Adjusting connection states of a mobile wireless device based on a period of inactivity

摘要

Methods, apparatuses and computer readable media are described that adjust radio resource control connection states between a mobile wireless device and a wireless network following determination that a set of inactivity trigger conditions is met. Time periods between successive data messages and/or signaling messages transmitted to and/or received from a wireless access network are measured. When a prolonged period of data inactivity and/or signaling activity is determined, the mobile wireless device re-establishes an existing radio resource control connection to the wireless access network or releases the radio resource control connection to the wireless access network and transitions to an idle state.

主权项

1. A method to adjust radio resource control (RRC) connections states of a mobile wireless device in communication with a wireless access network using a Long Term Evolution (LTE) or Long Term Evolution Advanced (LTE-A) wireless communication protocol, the method comprising:
at the mobile wireless device, while in an RRC connected state:
measuring continuous time periods between successive data messages and between successive signaling messages transmitted to or received from the wireless access network;determining that one or more sets of inactivity trigger conditions are met, wherein (i) a first set of inactivity trigger conditions comprises a first continuous time period between the successive data messages exceeds a data inactivity threshold without receiving an RRC connection release signaling message from the wireless access network during the first continuous time period, and (ii) a second set of inactivity trigger conditions comprises a second continuous time period between successive signaling messages exceeds a signaling inactivity threshold without receiving the RRC connection release signaling message from the wireless access network during the second continuous time period, wherein the first continuous time period and the second continuous time period do not overlap;when the one or more sets of inactivity trigger conditions comprise only the first set of inactivity trigger conditions and when the first set of inactivity trigger conditions is met, changing an internal state of the mobile wireless device from the RRC connected state to an RRC idle state; andwhen the one or more sets of inactivity trigger conditions comprise both the first set of inactivity trigger conditions and the second set of inactivity trigger conditions:
(i) when the first set of inactivity trigger conditions and the second set of inactivity trigger conditions are met, changing the internal state of the mobile wireless device from the RRC connected state to the RRC idle state, and(ii) when the first set of inactivity trigger conditions is met and the second set of inactivity trigger conditions is not met, continuing in the RRC connected state.