Method and apparatus for state/mode transitioning

1. A method performed by a network element to control a radio resource control (RRC) configuration of a user equipment (UE), the method comprising:

receiving at the network element, a preference indication from the UE to transition to a more battery efficient RRC configuration;

determining at least one radio resource parameter associated with the UE; and

determining whether to adjust the RRC configuration of the UE based upon the received preference indication and the at least one determined radio resource parameter, and not to adjust the RRC configuration of the UE if more than a predetermined number of preference indications are received during a predetermined time period.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one radio resource parameter comprises a discontinuous reception (DRX) time value.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one radio resource parameter is a quality of service (QoS) for a radio access bearer.

4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising refraining, at the network element, from transitioning the UE to the more battery efficient RRC configuration when the QoS is interactive.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein upon determining to adjust the RRC configuration of the UE, the method further comprises sending a message to adjust the UE's RRC configuration.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising sending the UE a message to release radio resources whilst maintaining an RRC connection.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising sending the UE an RRC release message in order to transition the UE to an idle mode.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising changing a data rate allocation of a radio resource assigned to the UE.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the preference indication is associated with power consumption.

10. A network element to control a radio resource control (RRC) configuration of a user equipment (UE) comprising at least one processor, the at least one processor configured to:

receive a preference indication from the UE indicating a preference to transition to a more battery efficient RRC configuration;

determine at least one radio resource parameter associated with the UE; and

determine whether to adjust the RRC configuration of the UE based upon the received preference indication and the at least one determined radio resource parameter, and not to adjust the RRC configuration of the UE if more than a predetermined number of preference indications are received during a predetermined time period.

11. The network element of claim 10 , wherein the at least one radio resource parameter comprises a discontinuous reception (DRX) time value.

12. The network element of claim 10 , wherein the at least one radio resource parameter is a quality of service (QoS) for a radio access bearer.

13. The network element of claim 12 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to refrain from transitioning the UE to the more battery efficient RRC configuration when the QoS is interactive.

14. The network element of claim 10 , wherein upon determining to adjust the RRC configuration of the UE, the at least one processor is further configured to send a message to adjust the UE's RRC configuration.

15. The network element of claim 10 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to send the UE a message to release radio resources whilst maintaining an RRC connection.

16. The network element of claim 10 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to send the UE an RRC release message in order to transition the UE to an idle mode.

17. The network element of claim 10 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to change a data rate allocation of a radio resource assigned to the UE.

18. The network element of claim 10 , wherein the preference indication is associated with power consumption.