Methods and apparatus for improving idle mode performance using deep packet inspection (DPI) idle mode agent

1. A method for generating messages in a communication network, comprising:

redirecting a downstream packet stream to a deep packet inspection (“DPI”) agent after discovery of destination end user (“EU”) equipment is in an idle mode;

determining legitimacy of the downstream packet stream in accordance with previously stored information; and

categorizing the downstream packet stream to one of a high priority paging category, a medium priority paging category, and a low priority paging category in response to the legitimacy of the downstream packet stream.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving the downstream packet stream addressing to the EU equipment in a communication network; and

identifying a forwarding action by comparing destination of the downstream packet stream with content of predefined list of a forwarding table.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein redirecting a downstream packet stream to a deep packet inspection (“DPI”) agent after discovery of destination end user (“EU”) equipment is in an idle mode further includes comparing the downstream packet stream with content of the forwarding table in a traffic forwarder.

4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising sending a status report regarding the EU equipment to a network management controller.

5. The method of claim 2 , wherein categorizing the downstream packet stream further includes matching the downstream packet stream with one of legitimate push applications stored in a list of legitimate push applications.

6. The method of claim 2 , wherein categorizing the downstream packet stream further includes determining priority paging categories in accordance with a downstream traffic condition.

7. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:

receiving an active signal from the EU equipment indicating the EU equipment is in active mode; and

forwarding the downstream packet stream to the EU equipment.

8. The method of claim 2 , wherein receiving downstream packet stream addressing to the EU equipment includes receiving a plurality of packets transporting an instance message sent from a credible source addressing to a wireless handheld device.

9. The method of claim 2 , wherein identifying forwarding action further includes identifying whether the EU equipment is in idle mode according to the content of predefined list of forwarding table.

10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

generating a paging announcement in accordance with the high priority paging category associated with the downstream packet stream; and

forwarding the paging announcement to the EU equipment.

11. The method of claim 1 , further comprising sending the list of legitimate push applications from a signaling and manageability module to the DPI agent.

12. A method for network communication, comprising:

receiving a push data for an end user (“EU”) equipment in a communication network;

redirecting the push data to a deep packet inspection (“DPI”) agent for temporary holding when the EU equipment is in an idle mode;

determining legitimacy of the push data in accordance with previously stored information in a controller; and

categorizing the push data to one of a high priority paging category, medium priority paging category, and low priority paging category in response to the legitimacy of the push data.

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising identifying forwarding action of the push data by comparing the push data with content of predefined list of a forwarding table located in a traffic forwarder.

14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:

generating a paging announcement in accordance with the low priority paging category associated with the push data; and

forwarding the paging announcement to the EU equipment.

15. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:

receiving an active signal from the EU equipment indicating the EU equipment is ready to receive wireless data; and

forwarding the push data to the EU equipment.

16. The method of claim 13 , further comprising sending the list of legitimate push applications from a signaling and manageability module to an inline DPI agent.

17. The method of claim 12 , wherein receiving push data for an EU equipment includes receiving a plurality of packets transporting an email sent via a credible source addressing to a wireless handheld device.

18. A network system configured to categorize paging messages, comprising:

a traffic forwarder having a traffic forwarding table operable to receive downstream traffic and able to redirect a first downstream traffic if its destination user equipment (“UE”) is in an idle mode;

a controller coupled to the traffic forwarder and configured to determine legitimacy of the first downstream traffic in accordance with a list of legitimate push applications; and

a deep packet inspection (“DPI”) agent coupled to the controller and configured to receive the first downstream traffic from the traffic forwarder and configured to categorize the first downstream traffic to different prioritized paging categories based on the list of legitimate push applications.

19. The system of claim 18 ,

wherein the traffic forwarder includes a comparator configured to match the first downstream traffic with content of the traffic forwarding table, and

wherein the controller includes a paging message formatting module configured to provide paging message format in accordance with configuration policy.

20. The system of claim 18 , wherein the DPI agent includes,

a high priority queue configured to queue a plurality of paging messages with high priority and configured to broadcast a predefined large number of paging messages from the high priority queue; and

a low priority queue configured to queue a plurality of paging messages with low priority and configured to broadcast a predefined small number of paging messages from the low priority queue.