Dynamic adjustment of keep-alive messages for efficient battery usage in a mobile network

A method for network communication between a mobile terminal and a remote entity in a communications network, the method comprising:

• establishing a first network connection over a communications network between a mobile terminal and a remote entity;
• exchanging keep-alive messages at varying intervals over the first network connection based on periods of inactivity of the first network connection;
• wherein the first network connection is disconnected after a first period of inactivity;
• establishing a second network connection over the communications network between the mobile terminal and the remote entity;
• exchanging keep-alive messages at varying intervals over the second network connection based on periods of inactivity of the second network connection;
• wherein the second network connection is disconnected after a second period of inactivity;
• storing a maximum determined interval at the mobile terminal;
• wherein the maximum determined interval is calculated based on the first period of inactivity and the second period of inactivity;
• and
• receiving, from the mobile terminal, keep-alive messages at the maximum determined interval via a subsequent network connection over the network based on inactivity in the subsequent network connection.

A mobile terminal comprising:

• a communications interface;
• a battery;
• the mobile terminal in conjunction with the communications interface is configured for:
• establishing a first network connection over a communication network between the mobile terminal and a remote entity;
• exchanging keep-alive messages at varying intervals via the first network connection based on periods of inactivity in the first network connection;
• wherein the first network connection is disconnected after a first period of inactivity;
• establishing a second network connection over the communications network between the mobile terminal and the remote entity;
• exchanging keep-alive messages at varying intervals over the second network connection based on periods of inactivity in the second network connection;
• wherein the second network connection is disconnected after a second period of inactivity;
• storing a maximum determined interval at the mobile terminal;
• wherein the maximum determined interval is calculated based on the first period of inactivity and the second period of inactivity at the mobile terminal;
• and
• sending, from the mobile terminal, keep-alive messages at the maximum determined interval via a subsequent network connection over the network based on inactivity in the subsequent network connection.