# US 12,004,112 B2 · Minimizing service interruptions during tracking area update procedures

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- Number: US 12,004,112 B2
- Document ID: US12004112B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/570,153
- Filed: 2022-01-06
- Published: 2023-07-20
- Granted: 2024-06-04
- Earliest claimed: 2022-01-06
- Assignees: T-Mobile Innovations LLC
- Applicants: T-Mobile Innovations LLC
- Inventors: Muhammad Tawhidur Rahman
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12004112B2

## CPC

- H04W 60/04: using triggered events
- H04B 17/318: Received signal strength
- H04W 24/10: Scheduling measurement reports {; Arrangements for measurement reports}
- H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72)
- H04B: TRANSMISSION

## Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for an improved tracking area update(TAU) procedure for minimizing service interruptions for wireless devices. In embodiments herein, wireless devices set a delay timer upon experiencing a triggering event. Upon termination of the triggering event, the wireless devices are able to complete the TAU procedure if the delay timer has not yet expired.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method comprising:
transmitting, by a wireless device, a tracking area update request to an access node;
receiving a tracking area update acceptance at the wireless device;
detecting a triggering event at the wireless device;
setting a delay timer at the wireless device upon occurrence of the triggering event;
detecting termination of the triggering event; and
upon termination of the triggering event and prior to expiration of the delay timer, sending a tracking area update complete response from the wireless device to the access node.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein detecting the triggering event comprises detecting a signal strength meeting a predetermined threshold.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2, further comprising measuring the signal strength using RSRP.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting the tracking area update request from the access node to a core network.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The method of claim 4, further comprising setting a tracking area update timer at the core network upon receipt of the tracking area update request.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The method of claim 5, further comprising setting the delay timer to a value less than the tracking area update timer.

### Claim 7 (depends on 5)

The method of claim 5, further comprising setting the tracking area update timer at the core network to a value greater than the delay timer at the wireless device.

### Claim 8 (depends on 4)

The method of claim 4, further comprising sending the tracking area update request from the wireless device to a mobility management entity (MME) of the core network.

### Claim 9 (depends on 4)

The method of claim 4, further comprising sending the tracking area update request from the wireless device to an access and mobility function (AMF) of the core network.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising, upon the expiration of the delay timer, flushing the tracking area update procedure at the wireless device.

### Claim 11

A system comprising:
a wireless device having at least one processor programmed to perform multiple operations including;
transmitting a tracking area update request to an access node;
receiving a tracking area update acceptance;
detecting a triggering event;
setting a delay timer upon occurrence of the triggering event;
detecting termination of the triggering event; and
upon termination of the triggering event and prior to expiration of the delay timer, sending a tracking area update complete response from the wireless device to the access node.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The system of claim 11, wherein detecting the triggering event comprises detecting a signal strength meeting a predetermined threshold.

### Claim 13 (depends on 11)

The system of claim 11, further comprising a core network having a tracking area update timer set to a value greater than the delay timer of the wireless device.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The system of claim 13, wherein the core network receives the tracking area update request from the access node.

### Claim 15 (depends on 13)

The system of claim 13, wherein the tracking area update timer is set upon receipt of the tracking area update request.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The system of claim 15, wherein the wireless device sets the delay timer to a value less than the tracking area update timer.

### Claim 17 (depends on 15)

The system of claim 15, wherein the core network sets the tracking area update timer at the core network to a value greater than the delay timer at the wireless device.

### Claim 18

A non-transitory computer readable medium, programmed to perform multiple operations including:
transmitting a tracking area update request to an access node;
receiving a tracking area update acceptance;
detecting a triggering event;
setting a delay timer upon occurrence of the triggering event;
detecting termination of the triggering event; and
upon termination of the triggering event and prior to expiration of the delay timer, sending a tracking area update complete response from a wireless device to the access node.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 18, wherein detecting the triggering event comprises detecting a signal strength at the wireless device meeting a predetermined threshold.

### Claim 20 (depends on 18)

The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 18, wherein the operations further comprise, upon the expiration of the delay timer, flushing the tracking area update procedure at the wireless device.