# US 9,439,237 B2 · Method and apparatus for statistical handling of connections > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,439,237 B2 - Document ID: US9439237B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/977,830 - Filed: 2011-01-07 - Published: 2013-11-07 - Granted: 2016-09-06 - Earliest claimed: 2011-01-07 - Assignees: Nokia Technologies Oy - Applicants: Jukka Nurminen; Ismo Puustinen - Inventors: Jukka Nurminen; Ismo Puustinen - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9439237B2 ## CPC - H04W 76/38: triggered by timers - H04L 41/0663: Performing the actions predefined by failover planning, e.g. switching to standby network elements - H04L 41/0896: Bandwidth or capacity management, i.e. automatically increasing or decreasing capacities (flow or congestion control using dynamic resource allocation, e.g. in-call renegotiation, H04L47/76) - H04L 43/0811: by checking connectivity - H04W 52/0238: {where the received signal is an unwanted signal, e.g. interference or idle signal} - H04W 24/08: Testing, {supervising or monitoring} using real traffic - H04W 76/18: Management of setup rejection or failure - H04W 76/34: Selective release of ongoing connections - Y02D 30/70: in wireless communication networks - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) - Y02D: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES [ICT], I.E. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES AIMING AT THE REDUCTION OF THEIR OWN ENERGY USE ## Abstract In accordance with an example embodiment of the present invention, a method is described which comprises receiving data relating to at least one connection from a network (410), deriving statistical information relating to the at least one connection (420), and causing disconnection of at least one of the at least one connection in dependence of the statistical information (430). ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus, comprising: a receiver configured to receive data relating to connections from a network; at least one processing core configured to derive statistical information relating to the connections; the at least one processing core being configured to cause disconnection of at least one first connection in dependence of the statistical information, and wherein the statistical information comprises at least one average idle time, wherein the at least one processing core is configured to cause disconnection of the at least one first connection responsive to an average idle time exceeding a predefined threshold idle time, the average idle time being obtained from averaging idle times of a plurality of second connections, distinct from the first connection, the second connections having a parameter that matches a corresponding parameter of the first connection. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the statistical information comprises information concerning the connections in terms of at least one parameter. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the at least one parameter comprises at least one of port number, source address and a part of a source address obtained by applying a mask to the source address. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus is configured to cause disconnection of the at least one first connection before the at least one first connection has been idle for the predefined threshold idle time. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the predefined threshold idle time corresponds to a connection timeout period defined by the network. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus comprises a mobile communication device, the apparatus further comprising an antenna coupled to the receiver and configured to provide signals to the at least one processing core. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus is comprised in a network node and causing disconnection comprises transmitting at least one of a shortened timer value and a disconnect message to a mobile. ### Claim 8 A method, comprising: receiving data relating to at least one connection from a network; deriving statistical information relating to the at least one connection; causing disconnection of at least one first connection in dependence of the statistical information, and wherein the statistical information comprises at least one average idle time, wherein the at least one first connection is caused to be disconnected responsive to an average idle time exceeding a predefined threshold idle time, the average idle time being obtained from averaging idle times of a plurality of second connections, distinct from the first connection, the second connections having a parameter that matches a corresponding parameter of the first connection. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method according to claim 8, wherein the statistical information comprises information concerning the connections in terms of at least one parameter. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The method according to claim 8, wherein the at least one parameter comprises at least one of port number, source address and a part of a source address obtained by applying a mask to the source address. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The method according to claim 8, wherein the at least one first connection is caused to be disconnected before the at least one first connection has been idle for the predefined threshold idle time. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The method according to claim 8, wherein the predefined threshold idle time is a connection timeout period defined by the network. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The method according to claim 8, wherein causing disconnection comprises transmitting at least one of a shortened timer value and a disconnect message to a mobile. ### Claim 14 A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable medium bearing computer program code embodied therein for use with a computer, the computer program code comprising: code for receiving data relating to at least one connection from a network; code for deriving statistical information relating to the at least one connection; code for causing disconnection of at least one first connection in dependence of the statistical information, and wherein the statistical information comprises at least one average idle time, wherein the at least one first connection is caused to be disconnected responsive to an average idle time exceeding a predefined threshold idle time, the average idle time being obtained from averaging idle times of a plurality of second connections, distinct from the first connection, the second connections having a parameter that matches a corresponding parameter of the first connection.