Traffic monitoring

• US 20080039032A1
• Filed: 06/30/2006
• Published: 02/14/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Haumont, Serge
• Granted Patent: US 8,260,372 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/115.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0216 using a pre-established activity schedule, e.g. traffic indication frame
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/22 Processing or transfer of terminal data, e.g. status or physical capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention include a method comprising monitoring a traffic pattern relating to a terminal, and regulating states of the terminal according to the monitored traffic pattern. Other embodiments relate to associated apparatus, communication systems, network elements and computer program products.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

a) monitoring a traffic pattern relating to a terminal; and

b) regulating states of the terminal according to the monitored traffic pattern.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of regulating states comprises setting a timer of the terminal.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the monitored traffic pattern comprises a keep alive message pattern relating to the terminal.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the terminal is a mobile terminal.

5. A method according to claim 1, further comprising storing data indicative of the monitored traffic pattern in a node in a telecommunications system.

6. A method according to claim 5, wherein the data is stored in a first controller node having a connection with the terminal.

7. A method according to claim 6, further comprising transmitting the data to a second controller node when the terminal establishes a connection with the second controller node.

8. A method according to claim 2, wherein the setting of the timer defines a period after which the terminal shifts to a state having a lower power consumption, if the terminal is inactive during the period.

9. A method according to claim 8, wherein if the frequency of keep alive messages decreases, a length of the period is increased.

10. A method according to claim 8, wherein if the frequency of keep alive messages increases, a length of the period is decreased.

11. A method according to claim 1, wherein the traffic pattern is monitored by a controller node in the telecommunications system having a connection with the terminal.

12. A method according to claim 11, wherein the controller node sends an indication of an timer setting to the terminal in an attach accept message, a routing area accept message or a dedicated timer modification message.

13. A method according to claim 1, further comprising monitoring mobility of the terminal.

14. A method according to claim 13, comprising setting a timer according to the monitored mobility of the terminal and the monitored traffic pattern of the terminal.

15. A method according to claim 13, wherein if mobility of the terminal decreases, a length of a period of inactivity after which the timer expires is increased.

16. A method according to claim 1, wherein the monitored traffic pattern comprises a level of paging traffic associated with the terminal.

17. A method according to claim 1, further comprising setting a periodic routing area update timer for the terminal according to the monitored traffic pattern and/or mobility of the terminal.

19. An apparatus according to claim 17, which is configured to regulate states by setting a timer of the terminal.

20. An apparatus according to claim 17, which is a SGSN or radio network controller.

21. An apparatus according to claim 17,

23. A communications system according to claim 2, configured to regulate states of the terminal by setting an inactivity timer of the terminal according to the monitored traffic pattern.

25. A network element according to claim 23, further comprising storage means for storing data indicative of the monitored traffic pattern.

18. An apparatus configured to:

a) monitor a traffic pattern relating to a terminal; and

b) regulate states of the terminal according to the monitored traffic pattern.

22. A communications system comprising a terminal and a network node, wherein the system is configured to:

a) monitor a traffic pattern relating to a terminal; and

b) regulate states of the terminal according to the monitored traffic pattern.

24. A network element comprising:

monitoring means for monitoring a traffic pattern relating to a terminal; and

regulating means for regulating states of the terminal according to the monitored traffic pattern.

26. A computer program product comprising a set of instructions which when executed by a processor in a network node of a communications system, causes the network node to monitor a traffic pattern relating to a terminal, and regulate states of the terminal according to the monitored traffic pattern.