Radio access network (RAN) level keep alive signaling
First Claim
1. A method for communicating with a radio access network, the method comprising:
- determining that no data is queued at a first device for transmission to the radio access network; and
transmitting to the radio access network, based on determining that no data is queued, an identifying signal that causes the radio access network to maintain context of the first device at the radio access network, wherein no acknowledgement is received from the radio access network during the communicating.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
In a wireless communication system, a mobile station performs “keep-alive” signaling with a serving radio access network (RAN), transmitting its identity without necessarily an accompanying data portion. The serving RAN does not necessarily acknowledge. Thereby, the mobile station maintains state synchronization with the serving RAN, which also benefits in being able to timely release a context when the “keep-alive” transmission is not continued. In one aspect, the mobile station utilizes random access procedures (RACH) for uplink data arrival with a 0-byte MAC buffer status report whose identifying Cell Radio Network Temporary Identity (C-RNTI) can be used by the serving RAN for keep alive purposes. In another aspect, the mobile station can perform non-access stratum (NAS) signaling containing identification for the mobile station that is supported by underlying access stratum (AS) signaling via the serving RAN. This identifying NAS signaling is detected or a downstream recipient alerts the serving RAN.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A method for communicating with a radio access network, the method comprising:
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determining that no data is queued at a first device for transmission to the radio access network; and transmitting to the radio access network, based on determining that no data is queued, an identifying signal that causes the radio access network to maintain context of the first device at the radio access network, wherein no acknowledgement is received from the radio access network during the communicating. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. At least one processor for communicating with a radio access network, the at least one processor comprising:
- a first module for determining that no data is queued for transmission to the radio access network; and
a second module for transmitting to the radio access network, based on determining that no data is queued, an identifying signal that causes the radio access network to maintain context at the radio access network, wherein no acknowledgement is received from the radio access network during the communicating.
- a first module for determining that no data is queued for transmission to the radio access network; and
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12. A computer program product for communicating with a radio access network, the computer program product comprising:
a non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising, a first set of codes for causing a computer to determine that no data is queued at a first device for transmission to the radio access network; and a second set of codes for causing the computer to transmit to the radio access network, based on determining that no data is queued, an identifying signal that causes the radio access network to maintain context of the first device at the radio access network, wherein no acknowledgement is received from the radio access network during the communicating.
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13. An apparatus for communicating with a radio access network, the apparatus comprising:
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means for determining that no data is queued for transmission to the radio access network; and means for transmitting to the radio access network, based on determining that no data is queued, an identifying signal that causes the radio access network to maintain context at the radio access network, wherein no acknowledgement is received from the radio access network during the communicating.
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14. An apparatus for communicating with a radio access network, the apparatus comprising:
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a computing platform for determining that no data is queued for transmission to the radio access network; and a transmitter for transmitting to the radio access network, based on determining that no data is queued, an identifying signal that causes the radio access network to maintain context at the radio access network, wherein no acknowledgement is received from the radio access network during the communicating. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification