Apparatus, and associated method, for performing packet zone timing operations at a mobile node operable in a packet radio communication system

• US 20040156348A1
• Filed: 01/08/2004
• Published: 08/12/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/08/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Cheng, Mark W., Hsu, Liangchi
• Granted Patent: US 6,934,272 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/338
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/008375 based on historical data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/322 by location data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 60/04 using triggered events

Abstract

Apparatus, and an associated method, having a packet zone list timer embodied at a mobile node operable in a packet radio communication system. The packet zone list timer provides hysteresis to reduce the possibility of a ping-pong effect when a mobile node is operated at, or crosses, a packet zone boundary. A timer value used by the packet zone timer is selected at the mobile node without the need for network-generated commands to notify the mobile node of the timer value. Comparisons are made at the mobile node, and determinations are made at the mobile node as to whether registration of the mobile node is required.

Claims

1. In a packet radio communication system having a mobile node selectably for communicating data pursuant to a packet communication service when positioned within a network coverage area of the communication system, the network coverage area formed of a first packet zone and at least a second packet zone, an improvement of apparatus for selectably facilitating initiation of registration of the mobile node at a selected one of the first packet zone and the at least the second packet zone, said apparatus comprising:

a packet zone list maintenance timer embodied at the mobile node and exhibiting at least a first selected timer value, said packet zone list maintenance timer for timing a selected time period corresponding to the at least the first selected timer value commencing with occurrence of a packet-zone related event; and

an identifier operable at least responsive to timing-out of the selected time period by said packet zone list maintenance timer, said identifier for identifying a packet-zone indicia when said packet zone list maintenance timer times out.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a registration initiator adapted to receive indications of the packet-zone indicia identified by said identifier, said registration for initiating registration of the mobile node when the packet-zone indicia identified by said identifier differ with earlier-obtained values thereof.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the selected time period comprises a selected static time period corresponding to a first selected statically defined timer value, the first selected statically defined timer value selected responsive to at least a first communication factor.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the packet communication service is of a selected service type and wherein the first communication factor responsive to which the first selected statically defined timer value is selected is related to the selected service type of the packet communication service.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the selected service type of the packet communication service is permitting of a selected communication delay and wherein the first selected statically defined timer value is directly related to the selected communication delay permitted of the packet communication service.

6. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the selected service type of the packet communication service is permitting of a selected data loss rate and wherein the fist selected statically defined timer value is inversely related to the selected data loss rate permitted of the packet communication service.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the mobile node is powered by a portable power supply that exhibits a stored energy level and wherein the first selected statically defined timer value is inversely related to the stored energy level of the portable power supply.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first selected timer value comprises a fixed value.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a selector embodied at the mobile node, said selector for selecting the at least the first timer value and wherein said packet zone list maintenance timer is adapted to receive indications of selections made by said selector.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the packet communication service commences with a packet data call set-up and wherein the at least the first timer value selected by said selector is selected responsive to the packet data call set-up.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the packet-zone related event, responsive to the occurrence of which said packet zone list maintenance timer times for the selected time period comprises detection of passage of the mobile node between the first packet zone and the second packet zone.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the packet-zone indicia identified by said identifier comprises an indication of in which of the first and at least second packet zones, respectively, that the mobile node is positioned.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 further comprising a comparator adapted to receive values representative of the packet-zone indicia identified by said identifier and earlier-obtained values thereof, said comparator for comparing the values provided thereto.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said comparator further generates a registration request signal of a value requesting initiation of a mobile-node registration when comparison performed by said comparator indicates dissimilarities between the values representative of the packet-zone indicia and the earlier-obtained values thereof.

15. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the selected time period comprises a selected dynamically-determined time period of a dynamically alterable length.

16. In a method of communicating in a packet radio communication system having a mobile node selectably for communicating data pursuant to a packet communication service when positioned within a network coverage area of the communication system, the network coverage area formed of a first packet zone and at least a second packet zone, an improvement of a method for selectably facilitating initiation of registration of the mobile node at a selected one of the first packet zone and the at least the second packet zone, said method comprising:

timing, at the mobile node, a selected time period, the selected time period corresponding to at least a first selected timer value, said timing commencing with occurrence of a packet-zone related event; and

identifying, at the mobile node, upon timing out of the selected time period during said operation of timing, a packet-zone indicia.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising the operation, prior to said operation of timing of:

selecting, at the mobile node, the at least the first selected timer value.

18. The method of claim 16 further comprising the operation of comprising a value of the packet-zone indicia with an earlier-obtained value thereof.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising the operation at the mobile node of requesting registration of the mobile node when said operation of comparing indicates dissimilarities between the values representative of the packet-zone indicia and the earlier-obtained values thereof.

20. The method of claim 17 wherein the packet communication services commences, at the mobile node, with a packet data call set-up and wherein said operation of selecting is performed responsive to the packet data call set-up.