Device, system, and method for fast network entry for wireless devices in idle mode

• US 20080096614A1
• Filed: 10/17/2007
• Published: 04/24/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Venkatachalam, Muthaiah
• Granted Patent: US 9,066,348 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/574
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0216 using a pre-established activity schedule, e.g. traffic indication frame
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0219 where the power saving management affects multiple terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/27 Transitions between radio resource control [RRC] states
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A method, apparatus and system for, in a first wireless device, storing network resources in local memory for a second wireless device while the second wireless device is in an idle mode of operation, receiving a request from the second wireless device to exit the idle mode of operation, retrieving the network resources for the second wireless device from the local memory, and executing a network re-entry process using the retrieved network resources. A method, apparatus and system for, in a local memory of an active base station in a wireless network, storing network resources for an idle wireless mobile device in the wireless network, executing a network re-entry process for the idle wireless mobile device by retrieving and using the network resources for the idle wireless device, and signaling backend components of the wireless network to update the activation status of the wireless mobile device, wherein the network re-entry process is to be initiated prior to signaling the backend components.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

in a first wireless device, storing network resources in a local memory for a second wireless device;

receiving a request from the second wireless device while the second wireless device is in an idle mode of operation to exit the idle mode of operation;

retrieving the network resources for the second wireless device from the local memory; and

executing a network re-entry process using the retrieved network resources.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the network resources are stored in local memory for a predetermined period of time.

3. The method of claim 1, comprising determining the predetermined period of time using a management resource holding timer.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein network resources comprise a data path for the second wireless device to execute the network re-entry.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein network resources comprise security context data.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the network resources are retrieved in response to a request from the second wireless device to exit the idle mode of operation.

7. The method of claim 6, comprising the second wireless device transmitting the request when an incoming transmission is detected.

8. The method of claim 6, comprising the first wireless device transmitting a signal to other devices indicating that the second wireless device is no longer in the idle mode of operation.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the second wireless device comprises a mobile station.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the first wireless device comprises a base station.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second wireless devices are in the same network.

12. An apparatus comprising:

local memory in a first wireless device to store network resources for a second wireless device while the second wireless device is in an idle mode of operation;

an antenna in the first wireless device to receive a request from the second wireless device to exit the idle mode of operation;

a processor in the first wireless device to retrieve the network resources for the second wireless device from the local memory; and

a processor in the second wireless device to execute a network re-entry process using the retrieved network resources.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the local memory is to store the network resources for a predetermined period of time.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising a timer to determine the predetermined period of time.

15. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein network resources comprise a data path for the second wireless device to execute the network re-entry.

16. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the first wireless device is to retrieve the network resources in response to a request from the second wireless device to exit the idle mode of operation.

17. A system comprising:

local memory in a first wireless device to store network resources for a second wireless device while the second wireless device is in an idle mode of operation;

an antenna in the first wireless device to receive a request from the second wireless device to exit the idle mode of operation;

a processor in the first wireless device to retrieve the network resources for the second wireless device from the local memory;

a processor in the second wireless device to execute a network re-entry process using the retrieved network resources; and

an override function to accept a request from a user for the second wireless device to exit the idle mode of operation.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the local memory is to store the network resources for a predetermined period of time.

19. The system of claim 17, further comprising a timer to determine the predetermined period of time.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein network resources comprise a data path for the second wireless device to execute the network re-entry.

21. The system of claim 17, wherein the first wireless device is to retrieve the network resources in response to a request from the second wireless device to exit the idle mode of operation.

22. A method comprising:

in a local memory of an active base station in a wireless network, storing network resources for an idle wireless mobile device in the wireless network;

executing a network re-entry process for the idle wireless mobile device by retrieving and using the network resources for the idle wireless device; and

signaling backend components of the wireless network to update the activation status of the wireless mobile device, wherein the network re-entry process is to be initiated prior to signaling the backend components.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the backend components of the wireless network comprise components that are not in direct communication with the wireless mobile device.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the activation status of the wireless mobile device is selected from the group consisting of:

active, idle, and inactive.

25. The method of claim 22, wherein the network resources are stored in the local memory for a predetermined period of time.