Packet flow processing in a communication system

Abstract

Method and apparatus for processing packet flows in a communication system. In one embodiment, a resource reservation message includes packet flow parameter information used to determine flow treatment of the associated packet flow. The packet flow mapping is based on the quality of service of the associated packet flow. In another embodiment, a bearer connection is established and monitored for information relating to flow treatment.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method for processing packet flows in a communication system, comprising: 
 determining at least one packet flow parameter for a requested packet flow; and    providing the at least one packet flow parameter to an infrastructure element in the communication system via a reservation message, the reservation message for indicating flow treatment of packet flows.    
     
     
         2 . The method as in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one packet flow parameter is header compression information.  
     
     
         3 . The method as in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one packet flow parameter is codec information.  
     
     
         4 . The method as in  claim 1 , wherein the reservation message is a resource reservation protocol message.  
     
     
         5 . The method as in  claim 1 , wherein the packet flow has an associated quality of service requirement, and wherein the packet flow is mapped to a link based on the quality of service requirement.  
     
     
         6 . A method for processing packet flows in a communication system, comprising: 
 establishing a bearer connection between a sender and receiver for a packet flow;    receiving at least one packet flow parameter of the packet flow from the sender; and    providing the at least one packet flow parameter to the receiver.    
     
     
         7 . The method as in  claim 6 , wherein the sender is a remote user and the receiver is an Internet node.  
     
     
         8 . The method as in  claim 6 , further comprising: 
 establishing a new link for processing the packet flow.    
     
     
         9 . An apparatus for processing packet flows in a communication system, comprising: 
 means for determining at least one packet flow parameter for a requested packet flow; and    means for providing the at least one packet flow parameter to an infrastructure element in the communication system via a reservation message, the reservation message for.    
     
     
         10 . An apparatus for processing packet flows in a communication system, comprising: 
 means for establishing a bearer connection between a sender and receiver for a packet flow;    means for receiving at least one packet flow parameter of the packet flow from the sender; and    means for providing the at least one packet flow parameter to the receiver.    
     
     
         11 . A remote station apparatus comprising: 
 a control processor for processing packet flows; and    a packet flow determination unit coupled to the control processor, the packet flow determination unit adapted to determine at least one packet flow parameter of a packet flow.    
     
     
         12 . The remote station as in  claim 11 , further comprising: 
 a packet flow setup unit coupled to the control processor, the packet flow setup unit adapted to provide the at least one packet flow parameter in a reservation message.    
     
     
         13 . The remote station as in  claim 12 , further comprising: 
 a packet flow processing unit coupled to the control processor, the packet flow processing unit for processing the packet flow according to the at least one packet flow parameter.    
     
     
         14 . The remote station as in  claim 13 , wherein the at least one packet flow parameter is header compression information.  
     
     
         15 . The remote station as in  claim 13 , wherein the at least one packet flow parameter is codec information.  
     
     
         16 . The remote station as in  claim 11 , wherein the reservation message is a resource reservation protocol message.  
     
     
         17 . An method for processing packet flows in a communication system, comprising: 
 establishing a bearer connection between a sender and a receiver, the bearer connection supporting Internet Protocol communication;    monitoring transmissions on the bearer connection for packet flow parameter information;    detecting packet flow parameter information for a packet flow; and    in response to detecting packet flow parameter information, providing the packet flow parameter information to the receiver.    
     
     
         18 . The method as in  claim 17 , wherein the bearer connection is established using a Session Initiation Protocol.  
     
     
         19 . The method as in  claim 17 , further comprising: 
 determining flow treatment of the packet flow based on the packet flow parameter information.    
     
     
         20 . The method as in  claim 17 , wherein the packet flow parameter information is contained in an invitation message transmitted via the bearer connection.  
     
     
         21 . A computer readable media embodying a method for processing packet flows in a communication system, the method comprising: 
 establishing a bearer connection between a sender and a receiver, the bearer connection supporting Internet Protocol communication;    monitoring transmissions on the bearer connection for packet flow parameter information;    detecting packet flow parameter information for a packet flow; and    in response to detecting packet flow parameter information, providing the packet flow parameter information to the receiver.    
     
     
         22 . The computer readable media as in  claim 21 , further adapted for: 
 determining a flow treatment based on the packet flow parameter information; and    determining a flow mapping based on a quality of service associated with the packet flow.    
     
     
         23 . A method for providing an additional service instance in a wireless communication system, comprising: 
 receiving a request for multiple service options for a mobile station;    determining a need for establishment of an additional service instance at a packet data service node;    sending a registration update message to a packet control function node identifying a header compression algorithm; and    receiving confirmation of registration.    
     
     
         24 . The method as in  claim 23 , further comprising: 
 initiating a first timer for the registration update message; and    resending the registration update message a predetermined number of times on expiration of the first timer.    
     
     
         25 . A method for receiving an additional service instance at a wireless communication device, comprising: 
 establishing a first service option;    requesting a second service option concurrently with the first service option;    receiving a message identifying a second service option connection;    establishing the second service option connection; and    communicating via the first and second service option connections.