System and method for management of data associated with a dormant mobile terminal

A method of managing incoming data for a dormant mobile terminal, wherein a packet control function (PCF) receives the data from a packet data serving node (PDSN) in a wireless communication network, the method comprising:

• receiving incoming data for the dormant mobile terminal from the PDSN at the PCF;
• starting a timer responsive to receiving the data;
• initiating connection reestablishment with the dormant mobile terminal responsive to receiving the data;
• buffering the incoming data up to a defined buffer limit;
• discarding any incoming data received after reaching the defined buffer limit;
• transferring buffered data from the PCF to the previously dormant mobile terminal if a connection with the mobile terminal is reestablished before expiration of the timer;
• and
• discarding the buffered data and resetting the timer if the connection with the mobile terminal is not reestablished before expiration of the timer.

A method of managing data for dormant mobile terminals within a wireless communication network, the method comprising:

• receiving data for a dormant mobile terminal from a packet data serving node (PDSN) at a packet control function (PCF);
• starting a timer at said PCF responsive to receiving the data;
• buffering incoming data received at the PCF for the dormant mobile terminal;
• initiating re-establishment of an active connection with the dormant mobile terminal by sending a service request from said PCF to a base station controller (BSC) associated with said dormant mobile terminal;
• sending a service request from said BSC to a mobile station controller (MSC) responsive receiving the service request from said PCF;;
• paging the dormant mobile terminal from said MSC via said BSC responsive to receiving the service request from said BSC;
• setting up a traffic channel between said BSC and said mobile terminal if the previously dormant mobile terminal responds to said paging request;
• and
• transferring the buffered data from said PCF to said mobile terminal via said BSC if said traffic channel is established before expiration of the timer;
• discarding the buffered data at said PCF if said traffic channel is not established before expiration of the timer;
• and
• resetting the timer upon transferring the buffered data or upon expiration of the timer.

A packet control function (PCF) for use in a wireless communication network, the PCF comprising:

• at least one processor, wherein the at least one processor starts a timer and initiates connection re-establishment between the PCF and a dormant mobile terminal associated with the PCF in response to the PCF receiving incoming data for the dormant mobile terminal;
• and
• memory, wherein the PCF buffers the received incoming data in the memory;
• and
• wherein the PCF discards the buffered incoming data from the memory if the connection cannot be re-established before the timer has expired or transfers the buffered incoming data to the mobile terminal if the connection is re-established before the timer has expired.

A packet control function (PCF) for use in a wireless communication network, the PCF comprising memory and at least one processor, said at least one processor adapted to:

• start a timer responsive to receiving incoming data for a dormant mobile terminal associated with said PCF;
• buffer the incoming data in said memory up to a defined buffer limit;
• initiate connection reestablishment with the dormant mobile terminal responsive to the incoming data;
• transfer buffered data from the PCF to the previously dormant mobile terminal if a connection with the mobile terminal is reestablished before expiration of the timer;
• and
• discard the buffered data and reset the timer if the connection with the mobile terminal is not reestablished before expiration of the timer.