A method and an apparatus are described for sending packet data over a wireless link. The method includes steps of sequentially multiplexing a plurality of radio bearers onto one Temporary Block Flow (TBF) by performing, for a first radio bearer, a step of transmitting the first radio bearer identity to a receiver in at least one first Radio Link Control (RLC) block of a Temporary Block Flow (TBF); upon an occurrence of a change from the first radio bearer to a second radio bearer, transmitting the second radio bearer identity to the receiver in at least one subsequent Radio Link Control (RLC) block of the same TBF; and, at the receiver, sequentially demultiplexing the plurality of radio bearers from the one Temporary Block Flow (TBF) by first detecting the presence of the radio bearer identities in received RLC blocks. An initial step of the method maps a Network Service Access Point Identifier (NSAPI), and thus quality of service parameters, to the radio bearer identities. A further step transmits from the receiver, in response to receiving the second radio bearer identity and if quality of service parameters of the second radio bearer require a new channel allocation, a channel assignment message (e.g., a Packet Uplink Assignment message) to the transmitter. Alternatively, if quality of service parameters of the second radio bearer do not require a new channel allocation, an acknowledgement of the receipt of a first received RLC block from the second radio bearer is transmitted to the transmitter. |