Bearer control on the basis of probing

摘要

For maintaining a certain quality of service for a certain type of data traffic, the data traffic may be directed to a corresponding bearer established with respect to a user equipment. By sending probe packets on the bearer and/or on a further bearer and receiving a response packets returned in response to the probe packets, a parameter corresponding to a time period between sending a probe packet and receiving the corresponding response packet can be measured. On the basis of the measured parameter, a bearer control procedure with respect to the user equipment is initiated. This bearer control procedure may for example include directing data packets of selected data traffic from one bearer to another bearer, modification of at least one quality of service parameter of a bearer, and/or establishing or releasing a bearer.

主权项

1. A method of controlling data traffic, comprising:
sending at least one probe packet via a default bearer established with respect to a user equipment; receiving at least one response packet returned in response to the probe packet; measuring a parameter corresponding to a time period between said sending of the probe packet and said receiving of the response packet; on the basis of the measured parameter, initiating a bearer control procedure with respect to the user equipment, the bearer control procedure comprising directing data packets of selected data traffic either to the default bearer or to a dedicated bearer established with respect to the user equipment, sending at least one further probe packet via the dedicated bearer, receiving at least one further response packet returned in response to receiving the further probe packet; measuring a further parameter corresponding to a time period between said sending of the further probe packet and said receiving of the further response packet; and wherein said bearer control procedure is initiated on the basis of the parameter and the further parameter.