Configuring transmissions by remapping the logical channels onto different one of the plurality of transport channels

Abstract

A method of configuring transmissions over a radio bearer between a base station and user equipment of a wireless telecommunication network, a base station, user equipment, a radio network controller and computer program products are disclosed. The method of configuring transmissions over a radio bearer between a base station and user equipment of a wireless telecommunication network comprises the steps of: preconfiguring the user equipment to support transmissions over a plurality of transport channels of the radio bearer, the plurality of transport channels being associated with a communication state of the user equipment, each of the plurality of transport channels being mappable with logical channels of the radio bearer, the logical channels providing information to be transmitted by the transport channels; and remapping the logical channels onto a different one of the plurality of transport channels in response to a message transmitted between the base station and the user equipment, the message indicating the different one of the plurality of transport channels to be used to support the transmissions between the base station and the user equipment. This approach enables the user equipment or base station to select a transport channel to carry the information from the logical channels autonomously of other network nodes within the network, such as, for example, the radio network controller. By avoiding the need to involve other network nodes in the reselection of the transport channel, rapid changes in the transport channel can be made based on knowledge of the current conditions within either the base station or the user equipment. This approach enables fast switching of the transport channel to improve the performance of the network.