Method and apparatus for controlling connectivity to a network

• US 9,648,657 B2
• Filed: 03/30/2012
• Issued: 05/09/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: InterDigital Patent Holdings, Inc. (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: InterDigital Patent Holdings, Inc. (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Inventors: Pelletier, Ghyslain, Olvera-Hernandez, Ulises, Watfa, Mahmoud, Ahmad, Saad
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Parth
• Application Number:
  US13/436,457
• Publication Number:
  US 20120281566A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,866 Days
• Field of Search: 370337, 370328, 370312, 370332, 370336, 370329, 370252, 370311, 4553432, 455458, 4554121, 4554521, 455507, 455436, 455 39
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/1221 based on age of data to be sent
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/569 of the traffic information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/27 Transitions between radio resource control [RRC] states
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

Method and apparatus for controlling connectivity to a network for intermittent data services are disclosed. A new dormant mode is defined such that a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) may transition from a connected state or an idle state to the dormant mode based on triggering conditions. The WTRU may transition from a connected state or an idle state to a dormant mode if the characteristic or the priority of the data matches a characteristics or a priority for the dormant mode and operate using configuration which is different from configuration used for the connected state or the idle state. The WTRU in the dormant mode may perform a WTRU-controlled mobility procedure. The WTRU in the dormant mode may maintain a dedicated resource, such as a cell radio network temporary identity (C-RNTI), for receiving a unicast traffic from the network.

Claims

1. A mobility management entity (MME) comprising:

circuitry configured to process information relating to an expected connection management state behavior of a WTRU;

circuitry configured to derive information relating to an expected change in the connection management state of the WTRU based on the information processed at the MME; and

circuitry configured to inform an eNB of the derived information by transmitting the derived information from the MME to the eNB using S1-AP signaling on a condition that an S1 signaling connection is set up between the MME and the eNB and the WTRU is transitioning from an idle state;

wherein the expected change in connection management state of the WTRU relates to an idle state and a connected state, wherein the processed information includes a time factor, wherein the time factor relates to a period of time for which resources should be setup.

2. The MME of claim 1, wherein the change in connection management state comprises exiting the connection management state.

3. The MME of claim 1, wherein the change in connection management state comprises deactivating the connection management state.

4. The MME of claim 1, wherein the change in connection management state comprises exiting a dormant mode.

5. The MME of claim 1, wherein the derived information is derived based on a time factor.

6. A method for providing connectivity information from a mobility management entity (MME) comprising:

processing information relating to an expected connection management state of a WTRU;

deriving information relating to an expected change in the connection management state of the WTRU based on the information processed at the MME; and

informing an eNB of the derived information by transmitting the derived information from the MME to the eNB using S1-AP signaling on a condition that an S1 signaling connection is set up between the MME and the eNB and the WTRU is transitioning from an idle state;

wherein the expected change in connection management state of the WTRU relates to an idle state and a connected state, wherein the processed information includes a time factor, wherein the time factor relates to a period of time for which resources should be setup.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the change in connection management state comprises exiting the connection management state.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the change in connection management state comprises deactivating the connection management state.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the change in connection management state comprises exiting a dormant mode.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein the first information includes a time factor, wherein the time factor indicates a period of time for which radio resources should be set up.

11. The method of claim 6, wherein the derived information is derived based on a time factor.