Methods And Apparatus For Providing A Tolerable Delay For Slotted Messages In Wireless Communication Networks

Abstract

In one illustrative example, a plurality of page message requests for a plurality of mobile devices which operate in a wireless communication network are received. One or more paging slots assigned to the mobile devices are identified for transmitting a plurality of page messages in response to these requests. However, the wireless network refrains from causing a page message for the mobile device associated with a tolerable delay indication to be transmitted within the one or more paging slots when a paging capacity limit of the one or more paging slots is reached. This allows higher priority page messages to be transmitted within the one or more paging slots. The wireless network subsequently causes a page message for the mobile device having the tolerable delay indication to be transmitted within one or more subsequent paging slots within a tolerable delay period corresponding to the tolerable delay indication. The mobile device may transmit the tolerable delay indication to the wireless network in response to identifying a predetermined condition, for example, identifying use of a high capacity power source.

1 . A method for use in providing a tolerable delay for the communication of page messages for establishing calls for a mobile communication device via a wireless communication network, the method comprising the acts of:
 identifying a tolerable delay indication associated with the mobile communication device;   identifying a page message for establishing a call for the mobile communication device for transmission in a paging slot of the wireless network; and   deferring a transmission of the page message for establishing the call with the mobile communication device based on identifying the tolerable delay indication for the mobile communication device, the transmission being deferred to one or more subsequent paging slots within a tolerable delay period associated with the tolerable delay indication.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the page message for establishing the call comprises a call for voice or data communications. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the tolerable delay indication includes a number of paging slots indicative of the tolerable delay period. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the number of paging slots has a value between 0 and N. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the tolerable delay indication includes a time period indicative of the tolerable delay period. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving, via the wireless network, the tolerable delay indication from the mobile communication device.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving, via the wireless network, the tolerable delay indication from the mobile communication device in response to a predetermined condition at the mobile communication device.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , being performed by a network processing component within the wireless network. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the wireless communication network comprises a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) network. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving, via the wireless network, the tolerable delay indication from the mobile communication device when the mobile communication device is connected to a high capacity power source.   
     
     
         11 . A network processing component for use within a wireless communication network, the network processing component comprising:
 one or more processors;   memory coupled to the one or more processors;   computer instructions stored in the memory;   the computer instructions being executable by the one or more processors for providing a tolerable delay for the communication of page messages for establishing calls for a mobile communication device by:   identifying a tolerable delay indication associated with the mobile communication device;   identifying a page message for establishing a call for the mobile communication device for transmission in a paging slot of the wireless network; and   deferring a transmission of the page message for establishing the call with the mobile communication device based on identifying the tolerable delay indication for the mobile communication device, the transmission being deferred to one or more subsequent paging slots within a tolerable delay period associated with the tolerable delay indication.   
     
     
         12 . The network processing component of  claim 11 , wherein the page message for establishing the call comprises a call for voice or data communications. 
     
     
         13 . The network processing component of  claim 11 , wherein the tolerable delay indication includes a number of paging slots indicative of the tolerable delay period. 
     
     
         14 . The network processing component of  claim 13 , wherein the number of paging slots has a value between 0 and N. 
     
     
         15 . The network processing component of  claim 11 , wherein the tolerable delay indication includes a time period indicative of the tolerable delay period. 
     
     
         16 . The network processing component of  claim 11 , wherein the computer instructions are further executable for:
 receiving, via the wireless network, the tolerable delay indication from the mobile communication device.   
     
     
         17 . The network processing component of  claim 11 , wherein the computer instructions are further executable for:
 receiving, via the wireless network, the tolerable delay indication from the mobile communication device in response to a predetermined condition at the mobile communication device.   
     
     
         18 . The network processing component of  claim 11 , wherein the computer instructions are further executable for:
 receiving, via the wireless network, the tolerable delay indication from the mobile communication device when the mobile communication device is connected to a high capacity power source.   
     
     
         19 . The network processing component of  claim 11 , which is part of the wireless communication network comprising a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) network. 
     
     
         20 . A method of receiving page messages at a mobile communication device in a wireless communication network, the method comprising the steps of:
 monitoring for page messages for the mobile communication device within one or more paging slots assigned to the mobile communication device, the paging slots being separated in time by a fixed time period;   causing a tolerable delay indication to be sent to the wireless network, the tolerable delay indication being indicative of a finite tolerable delay period greater than or equal to two or more of the fixed time periods by which page messages for the mobile device can be deferred; and   receiving, based on the tolerable delay indication sent, a deferred page message, the deferred page message having been deferred by the finite tolerable delay period indicated by the tolerable delay indication.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the tolerable delay indication includes a number of paging slots indicative of the finite tolerable delay period. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the tolerable delay indication includes a time period indicative of the finite tolerable delay period. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising:
 identifying a predetermined condition; and   causing the tolerable delay indication to be sent to the wireless network based on identifying the predetermined condition.   
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising:
 identifying that a predetermined power source is connected to the mobile device; and   causing the tolerable delay indication to be sent to the wireless network based on identifying that the predetermined power source is connected to the mobile device.   
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising:
 causing an indication to be transmitted to the wireless network, the indication being indicative for terminating the tolerable delay; and   after transmitting the indication: monitoring each paging slot of the plurality of paging slots to receive a page message in a paging slot with no tolerable delay.   
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the mobile device is adapted to communicate in accordance with a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) standard. 
     
     
         27 . A mobile communication device, comprising:
 a wireless transceiver operative for radio communications with a wireless communication network;   an antenna coupled to the wireless transceiver;   one or more processors coupled to the wireless transceiver;   the one or more processors being operative to:
 monitor for page messages for the mobile communication device within one or more paging slots assigned to the mobile communication device, the paging slots being separated in time by a fixed time period; 
 cause a tolerable delay indication to be sent to the wireless network, the tolerable delay indication being indicative of a finite tolerable delay period greater than or equal to two or more of the fixed time periods by which page messages for the mobile device can be deferred; and 
 receive, based on the tolerable delay indication sent, a deferred page message, the deferred page message having been deferred by the finite tolerable delay period indicated by the tolerable delay indication. 
   
     
     
         28 . The mobile device of  claim 27 , wherein the tolerable delay indication includes a number of paging slots indicative of the finite tolerable delay period. 
     
     
         29 . The mobile device of  claim 27 , wherein the tolerable delay indication includes a time period indicative of the finite tolerable delay period. 
     
     
         30 . The mobile device of  claim 27 , wherein the one or more processors are further operative to:
 identify a predetermined condition; and   cause the tolerable delay indication to be sent to the wireless network based on identifying the predetermined condition.   
     
     
         31 . The mobile device of  claim 27 , wherein the one or more processors are further operative to:
 identify that a predetermined power source is coupled to the mobile device; and   cause the tolerable delay indication to be sent to the wireless network based on identifying that the predetermined power source is coupled to the mobile device.   
     
     
         32 . The mobile device of  claim 27 , wherein the one or more processors are further operative to:
 cause an indication to be transmitted to the wireless network, the indication being indicative for terminating the tolerable delay; and   after transmitting the indication: monitor each paging slot of the plurality of paging slots to receive a page message in a paging slot with no tolerable delay.   
     
     
         33 . The mobile device of  claim 27 , which is adapted to operate in accordance with a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) standard.