Method for providing multicast broadcast services continuity in a wireless network, corresponding network node and user equipment

1. Method for providing Multicast Broadcast Services continuity towards a user equipment part of a wireless network, said Multicast Broadcast Services being supported by at least one Multicast Broadcast Services bearer, said wireless network further providing Unicast Services to said user equipment said Unicast Services being supported by at least one Unicast Service bearer, said Multicast Broadcast Services bearers being multiplexed with Unicast Services bearers on at least one carrier, said method comprising:

prioritising said Multicast Broadcast Services over said Unicast services, wherein said prioritising comprises sending an indication from said user equipment to said wireless network requesting said Multicast Broadcast Services to be prioritized over said Unicast Services, and wherein in case of congestion of said Unicast Services on said at least one carrier, said network releases at least one Unicast service bearer and/or one Unicast Connection.

2. Method according to claim 1 , wherein a Unicast Service bearer is defined as default bearer for said user equipment, said default bearer still keeping priority over said Multicast Broadcast Services bearers.

3. Method according to claim 1 , wherein said indication is sent through C signalling.

4. Method according to claim 1 , wherein said user equipment is informed through signalling that the Unicast service bearer has been released because of said prioritising of said Multicast Broadcast Services over said Unicast Services, said method further comprising avoiding any attempt by said user equipment to re-establish said Unicast bearer as part of a recovery measure.

5. Method according to claim 1 , wherein said user equipment is informed through signalling that the Unicast connection has been released because of said prioritising of said Multicast Broadcast Services over said Unicast Services, said method further comprising avoiding any attempt by said user equipment to re-establish said Unicast connection as part of a recovery measure.

6. Method according to claim 1 , wherein said prioritising comprises assigning a priority to each bearer at said user terminal, said bearer being either a Multicast Broadcast Services bearer or a Unicast Services bearer, at least one of said Multicast Broadcast Services bearer having a higher priority than said Unicast Services bearers, said priority being taken into account for releasing bearers in case of congestion on said at least one carrier, bearers with lower priority being released first.

7. Method according to claim 6 , wherein said priorities are assigned by the operation and maintenance module of said wireless network.

8. Method according to claim 6 , wherein in case of congestion of Unicast Services on said at least one carrier, said network releases at least one Unicast Service bearer having a low priority.

9. Method according to claim 1 , wherein said prioritising comprises sending an indication of Unicast Service bearer congestion on said at least one carrier, said user equipment switching off at least one Unicast Service bearer on said at least one carrier upon reception of said indication of congestion.

10. Method according to claim 9 , wherein said indication of congestion is sent through dedicated RRC signalling.

11. Method according to claim 9 , wherein said indication of congestion is sent through cell broadcast RRC signalling.

12. Method according to claim 9 , wherein said user equipment releases at least one of said Unicast service bearers upon reception of said indication of congestion.

13. Network Node part of a wireless network adapted to support Multicast Broadcast Services continuity towards a user equipment, said Multicast Broadcast Services being supported by at least one Multicast Broadcast Services bearer, said wireless network further providing Unicast Services to said user equipment, said Unicast Services being supported by at least one Unicast Service bearer, said Multicast Broadcast Services bearers being multiplexed with Unicast Services bearers on at least one carrier, said network node comprising:

a control unit comprising a processor adapted to prioritise said Multicast Broadcast Services over said Unicast services, said prioritisation being obtained by receiving an indication from said user terminal requesting said Multicast Broadcast Services to be prioritized over said Unicast Services, and in case of congestion of Unicast services on said at least one carrier, releasing at least one Unicast Service bearer and/or one Unicast connection OR said prioritisation being obtained by sending an indication of Unicast Service bearer congestion on said at least one carrier to said user equipment, and receiving a user equipment communication indicating the switching off of Unicast Services which results in release of the associated bearer.

14. User equipment part of a wireless network adapted to support Multicast Broadcast Services continuity, said Multicast Broadcast Services being supported by at least one Multicast Broadcast Services bearer, said user equipment being further provided with Unicast Services, said Unicast Services being supported by at least one Unicast Service bearer, said Multicast Broadcast Services bearers being multiplexed with Unicast Services bearers on at least one carrier, said user equipment comprising:

a processor adapted to request prioritisation of said Multicast Broadcast Services over said Unicast services, said processor comprising a transmitter that sends an indication to said wireless network requesting said Multicast Broadcast Services to be prioritised over said Unicast Services, wherein in case of congestion of Unicast Services on said at least one carrier, said network releases at least one Unicast service bearer and/or one Unicast Connection.

15. A method for providing Multicast Broadcast Services continuity towards a user equipment part of a wireless network, said Multicast Broadcast Services being supported by at least one Multicast Broadcast Services bearer, said wireless network further providing Unicast Services to said user equipment, said Unicast Services being supported by at least one Unicast Service bearer, said Multicast Broadcast Services bearers being multiplexed with Unicast Services bearers on at least one carrier, said method comprising: prioritising said Multicast Broadcast Services over said Unicast services, wherein said prioritising comprises sending an indication from said user equipment to said wireless network requesting said Multicast Broadcast Services to be prioritised over said Unicast Services, wherein said prioritisation is obtained by sending an indication of Unicast Service bearer congestion on said at least one carrier to said user equipment, and receiving a user equipment communication indicating the switching off of Unicast Services which results in release of the associated bearer.

16. A User equipment part of a wireless network adapted to support Multicast Broadcast Services continuity, said Multicast Broadcast Services being supported by at least one Multicast Broadcast Services bearer, said user equipment being further provided with Unicast Services, said Unicast Services being supported by at least one Unicast Service bearer, said Multicast Broadcast Services bearers being multiplexed with Unicast Services bearers on at least one carrier, said user equipment comprising: a processor adapted to request prioritisation of said Multicast Broadcast Services over said Unicast services, said user equipment being configured to obtain prioritisation by receiving an indication of Unicast Service bearer congestion on said at least one carrier at said user equipment, switching off at least one Unicast Service bearer, and sending a user equipment communication indicating the switching off of the at least one Unicast Service bearer which results in release of the associated bearer.

17. The network node according to claim 13 , wherein said prioritisation is further obtained by assigning a priority to each bearer at said user terminal, said bearer being either a Multicast Broadcast Services bearer or a Unicast Services bearer, at least one of said Multicast Broadcast Services bearer having a higher priority than said Unicast Services bearers, said priority being taken into account for releasing bearers in case of congestion on said at least one carrier, bearers with lower priority being released first.