Method to sustain TCP connection

A mobile communication unit for use in a communication system, the communication system including a backbone and a network device coupled to the backbone, the network device having a predetermined period of time during which, if no communication is received from the mobile communication unit, the network device ends an established connection with the mobile communication unit, the mobile communication unit comprising:

• a processor operative to control the mobile communication unit;
• a transmitter coupled to the processor, the transmitter operative to transmit information to the network device upon a connection being established between the mobile communication unit and the network device;
• and
• wherein the processor of the mobile communication unit transmits an unsolicited keepalive packet to the network device at predetermined intervals, the keepalive packet serving to reset the predetermined period of time such that the network device does not end the established connection.

A communication system comprising:

• a network backbone;
• a server coupled to the network backbone, the server determining if no communication from a mobile client is received for a predetermined period of time and, in the event no communication is received for the predetermined period of time, the server ending a connection with the mobile client;
• and
• wherein the mobile client transmits an unsolicited keepalive packet a predetermined intervals to the server device, the keepalive packet serving to reset the predetermined period of time so that the server does not end the connection.