Multi-bearer connection control

A radio access node that handles multiple bearers as an association between a user terminal and a packet switched network domain of a core network, wherein the multiple bearers comprise a first packet switched bearer related to a voice service and at least a second packet switched bearer, the radio access node comprising:

• at least one interface to establish a transmission link,
• at least one processor, and
• a memory comprising instructions executed by the at least one processor to perform operations comprising:
• configuring bearer control information by registering, at the radio access node, at least one allocation priority reserved for at least one specific type of voice service for the first packet switched bearer or the second packet switched bearer;
• initiating a transfer of the voice service from the first packet switched bearer to a circuit switched bearer upon change of an operative condition for the first packet switched bearer;
• and
• selectively initiating a handover of the at least one second packet switched bearer, concurrent in time with the transfer of the voice service, from a first packet switched access to a second packet switched access based on the bearer control information indicating possibility of a parallel handover,
• wherein the selectively initiating the handover comprises:
• comparing an allocation priority of the first packet switched bearer with the at least one allocation priority reserved for at least one specific type of voice service;
• and
• declining the parallel handover upon coincidence of the allocation priority of the first packet switched bearer with the at least one allocation priority reserved for at least one specific type of voice service.

A method of operating a network control node that controls a radio access node handling multiple bearers as an association between a user terminal and a packet switched network domain of a core network, wherein the multiple bearers comprise a first packet switched bearer related to a voice service and at least one second packet switched bearer, the method comprising:

• generating bearer control information indicating a possibility for a handover of at least one second packet switched bearer from a first packet switched access to a second packet switched access, the possibility being expressed under condition that a transfer of the voice service is initiated from the first packet switched bearer to a circuit switched bearer upon change of an operative condition for the first packet switched bearer;
• and
• transmitting the bearer control information to the radio access node for selectively initiating the handover in response to comparing an allocation priority of the first packet switched bearer with at least one allocation priority reserved for at least one specific type of voice service, and declining the handover upon coincidence of the allocation priority of the first packet switched bearer with the at least one allocation priority reserved for at least one specific type of voice service,
• wherein the bearer control information comprises the at least one allocation priority reserved for at least one specific type of voice service for the first packet switched bearer or the second packet switched bearer.

A network control node that controls a network node handling multiple bearers as an association between a user terminal and a packet switched network domain of a core network, wherein the multiple bearers comprise a first packet switched bearer related to a voice service and at least a second packet switched bearer, the network control node comprising:

• at least one interface to establish a transmission link,
• at least one processor, and
• a memory comprising instructions executed by the at least one processor to perform operations comprising:
• generate bearer control information indicating a possibility for a handover of at least one second packet switched bearer from a first packet switched access to a second packet switched access, the possibility being expressed under condition that a transfer of the voice service is initiated from the first packet switched bearer to a circuit switched bearer upon change of an operative condition for the first packet switched bearer;
• and to
• transmit the generated bearer control information to the network node for selectively initiating the handover in response to comparing an allocation priority of the first packet switched bearer with at least one allocation priority reserved for at least one specific type of voice service, and declining the handover upon coincidence of the allocation priority of the first packet switched bearer with the at least one allocation priority reserved for at least one specific type of voice service,
• wherein the bearer control information comprises the at least one allocation priority reserved for at least one specific type of voice service for the first packet switched bearer or the second packet switched bearer.

A communication system that controls multiple bearers as an association between a user terminal and a packet switched network domain of a core network, wherein the multiple bearers comprise a first packet switched bearer related to a voice service and at least one second packet switched bearer, the communication system comprising:

• a radio access node that handles multiple bearers as an association between a user terminal and a packet switched network domain of a core network, wherein the multiple bearers comprise a first packet switched bearer related to a voice service and at least a second packet switched bearer, the radio access node comprising:
• at least one interface to establish a transmission link,
• at least one processor, and
• a memory comprising instructions executed by the at least one processor to perform operations comprising:
• configuring bearer control information by registering, at the radio access node, at least one allocation priority reserved for at least one specific type of voice service for the first packet switched bearer or the second packet switched bearer;
• initiating a transfer of the voice service from the first packet switched bearer to a circuit switched bearer upon change of an operative condition for the first packet switched bearer;
• and
• selectively initiating a handover of the at least one second packet switched bearer, concurrent in time with the transfer of the voice service, from a first packet switched access to a second packet switched access based on bearer control information indicating possibility of a parallel handover,
• wherein the selectively initiating the handover comprises:
• comparing an allocation priority of the first packet switched bearer with the at least one allocation priority reserved for at least one specific type of voice service;
• and
• declining the parallel handover upon coincidence of the allocation priority of the first packet switched bearer with the at least one allocation priority reserved for at least one specific type of voice service;
• and
• a network control node that controls a network node handling multiple bearers as an association between a user terminal and a packet switched network domain of a core network, wherein the multiple bearers comprise a first packet switched bearer related to a voice service and at least a second packet switched bearer, the network control node comprising:
• at least one interface to establish a transmission link,
• at least one processor, and
• a memory comprising instructions executed by the at least one processor to perform operations comprising:
• generate bearer control information indicating a possibility for a handover of at least one second packet switched bearer from a first packet switched access to a second packet switched access, the possibility being expressed under condition that a transfer of the voice service is initiated from the first packet switched bearer to a circuit switched bearer upon change of an operative condition for the first packet switched bearer;
• and to
• transmit the generated bearer control information to the network node.

A computer program product comprising:

• a non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprising computer readable program code embodied in the medium that when executed by at least one processor of a radio access node, causes the at least one processor of the radio access node perform operations comprising:
• configuring bearer control information by registering, at the radio access node, at least one allocation priority reserved for at least one specific type of voice service for the first packet switched bearer or the second packet switched bearer;
• initiating a transfer of the voice service from the first packet switched bearer to a circuit switched bearer upon change of an operative condition for the first packet switched bearer;
• and
• selectively initiating a handover of the at least one second packet switched bearer, concurrent in time with the transfer of the voice service, from a first packet switched access to a second packet switched access based on bearer control information indicating possibility of a parallel handover,
• wherein the selectively initiating the handover comprises:
• comparing an allocation priority of the first packet switched bearer with the at least one allocation priority reserved for at least one specific type of voice service;
• and
• declining the parallel handover upon coincidence of the allocation priority of the first packet switched bearer with the at least one allocation priority reserved for at least one specific type of voice service.

A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprising program code to be executed by at least one processor of a network node, thereby causing the at least one processor of the network node perform operations comprising:

• generating bearer control information indicating a possibility for a handover of at least one second packet switched bearer from a first packet switched access to a second packet switched access, the possibility being expressed under condition that a transfer of the voice service is initiated from the first packet switched bearer to a circuit switched bearer upon change of an operative condition for the first packet switched bearer;
• and
• transmitting the bearer control information to the radio access node for selectively initiating the handover in response to comparing an allocation priority of the first packet switched bearer with at least one allocation priority reserved for at least one specific type of voice service, and declining the handover upon coincidence of the allocation priority of the first packet switched bearer with the at least one allocation priority reserved for at least one specific type of voice service,
• wherein the bearer control information comprises the at least one allocation priority reserved for at least one specific type of voice service for the first packet switched bearer or the second packet switched bearer.