WO2019182500A1

WO2019182500A1 - First unit, distributed unit and methods for adapting a transmission rate in a wireless communication network

Info

Publication number: WO2019182500A1
Application number: PCT/SE2019/050245
Authority: WO
Inventors: Torbjörn ÖRTENGREN; Svante JÄRVSTRÅT; Samir Shah
Original assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget Lm Ericsson (Publ)
Priority date: 2018-03-23
Filing date: 2019-03-19
Publication date: 2019-09-26

Abstract

A method performed by a first unit for adapting a transmission rate of Downlink, DL, user data packets to a Distributed Unit, DU, in a wireless communications network is provided. The first unit transmits (301) DL user data packets to the DU. The DL data packets are transmitted over one or more first Radio Bearers, RABs, between the first unit and the DU, at a respective transmission a rate. The first unit receives (302) a bundled message from the DU 110. Multiple status messages are bundled into the bundled message. Each status message reflects whether one or more out of the transmitted DL user data packets are correctly delivered. The multiple status messages are associated with the respective one or more first RABs the respective DL user data packets have been transmitted on. The first unit adapts (305) the transmission rate for each of the respective one or more first RABs based on the multiple status messages.

Description

FIRST UNIT, DISTRIBUTED UNIT AND METHODS FOR ADAPTING A TRANSMISSION RATE IN A WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORK

TECHNICAL FIELD

Embodiments herein relate to a unit, referred to as a first unit, a Distributed Unit (DU), and methods therein. In some aspects, they relate to adapting a transmission rate of Downlink (DL) user data packets to the DU in a wireless communications network.

BACKGROUND

In a typical wireless communication network, wireless devices, also known as wireless communication devices, mobile stations, stations (STA) and/or User Equipments (UE), communicate via a Local Area Network such as a Wi-Fi network or a Radio Access Network (RAN) to one or more core networks (CN). The RAN covers a geographical area which is divided into service areas or cell areas, which may also be referred to as a beam or a beam group, with each service area or cell area being served by a radio network node such as a radio access node e.g., a W-Fi access point or a radio base station (RBS), which in some networks may also be denoted, for example, a NodeB, eNodeB (eNB), or gNB as denoted in 5G. A service area or cell area is a geographical area where radio coverage is provided by the radio network node. The radio network node

communicates over an air interface operating on radio frequencies with the wireless device within range of the radio network node.

Specifications for the Evolved Packet System (EPS), also called a Fourth

Generation (4G) network, have been completed within the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) and this work continues in the coming 3GPP releases, for example to specify a Fifth Generation (5G) network also referred to as 5G New Radio (NR). The EPS comprises the Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network (E-UTRAN), also known as the Long Term Evolution (LTE) radio access network, and the Evolved Packet Core (EPC), also known as System Architecture Evolution (SAE) core network. E- UTRAN/LTE is a variant of a 3GPP radio access network wherein the radio network nodes are directly connected to the EPC core network rather than to RNCs used in 3G networks. In general, in E-UTRAN/LTE the functions of a 3G RNC are distributed between the radio network nodes, e.g. eNodeBs in LTE, and the core network. As such, the RAN of an EPS has an essentially“flat” architecture comprising radio network nodes connected directly to one or more core networks, i.e. they are not connected to RNCs. To

compensate for that, the E-UTRAN specification defines a direct interface between the radio network nodes, this interface being denoted the X2 interface.

Multi-antenna techniques may significantly increase the data rates and reliability of a wireless communication system. The performance is in particular improved if both the transmitter and the receiver are equipped with multiple antennas, which results in a Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO) communication channel. Such systems and/or related techniques are commonly referred to as MIMO.

Dual Connectivity (DC) protocol architecture of a split bearer is specified for NR, building on the protocol architecture used for LTE for the DC split bearer. In DC the UE is connected to two distinct radio nodes. The UE maintains a Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP) entity for the split bearer connected to multiple, such as two, Radio Link Control (RLC) and medium access control (MAC) entities, as well as Physical layer entities (PHY). These are each associated to a cell group, a master cell group and a secondary cell group respectively. Transmission via the master cell group goes to the Master gNB (MgNB), eNB in LTE terminology. Transmission via the secondary cell group goes to the Secondary gNB (SgNB), eNB in LTE terminology. MgNB and SgNB maintain their own RLC and MAC entities associated to this single split bearer. A further node or function, Packet Processing Function (PPF), which may be separate, or collocated with MgNB or SgNB terminates the PDCP protocol on the network side. In this functional split, the centralized unit terminating PDCP may also be called Centralized Unit (CU) while the remaining nodes implementing the protocol layers below PDCP may be denoted

Distributed Units (DUs). In DC, data units on PDCP may be routed also referred to as switched, via either of the lower layers, or distributed such as routed as splitted among both lower layers, or duplicated via both as further described below.

Figure 1 depicts DC architecture for UL and DL switching, splitting and duplication. In Figure 1 the DC architecture in 3GPP NR, also applicable for LTE, is described, in which for user data, either switching, splitting or duplication can be applied on PDCP level.

For cases where PDCP transmits DL User Data in a CU/DU split or Dual

Connectivity to one or many RLC entities over a midhaul transport network, the RLC entities in DU(s) are to respond with DL Data Delivery Status (DDDS) to the PDCP entity. The RLC entity responds in the DDDS with last acknowledged data from the UE and other information such that the PDCP entity can adjust the rate of DL User Data sent to the RLC entity and maintains its copies of sent packets. The sent packets are stored in PDCP until acknowledged for potential retransmits to other DUs in case of mobility.

SUMMARY

An object of embodiments herein is to improve the performance of a wireless communications network.

According to an aspect of embodiments herein, the object is achieved by a method performed by a first unit for adapting a transmission rate of Downlink, DL, user data packets to a Distributed Unit, DU, in a wireless communications network. It should be noted that there may be more than one unit operating in the wireless communications network, therefore it is referred to as the first unit. The first unit may e.g. be any one out of a CU and a DU.

The first unit transmits DL user data packets to the DU. The DL data packets are transmitted over one or more first Radio Bearers, RABs, between the first unit and the DU, at a respective transmission a rate.

The first unit receives a bundled message from the DU 110. Multiple status messages are bundled into the bundled message. Each status message reflects whether one or more out of the transmitted DL user data packets are correctly delivered. The multiple status messages are associated with the respective one or more first RABs the respective DL user data packets have been transmitted on.

The first unit adapts the transmission rate for each of the respective one or more first RABs based on the multiple status messages.

According to another aspect of embodiments herein, the object is achieved by method performed by a Distributed Unit, DU, for assisting a first unit in adapting a transmission rate of DL, user data packets to the DU in a wireless communications network. The DU receives DL user data packets transmitted by the first unit. The DL data packets are received over one or more first Radio Bearers, RABs, between the first unit and the DU, at a respective transmission a rate. The DU bundles multiple status messages into a bundled message. Each status message reflects whether one or more out of the received DL user data packets are correctly delivered. The multiple status messages are associated with the respective one or more first RABs the respective DL user data packets have been received on. The DU sends the bundled message to the first unit. This enables the first unit to adapt the transmission rate for each of the respective one or more first RABs based on the multiple status messages.

According to a further aspect of embodiments herein, the object is achieved by a first unit for adapting a transmission rate of Downlink, DL, user data packets to a distributed Unit, DU, in a wireless communications network. The first unit is configured to:

- Transmit DL user data packets to the DU, which DL data packets are transmitted over one or more first Radio Bearers, RABs, between the first unit and the DU, at a respective transmission a rate,

- receive a bundled message from the DU, wherein multiple status messages are bundled into the bundled message, and wherein each status message reflects whether one or more out of the transmitted DL user data packets are correctly delivered, and which multiple status messages are associated with the respective one or more first RABs the respective DL user data packets have been transmitted on, and

- adapt the transmission rate for each of the respective one or more first RABs based on the multiple status messages.

According to a yet further aspect of embodiments herein, the object is achieved by a Distributed Unit, DU, for assisting a first unit in adapting a transmission rate of DL user data packets to the DU in a wireless communications network. The DU is configured to:

- Receive DL user data packets transmitted by the first unit, which DL data packets are received over one or more first Radio Bearers, RABs, between the first unit and the DU 110, at a respective transmission a rate,

- bundle multiple status messages into a bundled message, wherein each status message reflects whether one or more out of the received DL user data packets are correctly delivered, and which multiple status messages are associated with the respective one or more first RABs the respective DL user data packets have been received on, and

- send the bundled message to the first unit, enabling the first unit to adapt the transmission rate for each of the respective one or more first RABs based on the multiple status message.

Since the multiple status messages are bundled into a bundled message, significant reduced signaling load in the wireless communications network is achieved resulting in an improve performance of the wireless communications network. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Figure 1 is a schematic block diagram illustrating prior art.

Figure 2a is a schematic block diagram illustrating embodiments of a wireless communications network.

Figure 2b is a schematic block diagram illustrating embodiments herein.

Figure 3 is a flowchart depicting embodiments of a method in a first unit.

Figure 4 is a flowchart depicting embodiments of a method in a distributed unit.

Figure 5 is a schematic block diagram illustrating embodiments of a wireless communications network.

Figure 6 a and b are schematic block diagrams illustrating embodiments of a first unit.

Figures 7 a and b are schematic block diagrams illustrating embodiments of a distributed unit.

Figure 8 schematically illustrates a telecommunication network connected via an intermediate network to a host computer.

Figure 9 is a generalized block diagram of a host computer communicating via a base station with a user equipment over a partially wireless connection.

Figures 10-13 are flowcharts illustrating methods implemented in a communication system including a host computer, a base station and a user equipment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As a part of developing embodiments herein the inventors first identified a problem which will be discussed below.

As mentioned above, for cases where PDCP in a CU-DU split or Dual Connectivity transmits DL User Data to one or many RLC entities over a midhaul network, the RLC entities are to respond with DDDS. Given information in the DDDS the PDCP entity may adjust the rate of DL User Data sent to the RLC entity. The DL User Data and DDDS are sent per RABs. To improve how quickly and how efficient PDCP can adjust to changes in for instance radio interface quality, the DDDS must be sent at a very frequent periodicity. This results in high signaling load of DDDS messages in between RLC and PDCP.

An object of embodiments herein is therefore to improve the performance in a wireless communications network.

Example embodiments herein relate to bundling of status messages per RAB, such as e.g. DDDS messages, into a bundled status message. The term“bundling” when used herein may mean sending several DDDS messages related to one or more RABs camping on the same CU, in the same network package on the transport from the DU to the CU.

Flow control may be on the uplink also, that is from DU to CU, so the bundling may be valid and used in that direction too.

Embodiments herein relate to wireless communication networks in general. Figure 2a is a schematic overview depicting a wireless communications network 100. The wireless communications network 100 comprises one or more RANs and one or more CNs. The wireless communications network 100 may use a number of different technologies, such as Wi-Fi, Long Term Evolution (LTE), LTE-Advanced, 5G, New Radio (NR), Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA), Global System for Mobile communications/enhanced Data rate for GSM Evolution (GSM/EDGE), Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WMax), or Ultra Mobile Broadband (UMB), just to mention a few possible implementations. Embodiments herein relate to recent technology trends that are of particular interest in a 5G context, however, embodiments are also applicable in further development of the existing wireless communication systems such as e.g. WCDMA and LTE.

In the wireless communication network 100, UEs such as a UE 120 operate. The UE 120 may be a mobile station, a non-access point (non-AP) STA, a STA, a wireless terminals, and is capable to communicate via one or more Access Networks (AN), e.g. RAN, to one or more core networks (CN). It should be understood by the skilled in the art that“wireless device” is a non-limiting term which means any terminal, wireless communication terminal, user equipment, Machine Type Communication (MTC) device, Device to Device (D2D) terminal, or node e.g. smart phone, laptop, mobile phone, sensor, relay, mobile tablets or even a small base station communicating within a cell.

The wireless communications network 100 comprises a radio network node 109 providing radio coverage over a geographical area, a service area 11 , which may also be referred to as a beam or a beam group of a first radio access technology (RAT), such as 5G, LTE, Wi-Fi or similar. The radio network node 109 may be a NG-RAN node, transmission and reception point e.g. a base station, a radio access network node such as a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) access point or an Access Point Station (AP STA), an access controller, a base station, e.g. a radio base station such as a NodeB, an evolved Node B (eNB, eNode B), a gNB, a base transceiver station, a radio remote unit, an Access Point Base Station, a base station router, a transmission arrangement of a radio base station, a stand-alone access point or any other network unit capable of communicating with a wireless device within the service area served by the network node 110 depending e.g. on the first radio access technology and terminology used.

Multiple DUs where only one, a DU 110, is depicted in Figure 2a, operate in the wireless communications network 100. The DU 110 may be comprised in the network node 109. The DU 110 may be or comprise an RLC entity.

The radio network node 109 may be referred to as a serving radio network node and communicates e.g. with the UE 120 by means of the DU 110 with DL transmissions to the UE 120 and Uplink (UL) transmissions from the UE 120.

A number of units such as e.g. a first unit 130 and a second unit 132 operate in the wireless communications network 100. The first unit 130 may in some embodiments be comprised in the network node 109. The first unit 130 and the second unit 132 may be or comprise a PDCP entity.

The first unit 130 may be any one out of a CU and a DU and also the second unit 132 may be any one out of a CU and a DU.

The first and second units 130, 132 and the DUs are used for functional split. In some embodiments, the CUs such as the first unit 130 and the second unit 132 terminate PDCP while the DUs such as the DU 110 may implement protocol layers below PDCP. In some embodiments then first unit 130 and the DU 110 are separated by a midhaul interface such as N F1-U interface. Midhaul user plane interface, CU-UP may be connected to the DU 110 via F1-U.

Methods herein may be performed by the first unit 130 and the DU 110. As an alternative, any Distributed Node (DN) and functionality, e.g. comprised in a cloud 140 as shown in Figure 2a, may be used for performing or partly performing the methods.

E.g. a Centralized Unit User Plane (CU-UP) running on an PDCP entity such as e.g. the first unit 130 may be realized as a cloud network function. A CU-UP when used herein is e.g. a cloud function or implemented on a radio node, possibly co-located with one or more DUs.

Some example embodiments herein comprise procedures to adapt transmitting rate from the first unit 130, such as e.g. a CU, based on feedback from a DU such as the DU 110. This may be performed by bundling into bundled packets, multiple status messages also referred to as feedback messages, e.g. DDDS messages. Each status message is associated with a respective RAB that the status message relates to. The bundled message comprises the bundled multiple status messages from the DU to the CU. The CU then de-bundles the feedback and adapts the transmitting rate per RAB based on the feedback comprised in the de-bundled multiple status messages.

Status message

The bundling of the status messages such as the DDDS feedback is performed by DUs, such as the DU 130, e.g. in a network node such as e.g. a gNB and de-bundling may be performed e.g. by a receiving CU, such as the first unit 130 in a CU-DU split such as receiving PDCP in CU over e.g. a midhaul interface such as the F1-U interface, or in some embodiments valid for a DU to DU split in a receiving DU.

The wording status message when used herein may be referred to as a status indication, a feedback indication, a message comprising a status or a feedback indication. A DDDS is an example of a status message or status indication. The wording DDDS message or just DDDS when used herein may be referred to as an indication of a DDDS, an indication of a DDDS feedback, a message comprising a DDDS status or DDDS feedback.

A status message may comprise feedback information on packets transferred by the DU 110 to the UE 120, such as e.g. acknowledged data from the UE 120. It may also comprise feedback information about packets transferred to the DU 110 or packets lost on the way between the first node 130 such as the CU, and the DU 110.

Embodiments herein are for example related to bundle such status messages together for RABs using the same CU-DU connection.

The bundling of status messages is not only valid for a CU-DU split, it is also valid for a DU to DU split, which may happen for EN-DC, also referred to as Dual Connectivity.

A status message such as e.g. a DDDS is generated by the DU 110, but the cause may be a reception acknowledge from the UE 120.

The status message may also be sent for other reasons such as the DU 110 having sent data packets to the UE 120, without yet receiving a reception acknowledgement from the UE 120, or detecting missing data packets in a packet sequence transferred from the first unit 130.

RAB

An RAB is a radio bearer. One kind of RAB is e.g. a Data radio Bearer (DRB). Each RAB has its own two-way General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) Tunnelling Protocol - User plane (GTPU) tunnel over the F1 U link between CU and DU. That is the RAB is known also in the first unit 130 such as the CU, even though the first unit 130 do not necessarily have a radio of its own.

On the DU 110, each RAB will have its own queue of data packets waiting to be sent over the radio. The first unit 130 uses the status message such as e.g. DDDS to adapt the rate of the data packets sent to the DU 110 in order to control the size of this queue.

In dual connectivity there are two RAB queues, also referred to as“legs”, on different DUs, one of them may e.g. be the DU 110. According to an example herein, to get high throughput without very large buffers, it is wanted that packets sent through both legs should reach the UE 120 at the same time. It is therefore needful that the delay for both queues should be equal. Because the radio environment may change, it is hard to predict what the delay of each queue will be. To make as good guess as possible feedback is needed more often than required for a single leg. To avoid that high packet rate of status messages such as e.g. DDDS messages becomes more severe e.g. with dual connectivity, the status messages such as e.g. the DDDS messages are according to embodiments herein bundled into one bundled message. Even without dual connectivity an advantage is achieved with bundling. Advantages of embodiments herein e.g. comprises significant reduced signaling load on the wireless communications network such as on midhaul network and on the nodes and/or units themselves by bundling multiple status messages such as DDDS in the same message.

Embodiments herein are described within the context of 3GPP NR radio technology, 3GPP TS 38.300 V15.0.0 (2017-12). It should be understood that the problems and solutions described herein are equally applicable to wireless access networks and user- equipments (UEs) implementing other access technologies and standards. NR is used as an example technology where embodiments herein are suitable, and using NR in the description therefore is particularly useful for understanding the problem and solutions solving the problem. In particular, the embodiments herein are applicable also to 3GPP LTE, or 3GPP LTE and NR integration, also denoted as non-standalone NR, or EUTRA- NR dual connectivity (EN-DC).

Some example embodiments herein are applicable for protocol architectures where a higher layer PDCP e.g. in the first unit 130, is associated with one or many lower layer RLC entities such as e.g. in the DU 110, and that PDCP and RLC either may be co located or separated by a midhaul. In DL the PDCP forwards DL User Data packets to RLC and RLC gives feedback on DL user data packets by sending status messages such as DDDS. Given information in the status messages such as DDDS the PDCP entity may adjust the rate of DL User Data packets sent to the RLC entity. Bundling multiple status messages such as DDDS in the same message will significantly reduce load on midhaul.

It is possible to bundle status messages such as DDDS in the same bundled message by different means, e.g.:

Allow several status messages such as DDDS messages for different RABs to be sent in same message by just combining several in the same IP packet.

By a timer combining several status messages such as DDDS messages for a single RAB and merge them into one bundled message to be sent to the first unit such as a CU specific for the RAB.

By a timer combining several status messages such as DDDS messages for a single or multiple RABs and merge those into one DDDS message to be sent to the first unit 130 such as e.g. a specific CU. This may for instance be accomplished by RLC updating a First In First Out (FIFO) queue when changes occur and by a timer from FIFO merge updates from RABs for a certain CU such as the first unit 130. Then create and send the merged message such as the combined DDDS message to the first unit 130.

It is preferable that the timer is as frequent as the adjustment of rate requires to cope with changes in radio quality.

For example on a LTE radio node with a radio slot spacing of 1 millisecond, a suitable timeout would be 1 millisecond as transmission status of a bearer will not change faster than that.

The status message may be sent on a Tunnel Endpoint Identifier (TEID) of one of the bundled RABs. The first unit 130 such as its PDCP entity may unbundle the bundled message and handle its information per RAB, to for instance adjust rate of transmitting the DL user data packets to the DU 110.

The status message may e.g. comprise a mandatory GTP-U-headerwith an extension bit set followed by one or more status messages extension headers such as DDDS extension headers. See 3GPP 29.281 which defines the GTPU header formats.

The extension headers may for example be on a format described by the 3GPP standard 38.425. For DDDS headers that refer to another tunnel and radio bearer than the one the GTP-U frame is sent on, the TEID for that bearer’s tunnel needs to be specified in the DDDS extension header. This may be done for example by a new optional field in the DDDS extension frame. This optional field, when included, will tell the TEID for the radio bearer that the DDDS frame should be sent to. This new optional field may preferably be added to the 38.425 standard.

Figure 2b shows an example of such a status message with feedback information targeted to three different radio bearers: RAB1 , RAB2 and RAB3.

The status message may e.g. comprise a GTP-U-header 201 with an extension bit set followed by one or more status messages extension headers such as e.g. NR RAN Extension Headers 202, 203, and 204. :

The GTP-U Header 201 comprises E=1 which means presence of Next Extension Header, TEID=teidRAB1 which is associated with RAB1 , and nextExtensionHeader=NR RAN Container which means a NR RAN container extension header follows.

The NR RAN Extension Header 202 comprises PDU-type=DDDS comprising feedback info for RAB1 , and flags the presence of another nextExtensionHeader=NR RAN Container, which means another NR RAN Extension Header follows.

The NR RAN Extension Header 203 comprises PDU-type=DDDS, comprising feedback info for RAB2, other-TEID=teidRAB2 associated with RAB2, and nextExtensionHeader=NR RAN Container indicating that yet another NR RAN Extension Header follows.

The NR RAN Extension Header 204 comprises PDU-type=DDDS, comprising feedback info for RAB3, other-TEID=teidRAB3 associated with RAB3 and

nextExtensionHeader=0 which means no more extension headers follow.

Since the message in this example is sent on a tunnel targeted to RAB1 the information in the first DDDS extension header 202 is assumed to be targeted to RAB1 as no other TEID field exists in that header. The second DDDS extension header 203 is targeted towards the bearer RAB2. Since RAB2 does not own the tunnel the message is sent on, the TEID of RAB2 must be explicitly specified with an other-TEID field. The third extension header 204 is targeted towards RAB3 and the TEID of RAB3 must be explicitly specified with another-TEID field in the same way as was done for RAB2.

The mapping of TEIDs to RABs on the target CU node may be done in the same way as for the TEID in the header part, for example by using a mapping table.

Figure 3 shows an example method performed by the first unit 130, e.g. for adapting a transmission rate of DL user data packets to a DU 110 in the wireless communications network 100. The first unit 130 may e.g. be any one out of a CU and a DU. That is a status messages such as DDDS may be valid both in a CU/DU split where the PDCP is in the first unit 130 when being a CU, as well as DU/DU split where the PDCP is in one of the DUs such as the first unit 130 being a DU. The method may comprise any of the actions below.

The first unit 130 transmits 301 DL user data packets to the DU 110. These may be forwarded by the DU 110 to the UE 120. The DL data packets are transmitted over one or more first RABs between the first unit 130 and the DU 110 at a respective transmission a rate.

The first unit 130 receives 302 a bundled message from the DU 110, wherein multiple status messages are bundled into the bundled message. Each status message reflects whether one or more out of the transmitted DL user data packets are correctly delivered. The multiple status messages are each associated with the respective one or more first RABs the respective DL user data packets have been transmitted on. E.g. the multiple status messages are sorted on which CU that handles them. The bundled message may be sent using a tunnel for any one of the RABs using that DU. For example the first one in the FIFO queue may be used.

The first unit 130 may then de-bundle 303 the multiple status messages from the bundled message. I.e. the bundled message is de-bundled to retrieve the multiple status messages. The first unit may further sort 304 the multiple de-bundled status messages per first RAB.

The first unit 130 then adapts 305 the transmission rate for each of the respective one or more first RABs based on the multiple status messages.

Figure 4 shows an example method performed by the DU 110, e.g. for assisting the first unit 130 in adapting a transmission rate of DL user data packets to the DU 110 in the wireless communications network 100.

The DU 110 receives 401a DL user data packets transmitted by the first unit 130. The DL data packets are received over one or more first Radio Bearers, RABs, between the first unit 130 and the DU 110, at a respective transmission a rate.

In some embodiments, the DU 110 further receives 401 b user data packets transmitted by the second unit 132. The DL data packets are received over one or more second RABs between the second unit 132 and the DU 110, at a respective transmission rate. In these embodiments, the DU 110 may decide 402 which RABs out of the one or more first RABs and the one or more second RABs, that relate to the first unit 130. In this example it is decided that it is the one or more first RABs that relates to the first unit 130, and therefore status regarding DL user data packets received on the one or more first data RABs will be bundled and sent back to the first unit 130 in the next actions below. Any status message regarding DL user data packets received on the one or more second data RABs may be bundled and sent back to the second unit 132.

The RABs are kind of equal but may be handled by different CUs, they may be sorted on which CU they belong to and pick one of the RABs in the group to use its tunnel for the bundled message.

The DU 110 bundles 403 multiple status messages, e.g. the status messages decided to relate to the first unit 130, into a bundled message. Each status message reflects whether one or more out of the received DL user data packets are correctly delivered. The wording“whether the transmitted DL user data packets being correctly delivered” when used herein means whether the transmitted DL user data packets being correct delivered may e.g. comprises any one or more out of:

whether the transmitted DL user data packets are correctly delivered to the DU 110, whether the transmitted DL user data packets are correctly delivered to the DU 110 and further have been transferred by the DU 110 to the UE 120,

whether the transmitted DL user data packets are correctly delivered to the DU 110 and further have been transferred by the DU 110 to the UE 120 and that the UE 120 has correctly received the DL user data and e.g. has sent an acknowledgement (ACK) to the DU 110,

whether the transmitted DL user data packets are lost on the way between the first unit 130 and the DU 110, meaning that the DL user data packets have not been correctly delivered.

The multiple status messages are associated with the respective one or more first RABs the respective DL user data packets have been received on.

The DU 110 then sends 404 the bundled message to the first unit 130, enabling the first unit to adapt the transmission rate for each of the respective one or more first RABs based on the multiple status messages.

The above embodiments will now be further explained and exemplified below.

Figure 5 shows an example of bundling status messages in the wireless

communications network 100 according to embodiments herein. The first unit 130 is referred to as CU-UP1 , the second unit 132 is referred to as CU-UP2 and the DU 110 is referred to as DU in Figure 5. B, C and D refers to method actions in the DU 110. A, E and F refers to method actions in the in the first unit 130 here represented by CU-UP1. In the example of Figure 5, the first RABs that controlled and handled by CU_UP1 and the DU, are represented by RAB1 , RAB3 and RAB5. The second RABs that are the radio bearers controlled and handled by CU-UP2 and DU, are represented by RAB2 and RAB4.

Action A. The first unit 130 such as the PDCP in CU-UP1 creates and sends DL user data packets to the DU 110 at a first rate over RAB1 , a third rate over RAB3 and at a fifth rate over RAB5. The second unit 132 such as the PDCP in CU-UP2 creates and sends DL user data packets to the DU 110 at a second rate over RAB2 and at a fourth rate over RAB4.

Action B. The RLC in the DU 110 receives the DL user data packets from CU- UP1 over RAB1 , RAB3 and over RAB5. The RLC in the DU 110 further receives the DL user data packets from CU-UP2 over RAB2and over RAB4.

Action C. The RLC in the DU 110 creates status messages such as data delivery status associated with the respective RAB that was used for deliver the respective DL user data packets. The DU 110 may then store the status messages in an internal FIFO queue. The DU 110 keeps track on which RABs that are connected to the CU-UP1 and which are connected to CU-UP2.

Action D. A timer in the DU 110, combines several status messages, that is status messages created during a time period defined by the timer are combined. The status messages in this example are DDDS messages that are combined for a single or multiple RABs, and the DU 110 bundles them into one bundled DDDS message to be sent to a specific CU-UP. One RAB is used for transporting the bundled DDDS message. In Figure 5, one bundled message related to three RABs, RAB1 , RAB3 and RAB5, is sent to CU-UP1 and one bundled message related to two RABs, RAB2 and RAB4, is sent to CU-UP2.

Action E. At reception of the bundled DDDS message, the CU-UP1 unbundles the bundled message into DDDS messages per RABs, i.e. per RAB1 , RAB3 and RAB5. The CU-UP2 also unbundles the bundled message into DDDS messages per RABs, i.e. per RAB2 and RAB4.

Action F. Per RAB, and at reception of the new DDDS message for the RAB, PDCP in CU-UP adjusts the DL user data packet rate based in information in the DDDS message.

In this example the CU-UP1 may adjust the DL user data packet rate used on RAB1 , RAB3 and RAB5 since the bundled message sent to CU-UP1 is related to RAB1 , RAB2 and RAB3 and comprise feedback information related to those RABs. Further, the CU-UP2 may adjust the DL user data packet rate used on RAB2 and RAB4 since the bundled message sent to CU-UP2 is related to RAB2 and RAB4 and comprise feedback information related to those RABs.

Figure 6, a and b shows an example of arrangements in the first unit 130.

Figure 7, a and b shows an example of arrangements in the radio DU 110.

The respective first unit 130 and DU 110 may comprise an input and output interface 600, 700 configured to communicate with each other. The input and output interface may comprise a wireless receiver (not shown) and a wireless transmitter (not shown).

To perform the method actions as mentioned above, the first unit 130 may comprise a transmitting unit 610, a receiving unit 620, an adapting unit 630, a de-bundling unit 640, and a sorting unit 650 as shown in Figure 6b.

To perform the method actions as mentioned above, the DU 110 may comprise a receiving unit 710, a bundling unit 720, a sending unit 730, and a deciding unit 740 as shown in Figure 7b.

The embodiments herein may be implemented through a respective processor or one or more processors, such as the processor 660 and 750 of a processing circuitry in the respective first unit 130 and DU 110 depicted in Figures 6a and 7a, together with respective computer program code for performing the functions and actions of the embodiments herein. The program code mentioned above may also be provided as a computer program product, for instance in the form of a data carrier carrying computer program code for performing the embodiments herein when being loaded into the respective first unit 130 and DU 110. One such carrier may be in the form of a CD ROM disc. It is however feasible with other data carriers such as a memory stick. The computer program code may furthermore be provided as pure program code on a server and downloaded to the respective first unit 130 and DU 110.

The respective first unit 130 and DU 110 may further comprise respective a memory 670 and 760 comprising one or more memory units. The memory 670 and 760 comprises respective instructions executable by the processor 660 and 750 in the respective first unit 130 and DU 110. The respective memory 670 and 760 is arranged to be used to store e.g. DL user data packets and related RABs, information, data, configurations, and applications to perform the methods herein when being executed in the respective first unit 130 and DU 1 10.

In some embodiments, a respective computer program 680 and 770 comprises instructions, which when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor of the respective first unit 130 and DU 110 to perform the actions above. In some embodiments, a respective carrier 690 and 780 comprises the respective computer program, wherein the carrier is one of an electronic signal, an optical signal, an electromagnetic signal, a magnetic signal, an electric signal, a radio signal, a microwave signal, or a computer-readable storage medium. Those skilled in the art will also appreciate that the functional units in the respective first unit 130 and DU 110, described below may refer to a combination of analog and digital circuits, and/or one or more processors configured with software and/or firmware, e.g. stored in the respective first unit 130 and DU 110, that when executed by the respective one or more processors such as the processors described above cause the respective at least one processor to perform actions according to any of the actions above. One or more of these processors, as well as the other digital hardware, may be included in a single Application-Specific Integrated Circuitry (ASIC), or several processors and various digital hardware may be distributed among several separate components, whether individually packaged or assembled into a system-on-a-chip (SoC).

When using the word "comprise" or“comprising” it shall be interpreted as non limiting, i.e. meaning "consist at least of".

The embodiments herein are not limited to the above described preferred embodiments. Various alternatives, modifications and equivalents may be used.

Below, some example embodiments 1-24 are shortly described. Embodiment 1. A method performed by a first unit, 130, e.g. for adapting a transmission rate of Downlink, DL, user data packets to a Distributed Unit, DU, 110 in a wireless communications network 100, the method comprising:

transmitting 301 DL user data packets to the DU 110, which DL data packets are transmitted over one or more first Radio Bearers, RABs, between the first unit 130 and the DU 110, at a respective transmission a rate,

receiving, 302 a bundled message from the DU 110, wherein multiple status messages are bundled into the bundled message,

and wherein each status message reflects whether one or more out of the transmitted DL user data packets are correctly delivered, and

which multiple status messages are associated with the respective one or more first RABs the respective DL user data packets have been transmitted on,

adapting 305 the transmission rate for each of the respective one or more first RABs based on the multiple status messages.

Embodiment 2. The method according to embodiment 1 , wherein the first unit 130 is represented by any one out of a Centralized Unit, CU, and a DU.

Embodiment 3. The method according to any of the embodiments 1-2, wherein whether the transmitted DL user data packets are correctly delivered comprises any one or more out of:

whether the transmitted DL user data packets are correctly delivered to the DU 110 and further have been transferred by the DU 110 to the UE 120 and that the UE 120 has correctly received the DL user data,

whether the transmitted DL user data packets are lost on the way between the first unit 130 and the DU 110.

Embodiment 4. The method according to any of the embodiments 1-3, further comprising:

de-bundling 303 the multiple status messages from the bundled message, and sorting 304 the multiple de-bundled status messages per first RAB. Embodiment 5. The method according to any of the embodiments 1-4, wherein the multiple status messages are represented by multiple DL Data Delivery Status,

DDDS, messages.

Embodiment 6. A computer program comprising instructions, which when executed by a processor, causes the processor to perform actions according to any of the embodiments 1-5.

Embodiment 7. A carrier comprising the computer program of embodiment 6, wherein the carrier is one of an electronic signal, an optical signal, an electromagnetic signal, a magnetic signal, an electric signal, a radio signal, a microwave signal, or a computer-readable storage medium.

Embodiment 8. A method performed by a Distributed Unit, DU, 110, e.g. for assisting a first unit 130 in adapting a transmission rate of Downlink, DL, user data packets to the DU 110 in a wireless communications network 100, the method comprising: receiving 401 DL user data packets transmitted by the first unit 130, which DL data packets are received over one or more first Radio Bearers, RABs, between the first unit 130 and the DU 110, at a respective transmission a rate,

bundling, 403 multiple status messages into a bundled message,

wherein each status message reflects whether one or more out of the received DL user data packets are correctly delivered, and

which multiple status messages are associated with the respective one or more first RABs the respective DL user data packets have been received on, and

sending, 404 the bundled message to the first unit 130, enabling the first unit to adapt the transmission rate for each of the respective one or more first RABs based on the multiple status messages.

Embodiment 9. The method according to embodiment 8, wherein whether the transmitted DL user data packets are correctly delivered comprises any one or more out of:

whether the transmitted DL user data packets are correctly delivered to the DU 110, whether the transmitted DL user data packets are correctly delivered to the DU 110 and further have been transferred by the DU 110 to the UE 120, whether the transmitted DL user data packets are correctly delivered to the DU 110 and further have been transferred by the DU 110 to the UE 120 and that the UE 120 has correctly received the DL user data,

Embodiment 10. The method according to any of the embodiments 8-9, wherein the multiple status messages are represented by multiple DL Data Delivery Status,

DDDS, messages.

Embodiment 11. The method according to any of the embodiments 8-10, further comprising:

wherein receiving 401 further comprises: receiving DL user data packets transmitted by a second unit 132, which DL data packets are received over one or more second Radio Bearers, RABs, between the second unit 132 and the DU 110, at a respective transmission a rate,

deciding 402 which RABs out of the one or more first RABs and the one or more second RABs, that relate to the first unit 130.

Embodiment 12. The method according to any of the embodiments 8-11 , wherein the respective first unit 130 and second unit 132 are represented by any one out of a Centralized Unit, CU, and a DU.

Embodiment 13. A computer program comprising instructions, which when executed by a processor, causes the processor to perform actions according to any of the embodiments 8-12.

Embodiment 14. A carrier comprising the computer program of embodiment 13, wherein the carrier is one of an electronic signal, an optical signal, an electromagnetic signal, a magnetic signal, an electric signal, a radio signal, a microwave signal, or a computer-readable storage medium.

Embodiment 15. A first unit 130, e.g. for adapting a transmission rate of Downlink, DL, user data packets to a distributed Unit, DU, 110 in a wireless

communications network 100, the first unit 130 being configured to: Transmit, e.g. by means of a transmitting unit 610 in the first unit 130, DL user data packets to the DU 110, which DL data packets are transmitted over one or more first Radio Bearers, RABs, between the first unit 130 and the DU 110, at a respective transmission a rate,

Receive e.g. by means of a receiving unit 620 in the first unit 130, a bundled message from the DU 110, wherein multiple status messages are bundled into the bundled message,

which multiple status messages are associated with the respective one or more first RABs the respective DL user data packets have been transmitted on, and

adapt, e.g. by means of an adapting unit 630 in the first unit 130, the transmission rate for each of the respective one or more first RABs based on the multiple status messages.

Embodiment 16. The first unit 130 according to embodiment 15, wherein the first unit 130 is adapted to be represented by any one out of a Centralized Unit, CU, and a DU.

Embodiment 17. The first unit 130 according to any of the embodiments 15-16, wherein whether the transmitted DL user data packets are correctly delivered is adapted to comprise any one out of:

Embodiment 18. The first unit 130 according to any of the embodiments 15-17, further being configured to:

de-bundle, e.g. by means of a de-bundling unit 640 in the first unit 130, the multiple status messages from the bundled message, and sort e.g. by means of a sorting unit 650 in the first unit 130, the multiple de- bundled status messages per first RAB.

Embodiment 19. The first unit 130 according to any of the embodiments 15-18, wherein the multiple status messages are adapted to be represented by multiple DL Data Delivery Status, DDDS, messages.

Embodiment 20. A Distributed Unit, DU, 110, e.g. for assisting a first unit 130 in adapting a transmission rate of Downlink, DL, user data packets to the DU 110 in a wireless communications network 100, the DU 130 being configured to:

receive, e.g. by means of a receiving unit 710 in the DU 110, DL user data packets transmitted by the first unit 130, which DL data packets are received over one or more first Radio Bearers, RABs, between the first unit 130 and the DU 110, at a respective transmission a rate,

bundle, e.g. by means of a bundling unit 720 in the DU 110, multiple status messages into a bundled message,

send, e.g. by means of a sending unit 730 in the DU 110, the bundled message to the first unit 130, enabling the first unit to adapt the transmission rate for each of the respective one or more first RABs based on the multiple status message.

Embodiment 21. The DU 130 according to embodiment 20, wherein whether the transmitted DL user data packets are correctly delivered is adapted to comprise any one out of:

whether the transmitted DL user data packets are lost on the way between the first unit 130 and the DU 110. Embodiment 22. The DU 130 according to any of the embodiments 20-21 , wherein the multiple status messages are adapted to be represented by multiple DL Data Delivery Status, DDDS, messages.

Embodiment 23. The DU 130 according to any of the embodiments 20-22, further being configured to:

receive, e.g. by means of the receiving unit 710 in the DU 110, further DL user data packets transmitted by a second unit 132, which DL data packets are received over one or more second Radio Bearers, RABs, between the second unit 132 and the DU 110, at a respective transmission a rate,

decide, e.g. by means of a deciding unit 740 in the DU 110, which RABs out of the one or more first RABs and the one or more second RABs, that relate to the first unit 130.

Embodiment 24. The DU 130 according to any of the embodiments 20-23, wherein the respective first unit 130 and second unit 132 are adapted to be represented by any one out of a Centralized Unit, CU, and a DU.

With reference to Figure 8, in accordance with an embodiment, a communication system includes a telecommunication network 3210, such as a 3GPP-type cellular network, which comprises an access network 3211 , such as a radio access network, and a core network 3214. The access network 3211 comprises a plurality of base stations 3212a, 3212b, 3212c, such as the network node 110, AP STAs NBs, eNBs, gNBs or other types of wireless access points, each defining a corresponding coverage area 3213a, 3213b, 3213c. Each base station 3212a, 3212b, 3212c is connectable to the core network 3214 over a wired or wireless connection 3215. A first user equipment (UE) such as a Non-AP STA 3291 located in coverage area 3213c is configured to wirelessly connect to, or be paged by, the corresponding base station 3212c. A second UE 3292 such as a Non- AP STA in coverage area 3213a is wirelessly connectable to the corresponding base station 3212a. While a plurality of UEs 3291 , 3292 are illustrated in this example, the disclosed embodiments are equally applicable to a situation where a sole UE is in the coverage area or where a sole UE is connecting to the corresponding base station 3212.

The telecommunication network 3210 is itself connected to a host computer 3230, which may be embodied in the hardware and/or software of a standalone server, a cloud- implemented server, a distributed server or as processing resources in a server farm. The host computer 3230 may be under the ownership or control of a service provider, or may be operated by the service provider or on behalf of the service provider. The connections 3221 , 3222 between the telecommunication network 3210 and the host computer 3230 may extend directly from the core network 3214 to the host computer 3230 or may go via an optional intermediate network 3220. The intermediate network 3220 may be one of, or a combination of more than one of, a public, private or hosted network; the intermediate network 3220, if any, may be a backbone network or the Internet; in particular, the intermediate network 3220 may comprise two or more sub-networks (not shown).

The communication system of Figure 8 as a whole enables connectivity between one of the connected UEs 3291 , 3292 and the host computer 3230. The connectivity may be described as an over-the-top (OTT) connection 3250. The host computer 3230 and the connected UEs 3291 , 3292 are configured to communicate data and/or signaling via the OTT connection 3250, using the access network 3211 , the core network 3214, any intermediate network 3220 and possible further infrastructure (not shown) as

intermediaries. The OTT connection 3250 may be transparent in the sense that the participating communication devices through which the OTT connection 3250 passes are unaware of routing of uplink and downlink communications. For example, a base station 3212 may not or need not be informed about the past routing of an incoming downlink communication with data originating from a host computer 3230 to be forwarded (e.g., handed over) to a connected UE 3291. Similarly, the base station 3212 need not be aware of the future routing of an outgoing uplink communication originating from the UE 3291 towards the host computer 3230.

Example implementations, in accordance with an embodiment, of the UE, base station and host computer discussed in the preceding paragraphs will now be described with reference to Figure 9. In a communication system 3300, a host computer 3310 comprises hardware 3315 including a communication interface 3316 configured to set up and maintain a wired or wireless connection with an interface of a different communication device of the communication system 3300. The host computer 3310 further comprises processing circuitry 3318, which may have storage and/or processing capabilities. In particular, the processing circuitry 3318 may comprise one or more programmable processors, application-specific integrated circuits, field programmable gate arrays or combinations of these (not shown) adapted to execute instructions. The host computer 3310 further comprises software 3311 , which is stored in or accessible by the host computer 3310 and executable by the processing circuitry 3318. The software 3311 includes a host application 3312. The host application 3312 may be operable to provide a service to a remote user, such as a UE 3330 connecting via an OTT connection 3350 terminating at the UE 3330 and the host computer 3310. In providing the service to the remote user, the host application 3312 may provide user data which is transmitted using the OTT connection 3350.

The communication system 3300 further includes a base station 3320 provided in a telecommunication system and comprising hardware 3325 enabling it to communicate with the host computer 3310 and with the UE 3330. The hardware 3325 may include a communication interface 3326 for setting up and maintaining a wired or wireless connection with an interface of a different communication device of the communication system 3300, as well as a radio interface 3327 for setting up and maintaining at least a wireless connection 3370 with a UE 3330 located in a coverage area (not shown in Figure 9) served by the base station 3320. The communication interface 3326 may be configured to facilitate a connection 3360 to the host computer 3310. The connection 3360 may be direct or it may pass through a core network (not shown in Figure 9) of the

telecommunication system and/or through one or more intermediate networks outside the telecommunication system. In the embodiment shown, the hardware 3325 of the base station 3320 further includes processing circuitry 3328, which may comprise one or more programmable processors, application-specific integrated circuits, field programmable gate arrays or combinations of these (not shown) adapted to execute instructions. The base station 3320 further has software 3321 stored internally or accessible via an external connection.

The communication system 3300 further includes the UE 3330 already referred to.

Its hardware 3335 may include a radio interface 3337 configured to set up and maintain a wireless connection 3370 with a base station serving a coverage area in which the UE 3330 is currently located. The hardware 3335 of the UE 3330 further includes processing circuitry 3338, which may comprise one or more programmable processors, application- specific integrated circuits, field programmable gate arrays or combinations of these (not shown) adapted to execute instructions. The UE 3330 further comprises software 3331 , which is stored in or accessible by the UE 3330 and executable by the processing circuitry 3338. The software 3331 includes a client application 3332. The client application 3332 may be operable to provide a service to a human or non-human user via the UE 3330, with the support of the host computer 3310. In the host computer 3310, an executing host application 3312 may communicate with the executing client application 3332 via the OTT connection 3350 terminating at the UE 3330 and the host computer 3310. In providing the service to the user, the client application 3332 may receive request data from the host application 3312 and provide user data in response to the request data. The OTT connection 3350 may transfer both the request data and the user data. The client application 3332 may interact with the user to generate the user data that it provides.

It is noted that the host computer 3310, base station 3320 and UE 3330 illustrated in Figure 9 may be identical to the host computer 3230, one of the base stations 3212a, 3212b, 3212c and one of the UEs 3291 , 3292 of Figure 8, respectively. This is to say, the inner workings of these entities may be as shown in Figure 9 and independently, the surrounding network topology may be that of Figure 8.

In Figure 9, the OTT connection 3350 has been drawn abstractly to illustrate the communication between the host computer 3310 and the use equipment 3330 via the base station 3320, without explicit reference to any intermediary devices and the precise routing of messages via these devices. Network infrastructure may determine the routing, which it may be configured to hide from the UE 3330 or from the service provider operating the host computer 3310, or both. While the OTT connection 3350 is active, the network infrastructure may further take decisions by which it dynamically changes the routing (e.g., on the basis of load balancing consideration or reconfiguration of the network).

The wireless connection 3370 between the UE 3330 and the base station 3320 is in accordance with the teachings of the embodiments described throughout this disclosure. One or more of the various embodiments improve the performance of OTT services provided to the UE 3330 using the OTT connection 3350, in which the wireless connection 3370 forms the last segment. More precisely, the teachings of these embodiments may improve the [select the applicable RAN effect: data rate, latency, power consumption] and thereby provide benefits such as [select the applicable corresponding effect on the OTT service: reduced user waiting time, relaxed restriction on file size, better responsiveness, extended battery lifetime]

A measurement procedure may be provided for the purpose of monitoring data rate, latency and other factors on which the one or more embodiments improve. There may further be an optional network functionality for reconfiguring the OTT connection 3350 between the host computer 3310 and UE 3330, in response to variations in the measurement results. The measurement procedure and/or the network functionality for reconfiguring the OTT connection 3350 may be implemented in the software 3311 of the host computer 3310 or in the software 3331 of the UE 3330, or both. In embodiments, sensors (not shown) may be deployed in or in association with communication devices through which the OTT connection 3350 passes; the sensors may participate in the measurement procedure by supplying values of the monitored quantities exemplified above, or supplying values of other physical quantities from which software 3311 , 3331 may compute or estimate the monitored quantities. The reconfiguring of the OTT connection 3350 may include message format, retransmission settings, preferred routing etc.; the reconfiguring need not affect the base station 3320, and it may be unknown or imperceptible to the base station 3320. Such procedures and functionalities may be known and practiced in the art. In certain embodiments, measurements may involve proprietary UE signaling facilitating the host computer’s 3310 measurements of throughput, propagation times, latency and the like. The measurements may be implemented in that the software 3311 , 3331 causes messages to be transmitted, in particular empty or‘dummy’ messages, using the OTT connection 3350 while it monitors propagation times, errors etc.

Figure 10 is a flowchart illustrating a method implemented in a communication system, in accordance with one embodiment. The communication system includes a host computer, a base station such as a AP STA, and a UE such as a Non-AP STA which may be those described with reference to Figure 8 and Figure 9. For simplicity of the present disclosure, only drawing references to Figure 10 will be included in this section. In a first step 3410 of the method, the host computer provides user data. In an optional substep 3411 of the first step 3410, the host computer provides the user data by executing a host application. In a second step 3420, the host computer initiates a transmission carrying the user data to the UE. In an optional third step 3430, the base station transmits to the UE the user data which was carried in the transmission that the host computer initiated, in accordance with the teachings of the embodiments described throughout this disclosure.

In an optional fourth step 3440, the UE executes a client application associated with the host application executed by the host computer.

Figure 11 is a flowchart illustrating a method implemented in a communication system, in accordance with one embodiment. The communication system includes a host computer, a base station such as a AP STA, and a UE such as a Non-AP STA which may be those described with reference to Figure 8 and Figure 9. For simplicity of the present disclosure, only drawing references to Figure 11 will be included in this section. In a first step 3510 of the method, the host computer provides user data. In an optional substep (not shown) the host computer provides the user data by executing a host application. In a second step 3520, the host computer initiates a transmission carrying the user data to the UE. The transmission may pass via the base station, in accordance with the teachings of the embodiments described throughout this disclosure. In an optional third step 3530, the UE receives the user data carried in the transmission.

Figure 12 is a flowchart illustrating a method implemented in a communication system, in accordance with one embodiment. The communication system includes a host computer, a base station such as a AP STA, and a UE such as a Non-AP STA which may be those described with reference to Figure 8 and Figure 9. For simplicity of the present disclosure, only drawing references to Figure 12 will be included in this section. In an optional first step 3610 of the method, the UE receives input data provided by the host computer. Additionally or alternatively, in an optional second step 3620, the UE provides user data. In an optional substep 3621 of the second step 3620, the UE provides the user data by executing a client application. In a further optional substep 3611 of the first step 3610, the UE executes a client application which provides the user data in reaction to the received input data provided by the host computer. In providing the user data, the executed client application may further consider user input received from the user.

Regardless of the specific manner in which the user data was provided, the UE initiates, in an optional third substep 3630, transmission of the user data to the host computer. In a fourth step 3640 of the method, the host computer receives the user data transmitted from the UE, in accordance with the teachings of the embodiments described throughout this disclosure.

Figure 13 is a flowchart illustrating a method implemented in a communication system, in accordance with one embodiment. The communication system includes a host computer, a base station such as a AP STA, and a UE such as a Non-AP STA which may be those described with reference to Figure 8 and Figure 9. For simplicity of the present disclosure, only drawing references to Figure 13 will be included in this section. In an optional first step 3710 of the method, in accordance with the teachings of the

embodiments described throughout this disclosure, the base station receives user data from the UE. In an optional second step 3720, the base station initiates transmission of the received user data to the host computer. In a third step 3730, the host computer receives the user data carried in the transmission initiated by the base station.

ABBREVIATIONS

Abbreviation Explanation

CU Centralized Unit

CU-UP Centralized Unit User Plane DU Distributed Unit

DDDS Downlink Data Delivery Status

DL Downlink

F1-U Midhaul user plane interface, CU-UP is connected to the DU via F1-U PDCP Packet Data Convergence Protocol

RLC Radio Link Control

Claims

1. A method performed by a first unit, (130) for adapting a transmission rate of

Downlink, DL, user data packets to a Distributed Unit, DU, (110) in a wireless communications network (100), the method comprising:

transmitting (301) DL user data packets to the DU (110), which DL data packets are transmitted over one or more first Radio Bearers, RABs, between the first unit (130) and the DU (110), at a respective transmission a rate,

receiving, (302) a bundled message from the DU (110), wherein multiple status messages are bundled into the bundled message,

which multiple status messages are associated with the respective one or more first RABs the respective DL user data packets have been transmitted on, adapting (305) the transmission rate for each of the respective one or more first RABs based on the multiple status messages.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the first unit (130) is represented by any one out of a Centralized Unit, CU, and a DU.

3. The method according to any of the claims 1-2, wherein whether the transmitted DL user data packets are correctly delivered comprises any one or more out of:

whether the transmitted DL user data packets are correctly delivered to the DU (110),

whether the transmitted DL user data packets are transferred by the DU (110) to a User Equipment (120),

whether the transmitted DL user data packets are lost on the way between the first unit (130) and the DU (110).

4. The method according to any of the claims 1-3, further comprising:

de-bundling (303) the multiple status messages from the bundled message, and

sorting (304) the multiple de-bundled status messages per first RAB.

5. The method according to any of the claims 1-3, wherein the multiple status messages are represented by multiple DL Data Delivery Status, DDDS, messages.

6. A computer program (680) comprising instructions, which when executed by a processor (660), causes the processor (660) to perform actions according to any of the claims 1-5.

7. A carrier (690) comprising the computer program (680) of claim 6, wherein the carrier (690) is one of an electronic signal, an optical signal, an electromagnetic signal, a magnetic signal, an electric signal, a radio signal, a microwave signal, or a computer-readable storage medium.

8. A method performed by a Distributed Unit, DU, (110) for assisting a first unit (130) in adapting a transmission rate of Downlink, DL, user data packets to the DU (110) in a wireless communications network (100), the method comprising:

receiving (401) DL user data packets transmitted by the first unit (130), which DL data packets are received over one or more first Radio Bearers, RABs, between the first unit (130) and the DU (110), at a respective transmission a rate, bundling, (403) multiple status messages into a bundled message, wherein each status message reflects whether one or more out of the received DL user data packets are correctly delivered, and

which multiple status messages are associated with the respective one or more first RABs the respective DL user data packets have been received on, and sending, (404) the bundled message to the first unit (130), enabling the first unit to adapt the transmission rate for each of the respective one or more first RABs based on the multiple status messages.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein whether the transmitted DL user data packets are correctly delivered comprises any one or more out of:

10. The method according to any of the claims 8-9, wherein the multiple status messages are represented by multiple DL Data Delivery Status, DDDS, messages.

11. The method according to any of the claims 8-10, further comprising:

wherein receiving (401) further comprises: receiving DL user data packets transmitted by a second unit (132), which DL data packets are received over one or more second Radio Bearers, RABs, between the second unit (132) and the DU (110), at a respective transmission a rate,

deciding (402) which RABs out of the one or more first RABs and the one or more second RABs, that relate to the first unit (130).

12. The method according to any of the claims 8-11 , wherein the respective first unit (130) and second unit (132) are represented by any one out of a Centralized Unit, CU, and a DU.

13. A computer program (770) comprising instructions, which when executed by a processor (750), causes the processor (750) to perform actions according to any of the claims 8-12.

14. A carrier (780) comprising the computer program (770) of claim 13, wherein the carrier (780) is one of an electronic signal, an optical signal, an electromagnetic signal, a magnetic signal, an electric signal, a radio signal, a microwave signal, or a computer-readable storage medium.

15. A first unit (130) for adapting a transmission rate of Downlink, DL, user data

packets to a distributed Unit, DU, (110) in a wireless communications network (100), the first unit (130) being configured to:

transmit DL user data packets to the DU (110), which DL data packets are transmitted over one or more first Radio Bearers, RABs, between the first unit (130) and the DU (110), at a respective transmission a rate,

receive a bundled message from the DU (110), wherein multiple status messages are bundled into the bundled message,

and wherein each status message reflects whether one or more out of the transmitted DL user data packets are correctly delivered, and which multiple status messages are associated with the respective one or more first RABs the respective DL user data packets have been transmitted on, and

adapt the transmission rate for each of the respective one or more first RABs based on the multiple status messages.

16. The first unit (130) according to claim 15, wherein the first unit (130) is adapted to be represented by any one out of a Centralized Unit, CU, and a DU.

17. The first unit (130) according to any of the claims 15-16, wherein whether the

transmitted DL user data packets are correctly delivered is adapted to comprise any one out of:

18. The first unit (130) according to any of the claims 15-17, further being configured to:

de-bundle the multiple status messages from the bundled message, and sort the multiple de-bundled status messages per first RAB.

19. The first unit (130) according to any of the claims 15-18, wherein the multiple status messages are adapted to be represented by multiple DL Data Delivery Status, DDDS, messages.

20. A Distributed Unit, DU, (110) for assisting a first unit (130) in adapting a

transmission rate of Downlink, DL, user data packets to the DU (110) in a wireless communications network (100), the DU (130) being configured to:

receive DL user data packets transmitted by the first unit (130), which DL data packets are received over one or more first Radio Bearers, RABs, between the first unit (130) and the DU (110), at a respective transmission a rate,

bundle multiple status messages into a bundled message, wherein each status message reflects whether one or more out of the received DL user data packets are correctly delivered, and

which multiple status messages are associated with the respective one or more first RABs the respective DL user data packets have been received on, and send the bundled message to the first unit (130), enabling the first unit to adapt the transmission rate for each of the respective one or more first RABs based on the multiple status message.

21. The DU (130) according to claim 20, wherein whether the transmitted DL user data packets are correctly delivered is adapted to comprise any one out of:

whether the transmitted DL user data packets are transferred by the DU (110) to a User Equipment (120), and

22. The DU (130) according to any of the claims 20-21 , wherein the multiple status messages are adapted to be represented by multiple DL Data Delivery Status, DDDS, messages.

23. The DU (130) according to any of the claims 20-22, further being configured to: receive further DL user data packets transmitted by a second unit (132), which DL data packets are received over one or more second Radio Bearers, RABs, between the second unit (132) and the DU (110), at a respective transmission a rate,

decide which RABs out of the one or more first RABs and the one or more second RABs, that relate to the first unit (130).

24. The DU (130) according to any of the claims 20-23, wherein the respective first unit (130) and second unit (132) are adapted to be represented by any one out of a Centralized Unit, CU, and a DU.