Managing wireless packet service resources

• US 20040190493A1
• Filed: 03/26/2003
• Published: 09/30/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: Lucent Technologies, Inc. (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Yao, Jie, Yang, ZhongJin
• Granted Patent: US 7,330,462 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/352
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0219 where the power saving management affects multiple terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0222 in packet switched networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/38 triggered by timers
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

In a packet switch for communicating packet switched data to and from a plurality of wireless mobile stations, a method and apparatus for automatically releasing resources tied up for communicating with dormant mobile stations. If the station has been dormant for a sufficiently long time, an alerting message is sent to the user of that mobile station. The user can then respond by requesting a release of the packet switched data (PSD) call currently connected to that mobile station or can request that the connection remain up. Advantageously, if the user of the station does not respond, then following a timeout the PSD call is released and the resources required for keeping the dormant call in existence are made available for new calls.

Claims

1. In a packet switching network, a method of releasing long-term dormant calls comprising the steps of:

detecting packet switched data (PSD) calls for which no packets have been transmitted for a predetermined period of time;

sending an alerting message to a mobile station connected on one of said calls;

responsive to a request to release said call, releasing said call;

responsive to absence of a response from said mobile station, releasing said call.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said predetermined period of time is a function of a class of service of said mobile station.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein responsive to a request from said station for continuing said call, said call is continued.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

prior to performing said detecting step, determining whether a shortage of resources exists in a switch serving said long-term dormant calls; and

if it is determined that a shortage of resources exist, performing said detecting step and other steps of claim 1.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of performing the detecting periodically.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of releasing said call responsive to absence of a response from said mobile station comprises the step of:

timing for another predetermined period of time to see if a response is received from said mobile station; and

if no response is received from said mobile station within said another predetermined period of time, releasing said call.

7. In a packet switching network, apparatus for releasing long-term dormant calls, comprising:

means for detecting packet switched data (PSD) calls for which no packets have been transmitted for a predetermined period of time;

means for sending an alerting message to a mobile station connected on one of said calls;

means, responsive to a request to release said call, for releasing said call;

means, responsive to absence of a response from said mobile station, for releasing said call.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said predetermined period of time is a function of a class of service of said mobile station.

9. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein responsive to a request from said station for continuing said call, said call is continued.

10. The apparatus of claim 7 further comprising:

means for determining whether a shortage of resources exists in a switch serving said long-term dormant calls; and

if it is determined that a shortage of resources exist, initiating performance of the detecting step and other steps of claim 7.

11. The apparatus of claim 7 further comprising means for periodically initiating the steps of claim 7.

12. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the means for releasing said call responsive to absence of a response from said mobile station comprises:

means for timing for another predetermined period of time to see if a response is received from said mobile station; and

if no response is received from said mobile station within said another predetermined period of time, means for releasing said call.