Abstract: The present invention provides flow control for route switching in a communications system using retransmissions. It is well suited for a cellular mobile radio communications system, particularly a Universal Mobile Telecommunications System, UMTS.

Abstract: In a UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access Network (UTRAN), a method of switching from a current common channel to a dedicated channel for a UE. The method comprises estimating the round trip delay for data packets travelling between the UE and a peer node with which the UE is communicating. The product of the estimated round trip delay and the bandwidth of the common channel or the dedicated channel is determined and a threshold defined on the basis of that product. A switch from the common channel to a dedicated channel is initiated when the fill level of the RLC buffer(s) in the UTRAN for the UE reaches or exceeds said threshold.

Abstract: A method of scheduling packets for transmission over the air interface of a UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access Network (UTRAN) in the case where a pair of Radio Network Controllers (RNCs) are acting as separate serving and controlling (drift) RNCs for a mobile terminal. The method comprises sending from the controlling RNC to the serving RNC, allocated scheduling priorities together with packet sizes accepted for transmission with those priorities by the controlling RNC. Subsequently the serving RNC send to the controlling RNC, packets of sizes accepted by the serving RNC together with respective allocated priorities.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and arrangements enable packet scheduling in accordance with quality of service (QoS) constraints for data flows. In a Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) network environment, for example, a Medium Access Control (MAC) layer schedules packet transmission of various data flows to meet stipulated criteria, including permitted transport format combinations (TFCs) from a TFC set (TFCS). In first embodiment(s), the TFC is selected based on guaranteed rate transmission rates, weighted fair queuing (WFQ) transmission rates, QoS class, transport block set size (TBSS), and optionally queue fill levels. These first embodiment(s) also further refine the selection process using backlog memories corresponding to previously unmet guaranteed and/or fair transmission rates. In second embodiment(s), memory requirements are reduced by selecting a TFC based on guaranteed rate transmission rates, QoS class, TBSS, and queue fill levels, without accommodating backlogs.

Abstract: The present invention provides flow control for route switching in a communications system using retransmissions. It is well suited for a cellular mobile radio communications system, particularly a Universal Mobile Telecommunications System, UMTS.

Abstract: In a UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access Network (UTRAN), a method of switching from a current common channel to a dedicated channel for a UE. The method comprises estimating the round trip delay for data packets travelling between the UE and a peer node with which the UE is communicating. The product of the estimated round trip delay and the bandwidth of the common channel or the dedicated channel is determined and a threshold defined on the basis of that product. A switch from the common channel to a dedicated channel is initiated when the fill level of the RLC buffer(s) in the UTRAN for the UE reaches or exceeds said threshold.