IMPROVED RELEASE OF RADIO RESOURCES FOR MACHINE-TYPE-COMMUNICATION DEVICES

摘要

The invention relates to a method for controlling the release of radio resources by a user equipment, that delays the release based on whether the radio resources are still to be used for downlink and/or uplink data transmissions. A timer in the user equipment is started when receiving a short message or the acknowledgment for a previously transmitted short message. The timer is aborted if the UE determines that the radio resources are to be used in the near future, e.g. by a mobile originated short message. Only when the timer expires the UE indicates to the mobility management entity responsible for radio resource release that from the UE's perspective the radio resources may be released. The indication for the mobility management entity is either transmitted separately or as part of another (NAS) message.