Techniques for reducing network congestion in a wireless communications system

An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising:

• a processor;
• memory in electronic communication with the processor;
• and
• instructions stored in the memory, the instructions being executable by the processor to:
• detect a first connection failure at a user equipment (UE) in response to a first connection request, wherein a connection failure is detected based on at least one of an expiration of a response timer or a reception of a connection reject message;
• detect a second connection failure at the UE in response to a second connection request;
• calculate a first difference between a timestamp of the second connection failure and a previously stored timestamp of the first connection failure;
• upon determining that the first difference satisfies a first time threshold modify, at the UE, stored information relating to one or more previous connection failures, wherein the one or more previous connection failures includes the first connection failure;
• and
• upon determining that the first difference fails to satisfy the first time threshold, withhold one of a future connection request for a barring time period or a future connection request for a back off time period.

An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising:

• means for detecting a first connection failure at a user equipment (UE) in response to a first connection request, wherein a connection failure is detected based on at least one of an expiration of a response timer or a reception of a connection reject message;
• means for detecting a second connection failure at the UE in response to a second connection request;
• means for calculating a first difference between a timestamp of the second connection failure and a previously stored timestamp of the first connection failure;
• means for, upon determining that the first difference satisfies a first time threshold, modifying, at the UE, stored information relating to one or more previous connection failures, wherein the one or more previous connection failures includes the first connection failure;
• and
• means for, upon determining that the first difference fails to satisfy the first time threshold, withholding one of a future connection request for a barring time period or a future connection request for a back off time period.

A computer program product for reducing congestion in a wireless communications system, the computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions for causing at least one processor to:

• detect a first connection failure at a user equipment (UE) in response to a first connection request, wherein a connection failure is detected based on at least one of an expiration of a response timer or a reception of a connection reject message;
• detect a second connection failure at the UE in response to a second connection request;
• calculate a first difference between a timestamp of the second connection failure and a previously stored timestamp of the first connection failure;
• upon determining that the first difference satisfies a first time threshold, modify, at the UE, stored information relating to one or more previous connection failures, wherein the one or more previous connection failures includes the first connection failure;
• and
• upon determining that the first difference fails to satisfy the first time threshold, withholding one of a future connection request for a barring time period or a future connection request for a back off time period.