Dynamic bearer validity

1. A method in an access network including a radio access network and a packet data network gateway (P-GW), the method comprising:

receiving, at a network node in the access network, a service setup request from an external service via a packet switched data communication network, wherein the service setup request is to set up a packet switched connection between the external service and a wireless terminal served by the radio access network;

negotiating a quality of service level with the external service for the packet switched connection, wherein the QoS level comprises a plurality of QoS parameters including a minimum QoS duration, wherein the QoS parameters include a preferred window for adjustments to the QoS and one or more time windows in which adjustments may not happen or are preferred not to happen; and

causing the packet data network gateway to establish a bearer between the packet data network gateway and the wireless terminal, the bearer having the QoS level.

2. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:

maintaining the bearer with at least the QoS level for at least the minimum QoS duration.

3. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:

setting a duration of a bearer activity timer associated with the bearer to be equal to or greater than the minimum QoS duration;

renegotiating the QoS level with the external service upon expiration of the bearer activity timer or minimum QoS duration.

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the external service provides a list of acceptable values of minimum QoS duration to the network node, and the network node selects the minimum QoS duration from the list of acceptable values of minimum QoS duration.

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the network node provides a list of acceptable values of minimum QoS duration to the external service, and the external service selects the minimum QoS duration from the list of acceptable values of minimum QoS duration.

6. The method according to claim 5 , wherein the network node comprises a policy and charging rules function (PRCF) in the access network and wherein the bearer comprises one or more of an evolved packet system, EPS, bearer, and related radio, S1, S5/S8 bearers composing the EPS bearer.

7. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:

detecting a change in network conditions affecting the wireless terminal; and

renegotiating the QoS level including the minimum QoS duration with the external service in response to detecting the change in network conditions or renegotiating the QoS level including the minimum QoS duration with the external service in response to a request from the external service to renegotiate the QoS.

8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the access network attempts to maintain a quality of the packet switched connection at least at the QoS level during the minimum QoS duration, wherein a minimum QoS level is set according to a QoS required by the external service.

9. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:

sending a notification to the external service in response to determining that the QoS level cannot be maintained for at least the minimum QoS duration.

10. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the negotiated QoS level allows for exceptions to at least one of the QoS parameters, and wherein the QoS parameters include a maximum allowable frequency of adjustments to the QoS.

11. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the negotiated QoS level provides different minimum QoS durations for different types of bearers.

12. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:

increasing a service priority associated with the bearer to avoid violating a QoS parameter.

13. A network node of an access network including a radio access network and a packet data network gateway (P-GW), the network node comprising:

a transceiver configured to provide communications with the packet data network gateway; and

a processor coupled to the transceiver and configured to provide network communication through the transceiver, wherein the processor is configured to perform operations according to claim 1 .

14. A method performed by a packet data network gateway (P-GW) in an access network including a radio access network, the method comprising:

receiving a bearer setup request, wherein the bearer setup request is to set up a bearer to a wireless terminal served by the radio access network, wherein the bearer setup request specifies a quality of service (QoS) level for the bearer, wherein the QoS level comprises a plurality of QoS parameters including a minimum QoS duration wherein the QoS parameters include a preferred window for adjustments to the QoS and one or more time windows in which adjustments may not happen or are preferred not to happen;

establishing the bearer between the packet data network gateway and the wireless terminal, the bearer having the QoS level; and

maintaining the bearer with at least the QoS level for at least the minimum QoS duration, wherein if it is expected that the QoS level cannot be fulfilled, the service priority is increased to fulfill the constraint of avoiding bearer adjustments in the one or more time windows.

15. The method according to claim 14 , further comprising:

setting a duration of a bearer activity timer associated with the bearer to be greater than the minimum QoS duration.

16. A packet data network gateway (P-GW) of an access network including a radio access network, comprising:

a transceiver configured to provide communications with a wireless terminal served by the radio access network and a network node in the access network; and

a processor coupled to the transceiver and configured to provide network communication through the transceiver, wherein the processor is configured to perform operations according to claim 1 .

17. A method by a service operating in an application server, comprising:

sending, to a network node in an access network including a radio access network and a packet data network gateway (P-GW), a service setup request via a packet switched data communication network, wherein the service setup request is to set up a packet switched connection between the external service and a wireless terminal served by the radio access network; and

negotiating a quality of service, QoS, level with the external service for the packet switched connection, wherein the QoS level comprises a plurality of QoS parameters including a minimum QoS duration for a bearer between the packet data network gateway and the wireless terminal, the bearer having the QoS level, wherein the QoS parameters include a preferred window for adjustments to the QoS and one or more time windows in which adjustments may not happen or are preferred not to happen, and wherein a minimum QoS level is set according to a QoS required by the external service.

18. The method according to claim 17 , wherein the external service provides a list of acceptable values of minimum QoS duration to the network node, and the network node selects the minimum QoS duration from the list of acceptable values of minimum QoS duration.

19. The method according to claim 17 , wherein the network node provides a list of acceptable values of minimum QoS duration to the external service, and the external service selects the minimum QoS duration from the list of acceptable values of minimum QoS duration.

20. An application server, comprising:

a network interface configured to provide communications with a network node in an access network; and

a processor coupled to the network interface and configured to provide network communication through the network interface, wherein the processor is configured to perform operations according to claim 17 .