Techniques for release assistance indication assertion

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

in response to the one or more processors determining that there is no additional data to be transmitted, (a) delaying for a period of time, and (b) after the period of time, instructing 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 that there is no additional data to be transmitted comprises determining that one or more buffers are empty.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining that there is no additional data to be transmitted comprises determining that there is no data in a database that is ready to transmitted.

5. 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.

6. 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.

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

8. 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.

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

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

determining that there is data to be sent outside of the node; and

during an open communication slot:

sending, using a transmitter of the node, the data to a wireless transceiver of the node, wherein the wireless transceiver is separate from the one or more processors, and wherein the wireless transceiver is configured to send the data to a second node in the wireless network; and

in response to determining that there is no additional data ready to be sent outside the node:

waiting for a delay period; and

after the delay period ends, commanding the wireless transceiver to end the open communication slot early and transition to a lower power mode.

11. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 10 , wherein the transmitter is a universal asynchronous receiver transmitter (UART).

12. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 10 , wherein determining that there is no additional data ready to be sent outside the node comprises determining that one or more data buffers are empty or determining that there is no data in a database that is ready to be sent.

13. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 10 , wherein commanding the wireless transceiver to end the open communication slot early comprises instructing the wireless transceiver to initiate a release assistance indication (RAI) with the second node.

14. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 10 , wherein commanding the wireless transceiver to end the open communication slot early comprises sending a command signal on an input/output pin coupled to the wireless transceiver.

15. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 14 , wherein the input/output pin is coupled to a dedicated pin on the wireless transceiver.

16. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 14 , wherein the input/output pin is coupled to a programmable pin on the wireless transceiver.

17. A networking device comprising:

a wireless radio configured to exchange information wirelessly with a second network device; and

a computing system separate from the wireless radio, the computing system comprising:

a transmitter coupled to the wireless radio;

one or more processing devices; and

one or more memories storing instructions that when executed by the one or more processing devices cause the computing system to perform operations comprising:

identifying data to be transmitted over a wireless network; and

while a data transmission window is open:

transmitting, using the transmitter, the data to the wireless radio; and

in response to a determination that there is no additional data to transmitted over the wireless network:

waiting for a period of time; and

after the period of time elapses, providing an instruction to the wireless radio to end the data transmission window early and switch to a lower power state.

18. The networking device of claim 17 , wherein the instruction to the wireless radio to end the data transmission window early comprises an instruction to the wireless radio to send a release assistance indication (RAI) to the second networking device.

19. The networking device of claim 17 , wherein providing the instruction to the wireless radio comprises:

providing a command signal on an input/output pin coupled to the wireless radio; or

transmitting, using the transmitter, the instruction to the wireless radio; or

setting a bit or flag in the data transmitted to the wireless radio.

20. The networking device of claim 19 , wherein the input/output pin is programmable.