Network-initiated data transfer in a mobile network

• US 10,009,940 B2
• Filed: 03/30/2015
• Issued: 06/26/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Seven Networks LLC (SoftBank Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Seven Networks LLC (SoftBank Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Backholm, Ari
• Primary Examiner(s): Kizou, Hassan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bhatti, Hashim
• Application Number:
  US14/673,775
• Publication Number:
  US 20150208460A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,184 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0811 by checking connectivity
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/10 Active monitoring, e.g. heartbeat, ping or trace-route
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/14 Session management for real-time applications in data packet communications networks H04L65/1066
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/1205 where the types of switching equipement comprises PSTN/ISDN equipment and switching equipment of networks other than PSTN/ISDN, e.g. Internet Protocol networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/20 Control channels or signalling for resource management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/19 Connection re-establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/25 Maintenance of established connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/38 triggered by timers
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/04 Network layer protocols, e.g. mobile IP [Internet Protocol]

Abstract

A method for Internet Protocol communication from a communications server to a mobile terminal includes receiving data for communication to the mobile terminal, the data received at the communications server, identifying the unavailability of an Internet Protocol connection with the mobile terminal, and initiating the delivery of a message for establishing an Internet Protocol connection with the mobile network to the mobile terminal in response to the determination that an Internet Protocol connection is unavailable.

Claims

1. A method for Internet Protocol communication from a communications server to a wireless terminal, the method comprising:

receiving data for communication to the wireless terminal, the data is received at the communications server;

identifying an unavailability of Internet Protocol connectivity with the wireless terminal;

determining an availability of an out-band messaging mechanism with the wireless terminal;

initiating a delivery of a message for establishing an Internet Protocol connection with an access network to the wireless terminal in response to a determination that the Internet Protocol connection is unavailable;

establishing the Internet Protocol connection with the wireless terminal via the access network; and

transferring the data to the wireless terminal, wherein the wireless terminal is configured to enter a periodic polling mode in an absence of a previously established Internet Protocol connection and an unavailability of the out-band messaging mechanism with the communications server.

2. The method of claim 1, including:

sending a keep-alive message over the Internet Protocol connection following a first event;

commencing a timer following the sending of the keep-alive message; and

terminating sending of keep-alive messages following a second event.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the timer is physical.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the timer is logical.

5. The method of claim 1, further including:

commencing a timer after transferring the data to the wireless terminal; and

disconnecting from the Internet Protocol connection following a first event.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the message is sent from a short messaging service center in response to instructions from the communications server.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the message is a short message service message.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the period polling mode includes the wireless terminal periodically establishing an Internet Protocol connection with the communications server.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the periodic polling mode further includes the wireless terminal periodically sending inquires via the Internet Protocol connection to the communications server for data items to be synchronized.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein wireless terminal is a mobile wireless terminal.

11. A server having hardware and computer code thereon, that is configured to:

receive data for communication to a wireless terminal;

identify an unavailability of Internet Protocol connectivity with the wireless terminal;

determine an availability of an out-band messaging mechanism with the wireless terminal;

initiate a delivery of a message for establishing an Internet Protocol connection with an access network to the wireless terminal in response to a determination that the Internet Protocol connection is unavailable;

establish the Internet Protocol connection with the wireless terminal via the access network; and

transfer the data to the wireless terminal, wherein the wireless terminal is configured to enter a periodic polling mode in an absence of a previously established Internet Protocol connection and an unavailability of the out-band messaging mechanism with the server.

12. The server of claim 11, wherein the server is further configured for:

sending a keep-alive message over the Internet Protocol connection following a first event;

commencing a timer following the sending of the keep-alive message; and

terminating sending of keep-alive messages following a second event.

13. The server of claim 12, wherein the timer is physical.

14. The server of claim 11, wherein the server is further configured for:

commencing a timer after transferring the data to the wireless terminal; and

disconnecting from the Internet Protocol connection following a first event.

15. The server of claim 12, wherein the timer is logical.

16. The server of claim 11, wherein the message is sent from a short messaging service center in response to instructions from the server.

17. The server of claim 16, wherein the message is a short message service message.

18. The server of claim 11, wherein the period polling mode includes the wireless terminal periodically establishing an Internet Protocol connection with server.

19. The server of claim 18, wherein the periodic polling mode further includes the wireless terminal periodically sending inquires via the Internet Protocol connection to the server for data items to be synchronized.

20. The server of claim 11, wherein wireless terminal is a mobile wireless terminal.