Method and apparatus for keep-alive signalling

• US 9,992,813 B2
• Filed: 05/03/2011
• Issued: 06/05/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Korhonen, Jouni, Isomki, Markus, Bajko, Gabor
• Primary Examiner(s): Javaid, Jamal
• Assistant Examiner(s): Clark, Rose
• Application Number:
  US14/115,024
• Publication Number:
  US 20140078968A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,590 Days
• Field of Search: 709228, 709227, 709232, 709224, 370252, 370401, 370328, 370254, 370389
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/2553 Binding renewal aspects, e.g. using keep-alive messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/02 for separating internal from external traffic, e.g. firewalls
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/28 Timers or timing mechanisms used in protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/06 Optimizing the usage of the radio link, e.g. header compression, information sizing , discarding information system modifying transmission characteristic according to link quality by modifying frame length H04L1/0007; dynamic adaptation of the packet size for flow control or congestion control H04L47/365
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0229 where the received signal is a wanted signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/20 Manipulation of established connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/25 Maintenance of established connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

Various methods for determining network entity timeout values to improve keep-alive signaling are provided. One example method may comprise providing for transmission of a request for a timeout value associated with a keep-alive timer. The method of this example embodiment may further comprise receiving a response to the request, wherein the response comprises an indication of the timeout value of the keep-alive timer. Additionally, the method may further comprise determining an expiration time of the keep-alive timer based at least in part on the timeout value. The example method may further comprise providing for transmission of a keep-alive data packet prior to the determined expiration time. Similar and related example methods, example apparatuses, and example computer program products are also provided.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

providing for transmission of a request for one or more timeout values associated with one or more respective keep-alive timers;

receiving a response to the request, wherein the response comprises an indication of the one or more timeout values requested including the one or more timeout values associated with the one or more respective keep-alive timers;

determining an expiration time of each respective keep-alive timer based at least in part on each respective timeout value, wherein the each respective keep-alive timer corresponds to a Network Address Translation node, a firewall, or a Packet Data Protocol context;

providing for transmission of a keep-alive data packet prior to the determined expiration time;

receiving a query from an application for a timeout value associated with the one or more keep-alive timers, wherein the query comprises an indication of the timeout value desired; and

providing for transmission of the timeout value for a corresponding keep-alive timer to the application.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein providing for transmission of a request further comprises providing for transmission of the request via a method selected from a group consisting of Non-Access-Stratum Protocol, Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol, or Internet Protocol version 6 Neighbor Discovery Protocol.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein providing for transmission of a request further comprises providing for transmission of the request through a Protocol Configuration Option.

4. An apparatus comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory comprising computer program code, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to;

provide for transmission of a request for one or more timeout values associated with one or more respective keep-alive timers;

receive a response to the request, wherein the response comprises an indication of the one or more timeout values requested including the one or more timeout values associated with the one or more respective keep-alive timers;

determine an expiration time of each respective keep-alive timer based at least in part on each respective timeout value, wherein the each respective keep-alive timer corresponds to a Network Address Translation node, a firewall, or a Packet Data Protocol context;

provide for transmission of a keep-alive data packet prior to the determined expiration time;

receive a query request from an application for a timeout value associated with the one or more keep-alive timers, wherein the query comprises an indication of the timeout value desired; and

provide for transmission of the timeout value for a corresponding keep-alive timer to the application.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein in order to provide for transmission of a request the at least one memory and the computer program code are further configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to provide for transmission of the request via a method selected from a group consisting of Non-Access-Stratum Protocol, Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol, or Internet Protocol version 6 Neighbor Discovery Protocol.

6. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein in order to provide for transmission of a request the at least one memory and the computer program code are further configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to provide for transmission of the request through a Protocol Configuration Option.

7. A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable medium bearing computer program code embodied therein for use with a computer, the computer program code comprising:

code for providing for transmission of a request for one or more timeout values associated with one or more respective keep-alive timers, wherein the request comprises an indication of the one or more timeout values desired;

code for receiving a response to the request, wherein the response comprises the indication of the one or more timeout values desired including the one or more timeout values associated with the one or more respective keep-alive timers;

code for determining an expiration time of each respective keep-alive timer based at least in part on each respective timeout value, wherein the each respective keep-alive timer corresponds to a Network Address Translation node, a firewall, or a Packet Data Protocol context;

code for providing for transmission of a keep-alive data packet prior to the determined expiration time;

code for receiving a query from an application for a timeout value associated with the one or more keep-alive timers, wherein the query comprises an indication of the timeout value desired; and

code for providing for transmission of the timeout value for a corresponding keep-alive timer to the application.

8. An apparatus comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory comprising computer program code, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to;

establish one or more timeout values associated with one or more respective keep-alive timers;

receive a request for the one or more timeout values associated with the one or more respective keep-alive timers, wherein the request comprises an indication of the one or more timeout values desired;

determine an expiration time associated with each respective keep-alive timer based at least in part on each respective timeout value, wherein the each respective keep-alive timer corresponds to a Network Address Translation node, a firewall, or a Packet Data Protocol context; and

provide for transmission of a response, wherein the response comprises the indication of the one or more timeout values desired including the one or more timeout values associated with the one or more respective keep-alive timers.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein in order to establish a timeout value for a keep-alive timer the at least one memory and the computer program code are further configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to establish a separate timeout value for the one or more keep-alive timers for each Access Point Name.