Dynamic Keep-Alive Interval Adjustment for Mobile IP Connectivity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Maintaining an IP connection in packet-switched mobile networks consumes battery life and can lead to connection break-ups due to operator-defined policies, resulting in inefficient data synchronization and increased costs.
Innovation Solution
The method involves establishing an IP connection between a mobile terminal and its correspondent node, sending keep-alive messages at a predetermined schedule during periods of inactivity, and dynamically adjusting the interval between these messages based on monitored inactivity periods to prevent spurious connection break-ups.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If keep-alive messages are sent frequently to maintain IP connection, then connection reliability is improved, but battery consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic adjustment of keep-alive message intervals based on network conditions and connection state. The system transitions between different operational modes (e.g., idle, active, suspended) with different keep-alive strategies, allowing the interval to be extended or reduced dynamically rather than using a fixed schedule.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the time interval parameter of keep-alive messages based on monitored network conditions, terminal state, and connection activity. By adjusting this critical parameter dynamically, the system optimizes the balance between maintaining connection reliability and reducing energy consumption.
2Device complexity
If keep-alive messages are sent at fixed intervals, then implementation simplicity is improved, but connection break-ups due to operator policies increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates feedback mechanisms by monitoring network responses, connection state changes, and operator policy patterns. Based on this feedback, the system adapts the keep-alive message interval to avoid triggering operator-defined disconnect policies while maintaining connection stability.
Solution Approach 2:
Rather than using a static fixed interval, the system dynamically adjusts the keep-alive message timing based on real-time conditions, making the implementation more complex but significantly improving connection stability by adapting to operator policies and network state.
3Productivity
If IP connection is maintained continuously for data synchronization, then data synchronization efficiency is improved, but battery life decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses periodic keep-alive messages to maintain the IP connection during idle periods, allowing data synchronization to occur efficiently when needed while using minimal periodic traffic to prevent connection timeout, thereby extending battery life compared to continuous active maintenance.
Solution Approach 2:
The system sends keep-alive messages in advance before the operator-defined disconnect policy would trigger, preventing connection break-ups proactively. This preliminary action ensures the connection remains available for immediate data synchronization without requiring continuous high-power transmission.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for IP [=Internet Protocol] communication between a mobile terminal and its correspondent node in a mobile radio network. The method comprises establishing an IP connection between the mobile terminal and its correspondent node. After detecting a period of inactivity in the IP connection, keep-alive messages are sent via the IP connection at predetermined intervals, which are varied. The method comprises monitoring the lengths of several periods of inactivity at which the mobile radio network disconnects the IP connection.