Apparatus and method for transmitting messages in mobile telecommunications system user equipment
A method and device for transmitting a sequence of messages from a handheld telecommunications device to a telecommunications network is described, the sequence of messages comprising a plurality of messages to be transmitted at specified times. The method comprises transmitting a message of the sequence of messages and turning off at least one of the transmitter and receiver of the device after transmission of at least one of the messages in the sequence of messages. The method has particular application to messages that terminate a radio connection, such as RRC Connection Release Complete messages in a UMTS system.
1. A method of transmitting a sequence of messages from a wireless telecommunications device to a telecommunications network, the sequence of messages comprising a plurality of messages to be transmitted at specified times, wherein the plurality of messages comprises a first message and at least another message, the method comprising:
transmitting the first message in the sequence of messages, wherein each subsequent message in the sequence of messages includes a retransmission of the first message;
starting a timer in response to transmitting the first message in the sequence of messages, the timer having an expiry period that determines when a second message in the sequence of messages is to be transmitted;
turning off at least one of a transmitter or receiver of the device for a period of time in response to transmitting the first message in the sequence of messages, wherein the period of time is less than the expiry period of the timer;
at the end of the period of time and prior to the end of the expiry period of the timer, turning on at least one of the transmitter or receiver of the device to prepare transmission of the second message of the sequence of messages; and
on expiry of the timer, transmitting the second message in the sequence of messages.
2. The method according to claim 1 further comprising turning off at least one of the transmitter or receiver of the device after the transmission of each message in the sequence of messages.
3. The method according to claim 1 further comprising initiating the turning off at least one of the transmitter or receiver of the device in response to transmission of the final message in the sequence of messages.
4. The method according to claim 1 wherein the messages in the sequence of messages are to terminate a radio connection between the device and the network.
5. The method according to claim 1 wherein, during transmission of the sequence of messages, the messages are transmitted in an unacknowledged mode.
6. The method according to claim 1 wherein the device is to perform in accordance with the Universal Mobile Telecommunications System.
7. The method according to claim 1 wherein the sequence of messages comprises a sequence of Radio Resource Control Connection Release Complete messages.
8. The method according to claim 1 wherein, after transmitting a message, both the transmitter and the receiver of the device are turned off.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein turning on at least one of the transmitter or receiver of the device to prepare transmission of the second message of the sequence of messages comprises stabilizing transmission power for transmitting the second message of the sequence of messages on expiry of the timer.
10. A wireless telecommunications device arranged to transmit a sequence of messages to a telecommunications network, the sequence of messages comprising a plurality of messages to be transmitted at specified times, wherein the plurality of messages comprises a first message and at least another message, the device comprising:
a transmitter configured to transmit the message of the sequence of messages, wherein each subsequent message in the sequence of messages includes a retransmission of the first message; and
one or more processors configured to:
start a timer in response to transmitting the first message in the sequence of messages, the timer having an expiry period that determines when a second message in the sequence of messages is to be transmitted;
turn off at least one of a transmitter or receiver of the device for a period of time in response to transmitting the first message in the sequence of messages, wherein the period of time is less than the expiry period of the timer; and
at the end of the period of time and prior to the end of the expiry period of the timer, turn on at least one of the transmitter or receiver of the device to prepare transmission of the second message of the sequence of messages; and
on expiry of the timer, the transmitter configured to transmit the second message in the sequence of messages.
11. The device according to claim 10 further arranged to turn off at least one of the transmitter or receiver of the device after transmission of each message in the sequence of messages.
12. The device according to claim 10 further arranged to initiate the turning off at least one of the transmitter or receiver of the device in response to transmission of the final message in the sequence of messages.
13. The device according to claim 10 wherein the messages in the sequence of messages are to terminate a radio connection between the device and the network.
14. The device according to claim 10 wherein the device is arranged to transmit the messages in an unacknowledged mode.
15. The device according to claim 10 wherein the device is to perform in accordance with the Universal Mobile Telecommunications System.
16. The device according to claim 10 wherein the sequence of messages comprises a sequence of Radio Resource Connection Release Complete messages.
17. The device according to claim 10 wherein the device is arranged to turn off both the transmitter and the receiver after transmitting a message.
18. The device according to claim 10 , wherein turning on at least one of the transmitter or receiver of the device to prepare transmission of the second message of the sequence of messages comprises stabilizing transmission power for transmitting the second message of the sequence of messages on expiry of the timer.
19. A computer program comprising program encoded on a non-transitory medium for transmitting a sequence of messages from a wireless telecommunications device to a telecommunications network, the sequence of messages comprising a plurality of messages to be transmitted at specified times, wherein the plurality of messages comprises a first message and at least another message, the program comprising computer readable instructions for causing one or more processors to perform operations comprising:
transmitting the first message in the sequence of messages, wherein each subsequent message in the sequence of messages includes a retransmission of the first message;
starting a timer in response to transmitting the first message in the sequence of messages, the timer having an expiry period that determines when a second message in the sequence of messages is to be transmitted;
turning off at least one of a transmitter or receiver of the device for a period of time in response to transmitting the first message in the sequence of messages, wherein the period of time is less than the expiry period of the timer;
at the end of the period of time and prior to the end of the expiry period of the timer, turning on at least one of the transmitter or receiver of the device to prepare transmission of the second message of the sequence of messages; and
on expiry of the timer, transmitting the second message in the sequence of messages.
20. The computer program of claim 19 , wherein turning on at least one of the transmitter or receiver of the device to prepare transmission of the second message of the sequence of messages comprises stabilizing transmission power for transmitting the second message of the sequence of messages on expiry of the timer.