(12) United States Patent
`Forslöw
`
`USOO6937566B1
`(10) Patent No.:
`US 6,937,566 B1
`(45) Date of Patent:
`Aug. 30, 2005
`
`6,188,697 B1 * 2/2001 Umehira et al. ............ 370/412
`6,374,112 B1 * 4/2002 Widegren et al. ........... 455/452
`6,603.738 B1 * 8/2003 Kari et al. ............... 370/230.1
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`(54) DYNAMIC QUALITY OF SERVICE
`RESERVATION IN A MOBILE
`COMMUNICATIONS NETWORK
`
`(75) Inventor: Jan E. Forslöw, Stockholm (SE)
`(73) Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
`(publ), Stockholm (SE)
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 0 days.
`
`(*) Notice:
`
`(21) Appl. No.: 09/087,496
`(22) Filed:
`May 29, 1998
`Related U.S. Application Data
`(60) Provisional application No. 60/054,469, filed on Jul. 25,
`1997.
`(51) Int. Cl. ................................................ H04L 12/26
`(52) U.S. Cl. ................... 370/231; 370/332; 370/395.21
`(58) Field of Search ................................. 370/231, 235,
`370/236, 252, 310,322,329, 332, 338,
`341, 348,392, 401, 404, 407, 411, 412,
`429
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`
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`Packet Data
`Support Node
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`O 789 499 A 8/1997
`
`EP
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`W
`WO
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`97/47112 A 12/1997
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
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`R. Braden et al., Network Working Group, Request for
`Comments: 2205, Category: Standards Track, RFC 2205,
`Sep. 1997, Resource ReServation Protocol (RSVP)-Ver
`Sion 1 Functional Specification.
`(Continued)
`Primary Examiner Man U. Phan
`Assistant Examiner Toan D. Nguyen
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm Nixon & Vanderhye P.C.
`(57)
`ABSTRACT
`In a mobile communications System, a mobile host commu
`nicateS packet data with an external network by way of a
`packet gateway node. The mobile host establishes a packet
`Session during which plural application flows are commu
`nicated with an external network entity. Each application
`flow includes a corresponding Stream of packets. In addition,
`a corresponding quality of Service parameter is defined and
`reserved for each of the plural application flows. In this way,
`different quality of Service parameters may be defined and
`reserved for different ones of the application flows. Packets
`corresponding to each of the application flows are then
`delivered, for example, from the external network entity all
`the way to the mobile host in accordance with the quality of
`service reserved for that application flow. Different qualities
`of service may have different allocated bandwidths, delays,
`and/or reliabilities.
`33 Claims, 14 Drawing Sheets
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`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`R. Droms, Network Working Group, Request for Com
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`Mar. 1997, “Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol”.
`C. Rigney et al., Network Working Group, Request for
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`Track, Apr. 1997, “Remote Authentication Dial In User
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`W. Simpson, Network Working Group, Request for Com
`ments: 1661, STD: 51, Obsoletes: 1548, Category: Stan
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`(PPP)”.
`H. Schulzrinne et al., Network Working Group, Request for
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`Michael Patrick, DHC Working Group, Nov. 24, 1997,
`“DHCP Relay Agent Information Option”.
`A. Valencia et al., PPP Working Group, Internet Draft,
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`Internet
`Draft,
`Title:
`draft-iet? pppext-12tp-11.txt, May 1998, “Layer Two Tun
`neling Protocol L2TP'.
`O. Gudmundsson et al., DHC Working Group, Internet
`Draft, Mar. 1998, “Security Requirements for the DHCP
`Protocol.
`Alexander, “DHCP Options and BOOTP Vendor Exten
`Sions', Mar. 1997, rfc2132.
`
`Dec.
`
`Braden et al., Recommendations on Queue Management and
`Congestion Avoidance in the Internet, Apr. 1998,
`draft-irtf-e2e-queue-mgt.00.txt.
`Braden et al., “Resource Reservation Protocol Version I
`Functional
`Specification”,
`Sep.
`1997,
`draft-ietf-rSVp-spec-14.ps.
`Gudmundsson, Security Architecture for DHCP, Mar. 1997,
`draft-ietf-dhc-security-arch-00.txt.
`Options”,
`Patrick, “DHCP Agent-Supplied
`1996-draft-ietf-dhc-agent-options-00.txt.
`Sathaye, “ATM Forum Traffic Management Specification
`Version 4.0”, Apr. 1996, af-tm–0056.000.
`Shenker et al., “General Characterization Parameters for
`Integrated Service Network Elements”, Oct. 1996,
`draft-ietf-intserv-charac-02.txt.
`GSM 02.60, “Digital Cellular Telecommunications System”
`(Phase 2+), GPRS, Service Description, Stage I, version
`19.0, Oct. 1996.
`GSM 03.60, “Digital Cellular Telecommunications System”
`(Phase 2+), GPRS, Service Description, Stage 2, version
`2.0.0, May 1997.
`GSM 03.64, “Digital Cellular Telecommunications System”
`(Phase 2+), GPRS, Overall Description of GPRS Radio
`Interface, Stage 2, Version 2.0.0, Mar. 1997.
`* cited by examiner
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`Establish a packet session for a mobile host where plural
`application flows/packet streams are communicated between
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`Reserve a Quality of Service (QoS) for each flow where
`the QoS for different flows may differ
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`102
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`entity and mobile host in accordance with corresponding QoS
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`1
`DYNAMIC QUALITY OF SERVICE
`RESERVATION IN A MOBILE
`COMMUNICATIONS NETWORK
`
`2
`Thus, independent packet routing and transfer within the
`mobile network is Supported by a mobile packet data Support
`node 22 which acts as a logical interface or gateway to
`external packet networks. A Subscriber may send and receive
`data in an end-to-end packet transfer mode without using
`circuit-Switched mode network resources. Moreover, mul
`tiple point-to-point, parallel Sessions are possible. For
`example, a mobile host like a mobile PC might run several
`applications at one time like a Video conference, an e-mail
`communication, or facsimile web browsing, etc.
`FIG. 2 shows a more detailed mobile communications
`System using the example GSM mobile communications
`model that Supports both circuit-Switched and packet
`Switched communications. A mobile host 12 including a
`computer terminal 14 and mobile radio 16 communicates
`over a radio interface with one or more base stations (BSS)
`32. Each base Station 32 is located in a corresponding cell
`30. Multiple base stations 32 are connected to a base station
`controller (BSC) 34 which manages the allocation and
`deallocation of radio resources and controls handovers of
`mobile Stations from one base Station to another. A base
`Station controller and its associated base Stations are Some
`times referred to as a base station subsystem (BSS). The
`BSC 34 is connected to a mobile switching center (MSC) 36
`through which circuit-Switched connections are set up with
`other networks 38 such as the Public Switched Telephone
`Network (PSTN), Integrated Services Digital Network
`(ISDN), etc.
`The MSC 36 is also connected via a Signaling System
`Number 7 (SS7) network 40 to a Home Location Register
`(HLR) 42, a Visitor Location Register (VLR) 44, and
`Authentication Center (AuC) 46. The VLR 44 includes a
`database containing the information about all mobile Sta
`tions currently located in a corresponding location or Service
`area as well as temporary Subscriber information needed by
`the MSC to provide services to mobiles in its service area.
`Typically, when a mobile Station enters a visiting network or
`Service area, the corresponding VLR 44 requests and
`receives data about the roaming mobile Station from the
`mobile's HLR and stores it. As a result, when the visiting
`mobile station is involved in a call, the VLR 44 already has
`the information needed for call Setup.
`The HLR 42 is a database node that Stores and manages
`subscriptions. For each “home” mobile subscriber, the HLR
`contains permanent Subscriber data Such as the mobile
`station ISDN number (MSISDN) which uniquely identifies
`the mobile telephone subscription in the PSTN numbering
`plan and an international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI)
`which is a unique identity allocated to each Subscriber and
`used for Signaling in the mobile networks. All network
`related Subscriber information is connected to the IMSI. The
`HLR 42 also contains a list of Services which a mobile
`Subscriber is authorized to use along with a current Sub
`Scriber location number corresponding to the address of the
`VLR currently serving the mobile subscriber.
`Each BSC 34 also connects to a GPRS network 51 at a
`Serving GPRS Support Node (SGSN) 50 responsible for
`delivery of packets to the mobile stations within its service
`area. The gateway GPRS Support node (GGSN) 54 acts as a
`logical interface to external data packet networkS Such as the
`IP data network 56. SGSN nodes 50 and GGSN nodes 54 are
`connected by an intra-PLMN IP backbone 52. Thus,
`between the SGSN 50 and the GGSN 54, the Internet
`protocol (IP) is used as the backbone to transfer data
`packets. Within the GPRS network 51, packets or protocol
`data units (PDUs) are encapsulated at an originating GPRS
`support node and decapsulated at the destination GPRS
`
`RELATED APPLICATION
`This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional
`Patent Application Ser. No. 60/054,469, filed Jul. 25, 1997,
`the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference.
`FIELD OF THE INVENTION
`The present invention relates to mobile communications,
`and more particularly, to the reservation of a particular class
`or quality of Service for individual mobile communications.
`BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE
`INVENTION
`The main application of most mobile radio Systems like
`the Global System for Mobile communications (GSM) has
`been mobile telephony. However, the use of mobile data
`applications like facsimile transmission and short message
`eXchange is becoming more popular. New data applications
`include wireleSS personal computers, mobile offices, elec
`tronic funds transfer, road transport telemetry, field Service
`businesses, fleet management, etc. These applications are
`characterized by “bursty” traffic. In other words, a relatively
`large amount of data is transmitted over a relatively short
`time interval followed by significant time intervals when
`little or no data is transmitted.
`In bursty traffic Situations, packet-Switched communica
`tions mechanisms better utilize the transmission medium
`than circuit-switched mechanisms. In a packet-Switched
`network, the transmission medium is used only on demand,
`and a single physical channel can be shared by many users.
`Another advantage is that in contrast to time-oriented charg
`ing applied for circuit-Switched connections, packet
`Switched data Services allow charging depending on the
`amount of data transmission and on the quality of Service of
`that transmission.
`In order to accommodate these new mobile applications,
`packet radio services, like the General Packet Radio Service
`(GPRS) incorporated in GSM, accommodate
`connectionless, packet-Switched data Services with high
`bandwidth efficiency. Cellular Digital Packet Data (CDPD)
`networks are another example. A significant interest of end
`users of a mobile packet data service such as GPRS is that
`wireleSS PCS Support conventional Internet-based applica
`tions like file transfer, Submission and reception of e-mail,
`and “surfing” the Internet via the worldwide web. Video is
`also a possible important element of multimedia Services
`that may ultimately be supported by GPRS-type services.
`FIG. 1 shows a mobile data service from a user's point of
`view in the context of a mobile communications system 10.
`An end user communicates data packets using a mobile host
`12 including for example a laptop computer 14 connected to
`a mobile terminal 16. The mobile host 12 communicates for
`example with a fixed computer terminal 18 incorporated in
`a local area network (LAN) 20 through a mobile packet data
`Support node 22 via one or more routerS 24, a packet data
`network 26, and a router 28 in the local area network 20. Of
`course, those skilled in the art will appreciate that this
`drawing is simplified in that the “path’ is a logical path
`rather than an actual physical path or connection. In a
`connectionless data packet communication between the
`mobile host 12 and fixed terminal 18, packets are routed
`from the Source to the destination independently and do not
`necessarily follow the same path (although they can).
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`Support node. This encapsulation/decapsulation at the IP
`level between the SGSN 50 and the GGSN 54 is called
`“tunneling” in GPRS. The GGSN 54 maintains routing
`information used to “tunnel PDUs to the SGSN 50 cur
`rently serving the mobile station. A common GPRS Tunnel
`Protocol (GTP) enables different packet data protocols to be
`employed even if those protocols are not Supported by all of
`the SGSNs. All GPRS user-related data needed by the SGSN
`to perform the routing and data transfer functionality is
`accessed from the HLR 42 via the SS7 network 40. The HLR
`42 stores routing information and maps the IMSI to one or
`more packet data protocol (PDP) addresses as well as
`mapping each PDP address to one or more GGSNs.
`Before a mobile host can Send packet data to a corre
`sponding external host like the Internet Service provider
`(ISP) 58 in FIG. 2, the mobile host 12 has to “attach” to the
`GPRS network 51 to make its presence known and to create
`a packet data protocol (PDP) context to establish a relation
`ship with a gateway GGSN 54 towards the external network
`that the mobile host is accessing. The attach procedure is
`carried out between the mobile host 12 and the SGSN 50 to
`establish a logical link. As a result, a temporary logical link
`identity is assigned to the mobile host 12. A PDP context is
`established between the mobile host and the GGSN 54. The
`Selection of GGSN 54 is based on the name of the external
`network to be reached. One or more application flows
`(Sometimes called “routing contexts) may be established
`for a single PDP context through negotiations with the
`GGSN 54. An application flow corresponds to a stream of
`data packets distinguishable as being associated with a
`particular host application. An example application flow is
`an electronic mail message from the mobile host to a fixed
`terminal. Another example application flow is a link to a
`particular Internet Service Provider (ISP) to download a
`graphics file from a web site. Both of these application flows
`35
`are associated with the same mobile host and the same PDP
`COnteXt.
`Connectionless data communications are based on Spe
`cific protocol procedures, which are typically Separated into
`different layers. FIG.3 shows a GPRS “transmission plane”
`that is modeled with multi-layer protocol stacks. Between
`the GGSN and the SGSN, the GPRS tunneling protocol
`(GTP) tunnels the PDUs through the GPRS backbone net
`work 52 by adding routing information. The GTP header
`contains a tunnel end point identifier for point-to-point and
`multicast packets as well as a group identity for point-to
`multipoint packets. Additionally, a type field that specifies
`the PDU type and a quality of service profile associated with
`a PDP context session are included. Below the GTP, the
`well-known Transmission Control Protocol/User Diagram
`Protocol (TCP/UDP) and Internet Protocol (IP) are used as
`the GPRS backbone network layer protocols. Ethernet,
`frame relay (FR), or asynchronous transfer mode (ATM)-
`based protocols may be used for the link and physical layers
`depending on the operator's network architecture.
`Between the SGSN and mobile station/host, a SubNet
`work Dependent Convergence Protocol (SNDCP) maps
`network level protocol characteristics onto the underlying
`logical link control (LLC) and provides functionalities like
`multiplexing of network layer messages onto a single virtual
`logical connection, ciphering, Segmentation, and compres
`sion. A Base Station System GPRS Protocol (BSSGP) is a
`flow control protocol, which allows the base Station System
`to start and stop PDUs sent by the SGSN. This ensures that
`the BSS is not flooded by packets in case the radio link
`capacity is reduced, e.g., because of fading and other
`adverse conditions. Routing and quality of Service informa
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`tion are also conveyed. Frame relay and ATM may be used
`to relay frames of PDUs over the physical layer.
`Radio communication between the mobile Station and the
`GPRS network covers physical and data link layer function
`ality. The physical layer is split up into a physical link
`sublayer (PLL) and a physical RF Sublayer (RFL). RFL
`performs modulation and demodulation of the physical
`waveforms and Specifies carrier frequencies, radio channel
`Structures, and raw channel data rates. PLL provides Services
`for information transfer over the physical radio channel and
`includes data unit framing, data coding, and detection/
`correction of physical medium transmission areas. The data
`link layer is Separated into two distinct Sublayers. The radio
`link control/medium access control (RLC/MAC) sublayer
`arbitrates access to the shared physical radio medium
`between multiple mobile stations and the GPRS network.
`RLC/MAC multiplexes data and Signaling information, per
`forms contention resolution, quality Service control, and
`error handling. The logical link control (LLC) layer operates
`above the MAC layer and provides a logical link between
`the mobile host and the SGSN.
`Quality of Service corresponds to the goodness (quality)
`with which a certain operation (Service) is performed. Cer
`tain Services like multimedia applications or a simple phone
`call need guarantees about accuracy, dependability, and
`Speed of transmission. Typically, in data communications,
`“best efforts' are employed, and no special attention is paid
`to delay or throughput guarantees. Generally, quality of
`Service parameters can be characterized qualitatively in
`three services classes including deterministic (used for hard,
`real-time application), statistical (used for Soft real-time
`applications), and best effort (everything else where no
`guarantees are made). Quantitative parameters may include
`throughput (Such as the average data rate or peak data rate),
`reliability, delay, and jitter corresponding to the variation
`delay between a minimum and maximum delay time that a
`message experiences.
`In the context of providing quality of Service (QoS) in a
`mobile data communications Systems, one QoS approach is
`to assign a specific priority to each PDP context. But this
`approach is unsatisfactory. As defined above, each PDP
`context may have plural application flows. Each application
`flow in a current PDP context/session likely has different per
`packet delay needs. For example, real time applications like
`telephony require a guaranteed Service while image video
`needs a predicted delay Service. More specifically, elastic
`applications like interactive bursts, interactive bulk transfer,
`and asynchronous bulk transfer require different degrees of
`as Soon as possible (or best effort) delay Service.
`Rather than limiting the quality of service to a single PDP
`context/single network level IP address, the present inven
`tion defines a quality of Service for each individual appli
`cation flow. An appropriate quality of Service is separately
`reserved, monitored, and regulated for each application flow
`in a PDP context. Moreover, the present invention provides
`a dynamic quality of service reservation mechanism per PDP
`context which is introduced into a mobile data communica
`tions System in order to function as a quality of Service
`“aware' client network layer that permits integration with
`other data Service architectures Such as the Internet to permit
`an end-to-end integrated Service where quality of Service can
`be specified from the mobile host all the way to a fixed host
`in an end-to-end communication.
`A mobile communication System is provided where a
`mobile host communicates packet data with an external
`network by way of a packet gateway node. The mobile host
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`establishes a packet Session during which plural application
`flows are communicated with an external network entity.
`Each application flow includes a corresponding Stream of
`packets. In addition, a corresponding quality of Service
`parameter is defined and reserved for each of the plural
`application flows. In this way, different quality of Service
`parameters may be defined and reserved for different ones of
`the application flows. Packets corresponding to each of the
`application flows are then delivered, for example, from the
`external network entity all the way to the mobile host in
`accordance with the quality of Service reserved for that
`application flow.
`Different qualities of service may have different allocated
`bandwidths, delays, and/or reliabilities. One class of service
`is best effort where packets in an application flow may be
`dropped. Other classes of Service are classified as predictive
`where packets in an application flow are not dropped. In
`terms of delay, quality of Service may include delay classes
`that specify a maximum packet transfer rate, a mean packet
`transfer rate, and a packet burst size of an individual
`application flow.
`Data Services Subscription information is Stored for each
`mobile host and specifies whether the mobile host subscribes
`to a Static or dynamic quality of Service. If a dynamic quality
`of service is subscribed to where QoS may be specified for
`each application flow, the Subscription information for Such
`a mobile host defines Specifically Subscribed to quality of
`Service parameters or classes. Then when the mobile host
`establishes a packet Session, each Subscribed quality of
`Service class is made available for application flows which
`are activated during that Session.
`The process of establishing a packet Session includes the
`mobile host “attaching” to the network (or other equivalent
`operation) and communicating a packet Session start/
`activate message to the gateway node. Moreover, an end
`to-end configuration procedure is established between the
`mobile terminal and the external network entity at the other
`end. That end-to-end configuration assigns a network packet
`layer address to the mobile host. Several end-to-end con
`figurations may exist on the same PDP context, and Several
`application flows may exist using the same configuration. AS
`a result, plural application flows may be flexibly established
`during the mobile host Session having different network
`layer (e.g., IP) addresses and different qualities of Service. In
`the configuration procedure, the gateway node functions as
`a dynamic host configuration agent Serving the client mobile
`host relaying packets between the mobile host and the
`external network entity.
`In addition to the data communications "tunnel’ corre
`sponding to the network layer bearer between the gateway
`node and the mobile host, a relationship is also established
`in the gateway node between a mobile host identifier (e.g.,
`the mobile's IMSI), the established data communications
`tunnel, and the network layer address stored for the mobile
`host for the established Session. Using this relationship, the
`gateway node analyzes received packets and only permits
`those packets having a destination or Source corresponding
`to one of the mobile host network layer addresses stored for
`the established Session.
`After making a reservation request for a particular quality
`of Service for an individual application flow, a determination
`is made whether the reservation request can be met under
`current traffic conditions. If the reservation request can be
`met, the network packet layer bearer between the mobile
`host and the gateway node is established to “bear” plural
`ones of the individual application flows having different
`corresponding quality of Service classes.
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`In addition to the packet gateway node, a packet Serving
`node is provided between the packet gateway node and the
`mobile host. Among other things, the Serving node deter
`mines if the reservation request for the particular quality of
`Service can be Supported from the Serving node to the mobile
`host based on a current traffic load of existing radio com
`munications in the area where the mobile host is currently
`being Served. In particular, the Serving node estimates delay
`and bandwidth requirements corresponding to the requested
`quality of Service and provides them to the gateway node.
`Once an application flow reservation is made for a particular
`quality of Service, the gateway node monitors that applica
`tion flow to ensure that the reserved quality of Service is met
`using appropriate packet classifying and transfer Scheduling
`procedures.
`For packets destined for mobile hosts, the Serving node
`merges those packets from different Sessions corresponding
`to the Same mobile hosts which have the same quality of
`Service. The Serving node also merges packets destined for
`different mobile hosts located in the same geographical
`Service area that have the same quality of Service. Packets
`destined for the same geographical Service area but having
`different qualities of Service are assigned to different priority
`queues that correspond to those different qualities of Service
`and are forwarded to the particular radio access network
`within the geographical area.
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages
`of the invention will be apparent from the following descrip
`tion of preferred embodiments as illustrated in the accom
`panying drawings in which reference characters refer to the
`Same parts throughout the various views. The drawings are
`not necessarily to Scale with emphasis being placed upon
`illustrating the principles of the invention.
`FIG. 1 is a simplified diagram showing a data communi
`cations between a mobile host and a fixed host,
`FIG. 2 is a more detailed diagram showing a GSM mobile
`communications System including a General Packet Radio
`Service (GPRS) data network;
`FIG. 3 illustrates various data communication protocols
`employed between different nodes in the GPRS data com
`munications network shown in FIG. 2;
`FIG. 4 is a flowchart diagram illustrating dynamic quality
`of Service procedures in accordance with one embodiment of
`the present invention;
`FIG. 5 is a flowchart diagram depicting illustrating
`dynamic quality of Service procedures in GPRS in accor
`dance with another example embodiment of the present
`invention;
`FIG. 6 is a signaling sequence for PDP context activation
`in accordance with a detailed example GPRS embodiment of
`the present invention;
`FIG. 7 is a Signaling Sequence for a network layer host
`configuration in accordance with the detailed GPRS
`example embodiment of the present invention;
`FIG. 8 is a diagram depicting an established GPRS