Infrastructure equipment, mobile communications network and method for reducing overhead of signaling transmissions and processing

A method of communicating data packets from an infrastructure equipment via a mobile communications network, the method comprising:

• receiving one or more signaling messages from a communications device;
• in response to the received signaling messages, establishing a communications context for communicating data packets using a packet communications bearer via the mobile communications network;
• receiving a stasis state message from the communications device for which the context has been established, the stasis state message indicating that the communications device wishes to enter a stasis state, wherein during the stasis state, information relating to the communications context associated with the packet communications bearer is stored, and radio resources associated with the communications context are configured to be released;
• transmitting a stasis state confirm message to the communications device;
• and
• storing information relating to the communications context established for the communications devices and associated with the packet communications bearer in a data store, wherein the stored information is configured to be used by the controller to re-establish the packet communications bearer to transmit data packets using the packet communications bearer,
• wherein, when the communications device is in the stasis state, the method further comprises:
• transmitting a connection re-establishment message to the communications device,
• receiving a connection re-establishment complete message from the communications device, and
• re-establishing the same packet communications bearer in the cell.

A communications device for communicating with a mobile communications network, the communications device comprising:

• a transmitter configured to transmit signals to the mobile communications network via the wireless access interface provided by the mobile communications network;
• a receiver configured to receive signals from the mobile communications network via the wireless access interface provided by the mobile communications network;
• and
• a controller configured to:
• control the transmitter to transmit one or more signaling messages to the communications network and the receiver to receive one or more signaling messages from the communications network to establish a communications context for communicating data packets using a packet communications bearer from the communications device via the mobile communications network,
• identify that the communications device can enter a stasis state because no data packets are available for transmission for a predetermined time via the packet communications bearer or there are no data packets to receive via the packet communications bearer, wherein during the stasis state, information relating to the communications context associated with the packet communications barrier is stored and radio resources associated with the communications context are configured to be released,
• transmit a stasis state message to the mobile communications network,
• store information relating to the communications context associated with the packet communications bearer in a data store, which stored information can be used by the controller using the transmitter and the receiver to re-establish the packet communications bearer to transmit and/or receive data packets using the packet communications bearer,
• release the radio resources relating to the communications context, and
• control the communications device to enter the stasis state,
• wherein when in the stasis state, the controller is configured in combination with the receiver to:
• monitor signals received via the wireless access interface,
• and
• re-establish the same packet communications bearer in the cell in accordance with a predetermined condition associated with the monitored signals.