Communications control for extending the period over which a terminal is able to have an open connection with a host accessible via a packet data network

An apparatus, comprising:

• a processor;
• memory including computer program code;
• the memory and the computer program code configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus at least to perform:
• inputting a first data packet traveling in a packet data network from a network party towards a terminal, which packet data network comprises one or more intervening network entities on a route between the network party and the terminal;
• associating the first data packet with a time-to-live adjusted to enable the first data packet to reach the one or more intervening network entities but not to enable the first data packet to reach the terminal, in order to maintain traffic through the one or more intervening network entities in order to postpone expiry of a connection between the terminal and the network party in the one or more intervening network entities;
• and
• determining the number of hops remaining on the route of the first data packet to the terminal;
• and adjusting the time-to-live associated with the first data packet so that the time-to-live is set to be smaller than the determined number of hops.

A computer readable medium having stored therein a computer program comprising computer executable program code configured to control an intermediate network element, comprising:

• computer executable program code configured to cause the intermediate network element to input a first data packet traveling in a packet data network from a network party towards a terminal, which packet data network comprises one or more intervening network entities on a route between the network party and the terminal;
• computer executable program code configured to cause the intermediate network element to associate the first data packet with a time-to-live adjusted to enable the first data packet to reach the one or more intervening network entities but not to enable the first data packet to reach the terminal, in order to maintain traffic through the one or more intervening network entities in order to postpone expiry of a connection between the terminal and the network party in the one or more intervening network entities, and
• computer executable program code configured to determine the number of hops remaining on the route of the first data packet to the terminal;
• and to adjust the time-to-live associated with the first data packet so that the time-to-live is set to be smaller than the determined number of hops.