Dynamic configuration of inactivity timeouts for data radio bearers

• US 9,241,309 B2
• Filed: 11/04/2013
• Issued: 01/19/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Deivasigamani, Giri Prassad
• Primary Examiner(s): Pham, Chi H
• Assistant Examiner(s): HOM, SHICK C
• Application Number:
  US14/070,827
• Publication Number:
  US 20140126446A1
• Time in Patent Office: 806 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0216 using a pre-established activity schedule, e.g. traffic indication frame
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

Method and apparatus for dynamic configuration of an inactivity timeout period for a data radio bearer used to transport data for a data service between a wireless communication device and a wireless network is provided. The method includes formatting a message including information related to the data service. The method further includes sending the message from the wireless communication device to the wireless network that is attendant to establishment of the data radio bearer for the data service. The method additionally includes receiving, at the wireless communication device, an assignment of the data service to the data radio bearer. The data radio bearer can have a customized inactivity timeout period defined by the wireless network based at least in part on the information in the message provided by the wireless communication device. The method also includes sending data for the data service over the data radio bearer.

Claims

1. A method to establish a data radio bearer with a customized inactivity timeout period between a wireless communication device and a wireless network, the method comprising:

formatting, by a processor of the wireless communication device, a message including information related to a data service;

sending the message from the wireless communication device to the wireless network that is attendant to establishing one or more data radio bearers for the data service;

receiving, at the wireless communication device, an assignment of the data service to the data radio bearer, the data radio bearer being associated with the customized inactivity timeout period defined by the wireless network based at least in part on the information related to the data service provided by the wireless communication device; and

sending data for the data service from the wireless communication device to the wireless network via the data radio bearer,

wherein the customized inactivity timeout period determines a continuous time period of data inactivity in both downlink and uplink directions for the data radio bearer for the data service while the data radio bearer is established and the wireless communication device operates in a radio resource control (RRC) connected state with the wireless network.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the customized inactivity timeout period determines the continuous time period of inactivity in both the downlink and uplink directions for the data radio bearer after which the wireless network releases the data radio bearer.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the information related to the data service comprises an indication of a data service type of the data service, and wherein the data radio bearer is dedicated exclusively for servicing the indicated data service type.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the data service type comprises one of a short message service (SMS) message, a multimedia messaging service (MMS) message, an email, web browsing data, or voice data.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the information related to the data service comprises an actual or an estimated amount of data to be sent for the data service over the data radio bearer.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the information related to the data service comprises user history information indicative of a historical usage pattern for a user of the data service.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the information related to the data service comprises device status information indicative of whether the wireless communication device is in a locked state.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the customized inactivity timeout period is defined by the wireless network further based on a modulation and coding scheme used for a connection between the wireless communication device and the wireless network.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

signaling the wireless network to trigger one or more of a reset to restart the customized inactivity timeout period or an extension of time for the customized inactivity timeout period associated with the data radio bearer to allow for additional data activity for the data service over the data radio bearer.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

sending data for a second data service from the wireless communication device to the wireless network over a second data radio bearer, wherein the second data radio bearer has a second inactivity timeout period.

11. A wireless communication device comprising:

a transceiver configured to transmit data to and receive data from a wireless network; and

processing circuitry coupled to the transceiver, the processing circuitry configured to control the wireless communication device to at least;

format a message including information related to a data service;

send the message to the wireless network that is attendant to establishment of a data radio bearer for the data service;

receive an assignment of the data service to the data radio bearer, the data radio bearer having an inactivity timeout period defined by the wireless network based at least in part on the information related to the data service; and

send data for the data service to the wireless network over the data radio bearer, wherein the inactivity timeout period determines a continuous time period of data inactivity in both downlink and uplink directions for the data radio bearer for the data service while the data radio bearer is established and the wireless communication device operates in a radio resource control (RRC) connected state with the wireless network.

12. The wireless communication device of claim 11, wherein the data radio bearer is released by the wireless network in an instance in which the inactivity timeout period lapses due to data inactivity in both the downlink and uplink directions on the data radio bearer.

13. The wireless communication device of claim 11, wherein the information related to the data service comprises an indication of a data service type of the data service, and wherein the data radio bearer is dedicated exclusively for servicing the indicated data service type.

14. The wireless communication device of claim 11, wherein the information related to the data service comprises an actual or an estimated amount of data to be sent for the data service over the data radio bearer.

15. The wireless communication device of claim 11, wherein the information related to the data service comprises an actual or an estimated length of time for data to be sent or received for the data service.

16. The wireless communication device of claim 11, wherein the information related to the data service comprises an access point name (APN) to which data is to be sent and/or from which data is to be received.

17. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having storing computer program code that, when executed by one or more processors of a wireless communication device, causes the wireless communication device to at least:

format a message including information related to a data service;

send the message from the wireless communication device to a wireless network that is attendant to establishment of a data radio bearer for the data service;

receive, at the wireless communication device, an assignment of the data service to the data radio bearer, the data radio bearer having an inactivity timeout period defined by the wireless network based at least in part on the information related to the data service; and

send data for the data service from the wireless communication device to the wireless network over the data radio bearer,

wherein the inactivity timeout period determines a continuous time period of data inactivity in both downlink and uplink directions for the data radio bearer for the data service while the data radio bearer is established and the wireless communication device operates in a radio resource control (RRC) connected state with the wireless network.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the information related to the data service comprises an indication of a data service type of the data service, and wherein the data radio bearer is dedicated exclusively for servicing the indicated data service type.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the information related to the data service comprises an amount of data to be sent for the data service over the data radio bearer.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the information related to the data service comprises device status information indicative of whether the wireless communication device is in a locked state.