# US 10,122,500 B2 · Efficient sparse network resource usage and connection release > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,122,500 B2 - Document ID: US10122500B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/236,802 - Filed: 2016-08-15 - Published: 2017-03-02 - Granted: 2018-11-06 - Earliest claimed: 2015-08-26 - Assignees: Apple Inc. - Applicants: Apple Inc. - Inventors: Venkateswara Rao Manepalli; Sarma V. Vangala - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10122500B2 ## CPC - H04L 1/1812: Hybrid protocols; Hybrid automatic repeat request [HARQ] - H04L 1/1829: Arrangements specially adapted for the receiver end - H04W 76/30: Connection release - H04W 76/38: triggered by timers - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) ## Abstract This disclosure relates to techniques for efficient sparse network resource usage and connection release procedures. According to some embodiments, a wireless device may utilize techniques for efficiently releasing a radio resource control (RRC) connection, including techniques that avoid or reduce the occurrence of random access procedures when out-of-sync with the network when the RRC connection is being released. In some embodiments, a wireless device may utilize techniques for efficiently sparsely using network uplink resources, including techniques that avoid or reduce the occurrence of random access procedures to regain timing alignment to perform uplink communication when out-of-sync with the network. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus, comprising: a processing element configured to cause the apparatus to: establish a radio resource control (RRC) connection with a base station of a cellular network; receive connection release timer configuration settings from the base station, wherein a connection release timer for the RRC connection at the apparatus operates according to the configuration settings received from the base station; determine to release the RRC connection based on expiry of the connection release timer without receiving an RRC connection release message from the base station; and release the RRC connection without sending a radio link control (RLC) layer acknowledgement message indicating that the RRC connection has been released to the base station. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the connection release timer for the RRC connection at the apparatus is synchronized with a connection release timer for the RRC connection at the base station. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processing element is further configured to cause the apparatus to: initiate a guard timer associated with expiration of the connection release timer at the apparatus; wherein the RRC connection is released after expiration of the guard timer. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processing element is further configured to cause the apparatus to: re-start the connection release timer at each data communication between the apparatus and the base station. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the base station is configured to release the RRC connection based on determining that a connection release timer for the RRC connection at the base station has expired and wherein the apparatus is configured to release the RRC connection after the base station releases the RRC connection. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein receiving the connection release timer configuration settings is associated with the cellular network being aware of one or more active applications and/or types of active applications of the UE device. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processing element is further configured to cause the apparatus to: transition between uplink (UL) out-of-sync (OOS) and UL in-sync (INS) while remaining in an RRC connected state. ### Claim 8 A method, comprising: by a wireless user equipment (UE) device: establishing a radio resource control (RRC) connection with a base station of a cellular network; receiving connection release timer configuration settings from the base station, wherein a connection release timer for the RRC connection at the apparatus operates according to the configuration settings received from the base station; initiating the connection release timer for the RRC connection at the UE device; determining that the connection release timer has expired; and releasing the RRC connection based on determining that the connection release timer has expired, wherein said releasing the RRC connection is performed without receiving an RRC connection release message from the base station and without sending an acknowledgement message indicating that the RRC connection has been released to the base station. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the connection release timer for the RRC connection at the UE device is synchronized with a connection release timer for the RRC connection at the base station. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, the method further comprising: re-starting the connection release timer at each data communication between the UE device and the base station. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the base station is configured to release the RRC connection based on determining that a connection release timer for the RRC connection at the base station has expired, wherein the UE is configured to release the RRC connection after the base station releases the RRC connection. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, the method further comprising: initiating a guard timer associated with expiration of the connection release timer; and releasing the RRC connection after expiration of the guard timer. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein receiving the connection release timer configuration settings is associated with the cellular network being aware of one or more active applications and/or types of active applications of the UE device. ### Claim 14 A wireless user equipment (UE) device, comprising: an antenna; a radio communicatively coupled to the antenna; and a processing element communicatively coupled to the radio; wherein the UE device is configured to: establish a radio resource control (RRC) connection with a base station of a cellular network; receive connection release timer configuration settings from the base station, wherein a connection release timer for the RRC connection at the apparatus operates according to the configuration settings received from the base station; initiate the connection release timer for the RRC connection at the UE device; determine that the connection release timer has expired; and release the RRC connection without receiving an RRC connection release message based on determining that the connection release timer has expired, wherein said releasing the RRC connection is performed without receiving an RRC connection release message from the base station and without sending an acknowledgement message indicating that the RRC connection has been released to the base station. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The wireless UE device of claim 14, wherein the connection release timer for the RRC connection at the UE device is synchronized with a connection release timer for the RRC connection at the base station. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The wireless UE device of claim 14, wherein the base station is configured to release the RRC connection based on determining that a connection release timer for the RRC connection at the base station has expired and wherein the UE is configured to release the RRC connection after the base station releases the RRC connection. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The wireless UE device of claim 14, wherein the UE device is further configured to: initiate a guard timer associated with expiration of the connection release timer; and release the RRC connection after expiration of the guard timer. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The wireless UE device of claim 14, wherein the UE device is further configured to: re-start the connection release timer at each data communication between the UE device and the base station. ### Claim 19 (depends on 14) The wireless UE device of claim 14, wherein receiving the connection release timer configuration settings is associated with the cellular network being aware of one or more active applications and/or types of active applications of the UE device. ### Claim 20 (depends on 14) The wireless UE device of claim 14, wherein the UE device is further configured to: transition between uplink (UL) out-of-sync (OOS) and UL in-sync (INS) while remaining in an RRC connected state.