Four QoS classes (or traffic classes) are defined: conversational class will be very likely dedicated to real-timeconversation.

Speech and video conferencing tools are someexamples of such applications

streaming class corresponds to a real-time stream and enforcesmainly constraints on jitter. Video streaming or PoC(Push to takover Celullar) are typical applications for the streaming traffic class. interactive class corresponds to mainly to traditional Internetapplications like web browsing. Some differentiation can be donebetween two services by using the traffic handling priority attribute. background class is typically corresponding to Best Effortservices. Applications that make use of this class might be e-maildownloading, SMS, or even ftp downloading.

PFC procedurePacket Flow Context (PFC) is a concept introduced starting with R99 3GPP release to ensure that theBSS is involved in the R99 QoSnegotiation. The interest of PFC is to differentiate on the radiointerface the conversational and streaming traffics and to reserve resources for these traffics.Without the PFC, the BSS only knows the R97/98 QoSparameters (correspond to the interactive andbackground R99 QoSclasses). It enables to perform admission control and QoSbased resourceallocation in the BSS.R99 QoSis taken into account if the PFC (Packet Flow Context) procedures are supported by the MS,the BSS and the SGSN. It allows the BSS B9 to handle streaming and interactive traffics and also tonegotiate the QoSparameters.R97/98 QoSshould be also taken into account (OP12) if PFC is not supported by the MS or the SGSN inorder to handle interactive traffics or some specific applications as PoC(Push over Cellular).