METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR MANAGING A VPN CONNECTION

1 . A method at a computing device configured to send and receive traffic over a virtual private network (VPN) connection, the method comprising:

determining that a first trigger had been met;

monitoring whether data traffic exists over the VPN connection for a first time period; and

if no data traffic exists over the VPN connection for the first time period, disconnecting the VPN connection.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first trigger is a transition of the computing device into a stand-by mode.

3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the first trigger further comprises the computing device having only an internal power source.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first time period is static and set by one of a user, an information technology policy, a device manufacturer or a carrier.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first time period is dynamic and dependent on a condition of the computing device.

6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the condition of the computing device is a power source level on the computing device.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first time period is broken into a plurality of sub-periods, wherein a timer is reset at the beginning of each sub-period.

8 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising re-establishing the VPN connection upon the computing device transitioning into an active mode.

9 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising re-establishing the VPN connection upon expiry of a second time period.

10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the second time period is dynamic and dependent on a condition of the computing device.

11 . A computing device configured to send and receive traffic over a virtual private network (VPN) connection, the computing device comprising:

a processor; and

a communications subsystem,

wherein the computing device is configured to:

determine that a first trigger had been met;

monitor whether data traffic exists over the VPN connection for a first time period; and

if no data traffic exists over the VPN connection for the first time period, disconnect the VPN connection.

12 . The computing device of claim 11 , wherein the first trigger is a transition of the computing device into a stand-by mode.

13 . The computing device of claim 12 , wherein the first trigger further comprises the computing device having only an internal power source.

14 . The computing device of claim 1 , wherein the first time period is static and set by one of a user, an information technology policy, a device manufacturer or a carrier.

15 . The computing device of claim 11 , wherein the first time period is dynamic and dependent on a condition of the computing device.

16 . The computing device of claim 15 , wherein the condition of the computing device is a power source level on the computing device.

17 . The computing device of claim 11 , wherein the first time period is broken into a plurality of sub-periods, wherein a timer is reset at the beginning of each sub-period.

18 . The computing device of claim 11 , wherein the computing device is further configured to re-establish the VPN connection upon the computing device transitioning into an active mode.

19 . The computing device of claim 11 , wherein the computing device is further configured to re-establish the VPN connection upon expiry of a second time period.

20 . The computing device of claim 19 , wherein the second time period is dynamic and dependent on a condition of the computing device.