Downloading web pages

1. A method of downloading data using sessions or applications protocols which use successive transmission control protocol (TCP) connections within a session on time division multiple access (TDMA) wireless packet data systems and wireline modem access protocols, the method comprising the steps of:

chaining temporary block flows (TBFs) by a client for providing communication between the client and a server of network to enable the client to download data from the server; and

requesting a rendezvous point by the client, using an existing downlink TBF, from the server for allocation of resource to the client at a future time after the rendezvous request, wherein said rendezvous point is requested to be located at a point in time when an uplink TBF is required.

2. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the sessions or applications protocols include hyper text transfer protocol (HTTP) and the TDMA wireless packet data system and wireline modem access protocols include global packet radio systems (GPRSs) and enhanced GPRSs (LGPRSs).

3. A method according to claim 2 , wherein the server to which a request for the rendezvous point has been made may accept, reject or delay the request.

4. A method according to claim 2 , further comprising the steps of:

determining by the client the number of TCP sessions required to download a web page; and

transmitting by the client an indication of the remaining required TBFs to the server.

5. A method according to claim 4 , further comprising the steps of transmitting by the client to the server an estimate of the size of the data to be uploaded in future TBFs.

6. A method according to claim 1 , comprising the step of the server maintaining an existing downlink TBF as active.

7. A method according to claim 6 , further comprising the steps of:

receiving an estimate from the client of the minimum number of RLC blocks associated with the existing downlink TBF before which it will have nothing to transmit; and

polling the client for an uplink resource request.

8. A method according to claim 7 , comprising the step of, if a resource request is identified, opening by the server an uplink TBF between the client and the server.

9. A method of enhancing sessions or applications protocols which use successive transmission control protocol (TCP) connections within a session on time division multiple access (TDMA) wireless packet data systems and wireline modem access protocols, the method comprising the steps of:

chaining temporary block flows (TBFs) by a client for providing communication between the client and a server of a network; and

utilizing an existing downlink TBF by the client to request the rendezvous point from the network for allocation of resource to the client at a future time after the rendezvous request, wherein said rendezvous point is requested to be located at a point in time when an uplink TBF is required.

10. A method according to claim 9 , wherein the rendezvous point location is calculated, said calculation comprising the steps of:

determining by the client whether data needs sending to the server, and determining the size of the data; and

estimating by the client the time when the existing downlink signal should be complete.

11. A method according to claim 9 , wherein the rendezvous point comprises a single radio link control (RLC) block of uplink.

12. A method according to claim 11 , further comprising the step of, if the rendezvous point is allowed by the server, when the rendezvous point is reached, and if data to be transmitted is present, utilising by the client the block of uplink to request an uplink TBF.

13. A method according to claim 12 , further comprising the steps of:

if the rendezvous point is rejected by the server, determining by the client whether rendezvous requests are accepted by the server;

if rendezvous requests are accepted by the server, determining by the client whether re-requests are accepted by the server; and

if re-requests are allowed, repeating the rendezvous request procedure.

14. A method of enhancing sessions or applications protocols which use successive transmission control protocol (TCP) connections within a session on time division multiple access (TDMA) wireless packet data systems and wireline modem access protocols, the method comprising the steps of:

chaining temporary block flows (TBFs) by the client for providing communication between a client and a server of a network; and

utilising an existing uplink TBF by the client to request the rendezvous point from the server for allocation of resource to the client at a future time after the rendezvous request, wherein said rendezvous point is requested to be located at a point in time when an uplink TBF is required.

15. A method according to claim 14 , wherein the request is made as data transmission ends.

16. A method according to either of claim 14 , wherein the request is made as an RLC counter reaches zero.

17. A method according to any of claim 14 , wherein the rendezvous point is calculated according to the following steps:

calculating by the client the time lapsed since transmission of a current TCP message; and

estimating the rendezvous point by the client as the difference between the elapsed time and a TCP roundtrip time taking account of any required correction factors.

18. A method according to any of claim 14 , wherein the rendezvous point comprises a single RLC block of uplink.

19. A method according to claim 18 , further comprising the step of, if the rendezvous point is allowed by the server, when the rendezvous point is reached, and if data to be transmitted is present, utilising by the client the block of uplink to request an uplink TBF.