Apparatus and methods for decoupling an uplink enhanced dedicated channel and high speed downlink shared channel

A radio network node for decoupling an uplink enhanced dedicated channel, E-DCH, and a high speed downlink shared channel, HS-DSCH, the radio network node comprising:

• a network interface (540) adapted to interface with a radio network;
• a memory;
• a processor adapted to run program instructions stored on the memory;
• wherein the processor is adapted to determine whether a radio link message received from a radio network controller, RNC, contains an indication that a radio link procedure has the capability of decoupling an E-DCH and a HS-DSCH;
• and,
• where it is determined that the radio link message does not contain an E-DCH indication, the processor is further adapted to reject the radio link procedure in the event that a serving E-DCH radio link and a serving HS-DSCH radio link are not configured in the same cell.

A radio network controller, RNC, node for decoupling an uplink enhanced dedicated channel, E-DCH, and a high speed downlink shared channel, HS-DSCH, the radio network controller node comprising:

• a network interface adapted to interface with a radio network;
• a memory;
• a processor adapted to run program instructions stored on the memory;
• wherein the processor is adapted to determine whether a received radio link message contains a E-DCH decoupling indication, indicating that a base station node supports decoupling of an E-DCH and a high speed downlink shared channel, HS-DSCH;
• and
• where it is determined that the E-DCH decoupling indication has not been received, the processor is further adapted to reject the radio link procedure in the event that a serving E-DCH radio link and a serving HS-DSCH radio link are not configured in the same cell.