Radio communication apparatus, network node, user node, core network, and methods implemented therein

1. A radio communication apparatus that provides a connection with an external network through a core network and a cellular radio access network to at least one local device that is connected to the radio communication apparatus by means of a personal or local area networking technology, the radio communication apparatus comprising a controller, wherein

the controller is configured to transmit to the core network an additional bearer generation request to request an additional bearer having a QoS parameter corresponding to a first QoS policy applied to a first device in an application layer, the first device is included in the at least one local device, and

the controller is further configured to use the additional bearer, configured between the radio communication apparatus and the core network according to the additional bearer generation request, to transmit or receive data packets each including data which is originated by or destined for the first device, wherein

the controller is further configured to transmit the additional bearer generation request in response to reception of a QoS change request indicating a change of a QoS policy applied to the first device from a network node arranged in the external network or at a boundary between the external network and the core network.

2. The radio communication apparatus according to claim 1 ,

wherein the controller is further configured to transmit the additional bearer generation request when the first QoS policy is different than an existing QoS policy that has already been applied to the at least one local device.

3. The radio communication apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the additional bearer is configured in addition to an existing bearer that transfers data packets associated with the existing QoS policy, and is used to transfer data packets associated with the first QoS policy.

4. The radio communication apparatus according to claim 1 ,

wherein the controller is further configured to transmit the additional bearer generation request in response to reception of a connection request from the first device.

5. The radio communication apparatus according to claim 4 ,

wherein the controller is configured to determine whether the additional bearer is required or not based on the first QoS policy in response to the reception of the connection request, and to transmit the additional bearer generation request in response to determination that the additional bearer is required.

6. The radio communication apparatus according to claim 1 ,

wherein the controller is further configured to determine whether the additional bearer is required or not based on the first QoS policy in response to the reception of the QoS change request and to transmit the additional bearer generation request in response to determination that the additional bearer is required.

7. The radio communication apparatus according to claim 1 ,

wherein the controller is further configured to transmit, to a network node that is arranged in the external network or at the boundary between the external network and the core network, a notification including identifying information to identify data packets to be transferred through the additional bearer.

8. The radio communication apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein the notification comprises an identifier of the first device.

9. The radio communication apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein the identifying information indicates at least one of (i) a bearer identifier, (ii) a port number, (iii) a protocol number, (iv) a Type of Service (TOS) field, (v) a source address, and (vi) a destination address that are contained in a header of a data packet to be distributed to the additional bearer.

10. The radio communication apparatus according to claim 1 ,

wherein the controller is further configured to transmit a notification indicating an association of the additional bearer with the first device to the core network.

11. The radio communication apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein the notification comprises an identifier of the additional bearer and an identifier of the first device.

12. The radio communication apparatus according to claim 1 ,

wherein the controller is further configured to manage a QoS policy applied to each of the at least one local device in an application layer.

13. The radio communication apparatus according to claim 1 ,

wherein the controller is further configured to select, according to a QoS policy applied to each of the at least one local device in the application layer, a bearer used to transmit or receive data packets each containing data which is originated by or destined for the each of the local devices.

14. The radio communication apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the additional bearer generation request comprises indication of the QoS parameter.

15. The radio communication apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the QoS parameter comprises at least one of a QoS class identifier (QCI), an allocation and retention priority (ARP), a guaranteed bit rate (GBR), and a maximum bit rate (MBR).

16. The radio communication apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the radio communication apparatus is a machine type communication (MTC) gateway device.

17. A method implemented in a radio communication apparatus that provides a connection with an external network through a core network and a cellular radio access network to at least one local device that is connected to the radio communication apparatus by means of a personal or local area networking technology, the method comprising:

transmitting to the core network an additional bearer generation request to request an additional bearer having a QoS parameter corresponding to a first QoS policy applied to a first device in an application layer, the first device being included in the at least one local device; and

using an additional bearer, configured between the radio communication apparatus and the core network according to the additional bearer generation request, to transmit or receive data packets each containing data which is originated by or destined for the first device, wherein

the transmitting includes transmitting the additional bearer generation request in response to reception of a QoS change request indicating a change of a QoS policy applied to the first device from a network node arranged in the external network or at a boundary between the external network and the core network.

18. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing a program for causing a computer to perform a method implemented in a radio communication apparatus that provides a connection with an external network through a core network and a cellular radio access network to at least one local device that is connected to the radio communication apparatus by means of a personal or local area networking technology, wherein the method comprises:

transmitting to the core network an additional bearer generation request to request an additional bearer having a QoS parameter corresponding to a first QoS policy applied to a first device in an application layer, the first device being included in the at least one local device; and

using an additional bearer, configured between the radio communication apparatus and the core network according to the additional bearer generation request, to transmit or receive data packets each containing data which is originated by or destined for the first device, wherein

the transmitting includes transmitting the additional bearer generation request in response to reception of a QoS change request indicating a change of a QoS policy applied to the first device from a network node arranged in the external network or at a boundary between the external network and the core network.