UMA/GAN keep-alive mechanisim in wireless communication networks

1. A method in a wireless communication user terminal capable of communicating over a packet-based connection with a wireless network controller entity, the method comprising:

transmitting a register request message,

the register request message indicating whether the wireless communication user terminal supports optimized operation of a keep-alive mechanism;

optimizing operation of the keep-alive mechanism by reducing a frequency with which the wireless communication user terminal transmits keep-alive messages during a packet-based connection.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising

transmitting a packet-based connection keep-alive message upon expiration of the keep-alive timer,

reducing the frequency with which keep-alive messages are transmitted by re-setting the keep-alive timer, before expiration of the keep-alive timer, upon transmitting or receiving a message at the wireless communication user terminal.

3. The method of claim 2 , transmitting a packet-based connection keep-alive message only upon expiration of the keep-alive timer, without transmitting the packet-based connection keep-alive message upon re-setting the keep-alive timer.

4. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

receiving a register accept message after transmitting the register request message, the register accept message including a keep-alive timer value,

starting the keep-alive timer using the keep-alive timer value received in the register accept message.

5. The method of claim 4 , the packet-based connection is a TCP connection, starting the keep-alive timer includes starting a TU 3906 timer.

6. The method of claim 2 ,

the packet-based connection is a TCP connection, the keep-alive timer is a TU 3906 timer,

transmitting the register request message includes transmitting a Generic Access Resource Control (GA-RC) register request message to the wireless network infrastructure entity,

indicating whether the wireless communication user terminal supports optimized operation of a keep-alive mechanism in a required GAN services IE of the GA-RC register request message,

receiving a GA-RC register accept message after transmitting the GA-RC register request message, the GA-RC register accept message including a TU 3906 timer value,

starting the TU 3906 timer using the TU 3906 timer value.

7. The method of claim 6 , transmitting a GA-RC keep-alive message only upon expiration of the TU 3906 timer, without transmitting the GA-RC keep-alive message upon re-setting the TU 3906 timer.

8. A wireless communication terminal comprising:

a wireless transceiver;

a transmission control protocol (TCP) connection keep-alive timer that runs when the wireless communication terminal is in a TCP connection;

a controller communicably coupled to the wireless receiver and the keep-alive timer,

the controller is configured to cause the wireless transceiver to transmit a register request message indicating whether the wireless communication terminal supports an optimized keep-alive mechanism,

the controller is configured to optimize operation of the keep-mechanism by reducing a frequency with which the wireless communication terminal transmits keep-alive messages during a packet-based connection.

9. The terminal of claim 8 , the controller is configured to reduce the frequency with which keep-alive messages are transmitted by re-setting the keep-alive timer, before expiration of the keep-alive timer, upon transmission or receipt of a message at the wireless transceiver when the wireless communication terminal is in a TCP connection.

10. The terminal of claim 9 , the controller is configured to cause the wireless transceiver to transmit a TCP connection keep-alive message only upon expiration of the keep-alive timer, without transmitting a TCP connection keep-alive message upon re-setting the keep-alive timer.

11. The terminal of claim 9 , the controller is configured to start the keep-alive timer using a keep-alive timer value obtained from a register accept message received by the wireless transceiver after transmitting the register request message.

12. The terminal of claim 9 ,

the keep-alive timer is a TU 3906 timer,

the register request message is a Generic Access Resource Control (GA-RC) register request,

indicating whether the wireless communication terminal supports the optimized keep-alive mechanism in a required GAN services IE of the GA-RC register request message,

the controller is configured to reducing the frequency with which keep-alive messages are transmitted by re-setting the TU 3906 timer, before expiration of the TU 3906 timer, upon receipt of the message by the wireless transceiver when the wireless communication terminal is in a TCP connection.

13. The terminal of claim 12 , the controller is configured to cause the wireless transceiver to transmit a GA-RC keep-alive message only upon expiration of the TU 3906 timer, without transmitting a GA-RC keep-alive message upon re-setting the TU 3906 timer.

14. The terminal of claim 12 , the controller is configured to start the TU 3906 timer using a TU 3906 timer value obtained from a GA-RC register accept message received by the wireless transceiver after transmitting the GA-RC register request message.