Bearer mapping in a wireless communications network

Abstract

A method of bearer mapping is provided in a wireless communications network, the wireless communications network comprising a plurality of nodes which support integrated wireless access and backhaul between a core network and user equipment. The method comprises at at least some of the nodes of the network preconfiguring the node with a bearer mapping policy by modifying a protocol layer of the node to define a plurality of sets of permitted values of communication identifiers and associate each set of values of the communication identifiers with a logical channel identifier and at least one quality of service parameter, and receiving at least one signal at the node comprising a plurality of protocol data units, and for each protocol data unit, determining the set of values of the communication identifiers from the protocol data unit, applying the bearer mapping policy to determine the logical channel identifier and the at least one quality of service parameter associated with the set of values of the communication identifiers of the protocol data unit and mapping the protocol data unit to a logical channel having the logical channel identifier and applying the at least one quality of service parameter to the logical channel FIG.to be published with the abstract.