Patent ID: 7573867
Filing Date: 2009-08-11
Classification: H04W

Abstract:
1. A method comprising: establishing a radio link layer connection between a radio access network and a wireless communication device, wherein the radio access network applies a radio link timer to the radio link connection, wherein the radio access network provides connectivity with a packet-switched network; establishing a data-link layer connection over which data can be communicated between the wireless communication device and the radio access network; detecting that the wireless communication device has neither sent nor received packet-based real-time media over the data-link layer connection for a threshold period of time; and responsive to the detecting, sending from the wireless communication device into the radio access network at least one keepalive signal, wherein the at least one keepalive signal resets the radio link timer, wherein sending the keepalive signal into the radio access network comprises sending the keepalive signal into the radio access network for transmission of the keepalive signal, in turn, from the radio access network to a destination in the packet-switched network, and wherein the keepalive signal is an empty Real-time Transport Protocol (RTP) packet.