IP Library Granted Patent US 11,830,354
Granted Patent B2
US 11,830,354 · App. 17/348,613 · Granted Nov 28, 2023

Techniques for release assistance indication assertion

Inventors: Richard Donald Maes, II (Liberty Lake, WA); Robert Vernon Dusenberry (Newman Lake, WA); Eric S. Benson (Spokane Valley, WA)
Assignee: ITRON, INC.
G08C17/02G06F13/385G06F13/4022G06F13/4059G08C2201/42
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,830,354
App. No.
17/348,613
Granted
Nov 28, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

Techniques for transmitting data include identifying data to be transmitted; and in response to a data session window being open: transmitting the data to a transceiver via a transmitter; determining whether there is additional data to be transmitted and determining whether the transmitter has transmitted the data to the transceiver; and in response, instructing the transceiver to end the data session window early and transition to a lower power state.

Claims (39)

1. A method, comprising:

identifying, by one or more processors included in a network device, data to be transmitted; and

while a data session window is open:

transmitting, by the one or more processors using a transmitter of the network device, the data to a transceiver that is included in the network device and is separate from the one or more processors, wherein the transceiver is configured to transmit the data outside of the network device;

and

instructing, by the one or more processors in response to (1) determining that there is no additional data to be transmitted and (2) determining that the transmitter has transmitted the data to the transceiver, the transceiver to end the data session window early and transition to a lower power state.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the transmitter is a universal asynchronous receiver transmitter (UART).

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining whether the transmitter has transmitted the data to the transceiver comprises determining whether a transmit buffer of the transmitter is empty.

4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising delaying a configurable period of time after determining whether the transmit buffer of the transmitter is empty before instructing the transceiver to end the data session window early and transition to the lower power state.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining whether the transmitter has transmitted the data to the transceiver comprises delaying for a configurable period of time.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein instructing the transceiver to end the data session window early causes the transceiver to initiate a release assistance indication (RAI) with a base station.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein instructing the transceiver to end the data session window early comprises sending a command signal on an input/output pin coupled to the transceiver.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein instructing the transceiver to end the data session window early comprises sending a command to the transceiver.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein instructing the transceiver to end the data session window early comprises transmitting a bit or flag with the data transmitted to the transceiver via the transmitter.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the transceiver is a wireless transceiver, a cellular modem, or a cellular radio.

11. One or more non-transitory computer-readable media storing program instructions that, when executed by one or more processors of a network device, cause the one or more processors to perform the steps of:

identifying data to be transmitted; and

to while a data session window is open:

transmitting, by the one or more processors using a transmitter of the network device, the data to a transceiver that is included in the network device and is separate from the one or more processors, wherein the transceiver is configured to transmit the data outside of the network device;

and

instructing, by the one or more processors in response to (1) determining that there is no additional data to be transmitted and (2) determining that the transmitter has transmitted the data to the transceiver, the transceiver to end the data session window early and transition to a lower power state.

12. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 11 , wherein the transmitter is a universal asynchronous receiver transmitter (UART).

13. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 11 , wherein determining whether the transmitter has transmitted the data to the transceiver comprises determining whether a transmit buffer of the transmitter is empty.

14. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 11 , wherein instructing the transceiver to end the data session window early causes the transceiver to initiate a release assistance indication (RAI) with a base station.

15. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 11 , wherein instructing the transceiver to end the data session window early comprises sending a command signal on an input/output pin coupled to the transceiver.

16. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 15 , wherein the input/output pin is coupled to a dedicated pin on the transceiver.

17. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 15 , wherein the input/output pin is coupled to a programmable pin on the transceiver.

18. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 15 , wherein instructing the transceiver to end the data session window early comprises sending a command to the transceiver.

19. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 15 , wherein instructing the transceiver to end the data session window early comprises transmitting a bit or flag with the data transmitted to the transceiver via the transmitter.

20. A computing device for transmitting data, the computing device comprising:

a transceiver;

a transmitter coupled to the transceiver;

a memory storing instructions; and

a processor that is coupled to the memory and, when executing the instructions, performs steps comprising:

identifying data to be transmitted; and

while a data session window is open:

transmitting, using the transmitter, the data to the transceiver, wherein the transceiver is configured to transmit the data outside of the computing device;

and

instructing, in response to (1) determining that there is no additional data to be transmitted and (2) determining that the transmitter has transmitted the data to the transceiver, the transceiver to end the data session window early and transition to a lower power state.

Assignments (2)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 15, 2025
From: ITRON, INC.
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 072870/0873 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 26, 2022
From: MAES, RICHARD DONALD, II; DUSENBERRY, ROBERT VERNON; BENSON, ERIC S.
To: ITRON, INC.
Reel/Frame 058782/0421 →