Method and apparatus for efficient packet-based communications over a wireless network

• US 20020082033A1
• Filed: 01/25/2001
• Published: 06/27/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Nortel Networks Limited (Nortel Networks Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nortel Networks Limited (Nortel Networks Corporation)
• Inventors: Lohtia, Anit, Tse, Paul Chan H.
• Application Number:
  US09/769,836
• Publication Number:
  US 20020082033A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/517
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/25 Maintenance of established connections

Abstract

A wireless communications system includes a mobile station and a base station system that are capable of communicating on the wireless links (uplink and downlink). The mobile station is capable of establishing a logical connection, such as a temporary block flow, on the uplink, while the base station system establishes a logical connection on the downlink. When either the mobile station or the base station system detects end of data transmission, a predetermined wait period is started during which the mobile station or base station system does not start a procedure to release the logical connection on the uplink or downlink.

Claims

1. A method of performing packet-based communications in a wireless network, comprising:

establishing a connection over a wireless link between a mobile station and a radio access network system;

transmitting data in the connection;

waiting a predetermined time delay period after end of data transmission; and

starting a procedure to release the connection after the predetermined delay period.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein starting the procedure comprises sending an indication that the end of data transmission has occurred.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein sending the indication comprises sending a message containing a flag set to a predetermined state.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

receiving an acknowledgement of the indication; and

releasing the connection.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein releasing the connection comprises releasing a temporary block flow in a General Packet Radio Service network.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein releasing the connection comprises releasing a logical connection.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein releasing the logical connection comprises releasing one of plural logical connections assigned on a physical channel.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the waiting and starting acts are performed in the mobile station.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the waiting and starting acts are performed in the radio access network system.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising detecting the end of data transmission.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein detecting the end of data transmission comprises detecting a send data buffer not containing data for transmission on the connection.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising starting a timer to wait the predetermined time period.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein establishing the connection comprises establishing a temporary block flow in a General Packet Radio Service network.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the delay element comprises a timer.

16. The system of claim 14, further comprising a radio link control/medium access control layer comprising the control module.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein the control module is adapted to establish a temporary block flow, the connection comprising the temporary block flow.

18. The system of claim 14, comprising a mobile station.

19. The system of claim 14, comprising a base station system.

20. The system of claim 14, further comprising a send buffer, the control module adapted to detect end of data transmission when the send buffer does not have data for transmission on the connection.

21. The system of claim 14, wherein the control module is adapted to start the procedure to release the connection by sending an indication of the end of data transmission.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the indication comprises a flag having a predetermined state in a data block.

23. The system of claim 21, wherein the control module is adapted to further wait for an acknowledgment of the indication before releasing the connection.

24. The system of claim 14, wherein the control module is adapted to establish a General Packet Radio Service connection.

26. The article of claim 25, wherein the instructions when executed cause the first system to further detect a data buffer being empty, wherein waiting the predetermined time period is performed after detecting the data buffer is empty.

27. The article of claim 26, wherein the instructions when executed cause the first system to detect the data buffer is empty by detecting a radio link control/medium access control send buffer being empty.

28. The article of claim 25, wherein the instructions when executed cause the first system to wait the predetermined time period by starting a timer.

29. The article of claim 28, wherein the instructions when executed cause the first system to start the timer by starting the timer in a mobile station, the first system comprising the mobile station.

30. The article of claim 28, wherein the instructions when executed cause the first system to start the timer by starting the timer in a base station system, the first system comprising the base station system.

31. The article of claim 25, wherein the instructions when executed cause the first system to establish the connection by establishing a temporary block flow.

32. The article of claim 25, wherein the instructions when executed cause the first system to further release the connection in response to the indication.

33. The article of claim 32, wherein the instructions when executed cause the first system to release the connection by releasing a temporary block flow.

14. A system for communication in a wireless network, comprising:

an interface to a wireless link;

a control module adapted to establish a connection on the wireless link with a peer system; and

a delay element,

the control module adapted to further detect end of data transmission on the connection and to wait a delay period provided by the delay element before starting a procedure to release the connection.

25. An article comprising at least one storage medium containing instructions for performing packet-based communications in a wireless network, the instructions when executed causing a first system to:

establish a connection between the first system and a peer system over a wireless link; and

wait a predetermined time period at the end of data transmission before providing an indication of the end of data transmission.

34. A first system, comprising:

means for establishing a connection over a wireless link with a second system;

means for detecting an end of data transmission; and

means for waiting a predetermined time period before providing an indication of the end of data transmission.

35. A data signal embodied in a carrier wave and comprising instructions that when executed cause a first system to:

detect end of data transmission over a connection established on a wireless link;

start a delay period after detecting the end of data transmission; and

start a procedure to release the connection after the delay period.