Application-proxy support over a wireless link

• US 9,521,621 B2
• Filed: 06/02/2010
• Issued: 12/13/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Krishnaswamy, Dilip
• Primary Examiner(s): Clawson, Stephen J
• Application Number:
  US12/792,433
• Publication Number:
  US 20110299454A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,386 Days
• Field of Search: 370/328
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1095 Replication or mirroring of data, e.g. scheduling or transport for data synchronisation between network nodes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/564 Enhancement of application control based on intercepted application data
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/566 Grouping or aggregating service requests, e.g. for unified processing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/59 Providing operational support to end devices by off-loading in the network or by emulation, e.g. when they are unavailable
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0229 where the received signal is a wanted signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/27 Transitions between radio resource control [RRC] states
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/182 Network node acting on behalf of an other network entity, e.g. proxy
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/00 Reducing energy consumption in communication networks
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

Application proxy support over a wireless link between a mobile device and a wireless node is disclosed. Application proxy support is configured to conserve energy and resources and is configured to mitigate delays in a communication environment. Application proxy support can be associated with a wireless node, such as a femto cell, which can provide a coarse-grain wireless application proxy support that can utilize various criteria to buffer data and determine how long to delay delivery of data. Femto cell can provide a fine-grain wireless application proxy that runs application proxies for each mobile device for one or more applications associated with mobile device. The proxy can determine whether to buffer and forward received data to mobile device. The wireless application proxy can respond to network on behalf of mobile device. The proxy can wake up mobile device upon arrival of a significant event associated with a proxied application.

Claims

1. A method used in a communications environment at a wireless node, comprising:

supporting communications for a mobile device with a wireless wide area network; and

providing application proxy support at the wireless node for a subset of applications running on the mobile device, wherein providing application proxy support includes transmitting a message to the mobile device instructing the mobile device to operate in a low energy consumption mode until a synchronization event occurs between the wireless node and the mobile device, and wherein providing application proxy support further includes;

buffering a plurality of data sets, for respective different applications from the subset of applications running on the mobile device, from the wireless wide area network intended for the mobile device, and

for each of the buffered plurality of data sets, causing the mobile device to wake-up after a corresponding delay associated with a respective one of the different applications from the subset of applications running on the mobile device that is based, at least in part, on delay tolerance and bandwidth requirements associated with the respective one of the different applications from the subset of applications running on the mobile device such that a first wakeup delay for a first application from the subset of applications running on the mobile device is different from a second wakeup delay for a second, different, application from the subset of applications running on the mobile device, transmitting the respective each of the buffered plurality of data sets to the awakened mobile device, and instructing the mobile device to transition to the low energy consumption mode after transmission of the each of the buffered plurality of data sets;

wherein the wireless node is accessible to the mobile device over a first wireless link.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the providing comprises:

receiving from the wireless wide area network a first subset of data intended for the mobile device; and

processing the first subset of data.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the processing comprises:

buffering the first subset of data for later transmission to the mobile device; and

conveying the first subset of data to the mobile device over the first wireless link after an expiration of a delay associated with the first subset of data and with an application, running on the mobile device, to process the first subset of data.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the delay is dynamically configurable.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the processing comprises determining whether to transmit the first subset of data to the mobile device.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the conveying is performed based on the determination.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the providing comprises communicating to the wireless wide area network on behalf of a proxied application associated with the mobile device.

8. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

receiving a second subset of data;

buffering the second subset of data; and

transmitting the second subset of data at substantially the same time as the first subset of data.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the buffering comprises aggregating data and the conveying comprises delivering the aggregated data to the mobile device in a data burst, the method further comprises instructing the mobile device to enter the low energy consumption mode after receipt of the aggregated data.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the aggregating is based on a classification, a quality of service, an application type, a configurable selection, an acceptable delay time, or combinations thereof.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

maintaining at least two states for the subset of applications associated with the mobile device at the wireless node, wherein the maintaining comprises reserving a first state for at least one interaction between the wireless node and the wireless wide area network and reserving a second state for at least one interaction between the wireless node and the mobile device.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the second state is the low energy consumption mode and represents a lower energy state for the mobile device compared to the first state.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the first application, with the first wakeup delay, is an instant messaging application, and wherein the second, different, application, with the second wakeup delay, is one of an email application, voice application, browser application, or video application.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein providing the application proxy support comprises:

performing a coarse synchronization with the subset of applications running on the mobile device based on an occasional wakeup for synchronization according to the wakeup delays associated with the different applications of the subset of applications running on the mobile device.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein a first subset of data is delivered by the wireless node to the mobile device over a second wireless link.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the first wireless link or the second wireless link is selected to minimize energy utilization for wireless communications between the wireless node and the mobile device.

17. The method of claims 16, wherein an availability of a second state is dependent on the availability of the second wireless link.

18. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

identifying active applications on the mobile device;

running an application proxy for one or more of the identified active applications.

19. The method of claim 1, further comprising waking up the mobile device over at least one wireless link between the mobile device and the wireless node upon arrival of a significant event associated with a proxied application.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the subset of applications associated with the mobile device comprises all applications associated with the mobile device.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one wireless link between the mobile device and the wireless node is encrypted.

22. The method of claim 1 wherein the wireless node is a femto cell.

23. A communications apparatus, comprising:

a memory that retains instructions related to supporting communications for a mobile device with a wireless wide area network and providing application proxy support at the communications apparatus for a subset of applications running on the mobile device, wherein the instructions for providing application proxy support include instructions for transmitting a message to the mobile device instructing the mobile device to operate in a low energy consumption mode until a synchronization event occurs between the communications apparatus and the mobile device, wherein the instructions for providing application proxy support further include instructions for;

buffering a plurality of data sets, for respective different applications from the subset of applications running on the mobile device, from the wireless wide area network intended for the mobile device, and

each of the buffered plurality of data sets, causing the mobile device to wake-up after a corresponding delay associated with a respective one of the different applications from the subset of applications running on the mobile device that is based, at least in part, on delay tolerance and bandwidth requirements associated with the respective one of the different applications from the subset of applications running on the mobile device such that a first wakeup delay for a first application from the subset of applications running on the mobile device is different from a second wakeup delay for a second, different, application from the subset of applications running on the mobile device, transmitting the respective each of the buffered plurality of data sets to the awakened mobile device, and instructing the mobile device to transition to the low energy consumption mode after transmission of the each of the buffered plurality of data sets, and wherein the communications apparatus is accessible to the mobile device over a first wireless link; and

a processor, coupled to the memory, configured to execute the instructions retained in the memory.

24. The communications apparatus of claim 23, the memory retains further instructions related to receiving from the wireless wide area network a first subset of data intended for the mobile device, buffering the first subset of data for later transmission to the mobile device, and conveying the first subset of data to the mobile device over the first wireless link after an expiration of a delay associated with the first subset of data and with an application, running on the mobile device, to process the first subset of data.

25. The communications apparatus of claim 23, the memory retains further instructions related to maintaining at least two states for the subset of applications associated with the mobile device at the communications apparatus, wherein the instructions related to maintaining comprises instructions related to reserving a first state for at least one interaction between the communications apparatus and the wireless wide area network and reserving a second state for at least one interaction between the communications apparatus and the mobile device.

26. The communications apparatus of claim 23, the memory retains further instructions related to identifying active applications on the mobile device, operating an application proxy for one or more of the active applications, buffering data associated with each active application, and delivering the buffered data to the mobile device after expiration of a configurable delay.

27. A communications apparatus that provides proxy support for a mobile device, comprising:

means for supporting communications for the mobile device with a wireless wide area network; and

means for providing application proxy support at the communications apparatus for a subset of applications running on the mobile device, wherein the means for providing application proxy support include means for transmitting a message to the mobile device instructing the mobile device to operate in a low energy consumption mode until a synchronization event occurs between the wireless node and the mobile device, and wherein the means for providing application proxy support further include;

means for buffering a plurality of data sets, for respective different applications from the subset of applications running on the mobile device, from the wireless wide area network intended for the mobile device, and

means for performing operations, for each of the buffered plurality of data sets, comprising causing the mobile device to wake-up after a corresponding delay associated with a respective one of the different applications from the subset of applications running on the mobile device that is based, at least in part, on delay tolerance and bandwidth requirements associated with the respective one of the different applications from the subset of applications running on the mobile device such that a first wakeup delay for a first application from the subset of applications running on the mobile device is different from a second wakeup delay for a second, different, application from the subset of applications running on the mobile device, transmitting the respective each of the buffered plurality of data sets to the awakened mobile device, and instructing the mobile device to transition to the low energy consumption mode after transmission of the each of the buffered plurality of data sets.

28. The communications apparatus of claim 27, wherein the means for providing comprises:

means for receiving from the wireless wide area network a first subset of data intended for the mobile device; and

means for processing the first subset of data.

29. The communications apparatus of claim 27, further comprising:

means for buffering a first subset of data for later transmission to the mobile device; and

means for conveying the first subset of data to the mobile device over a first wireless link after an expiration of a delay associated with the first subset of data and with an application, running on the mobile device, to process the first subset of data.

30. The communications apparatus of claim 29, further comprising means for maintaining at least two states for the subset of applications associated with the mobile device at the communications apparatus, wherein the means for maintaining comprises means for reserving a first state for at least one interaction between the communications apparatus and the wireless wide area network and means for reserving a second state for at least one interaction between the communications apparatus and the mobile device.

31. The communications apparatus of claim 27, further comprising:

means for receiving a second subset of data;

means for buffering the second subset of data; and

means for transmitting the second subset of data at substantially the same time as a first subset of data.

32. The communications apparatus of claim 27, further comprising:

means for identifying active applications on the mobile device;

means for running an application proxy for at least one of the active applications to buffer data; and

means for delivering the buffered data to the mobile device based on a configurable delay.

33. A computer program product, comprising:

a non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising;

a first set of codes for causing a computer to support communications for a mobile device with a wireless wide area network; and

a second set of codes for causing the computer to provide application proxy support for a subset of applications running on the mobile device the mobile device, wherein the second set of codes for causing the computer to provide application proxy support includes a set of codes for causing the computer to transmit a message to the mobile device instructing the mobile device to operate in a low energy consumption mode until a synchronization event occurs between the computer and the mobile device, and wherein the second set of codes for causing the computer to provide application proxy support further includes another set of codes for causing the computer to;

buffer a plurality of data sets, for respective different applications from the subset of applications running on the mobile device, from the wireless wide area network intended for the mobile device, and

for each of the buffered plurality of data sets, cause the mobile device to wake-up after a corresponding delay associated with a respective one of the different applications from the subset of applications running on the mobile device that is based, at least in part, on delay tolerance and bandwidth requirements associated with the respective one of the different applications from the subset of applications running on the mobile device such that a first wakeup delay for a first application from the subset of applications running on the mobile device is different from a second wakeup delay for a second, different, application from the subset of applications running on the mobile device, transmit the respective each of the buffered plurality of data sets to the awakened mobile device, and instruct the mobile device to transition to the low energy consumption mode after transmission of the each of the buffered plurality of data sets.

34. The computer program product of claim 33, the computer-readable medium further comprising:

a third set of codes for causing the computer to receive from the wireless wide area network a first subset of data intended for the mobile device;

a fourth set of codes for causing the computer to buffer the first subset of data for later transmission to the mobile device; and

a fifth set of codes for causing the computer to convey the first subset of data to the mobile device over a first wireless link after expiration of a delay associated with the first subset of data and with an application, running on the mobile device, to process the first subset of data.

35. At least one processor configured to provide proxy support for a mobile device, comprising:

a first module that supports communications for the mobile device with a wireless wide area network;

a second module that provides application proxy support for a subset of applications running on the mobile device, wherein the second module is further configured to instruct the first module to transmit a message to the mobile device instructing the mobile device to operate in a low energy consumption mode until a synchronization event with the mobile device, and wherein the second module is further configured to;

buffer a plurality of data sets, for respective different applications from the subset of applications running on the mobile device, from the wireless wide area network intended for the mobile device, and

for each of the buffered plurality of data sets, cause the mobile device to wake-up after a corresponding delay associated with a respective one of the different applications from the subset of applications running on the mobile device that is based, at least in part, on delay tolerance and bandwidth requirements associated with the respective one of the different applications from the subset of applications running on the mobile device such that a first wakeup delay for a first application from the subset of applications running on the mobile device is different from a second wakeup delay for a second, different, application from the subset of applications running on the mobile device, transmit the respective each of the buffered plurality of data sets to the awakened mobile device, and instruct the mobile device to transition to the low energy consumption mode after transmission of the each of the buffered plurality of data sets;

a third module that receives from the wireless wide area network a first subset of data intended for the mobile device; and

a fourth module that processes the first subset of data.

36. The at least one processor of claim 35, further comprising:

a fifth module that buffers the first subset of data for later transmission to the mobile device; and

a sixth module that conveys the first subset of data to the mobile device over a first wireless link after expiration of a delay associated with the first subset of data and with an application, running on the mobile device, to process the first subset of data, wherein the delay is dynamically configurable.

37. A mobile device comprising:

one or more processors; and

storage media comprising computer instructions that, when executed on the one or more processors, cause operations comprising;

communicating with a communication apparatus configured to support communications for the mobile device with a wireless wide area network; and

receiving a plurality of data sets from the communication apparatus;

wherein the communication apparatus is further configured to provide application proxy support at the communication apparatus for a subset of applications running on the mobile device the mobile device, wherein the communication apparatus configured to provide the application proxy support is configured to transmit a message to the mobile device instructing the mobile device to operate in a low energy consumption mode until a synchronization event occurs between the communications apparatus and the mobile device, and wherein the communication apparatus configured to provide the application proxy support is further configured to;

buffer the plurality of data sets, for respective different applications from the subset of applications running on the mobile device, from the wireless wide area network intended for the mobile device; and

for each of the buffered plurality of data sets, causing the mobile device to wake-up after a corresponding delay associated with a respective one of the different applications from the subset of applications running on the mobile device that is based, at least in part, on delay tolerance and bandwidth requirements associated with the respective one of the different applications from the subset of applications running on the mobile device such that a first wakeup delay for a first application from the subset of applications running on the mobile device is different from a second wakeup delay for a second, different, application from the subset of applications running on the mobile device, transmitting the respective each of the buffered plurality of data sets to the awakened mobile device, and instructing the mobile device to transition to the low energy consumption mode after transmission of the each of the buffered plurality of data sets, the communications apparatus being accessible to the mobile device over a first wireless link.

38. The mobile device of claim 37, wherein the communication apparatus is further configured to:

receive from the wireless wide area network a first subset of data intended for the mobile device, buffer the first subset of data for later transmission to the mobile device, and convey the first subset of data to the mobile device over the first wireless link after an expiration of a delay associated with the first subset of data and with an application, running on the mobile device, to process the first subset of data.

39. The mobile device of claim 37, wherein the communication apparatus is further configured to:

maintain at least two states for the subset of applications associated with the mobile device at the communications apparatus, wherein the communication apparatus configured to maintain is configured to reserve a first state for at least one interaction between the communications apparatus and the wireless wide area network, and reserve a second state for at least one interaction between the communications apparatus and the mobile device.

40. The mobile device of claim 37, wherein the communication apparatus is further configured to:

identify active applications on the mobile device, operate an application proxy for one or more of the active applications, buffer data associated with each active application, and deliver the buffered data to the mobile device after expiration of a configurable delay.