Adapting QoS for a radio bearer

1. A method performed in a radio device connected to a communication network comprising a core network (CN) and a Radio Access Network (RAN), where there is a communication bearer between the radio device and the CN via the RAN comprising a radio bearer between the radio device and a RAN node of the RAN, for adapting a Quality of Service (QoS) of the communication bearer, the method comprising:

to the CN, sending a request for a first QoS to be associated with the communication bearer;

exchanging data over the radio bearer in accordance with the first QoS of the communication bearer;

to the RAN, sending a request for the RAN to associate a second QoS, lower than the first QoS, with the radio bearer;

to the RAN, sending an indication that the second QoS should be used for the radio bearer; and

exchanging data over the radio bearer in accordance with the second QoS.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

after the exchanging of data, to the RAN, sending an indication that the first QoS should be used for the radio bearer.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the communication bearer is an Evolved Packet System (EPS) bearer.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the radio device is a mission-critical Machine Type Communication (MTC) device.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the sending the request also comprises sending a request for the second QoS to be associated with the communication bearer.

6. A method performed in a radio device connected to a communication network comprising a core network (CN) and a Radio Access Network (RAN), where there is a communication bearer between the radio device and the CN via the RAN comprising a radio bearer between the radio device and a RAN node of the RAN, for adapting a Quality of Service (QoS) of the communication bearer, the method comprising:

to the CN, sending a request for a first QoS to be associated with the communication bearer, wherein the sending the request also comprises sending a request for a second QoS, lower than the first QoS, to be associated with the communication bearer;

exchanging data over the radio bearer in accordance with the first QoS of the communication bearer;

to the RAN, sending an indication that the second QoS should be used for the radio bearer; and

exchanging data over the radio bearer in accordance with the second QoS.

7. A method performed in a radio device connected to a communication network comprising a core network (CN) and a Radio Access Network (RAN), where there is a communication bearer between the radio device and the CN via the RAN comprising a radio bearer between the radio device and a RAN node of the RAN, for adapting a Quality of Service (QoS) of the communication bearer, the method comprising:

to the CN, sending a request for a first QoS to be associated with the communication bearer;

exchanging data over the radio bearer in accordance with the first QoS of the communication bearer;

from the RAN, receiving a request for the radio device to associate a second QoS, lower than the first QoS, with the radio bearer;

to the RAN, sending an indication that the second QoS should be used for the radio bearer; and

exchanging data over the radio bearer in accordance with the second QoS.

8. A method performed in a Radio Access Network (RAN), comprised in a communication network also comprising a core network (CN) where there is a communication bearer between a radio device connected to the communication network and the CN via the RAN comprising a radio bearer between the radio device and a RAN node of the RAN, for adapting a Quality of Service (QoS) of the communication bearer, the method comprising:

associating the communication bearer, including the radio bearer, with a first QoS;

initiating forwarding of data over the radio bearer in accordance with the first QoS of the communication bearer;

associating the radio bearer also with a second QoS, lower than the first QoS, while the communication bearer remains associated with the first QoS;

obtaining an indication that the second QoS should be used for the radio bearer; and

initiating forwarding of data over the radio bearer in accordance with the second QoS.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

from the radio device, receiving a request for the RAN to associate the second QoS with the radio bearer, before the associating of the radio bearer also with the second QoS.

10. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

to the radio device, sending a request for the radio device to associate the second QoS with the radio bearer, before the associating of the radio bearer also with the second QoS.

11. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

after the initiating forwarding of data, obtaining an indication that the first QoS should be used for the radio bearer.

12. The method of claim 8 , wherein the method is performed in a Node B or a Radio Network Control (RNC) or in an evolved Node B (eNB).

13. A method performed in a Core Network (CN) comprised in a communication network also comprising a Radio Access Network (RAN), where there is a communication bearer between a radio device connected to the communication network and the CN via the RAN comprising a radio bearer between the radio device and a RAN node of the RAN, for adapting a Quality of Service (QoS) of the communication bearer, the method comprising:

obtaining a request for a first and a second QoS to be associated with the communication bearer, from the radio device, the second QoS being lower than the first QoS;

initiating associating of the communication bearer with the first QoS in a Packet Data Network Gateway (PGW); and

initiating associating of the radio bearer with both the first and the second QoS in the RAN.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the method is performed in a Mobility Management Entity (MME).

15. A radio device comprising:

processor circuitry; and

storage storing instructions executable by said processor circuitry whereby said radio device is operative to:

to a Core Network (CN) via a Radio Access Network (RAN), send a request for a first QoS to be associated with a communication bearer between the radio device and the CN via the RAN comprising a radio bearer between the radio device and a RAN node of the RAN;

exchange data over the radio bearer in accordance with the first QoS of the communication bearer;

to the RAN, send a request for the RAN to associate a second QoS, lower than the first QoS, with the radio bearer;

to the RAN, send an indication that the second QoS should be used for the radio bearer; and

exchange data over the radio bearer in accordance with the second QoS.

16. A RAN arrangement for a Radio Access Network (RAN), the arrangement comprising:

processor circuitry; and

storage storing instructions executable by said processor circuitry whereby said RAN arrangement is operative to:

associate a communication bearer between a radio device and a Core Network (CN) via the RAN, including a radio bearer comprised in the communication bearer between the radio device and a RAN node of the RAN, with a first QoS;

initiate forwarding of data over the radio bearer in accordance with the first QoS of the communication bearer;

associate the radio bearer also with a second QoS, lower than the first QoS while, the communication bearer remains associated with the first QoS;

obtain an indication that the second QoS should be used for the radio bearer; and

initiate forwarding of data over the radio bearer in accordance with the second QoS.

17. A Core Network (CN) arrangement for a CN, the arrangement comprising:

processor circuitry; and

storage storing instructions executable by said processor circuitry whereby said CN arrangement is operative to:

obtain a request for a first and a second QoS to be associated with a communication bearer between a radio device and the CN via a Radio Access Network (RAN), from the radio device, the second QoS being lower than the first QoS;

initiate associating of the communication bearer with the first QoS in a Packet Data Network Gateway (PGW); and

initiate associating of a radio bearer comprised in the communication bearer between the radio device and a RAN node of the RAN with both the first and the second QoS in the RAN.

18. A nontransitory computer-readable storage medium comprising a computer program for adapting a Quality of Service (QoS) of a communication bearer between a radio device and a Core Network (CN) via a Radio Access Network (RAN), the communication bearer comprising a radio bearer between the radio device and a RAN node of the RAN, the computer program comprising computer program code which is able to, when run on processor circuitry of the radio device, cause the radio device to:

to the CN, send a request for a first QoS to be associated with the communication bearer;

exchange data over the radio bearer in accordance with the first QoS of the communication bearer;

to the RAN, send a request for the RAN to associate a second QoS, lower than the first QoS, with the radio bearer;

to the RAN, send an indication that the second QoS should be used for the radio bearer; and

exchange data over the radio bearer in accordance with the second QoS.

19. A nontransitory computer-readable storage medium comprising a computer program for adapting a Quality of Service (QoS) of a communication bearer between a radio device and a Core Network (CN) via a Radio Access Network (RAN), the communication bearer comprising a radio bearer between the radio device and a RAN node of the RAN, the computer program comprising computer program code which is able to, when run on processor circuitry of a RAN arrangement, cause the RAN arrangement to:

associate the communication bearer, including the radio bearer, with a first QoS;

initiate forwarding of data over the radio bearer in accordance with the first QoS of the communication bearer;

associate the radio bearer also with a second QoS, lower than the first QoS, while the communication bearer remains associated with the first QoS;

obtain an indication that the second QoS should be used for the radio bearer; and

initiate forwarding of data over the radio bearer in accordance with the second QoS.

20. A nontransitory computer-readable storage medium comprising a computer program for adapting a Quality of Service (QoS) of a communication bearer between a radio device and a Core Network (CN) via a Radio Access Network (RAN), the communication bearer comprising a radio bearer between the radio device and a RAN node of the RAN, the computer program comprising computer program code which is able to, when run on processor circuitry of a CN arrangement, cause the CN arrangement to:

obtain a request for a first and a second QoS to be associated with the communication bearer, from the radio device, the second QoS being lower than the first QoS;

initiate associating of the communication bearer with the first QoS in a Packet Data Network Gateway (PGW); and

initiate associating of the radio bearer with both the first and the second QoS in the RAN.

21. A radio device comprising:

processor circuitry; and

storage storing instructions executable by said processor circuitry whereby said radio device is operative to:

to a Core Network (CN) via a Radio Access Network (RAN), send a request for a first QoS and a second QoS, lower than the first QoS, to be associated with a communication bearer between the radio device and the CN via the RAN comprising a radio bearer between the radio device and a RAN node of the RAN;

exchange data over the radio bearer in accordance with the first QoS of the communication bearer;

to the RAN, send an indication that the second QoS should be used for the radio bearer; and

exchange data over the radio bearer in accordance with the second QoS.

22. A radio device comprising:

processor circuitry; and

storage storing instructions executable by said processor circuitry whereby said radio device is operative to:

to a Core Network (CN) via a Radio Access Network (RAN), send a request for a first QoS to be associated with a communication bearer between the radio device and the CN via the RAN comprising a radio bearer between the radio device and a RAN node of the RAN;

exchange data over the radio bearer in accordance with the first QoS of the communication bearer;

from the RAN, receive a request for the radio device to associate a second QoS, lower than the first QoS, with the radio bearer;

to the RAN, send an indication that the second QoS should be used for the radio bearer; and

exchange data over the radio bearer in accordance with the second QoS.

23. A nontransitory computer-readable storage medium comprising a computer program for adapting a Quality of Service (QoS) of a communication bearer between a radio device and a Core Network (CN) via a Radio Access Network (RAN), the communication bearer comprising a radio bearer between the radio device and a RAN node of the RAN, the computer program comprising computer program code which is able to, when run on processor circuitry of the radio device, cause the radio device to:

to the CN, send a request for a first QoS and a second QoS, lower than the first QoS, to be associated with the communication bearer;

exchange data over the radio bearer in accordance with the first QoS of the communication bearer;

to the RAN, send an indication that the second QoS should be used for the radio bearer; and

exchange data over the radio bearer in accordance with the second QoS.

24. A nontransitory computer-readable storage medium comprising a computer program for adapting a Quality of Service (QoS) of a communication bearer between a radio device and a Core Network (CN) via a Radio Access Network (RAN), the communication bearer comprising a radio bearer between the radio device and a RAN node of the RAN, the computer program comprising computer program code which is able to, when run on processor circuitry of the radio device, cause the radio device to:

to the CN, send a request for a first QoS to be associated with the communication bearer;

exchange data over the radio bearer in accordance with the first QoS of the communication bearer;

from the RAN, receive a request for the radio device to associate a second QoS, lower than the first QoS, with the radio bearer

to the RAN, send an indication that the second QoS should be used for the radio bearer; and

exchange data over the radio bearer in accordance with the second QoS.