Methods and systems for managing registration signaling based on off-time duration

• US 9,173,185 B1
• Filed: 04/10/2012
• Issued: 10/27/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/10/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sprint Spectrum LLC (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: Sprint Spectrum LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Talley, Ryan S., Allen, Kyle C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Magloire, Vladimir
• Assistant Examiner(s): HEIBER, SHANTELL LAKETA
• Application Number:
  US13/442,973
• Time in Patent Office: 1,295 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 60/00 Affiliation to network, e.g. registration; Terminating affiliation with the network, e.g. de-registration

Abstract

Systems and methods are disclosed herein for managing the extent of registration signaling that a communication device sends when activating a network process, based on how long the process was turned off. For instance, if the device turns off without deregistering from a communication network and then turns on while the network registration is still current, an example system or method may help the device to recognize this situation and reduce unnecessary signaling associated with restarting a network process.

Claims

1. A method for managing registration signaling by a communication device, wherein the communication device periodically registers with a network at a periodic registration interval, wherein the communication device has a process-on state and a process-off state, and wherein the communication device normally sends an extent of signaling to register with the network upon transitioning from the process-off state to the process-on state, the method comprising:

while the communication device is in the process-on state, the communication device periodically recording time at a periodic time-recording interval shorter than the periodic registration interval, whereby the communication device records time more frequently than the communication device registers with the network;

upon transitioning from the process-off state to the process-on state, the communication device determining a duration as how much time has passed since a last time that the communication device recorded in accordance with the periodic time-recording interval; and

based on at least the determined duration, the communication device limiting the extent of signaling that the communication device sends to register with the network.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the process-off state is a state in which the device is powered off and wherein the process-on state is a state in which the device is powered on.

3. The method of claim 1,

wherein the communication device normally sends the extent of signaling to register with the network via a wireless communication link, and

wherein limiting the extent of signaling that the communication device sends to register with the network comprises limiting the extent of signaling that the communication device sends via the wireless communication link to register with the network.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the duration as how much time has passed since the last time that the communication device recorded in accordance with the periodic time-recording interval comprises:

determining a current time of the communication device transitioning from the process-off to the process-on state; and

comparing the determined current time to the last time that the communication device recorded in accordance with the periodic time-recording interval.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein limiting the extent of signaling that the communication device sends to register with the network comprises:

if the determined duration is shorter than a threshold, then reducing the extent of signaling that the communication device sends to register with the network; and

if the determined duration is longer than the threshold, then not reducing the extent of signaling that the communication device sends to register with the network.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

upon transitioning from the process-off state to the process-on state, making a determination of whether the communication device deregistered from the network;

if the determination is that the communication device deregistered from the network, then not reducing the extent of signaling that the communication device sends to register with the network; and

if the determination is that the communication device did not deregister from the network, then reducing the extent of signaling that the communication device sends to register with the network.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein limiting the extent of signaling that the communication device sends to register with the network comprises refraining from sending any signaling to register with the network.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the extent of signaling that the communication device normally sends to register with the network comprises (i) signaling to register with a radio access network and (ii) signaling to register with a mobile-IP home agent, and

wherein limiting the extent of signaling that the communication device sends to register with the network comprises refraining from sending the signaling to register with the radio access network.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the extent of signaling that the communication device normally sends to register with the network comprises (i) signaling to register with a radio access network and (ii) signaling to register with a mobile-IP home agent, and

wherein limiting the extent of signaling that the communication device sends to register with the network comprises refraining from sending the signaling to register with the mobile-IP home agent.

10. A communication device comprising:

a network interface for engaging in network communications, wherein the network interface normally periodically engages in network registration at a periodic registration interval, and wherein the network interface engages in an extent of network registration when the communication device transitions from a process-off state to a process-on state; and

control logic for (i) periodically recording time at a periodic time-recording interval shorter than the periodic registration interval, (ii) upon transitioning of the communication device from the process-off state to the process-on state, determining a current time and determining a duration as how much time has passed from a last time that the communication device recorded at the periodic time-recording interval to the determined current time, and (iii) limiting the extent of network registration based on the determined duration.

11. The communication device of claim 10, further comprising a power module for providing power to the communication device when the communication device is in the process-on state, and wherein the communication device executes the control logic in response to the power module starting to provide power to the communication device.

12. The communication device of claim 10, further comprising a processor and data storage, wherein the control logic comprises program instructions stored in the data storage and executable by the processor.

13. The communication device of claim 12, wherein the processor runs a network process when the communication device is in the process-on state, and wherein the communication device executes the control logic in response to the processor starting to run the communication process.

14. The communication device of claim 10, wherein the control logic is integrated with the network interface.

15. The communication device of claim 11, wherein the extent of network registration comprises at least radio access network registration, and wherein limiting the extent of network registration comprises causing the communication device to refrain from engaging in the radio access network registration.

16. The communication device of claim 10, wherein the extent of network registration comprises at least mobile-IP registration, and wherein limiting the extent of network registration comprises causing the communication device to refrain from engaging in the mobile-IP registration.

17. The communication device of claim 10, wherein

limiting the extent of network registration based on the determined duration comprises:

if the determined duration is shorter than a threshold, then reducing the extent of network registration; and

if the determined duration is longer than the threshold, then refraining from reducing the extent of network registration.

18. A method for managing network registration by a communication device, wherein the communication device normally periodically engages in network registration at a registration interval, and wherein the communication device normally engages in an extent of network registration when the communication device transitions from a power-off state to a power-on state, the method comprising, upon transitioning of the communication device from the power-off state to the power-on state:

the communication device determining a current time;

the communication device comparing the determined current time to a last time that the communication device recorded at a periodic time-recording interval shorter than the registration interval, to determine a duration from the last time that the communication device recorded at the period time-recording interval to the determined current time; and

the communication device limiting the extent of network registration based on the determined duration that the communication device was in the power-off state.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein limiting the extent of network registration based on the determined duration comprises:

if the determined duration is shorter than a threshold, then reducing the extent of network registration; and

if the determined duration is not shorter than the threshold, then not reducing the extent of network registration.