System and method for controlling extended uplink temporary block flow and dynamic timeslot reduction

A method, comprising:

• receiving, at a mobile station, an indication that Extended Uplink Temporary Block Flow NoData (EXT_UTBF_NODATA) is enabled;
• and
• without receiving an indication that EXT UTBF NODATA is not enabled and with EXT UTBF NODATA enabled:
• entering a power saving mode,
• receiving a first resource allocation via an uplink state flag (USF) in accordance with a resource assignment, and
• operating in a non-EXT_UTBF_NODATA mode by transmitting dummy blocks to a network using the first allocated resource.

A method, comprising:

• transmitting, to a mobile station, an indication that Extended Uplink Temporary Block Flow NoData (EXT_UTBF_NODATA) is not enabled;
• and
• without transmitting an indication to the mobile station that EXT UTBF NODATA is enabled:
• determining that the mobile station has entered a power saving mode,
• transmitting a first resource allocation to the mobile station via an uplink state flag (USF) in accordance with a resource assignment, and
• when at least one of a dummy block configured to maintain the first allocated resource and a radio link control (RLC) media access control (MAC) block are not received from the mobile station in response to the first resource allocation, maintaining the first allocated resource.

A mobile station, comprising:

• a processor in communication with a memory storing instructions executable by the processor, the instructions causing the processor to:
• receive an indication that Extended Uplink Temporary Block Flow NoData (EXT_UTBF_NODATA) is not enabled;
• and
• without receiving an indication that EXT_UTBF_NODATA is enabled and with EXT_UTBF_NODATA not enabled:
• enter a power saving mode,
• receive a first resource allocation via an uplink state flag (USF) in accordance with a resource assignment, and
• while in the power saving mode and when the mobile station has no radio link control (RLC) media access control (MAC) blocks ready to transmit, operate in an EXT_UTBF_NODATA mode.

A network component, comprising:

• a processor in communication with a memory storing instructions executable by the processor, the instructions causing the processor to:
• transmit, to a mobile station, an indication that Extended Uplink Temporary Block Flow NoData (EXT_UTBF_NODATA) is not enabled;
• without transmitting an indication that EXT UTBF NODATA is enabled:
• determine that the mobile station has entered a power saving mode,
• transmit a first resource allocation to the mobile station via an uplink state flag (USF) in accordance with a resource assignment, and
• when at least one of a dummy block configured to maintain the first allocated resource and a radio link control (RLC) media access control (MAC) block are not received from the mobile station in response to the first resource allocation, maintain the first allocated resource.

A computer readable storage medium storing program instructions which, when executed by a processor in a mobile station, cause the processor to:

• receive an indication that Extended Uplink Temporary Block Flow NoData (EXT_UTBF_NODATA) is not enabled;
• enter a power saving mode;
• without receiving an indication that EXT_UTBF_NODATA is enabled and with EXT_UTBF_NODATA not enabled:
• receive a first resource allocation via an uplink state flag (USF) in accordance with a resource assignment, and
• while in the power saving mode and when the mobile station has no radio link control (RLC) media access control (MAC) blocks ready to transmit, operate in an EXT_UTBF_NODATA mode.