Cost reduction of NAT connection state keep-alive
First Claim
1. A method of managing communications connections, comprising acts of:
- in an enhanced keep-alive packet processing mode, receiving a keep-alive packet from an external network at a network boundary component;
resetting a connection timer associated with a communications connection between a wireless device on an internal network and the external network in response to receiving the keep-alive packet from the external network;
monitoring the communications connection based on utilization of the enhanced keep-alive packet processing mode; and
automatically changing to a standard keep-alive packet processing mode based on reduced quality in a connection state of the communications connection.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Keep-alive processing for NAT devices and reducing power consumption in wireless clients. A server driven keep-alive mechanism facilitates keep-alive messages to a NAT device currently providing a connection to a mobile client to refresh the NAT state, thereby reducing or eliminating power consumption in a wireless device to respond to the connection with keep-alive packets. In one instance, keep-alive packets are sent to the NAT device to reset the NAT timeout timer, and then to the mobile client. The client responds only when expected keep-alive packets are not received at the client. In another instance, keep-alive packets reset the NAT timer to maintain the connection but are dropped or self-destruct before reaching the mobile client thereby providing the optimum power conservation in the mobile device. Thus, the client is not forced into extra client activity to send or receive wireless data, thereby draining the battery.
21 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of managing communications connections, comprising acts of:
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in an enhanced keep-alive packet processing mode, receiving a keep-alive packet from an external network at a network boundary component; resetting a connection timer associated with a communications connection between a wireless device on an internal network and the external network in response to receiving the keep-alive packet from the external network; monitoring the communications connection based on utilization of the enhanced keep-alive packet processing mode; and automatically changing to a standard keep-alive packet processing mode based on reduced quality in a connection state of the communications connection. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A computer-readable memory having instructions stored therein for performing operations that manage communications connections, the operations comprising:
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in an enhanced keep-alive packet processing mode, receiving a keep-alive packet from an external network at a network boundary component; resetting a connection timer associated with a communications connection between a wireless device on an internal network and the external network in response to receiving the keep-alive packet from the external network; monitoring the communications connection based on utilization of the enhanced keep-alive packet processing mode; and automatically changing to a standard keep-alive packet processing mode based on reduced quality in a connection state of the communications connection. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An apparatus for managing a communications connection, comprising:
a memory and a processor that are respectively configured to store and execute instructions that; establish an IP connection between an external network and a wireless device of an internal network via the apparatus; receive a keep-alive packet from the external network into the apparatus; reset a connection timer in response to receiving the keep-alive packet from the external network; maintain the IP connection between the external network and the wireless device via the apparatus based on receiving keep-alive packets from the external network; monitor the IP connection between the external network and the wireless device based on utilization of an enhanced keep-alive packet processing mode; and automatically change to a standard keep-alive packet processing mode based on a reduced quality in a connection state between the external network and the wireless device. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
Specification