Method and apparatus for dynamic radio resource controlling

Abstract

A method and a mobile terminal for communicating with a mobile network element (IWF) comprising communicating with a mobile network element (IWF) using a bearer that is modifiable by a negotiation between the mobile terminal (MS) and the mobile network element (IWF). The data is divided into data units ( 60 ) that comprise at least one user data element ( 61 ) and at least one status data element ( 62 ), said status data element ( 62 ) optionally comprising a status indication ( 63 ) from the mobile network element (IWF) to the mobile terminal (MS). A need for bearer modification is detected from received status indications ( 63 ) in at least two consecutive data units; and a negotiation for bearer modification is initiated, as a response to the detected need for bearer modification.

1 . A mobile terminal comprising:
 a transceiver configured to receive a plurality of data units originating from a network element, wherein at least one data unit of the plurality of data units includes a status bit indicating that flow control in the network element used to transmit the at least one data unit is active or inactive; and   a data processing unit configured to
 analyze the status bit; and 
 determine whether to request a change in a data rate at which the transceiver receives the plurality of data units based at least in part on the analysis of the status bit. 
   
     
     
         2 . The mobile terminal of  claim 1 , wherein the data processing unit is further configured to request a bearer downgrade if the flow control is active for a predetermined amount of time. 
     
     
         3 . The mobile terminal of  claim 1 , wherein the data processing unit is further configured to request a bearer upgrade if the flow control is inactive for a predetermined amount of time. 
     
     
         4 . The mobile terminal of  claim 1 , further comprising a counter, wherein the data processing unit uses the counter to track a number of consecutive status bits having a same value. 
     
     
         5 . The mobile terminal of  claim 4 , wherein the data processing unit is further configured to request the change in the data rate if the number of consecutive status bits having the same value is greater than a predetermined threshold. 
     
     
         6 . The mobile terminal of  claim 1 , further comprising a timer, wherein the data processing unit is configured to initiate the timer when a second received status bit differs from a first received status bit. 
     
     
         7 . The mobile terminal of  claim 6 , wherein the data processing unit is further configured to request the change in the data rate if a time kept by the timer exceeds a threshold value. 
     
     
         8 . The mobile terminal of  claim 1 , wherein analyzing the status bit comprises comparing the status bit to a reference value. 
     
     
         9 . The mobile terminal of  claim 1 , wherein the transceiver is further configured to receive a user initiated modification indication, and further wherein the data processing unit is configured to activate or deactivate the analysis of the status bit based on the user initiated modification indication. 
     
     
         10 . A method for determining a rate for exchanging data, the method comprising:
 receiving a plurality of data units originating from a network element, wherein at least one data unit of the plurality of data units includes a status bit indicating that flow control in the network element used to transmit the at least one data unit is active or inactive;   analyzing the status bit; and   determining whether to request a change in a data rate at which the plurality of data units is received based at least in part on the analysis of the status bit.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising requesting a bearer downgrade if the flow control is active for a predetermined amount of time. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising requesting a bearer upgrade if the flow control is inactive for a predetermined amount of time. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising using a counter to track a number of consecutive status bits having a same value. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising requesting the change in the data rate if the number of consecutive status bits having the same value is greater than a predetermined threshold. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising initiating a timer when a second received status bit differs from a first received status bit. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising requesting the change in the data rate if a time kept by the timer exceeds a threshold value. 
     
     
         17 . A network element for using in controlling a rate of data exchange, the network element comprising:
 a transceiver configured to
 provide a plurality of data units to a mobile station, wherein at least one data unit of the plurality of data units includes a status bit indicating that flow control used to provide the at least one data unit is active or inactive; and 
 receive a request for a change in a data rate at which the plurality of data units are provided from the mobile station, wherein the request based at least in part on an analysis of the status bit by the mobile station; and 
   a data processing unit configured to change the data rate based on the received request.   
     
     
         18 . The network element of  claim 17 , wherein the data processing unit is further configured to determine whether the flow control is active or inactive. 
     
     
         19 . The network element of  claim 17 , wherein the network element comprises an inter-working function. 
     
     
         20 . The network element of  claim 17 , wherein the plurality of data units is provided through a plurality of data streams.