IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,452,954
Granted Patent B2
US 12,452,954 · App. 18/592,135 · Granted Oct 21, 2025

Enhanced connection release techniques for wireless communications systems

Inventors: Kuo-Chun Lee (San Diego, CA); Arvind Vardarajan Santhanam (San Diego, CA); Satashu Goel (San Diego, CA); Ertugrul Necdet Ciftcioglu (North Reading, MA); Shanshan Wang (San Diego, CA); Daniel Amerga (San Diego, CA); Karthik Venkatram (San Diego, CA); Juan Zhang (San Diego, CA)
Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
H04W76/38H04W24/10H04W52/0216H04W52/0261H04W68/005
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,452,954
App. No.
18/592,135
Granted
Oct 21, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

Methods, systems, and devices for wireless communications are described. A user equipment (UE) may receive, from a base station, control signaling for communications in a wireless communications system. The control signaling may indicate a first duration for an inactivity timer. The UE may initiate the inactivity timer and a second timer based on identifying a period of inactivity. The second timer may have a second duration that is shorter than the first duration for the inactivity timer. In some examples, the second duration may be based on one or more parameters, such as a display status, a battery status, a scaling factor, the first duration, an application state, or any combination thereof. The UE may release a connection for the communications in the wireless communications system based on an expiration of the second timer, an expiration of the inactivity timer, or a combination thereof.

Claims (90)

1. A method for wireless communications at a user equipment, comprising:

receiving, from a network entity, control signaling for communications in a wireless communications system, the control signaling indicating a first duration for a first inactivity timer;

initiating a second timer, wherein the second timer has a second duration that is based at least in part on a display on/off status of the user equipment;

transmitting, in response to an expiration of the second timer, a first uplink message indicating a request to release a connection for the communications in the wireless communications system;

initiating a third timer in response to transmitting the first uplink message; and

releasing a connection for the communications in the wireless communications system based at least in part on an expiration of the third timer.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the third timer comprises a release preference prohibit timer.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

monitoring, for a third duration of the third timer, for a downlink message from the network entity; and

receiving a downlink message from the network entity during the third duration of the third timer, wherein releasing the connection is based at least in part on receiving the downlink message.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

monitoring, for a third duration of the third timer, for a downlink message from the network entity, wherein releasing the connection comprises autonomously releasing the connection based on not receiving a downlink message from the network entity during the third duration of the third timer.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

identifying the expiration of the third timer; and

transmitting a second uplink message indicating a request to release the connection based at least in part on the expiration of the third timer and failing to receive a downlink message during a third duration of the third timer.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

identifying, after initiating the second timer, a change in the display on/off status of the user equipment; and

adjusting the second duration for the second timer based at least in part on the change in the display on/off status.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

identifying a status of a battery for the user equipment, wherein the second duration for the second timer is based at least in part on the status of the battery.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

refraining, in response to the expiration of the second timer, transmission of the first uplink message while an application of the user equipment is open; and

identifying that the application of the user equipment is closed based at least in part on an identifier of the application, wherein transmitting the first uplink message is based at least in part on identifying that the application of the user equipment is closed.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

applying a scaling factor to the first duration for the first inactivity timer; and

determining the second duration for the second timer based at least in part on applying the scaling factor to the first duration.

10. A user equipment, comprising:

one or more memories storing processor-executable code; and

one or more processors coupled with the one or more memories and individually or collectively operable to execute the code to cause the user equipment to:

receive, from a network entity, control signaling for communications in a wireless communications system, the control signaling indicating a first duration for a first inactivity timer;

initiate a second timer, wherein the second timer has a second duration that is based at least in part on a display on/off status of the user equipment;

transmit, in response to an expiration of the second timer, a first uplink message indicating a request to release a connection for the communications in the wireless communications system;

initiate a third timer in response to transmission of the first uplink message; and

release a connection for the communications in the wireless communications system based at least in part on an expiration of the third timer.

11. The user equipment of claim 10 , wherein the third timer comprises a release preference prohibit timer.

12. The user equipment of claim 10 , wherein the one or more processors are individually or collectively further operable to execute the code to cause the user equipment to:

monitor, for a third duration of the third timer, for a downlink message from the network entity; and

receive a downlink message from the network entity during the third duration of the third timer, wherein release of the connection is based at least in part on receiving the downlink message.

13. The user equipment of claim 10 , wherein the one or more processors are individually or collectively further operable to execute the code to cause the user equipment to:

monitor, for a third duration of the third timer, for a downlink message from the network entity, wherein release of the connection is an autonomous release of the connection based on not receiving a downlink message from the network entity during the third duration of the third timer.

14. The user equipment of claim 10 , wherein the one or more processors are individually or collectively further operable to execute the code to cause the user equipment to:

identify the expiration of the third timer; and

transmit a second uplink message indicating a request to release the connection based at least in part on the expiration of the third timer and failing to receive a downlink message during a third duration of the third timer.

15. The user equipment of claim 10 , wherein the one or more processors are individually or collectively further operable to execute the code to cause the user equipment to:

identify, after initiating the second timer, a change in the display on/off status of the user equipment; and

adjust the second duration for the second timer based at least in part on the change in the display on/off status.

16. The user equipment of claim 10 , wherein the one or more processors are individually or collectively further operable to execute the code to cause the user equipment to:

identify a status of a battery for the user equipment, wherein the second duration for the second timer is based at least in part on the status of the battery.

17. The user equipment of claim 10 , wherein the one or more processors are individually or collectively further operable to execute the code to cause the user equipment to:

refrain, in response to the expiration of the second timer, the transmission of the first uplink message while an application of the user equipment is open; and

identify that the application of the user equipment is closed based at least in part on an identifier of the application, wherein transmission of the first uplink message is based at least in part on identifying that the application of the user equipment is closed.

18. The user equipment of claim 10 , wherein the one or more processors are individually or collectively further operable to execute the code to cause the user equipment to:

apply a scaling factor to the first duration for the first inactivity timer; and

determine the second duration for the second timer based at least in part on applying the scaling factor to the first duration.

19. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing code for wireless communications, the code comprising instructions executable by one or more processors to:

receive, at a user equipment from a network entity, control signaling for communications in a wireless communications system, the control signaling indicating a first duration for a first inactivity timer;

initiate a second timer, wherein the second timer has a second duration that is based at least in part on a display on/off status of the user equipment;

transmit, in response to an expiration of the second timer, a first uplink message indicating a request to release a connection for the communications in the wireless communications system;

initiate a third timer in response to transmission of the first uplink message; and

release a connection for the communications in the wireless communications system based at least in part on an expiration of the third timer.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 19 , wherein the third timer comprises a release preference prohibit timer.

21. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 19 , wherein the instructions are further executable by one or more processors to:

monitor, for a third duration of the third timer, for a downlink message from the network entity; and

receive a downlink message from the network entity during the third duration of the third timer, wherein release of the connection is based at least in part on receiving the downlink message.

22. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 19 , wherein the instructions are further executable by one or more processors to:

monitor, for a third duration of the third timer, for a downlink message from the network entity, wherein release of the connection is an autonomous release of the connection based on not receiving a downlink message from the network entity during the third duration of the third timer.

23. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 19 , wherein the instructions are further executable by one or more processors to:

identify the expiration of the third timer; and

transmit a second uplink message indicating a request to release the connection based at least in part on the expiration of the third timer and failing to receive a downlink message during a third duration of the third timer.

24. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 19 , wherein the instructions are further executable by one or more processors to:

identify, after initiating the second timer, a change in the display on/off status of the user equipment; and

adjust the second duration for the second timer based at least in part on the change in the display status.

25. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 19 , wherein the instructions are further executable by one or more processors to:

identify a status of a battery for the user equipment, wherein the second duration for the second timer is based at least in part on the status of the battery.

26. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 19 , wherein the instructions are further executable by one or more processors to:

refrain, in response to the expiration of the second timer, the transmission of the first uplink message while an application of the user equipment is open; and

identify that the application of the user equipment is closed based at least in part on an identifier of the application, wherein transmission of the first uplink message is based at least in part on identifying that the application of the user equipment is closed.

27. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 19 , wherein the instructions are further executable by one or more processors to:

apply a scaling factor to the first duration for the first inactivity timer; and

determine the second duration for the second timer based at least in part on applying the scaling factor to the first duration.

28. A user equipment, comprising:

means for receiving, from a network entity, control signaling for communications in a wireless communications system, the control signaling indicating a first duration for a first inactivity timer;

means for initiating a second timer, wherein the second timer has a second duration that is based at least in part on a display on/off status of the user equipment;

means for transmitting, in response to an expiration of the second timer, a first uplink message indicating a request to release a connection for the communications in the wireless communications system;

means for initiating a third timer in response to transmitting the first uplink message; and

means for releasing a connection for the communications in the wireless communications system based at least in part on an expiration of the third timer.

29. The user equipment of claim 28 , wherein the third timer comprises a release preference prohibit timer.

30. The user equipment of claim 28 , further comprising:

means for monitoring, for a third duration of the third timer, for a downlink message from the network entity; and

means for receiving a downlink message from the network entity during the third duration of the third timer, wherein releasing the connection is based at least in part on receiving the downlink message.

Assignments (3)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE SPELLING OF THE LAST NAME OF THE EIGHTH INVENTOR PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 68917 FRAME 760. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Oct 22, 2024
From: LEE, KUO-CHUN; SANTHANAM, ARVIND VARDARAJAN; GOEL, SATASHU; CIFTCIOGLU, ERTUGRUL NECDET; WANG, SHANSHAN; AMERGA, DANIEL; VENKATRAM, KARTHIK; ZHANG, JUAN
To: QUALCOMM INCORPORATED
Reel/Frame 069230/0641 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 16, 2024
From: LEE, KUO-CHUN; SANTHANAM, ARVIND VARDARAJAN; GOEL, SATASHU; CIFTCIOGLU, ERTUGRUL NECDET; WANG, SHANSHAN; AMERGA, DANIEL; VENKATRAM, KARTHIK; WANG, JUAN
To: QUALCOMM INCORPORATED
Reel/Frame 068917/0760 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 16, 2024
From: LEE, KUO-CHUN; SANTHANAM, ARVIND VARDARAJAN; GOEL, SATASHU; CIFTCIOGLU, ERTUGRUL NECDET; WANG, SHANSHAN; AMERGA, DANIEL; VENKATRAM, KARTHIK; ZHANG, JUAN
To: QUALCOMM INCORPORATED
Reel/Frame 067433/0005 →
Continuity (4)
Continuation 18186681 · Mar 20, 2023
Continuation 17351999 · Jun 18, 2021
Provisional Application 63053306 · Jul 17, 2020
Related Publication 20250031274A1 · Jan 23, 2025
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