Method and system for opportunistic delivery of less-than-best-effort application data over communication networks

1. A system for data delivery from an application server to a mobile client in a wireless network, the system comprising:

a packet data servicing node connected to the application server and to the wireless network for transmitting packet data from the application server to the mobile client, and

a wireless information node (“WIN”) network including at least one wireless information node and at least one wireless information database, the WIN network being connected to the application server and to the wireless network,

wherein, without the mobile client signaling the application server, an element of the wireless network is configured to notify the WIN network that the mobile client is in a connected state, the WIN network is configured to notify the application server that the mobile client is in the connected state and the application server is configured to send packet data to the mobile client through the packet data servicing node.

2. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the element of the wireless network is an element of a radio access network (“RAN”) portion of the wireless network.

3. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the element of the wireless network is an element of a wide area network (“WAN”) of the wireless network.

4. The system according to claim 2 , wherein the element of the RAN portion of the wireless network is a radio network controller.

5. The system according to claim 2 , wherein the element of the RAN portion of the wireless network is a base station.

6. The system according to claim 2 , wherein the element of the RAN portion of the wireless network is a packet control function.

7. The system according to claim 3 , wherein the element of the WAN of the wireless network is a packet data serving node.

8. The system according to claim 3 , wherein the element of the WAN of the wireless network is an authentication, authorization, and accounting module.

9. The system according to claim 3 , wherein the element of the WAN of the wireless network is an eavesdropping device.

10. A wireless network comprising:

a radio access network (“RAN”) portion including a base station adapted for wireless connection with a mobile client;

a core IP portion including a packet data servicing node, the core IP portion enabling data transfer between the RAN portion and an application server through the packet data servicing node; and

a wireless information node (“WIN”) network having at least one wireless information node and at least one wireless information database,

wherein the WIN network is connected to the RAN portion and to the application server, the WIN network, without the mobile client signaling the application server, is configured to detect one or more elements of the RAN portion servicing the mobile client and to notify the application server that the mobile client is in a connected state, and

wherein the application server is configured to send packet data to the mobile client through the packet data servicing node when notified that the mobile client is in the connected state.

11. The wireless network according to claim 10 , wherein the application server is configured to send packet data upon detection of available resources in an element of the wireless network servicing the mobile client.

12. A method of packet delivery from an application server to a mobile client in a wireless network having a wireless information node network for notifying the application server that the mobile client is in a connected state and a packet data servicing node for transmitting packet data from the application server to the mobile client, said method comprising the steps of:

monitoring the connection state of the mobile client at the wireless information node network without the mobile client signaling the application server;

notifying the application server of a change in the connection state of the mobile client through the wireless information node network; and

sending packet data to the mobile client through the packet data servicing node upon notification of a change in the connection state of the mobile client from the wireless information node network.

13. The method according to claim 12 , wherein the step of sending packet data to the mobile client begins upon notification of a connected state.

14. The method according to claim 12 , wherein the step of sending packet data to the mobile client includes triggering paging to initiate delivery without delay.

15. The method according to claim 12 , wherein the step of sending packet data to the mobile client begins upon evaluation of available resources in an element of the wireless network servicing the mobile client.

16. The method according to claim 12 , wherein sending packet data to the mobile client includes the steps of:

initiating transfer of packet data; and

monitoring the connection state of the mobile client until the delivery of packet data is complete.

17. The method according to claim 15 , wherein the step of sending packet data to the mobile client includes triggering paging to initiate delivery without delay.

18. The method according to claim 16 , additionally including the steps of:

notifying the application server that the mobile client has transitioned to an idle state; and

terminating the delivery of packet data upon notification that the mobile client has transitioned to the idle state.

19. The method according to claim 16 , wherein initiating transfer of packet data includes triggering paging to initiate delivery without delay.