Data Buffering based on Access Stratum Conditions in a Call Having both Circuit-Switched and Packet-Switched Components

• US 20140071888A1
• Filed: 09/11/2012
• Published: 03/13/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Khay-Ibbat, Samy
• Granted Patent: US 9,265,084 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/328
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/16 Involving different core network technologies, e.g. a packet-switched [PS] bearer in combination with a circuit-switched [CS] bearer
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/19 Connection re-establishment

Abstract

Data buffering based on access-stratum conditions by a wireless user equipment (UE) device. A call may be established with a network via a wireless link. The call may include a circuit-switched component and a packet-switched component. It may be determined that the packet-switched component has been released by the network. The UE may have packet data for transmission to the network when the packet-switched component is released. The packet data may be buffered based on determining that the packet-switched component has been released by the network.

Claims

1. A method for operating a wireless user equipment (UE) device, the method comprising:

establishing a call via a wireless link with a network, the call having a circuit-switched component and a packet-switched component;

determining that the packet-switched component has been released by the network, wherein the UE has packet data to be transmitted to the network when the packet-switched component is released; and

buffering the packet data based on determining that the packet-switched component has been released by the network.

2. The method of claim 1, the method further comprising:

determining that the UE is in a first state of at least a first state and a second state with respect to RF conditions, wherein the first state substantially corresponds to poorer access stratum conditions than the second state; and

buffering the packet data for the lesser of a predetermined amount of time or until the UE enters the second state, wherein said buffering is performed based on determining that that the packet-switched component has been released by the network and determining that the UE is in the first state.

3. The method of claim 2,

wherein the packet data is a first type of packet data, wherein the first type of packet data has a higher QoS requirement than a second type of packet data, wherein the predetermined amount of time is less for packet data of the first type than for packet data of the second type;

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

determining that the UE is in a second state of at least a first and a second state with respect to access stratum conditions, wherein the first state substantially corresponds to poorer access stratum conditions than the second state;

waiting a predetermined amount of time based on determining that the packet-switched component has been released and the UE is in the second state;

if the UE remains in the second state for the predetermined amount of time, attempting to re-establish a packet-switched component.

5. A wireless user equipment (UE) device, the UE comprising:

a radio configured to perform wireless communications;

a processor;

a memory medium, comprising program instructions executable by the processor to;

establish a circuit-switched radio access bearer, wherein the circuit-switched radio access bearer provides a circuit-switched connection to a network;

establish a packet-switched radio access bearer, wherein the packet-switched radio access bearer provides a packet-switched connection to the network;

determine that the packet-switched radio access bearer has been released by the network, wherein the UE has packet data to be transmitted to the network when the packet-switched radio access bearer is released;

determine that the UE is in a first state of at least a first and a second state with respect to access stratum conditions, wherein the first state substantially corresponds to poorer access stratum conditions than the second state; and

buffer the packet data based on determining that the packet-switched radio access bearer has been released by the network and determining that the UE is in the first state.

6. The UE of claim 5, wherein the program instructions are executable to determine that the UE is in the first state is based on detecting one or more conditions indicative of poor access stratum conditions.

7. The UE of claim 5, wherein the program instructions are executable to buffer the packet data until whichever occurs first of:

a timer expiring;

or

the UE entering the second state.

8. The UE of claim 5,

wherein if the packet data is a first type of packet data, the timer has a first timer length based on the packet data being the first type of packet data;

wherein if the packet data is a second type of packet data, the timer has a second timer length based on the packet data being the second type of packet data.

9. The UE of claim 8,

wherein the first type of packet data has a higher priority than the second type of packet data.

10. The UE of claim 8, wherein the program instructions are further executable to, if the packet data is the first type of packet data:

determine that the timer has expired;

attempt to re-establish a packet-switched radio access bearer based on determining that the timer has expired and the packet data being the first type of packet data.

11. The UE of claim 8, wherein the program instructions are further executable to, if the packet data is the second type of packet data:

determine that the timer has expired;

inform a higher layer entity that the packet data is not being transmitted based on determining that the timer has expired and the packet data being the second type of packet data.

12. The UE of claim 11,

wherein the higher layer entity is an application executing on the UE which generated the packet data.

13. The UE of claim 5, wherein the program instructions are further executable to:

determine that the UE has entered the second state;

attempt to re-establish a packet-switched radio access bearer based on determining that the UE has entered the second state.

14. The UE of claim 13, wherein the program instructions are executable to determine that the UE has entered the second state is based on detecting one or more conditions indicative of adequate access stratum conditions.

15. A non-transitory computer accessible memory medium comprising program instructions for operating a wireless user equipment (UE) device, wherein the program instructions are executable to:

establish a multiple radio access bearer (mRAB) call via a wireless link with a network, wherein a first radio access bearer (RAB) is a circuit-switched (CS) RAB, wherein a second RAB is a packet-switched (PS) RAB;

detect one or more conditions indicative of poor wireless medium conditions;

buffer packet data based on detecting the one or more conditions indicative of poor wireless medium conditions, wherein the packet data is configured for transmission via a PS RAB.

16. The memory medium of claim 15,

wherein the one or more conditions indicative of poor wireless medium conditions comprise at least one external indicator of poor wireless medium conditions and at least one internal indicator of poor wireless medium conditions.

17. The memory medium of claim 16,

wherein the at least one external indicator of poor wireless medium conditions comprises one of:

release of the second RAB by the network;

or

the second RAB being in a non-data-bearing state;

wherein the at least one internal indicator of poor wireless medium conditions comprises one or more of;

transmitting at a maximum power level for at least a first amount of time;

receiving transmit power commands from the network which request increased transmit power for at least a second amount of time;

or

failing attempts to respond to network status polls for at least a third amount of time.

18. The memory medium of claim 16,

wherein the program instructions are further configured to, if the one or more conditions indicative of poor wireless medium conditions comprise at least one external indicator of poor wireless medium conditions and at least one internal indicator of poor wireless medium conditions:

wait up to a predetermined period of time;

if an internal indicator of normal wireless medium conditions is detected within the predetermined period of time, attempt to transmit the buffered packet data.

19. The memory medium of claim 18,

wherein the program instructions are further configured to determine whether or not the buffered packet data has QoS requirements;

wherein the predetermined period of time is different if the buffered packet data has QoS requirements than if the buffered packet data does not have QoS requirements.

20. The memory medium of claim 19,

wherein if the predetermined period of time expires and the buffered packet data has QoS requirements, the program instructions are further executable to attempt to transmit the buffered packet data upon expiration of the predetermined period of time;

wherein if the predetermined period of time expires and the buffered packet data does not have QoS requirements, the program instructions are further executable to discard the buffered packet data upon expiration of the predetermined period of time.

21. The memory medium of claim 16,

wherein the program instructions are further configured to, if the one or more conditions indicative of poor wireless medium conditions comprise only an external indicator of poor wireless medium conditions:

wait a predetermined period of time;

determine whether an internal indicator of poor wireless medium conditions is detected within the predetermined period of time;

if no internal indicator of poor wireless medium conditions is detected within the predetermined period of time, attempt to transmit the buffered packet data upon expiration of the predetermined period of time.

22. A non-transitory computer accessible memory medium comprising program instructions executable to:

establish a call having a plurality of radio access bearers (RABs) via a wireless link with a network, wherein a first RAB of the plurality of RABs is a circuit-switched (CS) RAB, wherein a second RAB of the plurality of RABs is a packet-switched (PS) RAB;

detect that the PS RAB has been released or is in a 0/0 state, wherein packet data configured for transmission via the PS RAB is buffered upon detecting that the PS RAB has been released or is in a 0/0 state;

determine whether access stratum conditions are normal or bad;

wherein if access stratum conditions are normal, the program instructions are further executable to;

wait an amount of time of a length of a first timer;

determine whether access stratum conditions are normal or bad after expiration of the first timer;

re-establish and/or upgrade the PS RAB if access stratum conditions are normal after expiration of the first timer;

wherein if access stratum conditions are bad, the program instructions are further executable to;

determine whether or not the buffered packet data has quality of service (QoS) requirements;

if the buffered packet data does not have QoS requirements, wait a lesser amount of time of a length of a second timer or until access stratum conditions are determined to be normal, wherein if access stratum conditions are determined to be normal the PS RAB is re-established and/or upgraded and the buffered packet data is transmitted via the PS RAB, wherein if the second timer expires the buffered packet data is discarded and one or more upper layer entities are informed that the buffered packet data has been discarded;

if the buffered packet data does have QoS requirements, wait a lesser amount of time of a length of a third timer or until access stratum conditions are determined to be normal, wherein upon expiration of the third timer or if access stratum conditions are determined to be normal the PS RAB is re-established and/or upgraded and the buffered packet data is transmitted via the PS RAB, wherein the length of the third timer is shorter than the length of the second timer.

23. A method for operating a wireless user equipment (UE) device, the method comprising:

establishing a call via a wireless link with a network, the call having a circuit-switched component and a packet-switched component;

detecting one or more conditions indicating that access stratum conditions are poor, wherein the UE has packet data to send to the network when the one or more conditions are detected;

buffering the packet data based on detecting the one or more conditions indicating that access stratum conditions are poor.

24. The method of claim 23,

wherein the one or more conditions indicating that access stratum conditions are poor comprise one or more of:

the packet-switched component is released by the network;

the packet-switched component is non-data-bearing;

UE radio transmissions have had a maximum power level for at least a first amount of time;

transmit power commands received from the network have requested increased transmit power for at least a second amount of time;

or

UE attempts to respond to network status polls have been unsuccessful for at least a third amount of time.