Methods and apparatus for providing a tolerable delay for slotted messages in wireless communication networks

• US 20050201311A1
• Filed: 12/07/2004
• Published: 09/15/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Willey, William Daniel, Islam, Muhammad Khaledul
• Granted Patent: US 7,346,019 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/311
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0216 using a pre-established activity schedule, e.g. traffic indication frame
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/36 with a discrete range or set of values, e.g. step size, ramping or offsets
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 68/00 User notification, e.g. alerting and paging, for incoming communication, change of service or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/12 Wireless traffic scheduling
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

In one illustrative example, a plurality of page message requests for a plurality of mobile devices which operate in a wireless communication network are received. One or more paging slots assigned to the mobile devices are identified for transmitting a plurality of page messages in response to these requests. However, the wireless network refrains from causing a page message for the mobile device associated with a tolerable delay indication to be transmitted within the one or more paging slots when a paging capacity limit of the one or more paging slots is reached. This allows higher priority page messages to be transmitted within the one or more paging slots. The wireless network subsequently causes a page message for the mobile device having the tolerable delay indication to be transmitted within one or more subsequent paging slots within a tolerable delay period corresponding to the tolerable delay indication. The mobile device may transmit the tolerable delay indication to the wireless network in response to identifying a predetermined condition, for example, identifying use of a high capacity power source.

Claims

1. A method for use in providing a tolerable delay for slotted messages in a wireless communication network, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving, within the wireless network, a plurality of page message requests for a plurality of mobile devices which operate in the wireless network;

identifying one or more paging slots assigned to the mobile devices for transmitting a plurality of page messages in response to the page message requests;

identifying a tolerable delay indication for paging one of the mobile devices; and

refraining from causing a page message for the mobile device associated with the tolerable delay indication to be transmitted within the one or more paging slots when a paging capacity limit of the one or more paging slots is reached.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

causing the page message for the mobile device associated with the tolerable delay indication to be transmitted within one or more subsequent paging slots assigned to the mobile device within a tolerable delay period associated with the tolerable delay indication.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

causing the page message for the mobile device associated with the tolerable delay indication to be transmitted within the one or more paging slots assigned to the mobile device when there is paging capacity within the one or more paging slots.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

causing at least some of the page messages associated with the page message requests to be transmitted within the one or more paging slots.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the paging capacity limit of the one or more paging slots is reached when the one or more paging slots are filled with the at least some page messages associated with the page message requests.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the tolerable delay indication comprises one of a time period and a number of paging slots.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving the tolerable delay indication from the mobile device.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving an indication for reduced slotted messaging from the mobile device.

9. The method of claim 1, being performed by a network processing component within the wireless network.

10. A computer program product, comprising:

a storage medium;

computer instructions stored on the storage medium;

the computer instructions being executable by one or more processors for;

receiving, within the wireless network, a plurality of page message requests for a plurality of mobile devices which operate in a wireless communication network;

identifying one or more paging slots assigned to the mobile devices for transmitting a plurality of page messages in response to the page message requests;

identifying a tolerable delay indication for paging one of the mobile devices; and

refraining from causing a page message for the mobile device associated with the tolerable delay indication to be transmitted within the one or more paging slots when a paging capacity limit of the one or more paging slots is reached.

11. The computer program product of claim 10, wherein the computer instructions are further executable for:

causing the page message for the mobile device associated with the tolerable delay indication to be transmitted within one or more subsequent paging slots assigned to the mobile device within a tolerable delay period associated with the tolerable delay indication.

12. The computer program product of claim 10, wherein the computer instructions are further executable for:

causing the page message for the mobile device associated with the tolerable delay indication to be transmitted within the one or more paging slots assigned to the mobile device when there is paging capacity within the one or more paging slots.

13. The computer program product of claim 10, wherein the computer instructions are further executable for:

causing at least some of the page messages associated with the page message requests to be transmitted within the one or more paging slots.

14. The computer program product of claim 10, wherein the paging capacity limit of the one or more paging slots is reached when the one or more paging slots are filled with the at least some page messages associated with the page message requests.

15. The computer program product of claim 10, wherein the tolerable delay indication comprises one of a time period and a number of paging slots.

16. The computer program product of claim 10, wherein the computer instructions are further executable for:

receiving the tolerable delay indication from the mobile device.

17. The computer program product of claim 10, wherein the computer instructions are further executable for:

receiving an indication for reduced slotted messaging for the mobile device.

18. A network processing component for use within a wireless communication network, the network processing component comprising:

one or more processors;

memory coupled to the one or more processors;

computer instructions stored in the memory;

the computer instructions being executable by the one or more processors for;

receiving, within the wireless network, a plurality of page message requests for a plurality of mobile devices which operate in the wireless network;

identifying one or more paging slots assigned to the mobile devices for transmitting a plurality of page messages in response to the page message requests;

identifying a tolerable delay indication for paging one of the mobile devices; and

refraining from causing a page message for the mobile device associated with the tolerable delay indication to be transmitted within the one or more paging slots when a paging capacity limit of the one or more paging slots is reached.

19. The network processing component of claim 18, wherein the computer instructions are further executable for:

causing the page message for the mobile device associated with the tolerable delay indication to be transmitted within one or more subsequent paging slots assigned to the mobile device within a tolerable delay period associated with the tolerable delay indication.

20. The network processing component of claim 18, wherein the computer instructions are further executable for:

causing the page message for the mobile device associated with the tolerable delay indication to be transmitted within the one or more paging slots assigned to the mobile device when there is paging capacity within the one or more paging slots.

21. The network processing component of claim 18, wherein the computer instructions are further executable for:

causing at least some of the page messages associated with the page message requests to be transmitted within the one or more paging slots.

22. The network processing component of claim 18, wherein the paging capacity limit of the one or more paging slots is reached when the one or more paging slots are filled with the at least some page messages associated with the page message requests.

23. The network processing component of claim 18, wherein the tolerable delay indication comprises one of a time period and a number of paging slots.

24. The network processing component of claim 18, wherein the computer instructions are further executable for:

receiving the tolerable delay indication from the mobile device.

25. The network processing component of claim 18, wherein the computer instructions are further executable for:

receiving an indication for reduced slotted messaging for the mobile device.

26. A method for use in providing a tolerable delay for slotted messages in a wireless communication network, the method comprising the steps of:

causing a tolerable delay indication to be transmitted to a wireless communication network; and

monitoring each paging slot of a plurality of paging slots to receive page messages from the wireless network, each paging slot being separated in time by a fixed time period, each page message being received within a tolerable delay period greater than or equal to two or more of the fixed time periods corresponding to the tolerable delay indication.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the mobile device has a normal slotted messaging mode and a reduced slotted messaging mode, the method comprising the further step of:

causing a reduced slotted messaging indication to be sent to the wireless network for operating in the reduced slotted messaging mode.

28. The method of claim 26, wherein the tolerable delay indication represents one of a time period and a number of paging slots over which a page message may be refrained from being received.

29. The method of claim 26, further comprising:

identifying a predetermined condition; and

causing the tolerable delay indication to be sent to the wireless network based on identifying the predetermined condition.

30. The method of claim 26, further comprising:

identifying that a predetermined power source is coupled to the mobile device; and

causing the tolerable delay indication to be sent to the wireless network based on identifying that the predetermined power source is coupled to the mobile device.

31. The method of claim 26, further comprising:

causing an indication to be transmitted to the wireless network, the indication being indicative for terminating the tolerable delay; and

after transmitting the indication;

monitoring each paging slot of the plurality of paging slots to receive a page message in a paging slot with no tolerable delay.

32. A computer program product, comprising:

a storage medium;

computer instructions stored in the storage medium;

the computer instructions being executable by one or more processors for;

causing a tolerable delay indication to be transmitted to a wireless communication network; and

monitoring each paging slot of a plurality of paging slots to receive page messages from the wireless network, each paging slot being separated in time by a fixed time period, each page message being received within a tolerable delay period greater than or equal to two or more of the fixed time periods corresponding to the tolerable delay indication.

33. The computer program product of claim 32, wherein the mobile device has a normal slotted messaging mode and a reduced slotted messaging mode, the computer instructions being further executable for:

causing a reduced slotted messaging indication to be sent to the wireless network for operating in the reduced slotted messaging mode.

34. The computer program product of claim 32, wherein the tolerable delay indication represents one of a time period and a number of paging slots over which a page message may be refrained from being received.

35. The computer program product of claim 32, wherein the computer instructions are further executable for:

identifying a predetermined condition; and

causing the tolerable delay indication to be sent to the wireless network based on identifying the predetermined condition.

36. The computer program product of claim 32, wherein the computer instructions are further executable for:

identifying that a predetermined power source is coupled to the mobile device; and

causing the tolerable delay indication to be sent to the wireless network based on identifying that the predetermined power source is coupled to the mobile device.

37. The computer program product of claim 32, wherein the computer instructions are further executable for:

causing an indication to be transmitted to the wireless network, the indication being indicative for terminating the tolerable delay; and

after transmitting the indication;

monitoring each paging slot of the plurality of paging slots to receive a page message in a paging slot with no tolerable delay.

38. A mobile communication device, comprising:

a wireless transceiver;

an antenna coupled to the wireless transceiver;

one or more processors coupled to the wireless transceiver;

the one or more processors being operative to;

cause a tolerable delay indication to be transmitted to a wireless communication network; and

monitor each paging slot of a plurality of paging slots to receive page messages from the wireless network, each paging slot being separated in time by a fixed time period, each page message being received within a tolerable delay period greater than or equal to two or more of the fixed time periods corresponding to the tolerable delay indication.

39. The mobile device of claim 38, wherein the mobile device has a normal slotted messaging mode and a reduced slotted messaging mode, the one or more processors being further operative to:

cause a reduced slotted messaging indication to be sent to the wireless network for operating in the reduced slotted messaging mode.

40. The mobile device of claim 38, wherein the tolerable delay indication represents one of a time period and a number of paging slots over which a page message may be refrained from being received.

41. The mobile device of claim 38, wherein the one or more processors are further operative to:

identify a predetermined condition; and

cause the tolerable delay indication to be sent to the wireless network based on identifying the predetermined condition.

42. The mobile device of claim 38, wherein the one or more processors are further operative to:

identify that a predetermined power source is coupled to the mobile device; and

cause the tolerable delay indication to be sent to the wireless network based on identifying that the predetermined power source is coupled to the mobile device.

43. The mobile device of claim 38, wherein the one or more processors are further operative to:

cause an indication to be transmitted to the wireless network, the indication being indicative for terminating the tolerable delay; and

after transmitting the indication;

monitor each paging slot of the plurality of paging slots to receive a page message in a paging slot with no tolerable delay.