Avoiding data loss and reducing registration overhead in packet networks
First Claim
1. A wireless communication device, comprising:
- a connection table for storing one or more connection identifiers, wherein a connection identifier corresponds to a Packet Coordination Function (PCF) that has been previously visited by the wireless communication device, the connection table indicating whether a connection between the wireless communication device and each PCF is active;
a receiver for receiving a connection identifier;
a processor for determining if the received connection identifier is contained in the connection table, and for delivering the received connection identifier to the connection table for storing when the received connection identifier is not contained in the connection table;
a transmitter for sending a registration in response to the received connection identifier when the received connection identifier is not contained in the connection table; and
a first inactivity timer associated with the connection identifier, wherein the processor removes the connection identifier from the connection table in response to an expiration of the first inactivity timer, the first inactivity timer configured to expire before a second inactivity timer maintained in a Packet Data Serving Node (PDSN) to which the wireless communication device is connected via the PCF and which is also associated with the connection identifier;
wherein the processor resets the first inactivity timer in response to activity on a connection corresponding to the connection identifier, andwherein the processor is further operable to determine that the registration is not needed if the processor determines that received connection identifier is contained in the connection table.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Techniques for avoiding data loss and reducing registration overhead in a wireless packet data communication system are disclosed. In one embodiment, a mobile station adds each connection to a connection list following registration with the PCF. The mobile station need not reregister a connection included in the connection list when it again enters the PCF'"'"'s coverage area. In another embodiment, a PDSN maintains a connection table, with one or more connections for each mobile station. The PDSN transmits data to the mobile station along one of the connections. In yet another embodiment, a PDSN transmits on an active connection, if one exists. In yet another embodiment, connections in a connection list or connection table are removed when a corresponding inactivity timer expires. Various other embodiments are also presented. Benefits include allowing mobile stations to travel between PCFs without re-registering, which reduces registration overhead and increases system capacity, and avoidance of data loss from network initiated data directed to a mobile station, resulting in timely delivery of the data and reduction of system resources allocated to retransmission of data.
13 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A wireless communication device, comprising:
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a connection table for storing one or more connection identifiers, wherein a connection identifier corresponds to a Packet Coordination Function (PCF) that has been previously visited by the wireless communication device, the connection table indicating whether a connection between the wireless communication device and each PCF is active; a receiver for receiving a connection identifier; a processor for determining if the received connection identifier is contained in the connection table, and for delivering the received connection identifier to the connection table for storing when the received connection identifier is not contained in the connection table; a transmitter for sending a registration in response to the received connection identifier when the received connection identifier is not contained in the connection table; and a first inactivity timer associated with the connection identifier, wherein the processor removes the connection identifier from the connection table in response to an expiration of the first inactivity timer, the first inactivity timer configured to expire before a second inactivity timer maintained in a Packet Data Serving Node (PDSN) to which the wireless communication device is connected via the PCF and which is also associated with the connection identifier; wherein the processor resets the first inactivity timer in response to activity on a connection corresponding to the connection identifier, and wherein the processor is further operable to determine that the registration is not needed if the processor determines that received connection identifier is contained in the connection table. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A Packet Data Serving Node (PDSN), operable with a plurality of Packet Coordination Functions (PCFs) via a corresponding plurality of connections, each PCF operable to communicate with one or more wireless communication devices, the PDSN further operable with a network for directing data for transmission to one or more wireless communication devices, comprising:
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a connection table for storing a plurality of connection sets, each connection set comprising one or more connections associated with a wireless communication device, wherein a first timer in the PDSN and a second timer in the wireless communication device correspond to each of the connections and wherein the first timer is set to expire after the second timer; a processor for selecting a connection from the one or more connections in a connection set associated with a wireless communication device for which data is directed from the network; and a buffer for receiving data from the network that is designated for delivery to a wireless communication device, storing the received data until the wireless communication device is located, based on an active connection, on one of the connections in the connection set and transmitting the stored data on the selected connection to the wireless communication device. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of registering and maintaining connections, comprising:
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receiving a connection identifier at a wireless communication device; determining if the received connection identifier is contained in a connection table, and registering a connection in response to a received connection not contained in the connection table; storing the received connection identifier in the connection table when the connection is not contained in the connection table, wherein the connection identifier corresponds to a Packet Coordination Function (PCF) that has been previously visited by the wireless communication device and indicates whether a connection between the PCF and the wireless communication device is active; determining that the registration is not needed if the received connection identifier is in the connection table; and removing the connection identifier from the connection table in response to expiration of a first inactivity timer associated with the connection identifier and maintained by the wireless communication device, the first inactivity timer configured to expire before a second inactivity timer maintained in a Packet Data Serving Node (PDSN) to which the wireless communication device is connected via the POF and which is also associated with the connection identifier; wherein the first inactivity timer is reset in response to activity on the connection corresponding to the connection identifier. - View Dependent Claims (13)
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14. A method of registering and maintaining connections, comprising:
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establishing one or more connections with one or more Packet Coordination Functions (PCFs); storing a plurality of connection sets in a connection table, each connection set comprising one or more connections with a POF and associated with a wireless communication device; buffering received data from a network that is designated to a wireless communication device, storing the received data until the wireless communication device is located, based on an active connection, on one of the connections in the connection set; selecting a connection from the one or more connections in a connection set associated with a wireless communication device for which data is directed and transmitting the stored data on the selected connection to the wireless communication device; and maintaining a plurality of first timers that correspond to each of the connections and wherein each of the plurality of first timers are set to expire after each of a plurality of second timers in the wireless communication device. - View Dependent Claims (15)
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16. An apparatus, comprising:
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means for receiving a connection identifier at a wireless communication device; means for storing the received connection identifier in a connection table when the connection is not contained in the connection table, wherein a connection identifier corresponds to a Packet Coordination Function (PCF) that has been previously visited by the apparatus and indicates whether a connection between the PCF and the wireless communication device is active; means for determining if the received connection identifier is contained in a connection table, and means for registering a connection in response to a received connection not contained in the connection table; means for determining that the registration is not needed if the received connection identifier is in the connection table; and means for removing the connection identifier from the connection table in response to expiration of a first inactivity timer associated with the connection identifier and maintained by the wireless communication device, the first inactivity timer configured to expire before a second inactivity timer maintained in a Packet Data Serving Node (PDSN) to which the wireless communication device is connected via the PCF and which is also associated with the connection identifier; wherein the first inactivity timer is reset in response to activity on the connection corresponding to the connection identifier.
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17. An apparatus, comprising:
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means for establishing one or more connections with one or more Packet Coordination Functions (PCFs); means for storing a plurality of connection sets in a connection table, each connection set comprising one or more connections with a PCFs and associated with a wireless communication device, wherein a first timer in the apparatus and a second timer in the wireless communication device correspond to each of the connections and wherein the first timer is set to expire after the second timer; means for buffering received data from a network that is designated to a wireless communication device; means for storing the received data until the wireless communication device is located, based on an active connection, on one of the connections in the connection set; means for selecting a connection from the one or more connections in a connection set associated with a wireless communication device for which data is directed; and means for transmitting the stored data on the selected connection to the wireless communication device.
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Specification