Universal mobile telecommunications system (UMTS) quality of service (QoS) supporting variable QoS negotiation

A method for use by a first packet server of a wireless network, the first packet server being any packet processor in said network, the method comprising the steps of:

• the first packet server exchanging messages with a second packet server to communicate at least one service to a mobile station,
• wherein the exchanging step includes the step at
• transmitting from the first packet server to the second packet server a message including a quality of service information element having a quality of service class field that is indicative of a request for preferred ones of traffic classes in a priority order, and when resources are unavailable for granting a first traffic class preference, said network successively checks, according to said priority order, if enough resources are available for at least one other traffic class preference without requiring additional transmissions.

A packet server comprising:

• a transceiver for exchanging messages with a second packet sewer for a purpose of providing at least one service to a mobile station;
• and
• a processor for causing the second packet server to transmit a message including a quality of service information element, said element having at least one traffic class field that conveys requests for preferred ones of traffic classes in a priority order, and when resources are unavailable for granting a first traffic class preference in said request for multiple traffic classes, said processor successively checks, according to said priority order, if enough resources are available for at least one other traffic class preference without requiring additional transmissions.

A transmission frame representing data embodied in a wireless transmission signal, the transmission frame comprising:

• a quality of service class field that is indicative of a request for preferred ones of traffic classes in a priority order;
• and
• at least one traffic class field that conveys the priority order.

A method for use by a mobile station attached to a wireless network, the method comprising the step of:

• requesting from said wireless network preferred ones of traffic classes in a priority order as part of a variable quality of service negotiation, and when resources are unavailable for granting a first traffic class preference, said network successively determines, according to said priority order, whether enough resources are available to provide a second traffic class preference;
• wherein requesting from said wireless network preferred ones of traffic classes comprises transmitting to the wireless data network a quality of service information element having at least one quality of service class field that is indicative of a request for preferred ones of traffic classes in said priority order.