Methods and apparatus for prioritizing assignment of a packet data session for a plurality of applications of a mobile communication device

A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable medium and computer instructions stored on the non-transitory computer readable medium, the computer instructions being executable by one or more processors of a mobile communication device for use in prioritizing assignment of a packet data session for a plurality of data applications of the mobile communication device, the plurality of data applications including at least a first data application operative in connection with a first data service and a second data application operative in connection with a second data service, the computer instructions being further executable for:

• causing a packet data session associated with the first data application to be established between the mobile communication device and a wireless communication network for accessing the first data service;
• in response to identifying an indication of a request for information via the second data application:
• causing the packet data session associated with the first data application to be terminated;
• causing a packet data session associated with the second data application to be established between the mobile communication device and the wireless communication network for accessing the second data service;
• starting a timer in the mobile communication device;
• restarting the timer for each request for information for the second data application;
• in response to an expiration of the timer for identifying, at the mobile communication device, communication inactivity associated with the second data application over a predetermined time period:
• causing the packet data session associated with the second data application to be terminated;
• and
• causing a racket data session associated with the first data application to be established again between the mobile communication device and the wireless communication network for again accessing the first data service.

A mobile communication device, comprising:

• one or more processors;
• a wireless transceiver coupled to the one or more processors and being operative for communications in a wireless communication network;
• a user interface coupled to the one or more processors;
• memory for storing a plurality of data applications, the plurality of data application including at least a first data application operative in connection with a first data service and a second data application operative in connection with a second data service;
• the one or more processors being operative to:
• causing a packet data session associated with the first data application to be established with the wireless communication network, with use of the wireless transceiver, for accessing the first data service;
• in response to identifying an indication of a request for information via the second data application:
• causing the packet data session associated with the first data application to be terminated;
• causing a packet data session associated with the second data application to be established between the mobile communication device and the wireless communication network, with use of the wireless transceiver, for accessing the second data service;
• starting a timer;
• restarting the timer for each request for information for the second data application;
• in response to an expiration of the timer for identifying, at the mobile communication device, communication inactivity associated with the second data application over a predetermined time period:
• causing the packet data session associated with the second data application to be terminated;
• and
• causing a packet data session associated with the first data application to be established again between the mobile communication device and the wireless communication network, with use of the wireless transceiver, for again accessing the first data service.