Method and apparatus for state/mode transitioning

• US 9,037,167 B2
• Filed: 06/19/2013
• Issued: 05/19/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Islam, Muhammad Khaledul, Wirtanen, Jeffrey, Suzuki, Takashi, Young, Gordon Peter, Arzelier, Claude
• Primary Examiner(s): WEST, LEWIS G
• Application Number:
  US13/921,728
• Publication Number:
  US 20130295905A1
• Time in Patent Office: 699 Days
• Field of Search: 455/574, 455/458, 370/311, 370/329, 370/331
• US Class Current: 455/458
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/12 using downlink control channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0251 using monitoring of local events, e.g. events related to user activity
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/02 Selection of wireless resources by user or terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/21 in the uplink direction of a wireless link, i.e. towards the network
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/23 in the downlink direction of a wireless link, i.e. towards a terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/27 Transitions between radio resource control [RRC] states
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/30 Connection release
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A method and apparatus for transitioning states or modes on a user equipment, the method having the steps of receiving, at a network element, a transition indication; checking a radio resource profile for the user equipment; and making a transitioning decision at the network element based on the received transition indication and the radio resource profile.

Claims

1. A method performed by a network element to control a radio resource control (RRC) configuration of a user equipment (UE), the method comprising:

receiving at the network element, a preference indication from the UE to transition to a more battery efficient RRC configuration;

determining at least one radio resource parameter associated with the UE; and

determining whether to adjust the RRC configuration of the UE based upon the received preference indication and the at least one determined radio resource parameter, and not to adjust the RRC configuration of the UE if more than a predetermined number of preference indications are received during a predetermined time period.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one radio resource parameter comprises a discontinuous reception (DRX) time value.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one radio resource parameter is a quality of service (QoS) for a radio access bearer.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising refraining, at the network element, from transitioning the UE to the more battery efficient RRC configuration when the QoS is interactive.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein upon determining to adjust the RRC configuration of the UE, the method further comprises sending a message to adjust the UE'"'"'s RRC configuration.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising sending the UE a message to release radio resources whilst maintaining an RRC connection.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising sending the UE an RRC release message in order to transition the UE to an idle mode.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising changing a data rate allocation of a radio resource assigned to the UE.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the preference indication is associated with power consumption.

10. A network element to control a radio resource control (RRC) configuration of a user equipment (UE) comprising at least one processor, the at least one processor configured to:

receive a preference indication from the UE indicating a preference to transition to a more battery efficient RRC configuration;

determine at least one radio resource parameter associated with the UE; and

determine whether to adjust the RRC configuration of the UE based upon the received preference indication and the at least one determined radio resource parameter, and not to adjust the RRC configuration of the UE if more than a predetermined number of preference indications are received during a predetermined time period.

11. The network element of claim 10, wherein the at least one radio resource parameter comprises a discontinuous reception (DRX) time value.

12. The network element of claim 10, wherein the at least one radio resource parameter is a quality of service (QoS) for a radio access bearer.

13. The network element of claim 12, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to refrain from transitioning the UE to the more battery efficient RRC configuration when the QoS is interactive.

14. The network element of claim 10, wherein upon determining to adjust the RRC configuration of the UE, the at least one processor is further configured to send a message to adjust the UE'"'"'s RRC configuration.

15. The network element of claim 10, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to send the UE a message to release radio resources whilst maintaining an RRC connection.

16. The network element of claim 10, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to send the UE an RRC release message in order to transition the UE to an idle mode.

17. The network element of claim 10, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to change a data rate allocation of a radio resource assigned to the UE.

18. The network element of claim 10, wherein the preference indication is associated with power consumption.