Method and apparatus for providing efficient discontinuous communication

1. A method comprising:

determining, as part of a discontinuous communication mechanism defining an on-period for permitting transmission of data over a network, whether a resource allocation has been made to a user equipment for communicating over the network;

generating, if the resource allocation has been made, a keep-awake message to instruct the user equipment to extend the on-period, wherein the keep-awake message corresponds to an allocation table associated with the resource allocation; and

determining to enable use of the keep-awake message on a cell-by-cell basis or on a user equipment basis.

2. A method according to claim 1 , further comprising:

extending the on-period by one transmission time interval at a time based on value of the keep-awake message.

3. A method according to claim 2 , wherein the resource allocation is made during a last transmission time interval of the on-period.

4. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the keep-awake message is transmitted in form of a single bit within a dedicated control channel.

5. A method according to claim 1 , further comprising:

causing, at least in part, transmission of the keep-awake message over the network, wherein the network is compliant with a long term evolution (LTE) architecture.

6. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the discontinuous communication mechanism defines a duty cycle parameter specifying duration of the active state per timeout period, and a duty cycle filter parameter specifying a duty time pattern associated with the duty cycle parameter.

7. A method according to claim 6 , wherein the discontinuous communication mechanism further defines a periodicity parameter specifying frequency for listening for the resource allocations, and a starting parameter specifying start in time or phase of the active state.

8. An apparatus comprising:

a discontinuous communication module configured to perform a discontinuous communication procedure that defines an on-period for permitting transmission of data over a network, and to determine whether a resource allocation has been made to a user equipment for communicating over the network,

wherein the discontinuous communication module is further configured to generate, if the resource allocation has been made, a keep-awake message to instruct the user equipment to extend the on-period, and the keep-awake message corresponds to an allocation table associated with the resource allocation, and

wherein the use of the keep-awake message is enabled on a cell-by-cell basis or on a user equipment basis.

9. An apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein the on-period is extended by one transmission time interval at a time based on value of the keep-awake message.

10. An apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein the resource allocation is made during a last transmission time interval of the on-period.

11. An apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein the keep-awake message is transmitted in form of a single bit within a dedicated control channel.

12. An apparatus according to claim 8 , further comprising:

a transceiver configured to transmit the keep-awake message over the network, wherein the network is compliant with a long term evolution (LTE) architecture.

13. An apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein the apparatus is a base station.

14. An apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein the discontinuous communication mechanism defines a duty cycle parameter specifying duration of the active state per timeout period, and a duty cycle filter parameter specifying a duty time pattern associated with the duty cycle parameter.

15. An apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein the discontinuous communication mechanism further defines a periodicity parameter specifying frequency for listening for the resource allocations, and a starting parameter specifying start in time or phase of the active state.