over a radio interface, a method comprising:

• establishing connection to the user equipment unit via the SRNC, the DRNC, and the DRNC base station;
• monitoring a condition in a cell corresponding to the DRNC base station;
• based on the condition in the cell, making a first request that the SRNC change a bit rate the SRNC is allowed to use;
• and
• the SRNC changes the bit rate for the connection in response to the first request,
• wherein the connection is mapped to one or more dedicated transport channels, the SRNC sends to the DRNC a set of transport formats for each transport channel, and the first request limits which ones of the transport formats are allowed to be used for the one or more transport channels.

In a mobile radio communications system including a core network, a radio access network with a serving radio network controller (SRNC) coupled to an SRNC radio base station and a drift radio network controller (DRNC) coupled to a DRNC radio base station, and a user equipment unit capable of communicating with one or more base stations over a radio interface, a method comprising:

• establishing connection to the user equipment unit via the SRNC, the DRNC, and the DRNC base station;
• monitoring a condition in a cell corresponding to the DRNC base station;
• based on the condition in the cell, making a first request that the SRNC change a bit rate the SRNC is allowed to use;
• and
• the SRNC changes the bit rate for the connection in response to the first request,
• wherein the connection is mapped to one or more dedicated channels, and the SRNC determines how to respond to the request based one or more attributes associated with the transport channels.

Apparatus for use in a radio access network, comprising:

• a first RAN node configured to establish a connection between an external network and a user equipment unit over a radio interface via radio access network (RAN), where the connection is supported by the first RAN node and a second RAN node, and
• the second RAN node configured to regulate a transmission rate of information associated with the user equipment unit from the first RAN node to the second RAN node based on a rate control request from the second RAN node,
• wherein the first RAN node is configured to request a guaranteed bit rate from the second RAN node to be supported by the second RAN node for the connection, and the second RAN node is configured to perform an admission control operation for the connection taking into account the guaranteed bit rate,
• wherein the guaranteed bit rate is a minimum bit rate lower than a maximum bit rate permitted for the connection, and
• wherein the second RAN node is configured to not request a change in bit rate lower than the guaranteed bit rate.

A radio access network (RAN) configured to provide radio access bearer services between a core network and wireless user equipment units (UEs) over a radio interface, comprising:

• a serving radio network controller (SRNC) coupled to an SRNC radio base station having a first cell area;
• a drift radio network controller (DRNC) coupled to a DRNC radio base station having a second cell area,
• where when the core network requests a connection to a user equipment unit, a connection is established through the SRNC and SRNC base station over the radio interface to the user equipment unit in the first cell area, and when the connection is handed over to the second cell area, the connection is established to the user equipment unit by way of the SRNC, the DRNC, and the DRNC base station;
• the DRNC being configured to monitor a condition in the second cell area corresponding the DRNC base station, and based on the condition in the second cell area, to make a first request that the SRNC change a bit rate at which the SRNC is permitted to send information from the core network to the DRNC for the connection;
• and
• the SRNC being configured to change the bit rate for the connection in response to the first request,
• wherein the connection is mapped to one or more dedicated transport channels, the SRNC is configured to send to the DRNC a set of transport formats for each transport channel, and the first request limits which ones of the transport formats are allowed to be used for the one or more transport channels.

A radio access network (RAN) configured to provide radio access bearer services between a core network and wireless user equipment units (UEs) over a radio interface, comprising:

• a serving radio network controller (SRNC) coupled to an SRNC radio base station having a first cell area;
• a drift radio network controller (DRNC) coupled to a DRNC radio base station having a second cell area,
• where when the core network requests a connection to a user equipment unit, a connection is established through the SRNC and SRNC base station over the radio interface to the user equipment unit in the first cell area, and when the connection is handed over to the second cell area, the connection is established to the user equipment unit by way of the SRNC, the DRNC, and the DRNC base station;
• the DRNC being configured to monitor a condition in the second cell area corresponding the DRNC base station, and based on the condition in the second cell area, to make a first request that the SRNC change a bit rate at which the SRNC is permitted to send information from the core network to the DRNC for the connection;
• and
• the SRNC being configured to change the bit rate for the connection in response to the first request,
• wherein the connection is mapped to one or more transport channels, and the SRNC determines how to respond to the first request based one or more attributes associated with the transport channels.