Wireless communication network bearer management

Abstract

A method and system for configuring a service at a base station of a wireless communication network are disclosed. According to one aspect, a base station receives from a network node a service identifier that identifies a service to be provided via a plurality of bearers to a user equipment. The base station configures the plurality of bearers according to a service configuration associated with the service identifier.

1 . A method for a network node for configuring a service at a base station of a wireless communication network, the method comprising:
 receiving a message for a service to be provided to a user equipment;   associating a plurality of bearers with the service to be provided; and   sending a service identifier to the base station, the service identifier identifying the service to be provided to the user equipment via the plurality of bearers and being associated with a service configuration for configuring the plurality of bearers.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein sending comprises sending a plurality of Radio Access Bearer (RAB) messages, each RAB message being associated with a respective one of the plurality of bearers and including the service identifier. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein each of the plurality of RAB messages is one of an E-RAB Setup message, an E-RAB Modify message and an Initial Context Setup message. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the service identifier is sent in an S1AP message having a plurality of bearers associated with the service identifier, the S1AP message being one of an E-Service Setup message, an E-Service Modify message and an E-Service Release message. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising sending the service configuration associated with the service identifier to the base station. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the service configuration is stored at the base station. 
     
     
         7 - 8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the service configuration comprises one of at least one service configuration parameter and at least one bearer configuration parameter for each of the plurality of bearers. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein a least one bearer configuration parameter comprises one of a video resolution, a frame rate and a codec. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the codec is one of an adaptive multi-rate codec, a video Motion Picture Experts Group (MPEG) codec at a specified frame rate and an audio codec. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the service is one of a voice over long term evolution (VoLTE) service, an Internet Protocol Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) video service, a voice over Internet (VoIP) best effort service, and a video best effort service. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the network node is a mobile management entity (MME). 
     
     
         14 . A network node, comprising:
 a receiver configured to receive a message for a service to be provided to a user equipment;   a memory configured to store a service identifier identifying the service to be provided; and   a processor in communication with the memory and configured to:
 associate a plurality of bearers with the service to be provided; and 
 send the service identifier to a base station, the service identifier being associated with a service configuration for configuring the plurality of bearers. 
   
     
     
         15 . The network node of  claim 14 , wherein the configuration of the plurality of bearers specifies, for each bearer, at least one of a video resolution, a frame rate and a codec. 
     
     
         16 . The network node of  claim 14 , wherein the processor is configured to send the service identifier to the base station in a radio access bearer, RAB, message associated with one of the plurality of bearers. 
     
     
         17 . The network node of  claim 14 , wherein the processor is configured to send the service identifier to the base station in an S1AP message. 
     
     
         18 - 19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . The network node of  claim 14 , wherein the service configuration is stored at the base station. 
     
     
         21 . The network node of  claim 14 , wherein the service configuration comprises one of at least one service configuration parameter and at least one bearer configuration parameter for each of the plurality of bearers. 
     
     
         22 . The network node of  claim 21 , wherein the at least one bearer configuration parameter comprises one of a video resolution, a frame rate and a codec. 
     
     
         23 . The network node of  claim 22 , wherein the codec is one of an adaptive multi-rate codec, a video Motion Picture Experts Group (MPEG) codec at a specified frame rate and an audio codec. 
     
     
         24 . The network node of  claim 14 , wherein the service is one of a voice over long term evolution (VoLTE) service, an Internet Protocol Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) video service, a voice over Internet (VoIP) best effort service, and a video best effort service. 
     
     
         25 . The network node of  claim 14 , wherein the network node is a mobile management entity (MME).