Optimized packet-resource management

In a wireless access network having a Mobile Switching Center (MSC), a Base Station Controller (BSC), a Packet Control Function (PCF), and a Packet Data Service Node (PDSN) providing a packet-data session with a packet-data network, a method of optimizing the use of packet-resources by eliminating a hanging packet-data connection when a Mobile Station (MS) performs a power-down while the packet-data session is in a dormant state, said method comprising the steps of:

• receiving in the BSC, a power-down registration from the MS;
• sending from the BSC, an update message to the PCF that includes an indication that the MS has powered down;
• sending an indication from the PCF to the PDSN indicating that the lifetime of the packet-data connection is zero (0);
• and
• releasing the packet-data connection by the PDSN in response to the indication from the PCF.

A Mobile Switching Center (MSC) in a wireless access network having a Base Station Controller (BSC), a Packet Control Function (PCF), and a Packet Data Service Node (PDSN) providing a Mobile Station (MS) with a packet-data session with a packet-data network, said MSC comprising:

• a first signaling means for receiving a message from the BSC indicating that the MS has powered down;
• means for determining in the MSC that the packet-data session is dormant;
• and
• a second signaling means for sending an instruction to the BSC to release network resources associated with the packet-data session.

A system for optimizing the use of packet-resources in a wireless access network by eliminating a hanging packet-data connection at a Packet Data Service Node (PDSN) when a Mobile Station (MS) performs a power-down while a packet-data session is in a dormant state, said system comprising:

• a Mobile Switching Center (MSC), said MSC comprising:
• a first signaling means for receiving a message from the BSC indicating that the MS has powered down;
• and
• a second signaling means for sending an instruction to the BSC to release network resources associated with the packet-data session;
• a Base Station Controller (BSC) that receives the instruction from the MSC and sends a release instruction to a Packet Control Function (PCF) to release packet-data resources;
• a Packet Control Function (PCF) that releases its connection to the BSC and initiates closure of its connection to the PDSN in response to the release instruction received from the BSC;
• and
• a Packet Data Service Node (PDSN) that releases the packet-data connection in response to the PCF initiating closure of its connection to the PDSN.

A system for optimizing the use of packet-resources in a wireless access network by eliminating a hanging packet-data connection at a Packet Data Service Node (PDSN) when a Mobile Station (MS) performs a power-down while a packet-data session is in a dormant state, said system comprising:

• a Mobile Switching Center (MSC) that control radio resources in the wireless access network;
• a Base Station Controller (BSC), said BSC comprising:
• a first signaling means for receiving a power-down registration from the MS when the packet-data session is dormant;
• and
• a second signaling means for sending from the BSC, an update message to a Packet Control Function (PCF) that instructs the PCF to release resources associated with the packet-data session due to the MS powering down;
• a PCF that releases its connection to the BSC and initiates closure of its connection to the PDSN in response to the release instruction received from the BSC;
• and
• a PDSN that releases the packet-data connection in response to the PCF initiating closure of its connection to the PDSN.