Method and apparatus for providing deferrable data services in a cellular communication system

A mobile station capable of transferring deferrable data in a wireless communication system comprising:

• at least one memory device capable of storing deferrable data;
• a processor associated with the at least one memory device that receives an instruction to transfer deferrable data, determines whether an air interface is congested, defers a transfer of the deferrable data when the air interface is congested, transfers the deferrable data when the air interface is not congested, and subsequent to determining that the air interface is congested and deferring transfer of the deferrable data, determines that the air interface is not congested, determines a deferral time period during which a transfer of deferrable data is further deferred and, upon expiration of the deferrable time period, transfers the deferrable data and transfers the deferrable data.

A mobile station capable of transferring deferrable data in a wireless communication system comprising:

• at least one memory device capable of storing deferrable data;
• a processor associated with the at least one memory device that receives an instruction to transfer deferrable data, determines whether an air interface is congested based on a first signal quality metric, wherein the first signal quality metric is determined based on a first signal received from an infrastructure, defers a transfer of the deferrable data when the air interface is congested, transfers the deferrable data when the air interface is not congested, and when the air interface is congested, monitors signals received from the infrastructure, receives a second signal from the infrastructure, determines a second signal quality metric based on a second signal received from the infrastructure, and transfers the deferrable data in response to the determination of the second signal quality metric.