Service capability server / EPC coordination for power savings mode and paging

1. A computer-implemented apparatus in a core network comprising:

a non-transitory memory having instructions stored thereon for controlling a power savings mode characteristic of a device in a communication network; and

a processor, operably coupled to the memory, the processor configured to perform the instructions of:

receiving, in the core network, from a service capability server, an application server or combination thereof, a request to update the characteristic of the device in the communication network including an active timer, where the active timer is based on parameters of services active on the device;

updating the characteristic of the device based upon the request; and

sending an acknowledgement that the characteristic has been updated,

wherein the device enters into a power savings mode upon expiration of the active timer,

wherein the device is unreachable for mobile terminated communication in the power savings mode,

wherein the request to update the characteristic includes an enhanced data handling flag, and wherein the device is marked for activation of the characteristic.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the request to update the characteristic includes a delay tolerance for mobile terminated traffic, a periodicity of mobile terminated communication, a power savings mode sync flag, a power savings mode disable flag, a periodic tracking area update timer or combinations thereof.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the request from the service capability server is received via a core network interworking function.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the processor further includes the instruction of: forwarding an insert subscriber data request to a mobile management entity.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the processor further includes the instruction of: receiving an insert subscriber data answer from the mobile management entity.

6. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the processor further includes the instruction of: determining a periodic tracking area update timer value based upon the insert subscriber data request.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the received request originates outside of the core network from the service capability server, application server or combination thereof.

8. A computer-implemented apparatus in a core network comprising:

a non-transitory memory having instructions stored thereon for controlling a power savings mode characteristic of a device in a communication network; and

a processor, operably coupled to the non-transitory memory, the processor configured to perform the instructions of:

receiving, in a core network, a tracking area update or an attach request from the device in the communication network;

sending a device availability notification request including an active timer to a core network interworking function or a service capability server, where the active timer is based on parameters of services active on the device; and

receiving a device availability notification answer from the interworking function or the service capability server,

wherein the device enters into a power savings mode upon expiration of the active timer,

wherein the device is unreachable for mobile terminated communication in the power savings mode,

wherein the characteristic includes an enhanced data handling flag, and

wherein the device is marked for activation of the characteristic.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the device availability notification request includes an identification of the device, an address list of service capability servers, a periodic tracking area update timer, a cause for the request or combinations thereof.

10. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the device availability notification answer includes information selected from reachable duration for the device, a proposed non-reachable duration for the device, a power savings mode disable flag, a trigger request and combinations thereof.

11. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the notification request and the notification answer provide notification information of when the device exits power savings mode.

12. A computer-implemented apparatus on a network comprising;

a non-transitory memory having instructions stored thereon for supporting buffering and data handling for a power savings mode of a device on the network; and

a processor, operably coupled to the non-transitory memory, the processor configured to perform the instructions of:

receiving a downlink data notification from a serving gateway;

determining the device is in power savings mode; and

sending a downlink data notification acknowledgment to the serving gateway including the enhanced data handling flag,

wherein the device enters into the power savings mode upon expiration of an active timer, where the active timer is based on parameters of services active on the device,

wherein the device is unreachable for mobile terminated communication in the power savings mode,

wherein the power savings mode includes an enhanced data handling flag, and

wherein the device is marked for activation of the power savings mode.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the acknowledgment includes a timer value.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the acknowledgment includes how much data is buffered for the device.

15. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the processor further includes an instruction of: paging the device.

16. A computer-implemented method for controlling a power savings mode characteristic of a device in a communication network comprising:

receiving, in a core network, from a service capability server, an application server or combinations thereof, a request to update the characteristic of the device in the communication network including an active timer, where the active timer is based on parameters of services active on the device;

updating the characteristic of the device based upon the request;

sending an acknowledgement that the characteristic has been updated; and

forwarding an insert subscriber data request to a mobile management entity,

wherein the device enters into a power savings mode upon expiration of the active timer,

wherein the device is unreachable for mobile terminated communication in the power savings mode,

wherein the request to update the characteristic includes an enhanced data handling flag, and wherein the device is marked for activation of the characteristic.

17. A computer-implemented method for controlling a power savings mode characteristic of a device in a communication network comprising:

receiving, in the core network, a tracking area update or an attach request from the device on the network;

sending a device availability notification request including an active timer to a core network interworking function or a service capability server, where the active timer is based on parameters of services active on the device; and

receiving a device availability notification answer from the core network interworking function or the service capability server,

wherein the notification request provides notification information of when the device exits power savings mode,

wherein the device enters into the power savings mode upon expiration of the active timer,

wherein the device is unreachable for mobile terminated communication in the power savings mode,

wherein the characteristic includes an enhanced data handling flag, and

wherein the device is marked for activation of the characteristic.

18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising:

determining a periodic tracking area update timer value based upon the device availability notification answer.

19. A computer-implemented method for supporting buffering and data handling for a power saving mode of a device on a network comprising;

receiving a downlink data notification from a serving gateway;

determining the device is in power saving mode and that an enhanced data handling flag is enabled;

sending a downlink data notification acknowledgment to the serving gateway including the enhanced data handling flag; and

paging the device,

wherein the device enters into the power savings mode upon expiration of an active timer, where the active timer is based on parameters of services active on the device,

wherein the device is unreachable for mobile terminated communication in the power savings mode,

wherein the power savings mode includes an enhanced data handling flag, and

wherein the device is marked for activation of the power savings mode.