Reporting idle mode equipment data

In accordance with an example embodiment of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus such as for example a mobile or a base station, comprising at least one processing core configured to compile a message comprising information concerning resources used in a communication network, the at least one processing core being configured to perform a first determination, that a second user equipment is engaged in a device-to-device session with a first user equipment, the at least one processing core being configured to, responsive to the first determination, include in the message information concerning the second user equipment, and a transmitter configured to cause the message to be transmitted toward a network node. The message may comprise a resource usage report and/or charging report, for example.

RELATED APPLICATION

This application was originally filed as a PCT Application No. PCT/CN2013/077178 filed Jun. 13, 2013.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present application relates generally to reporting data on idle devices, for example in cellular communication systems.

BACKGROUND

Wireless communication, such as radio communication, may be arranged to occur between mobile units, such as cellular telephones, wireless-enabled laptops or wireless sensors or other radio-enabled mobile devices, and base stations. A telephone call, for example, may be placed from a smartphone, from where it may be routed via an air interface to a base station. From the base station, the call may be routed through a cellular core network to a call recipient. Alternatively, a smartphone may be arranged to access the Internet, for example, via the air interface to the base station, and from the base station directly to a data communication network whereby a core network is in this case not needed to access the Internet.

Mobile radio-enabled devices, such as suitably enabled cellular telephones, may be capable of communicating with each other directly or locally. Such communication may be known as device-to-device, or D2D, communication. Direct D2D communication may comprise that a first mobile transmits information encoded in a radio signal, and a second mobile receives the radio signal, wherein the radio signal isn't re-transmitted along the way. In other words, radio energy encoded with information transmitted from the first mobile is received in the second mobile. Local D2D communication may comprise that involved mobiles exchange information via a base station, wherein the base station doesn't forward the information to a core network node or a radio-access network controller node.

D2D communication may be useful, for example, when coverage of a mobile communication network is insufficient. As a yet further option, D2D communication may be used to offload communication between two nearby mobiles to D2D mode, so that resources of the mobile communication network may be used to serve more users and mobile device power consumption can be reduced.

Mobiles may be enabled to have more than one radio carrier active at a given time. For example, a mobile may receive data via a wireless local area network, WLAN, radio network while being engaged in a video call over a wideband code division multiple access, WCDMA, network. Likewise some mobiles may simultaneously have active a D2D connection with another mobile, and at least one connection to a wireless network, such as WLAN, WCDMA or long term evolution, LTE.

SUMMARY

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus, comprising at least one processing core configured to compile a message comprising information concerning resources used in a communication network, the at least one processing core being configured to perform a first determination, that a second user equipment is engaged in a device-to-device session with a first user equipment, the at least one processing core being configured to, responsive to the first determination, include in the message information concerning the second user equipment, and a transmitter configured to cause the message to be transmitted toward a network node.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method, comprising compiling a message comprising information concerning resources used in a communication network, performing a first determination, that a second user equipment is engaged in a device-to-device session with a first user equipment, including, responsive to the first determination, in the message information concerning the second user equipment, and causing the message to be transmitted toward a network node

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a computer program product comprising a computer-readable medium bearing computer program code embodied therein for use with a computer, the computer program code comprising code for compiling a message comprising information concerning resources used in a communication network code for performing a first determination, that a second user equipment is engaged in a device-to-device session with a first user equipment code for including, responsive to the first determination, in the message information concerning the second user equipment, and code for causing the message to be transmitted toward a network node.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In D2D sessions, when one of the involved UEs remains in a connected state to facilitate network control of the D2D session, it may be possible to leave another involved UE in an idle mode for power saving purposes. If, however, based on network charging policies all charging procedures are performed with UEs is in a connected mode, the idle-mode UE would not be a subject of charging procedures. Since UEs involved in D2D sessions, even if in idle mode, may consume the network resources, it could be reasonable for operators to charge D2D UEs even when in an idle mode.

FIG. 1illustrates an example system capable of supporting at least some embodiments of the invention. Illustrated is mobile110, which may comprise, for example, a user equipment, cellular telephone, laptop computer, tablet computer, personal digital assistant, PDA, wireless sensor or other mobile device with connectivity functions. An example of structure of mobile110is presented inFIG. 2. Mobile110is illustrated as being disposed in the cell coverage area of cell101. Cell101is controlled by base station120, which may be configured to operate in accordance with a radio access technology. Examples of radio access technologies include WLAN, WCDMA, IS-95 and LTE. Mobile110is illustrated as being in radio communication with base station120via wireless link115. When base station120operates according to a certain radio access technology, RAT, wireless link115operates according to the same RAT. Wireless link115may comprise an uplink for conveying information from mobile110to base station120. Wireless link115may comprise a downlink for conveying information from base station120to mobile110. Mobile110is in the example ofFIG. 1attached to a cell of base station120, namely cell101. Being attached to a cell may comprise that mobile110has a state, such as connected, active or idle, with respect to the cell. Being attached may comprise having an active bearer with the cell. Being attached to a cell may comprise that the cell is the cell mobile110will signal to in case mobile110needs connectivity.

Mobile110may access services of a cellular communications network via wireless link115and base station120. For example, base station120may be operably connected to further nodes, which are not illustrated inFIG. 1. Such further nodes may comprise, for example, radio access network controllers or core network nodes, such as switches or gateways. Mobile110may request, and receive, content from the Internet via such further nodes, base station120, and wireless link115. A user of mobile110may be charged for services obtained via mobile110and the network.

Illustrated inFIG. 1are also mobiles140and150. Mobile140and mobile150are illustrated as being interconnected by D2D wireless link145. D2D wireless link145may operate in accordance with a cellular RAT, or another RAT suitable for such use. D2D wireless link145may operate on a different frequency band than cellular cell101and/or cell102, such as for example an unlicensed band or a dedicated D2D band. Alternatively, D2D wireless link145may operate on a same frequency band as cellular cells such as cell101and/or cell102. Mobile150is illustrated as being in radio communication with base station130via wireless link155. Wireless link155may be essentially similar to wireless link115. Base station130controls cell102, which is adjacent to cell101. Cell coverage areas of cell101and cell102overlap to a degree to allow for seamless service provision to mobiles roaming in the area. Should a mobile cross over from the cell coverage area of cell101to that of cell102, a handover procedure may be triggered to cause attachment of the mobile to change from cell101to cell102. InFIG. 1, mobile110is near the overlap area of cell coverage areas of cell101and cell102.

In the illustrated system, mobile140may be in an idle mode. Being in an idle mode may comprise that no connection is available or active to the cellular network. Being in an idle mode may comprise that no connection is active from the mobile to a base station. Mobile140may be set to an idle mode to conserve battery, for example. Mobile150may be a point of contact for mobile140, in other words should a communication arrive for mobile140, base station130may inform mobile150of the communication, responsive to which mobile150may inform mobile140to enable mobile140to transition to an active mode for receiving the communication. In some embodiments, the communication may be delivered to mobile140via mobile150and D2D wireless link145.

A cellular communication network may be configured to manage radio resources used in cells of the network. To enable such control, and to enable charging for use of the system, the cellular communication network may use messages, such as reports, such as radio resource usage reports and/or charging reports. Such messages may comprise information on resources used in communications in the cellular communication network. The resources may be used in accessing the system as mobile110does via wireless link115, as mobile140does via mobile150and base station130or as mobiles140and150do when communicating directly with each other. In the last example, direct D2D communication consumes network resources since it may create interference in cells comprised in the system, which decreases the overall capacity of the system. A mobile may be in an idle mode with respect to the cellular communication network, while being in active communication with another mobile within a D2D session. Another way in which direct D2D communication consumes system resources is that information on mobiles participating in direct D2D communication need to be maintained in registers of the system.

Messages such as radio resource usage reports and/or charging reports may be generated by mobiles, by base stations or by server nodes or functions that authorize use of network resources by mobiles. An example of such a server is a DSRF, or D2D registration server function. A DSRF may be co-located in a base station site, as a standalone node or in a core network.

If the network determines, based on radio resource usage reports, that a certain mobile consumes a lot of network resources, it may instruct this mobile to reduce its consumption of resources to allow other mobiles more reliable access to the system. In this sense, radio resource usage reports may be used to enable managing overall system dependability as a variance in resource usage between mobiles is controlled.

Charging reports may be used by the network to generate invoices to subscribers for using resources of the network. Invoicing associates a cost with resource usage, which may also result in a reduced number of mobiles that use a very high amount of resources. This may also result in improved network dependability as cells may become more evenly and predictably loaded.

When mobiles140and150are engaged in a D2D session with each other, both mobiles may be seen as consuming network resources as described above. In this regard, the network may desire to associate resource usage to both mobiles, for at least one of resource use control and charging purposes. In case the network is arranged to collect radio resource usage reports and/or charging reports solely from mobiles in an active, or connected, mode, mobile140may have to be caused to transition to an active or connected mode in order to transmit a report. Since mobile140may have been set to an idle mode to conserve energy, causing its transition out of the idle mode would be counterproductive, and further, signaling associated with such a transition would in itself consume network resources.

Mobile150, being in an active or connected mode, on the other hand is enabled to send radio resource usage reports and/or charging reports. Mobile150also knows if it is in a D2D session with mobile140, mobile140being in an idle mode, wherefore mobile150may be configured to report resource usage on behalf of mobile140. To this end, mobile150may include in a report sent from mobile150information relating to mobile140. The information included relating to mobile140may comprise, for example, an identity of mobile140, resources used by mobile140, a share of D2D resources used by mobile140and a network or network entity that collects resource usage information concerning mobile140. Alternatively, mobile150may send separate reports concerning itself and mobile140.

Alternatively to a mobile, a base station may be configured to compile or amend reports on resource usage, the reports comprising or to comprise information on resource usage by a mobile in an idle mode. For example, if two mobiles are engaged in a local D2D session, the base station interconnecting the mobiles may be in a good position to compile messages comprising resource use information of mobiles involved in the D2D session, even if at least one of the mobiles is in an idle mode. In some embodiments, where a base station is involved in a local D2D session between two mobiles, one of the mobiles being in an idle mode and the other in an active mode, the base station may be configured to include in reports it receives from the mobile in an active mode information concerning the mobile in an idle mode before forwarding the report onward in the network.

The network may route reports to specific nodes, such as load balancing, subscriber management and/or charging entities, for example. In case a report comprises information on more than one mobile, and one of the mobiles is a subscriber of another network, the network may split the report and transmit the part relating to the subscriber of the other network to the network concerned. A subscriber of another network may be referred to as a roaming subscriber. In some cases, the report may comprise an identity of a network or a node to which resource use information concerning a roaming subscriber is to be sent. This is useful in case a report comprises information of resource use by a roaming subscriber, since the network is thereby enabled to report the information to an appropriate node by inspecting the contents of the report.

A mobile participating in a D2D session may receive from another mobile participating in the D2D session a message comprising an identity or address of the network or node to which resource use information concerning the another mobile is to be sent. Thereafter the mobile that received the message may include the identity or address in a charging report or resource usage report it sends that comprises information concerning the another mobile, even in case the another mobile has transitioned to an idle mode.

In general there is provided an apparatus, such as for example a mobile, a base station or a control device for inclusion in a mobile or base station, to control the functioning thereof. The apparatus comprises at least one processing core configured to compile a message comprising information concerning resources used in a communication network. The communication network may comprise a cellular radio communication network, for example. The information on resources used may comprise at least one of a bandwidth used, a time used, an amount of energy used, a registration used and an amount of data received or transmitted using resources of the network. Resources of the network may comprise a frequency range allocated to the network, for example. The at least one processing core may be configured to perform a first determination, that a second user equipment is engaged in a device-to-device session with a first user equipment. The device-to-device session may be a direct D2D session or a local D2D session. Responsive to the first determination, the at least one processing core may be configured to include in the message information concerning the second user equipment. The apparatus comprises a transmitter configured to cause the message to be transmitted toward a network node. The network node may comprise a base station in embodiments where the apparatus comprises a mobile. In embodiments where the apparatus comprises a base station, the network node may comprise a core network node or a radio network controller, for example. In embodiments where the apparatus comprises a control device for controlling a mobile or a base station, the transmitter may comprise an output port such as a serial port, for example, of the control device, wherein the output port may be configured to cause the message to be transmitted by signaling from the control device, via electrical leads internal to the mobile or a base station, to a transmitter of the mobile or base station. Examples of control devices include processors and chipsets, for example.

In some embodiments, the first determination further comprises a determination that the second user equipment is in an idle mode. In other words, in these embodiments the first determination comprises determining both that the second user equipment is engaged in a device-to-device session with the first user equipment and that the second user equipment is in an idle mode.

In some embodiments, the at least one processor is further configured to include in the message information concerning resources used by the first user equipment. Resources used by the first user equipment may be comprised in the information concerning resources used in the communication network, for example.

In some embodiments, the information concerning resources used by the first user equipment comprises information on radio resources used for the device-to-device session. For example, the message may comprise an indication the resources have been used in a device-to-device session. Alternatively the message may comprise information concerning resources used outside of any device-to-device session and information concerning resources used for a device-to-device session. In some embodiments, the message comprises, in addition to the information on the second user equipment, information concerning resources used by the first user equipment outside of any device-to-device session.

In some embodiments, the information concerning the second user equipment comprises an identity of a network that the second user equipment is associated with. For example, the identity of the network may be expressed as a public land mobile network identity, PLMN ID. Alternatively or on addition, the information concerning the second user equipment may comprise an identity or address of a node comprised in a home network of the second user equipment. Such a node may comprise, for example, a resource management node or a charging node.

In some embodiments, the at least one processing core is configured to compile the message at least one of responsive to an event and periodically. Examples of events that may trigger the compilation of the message include an end of the device-to-device session and a change in service quality of the device-to-device session. Examples of periodical transmission o the message include causing the message to be transmitted every minute and every 20 minutes.

FIG. 3illustrates signaling in accordance with at least some embodiments of the invention. On the vertical axes are, from left to right, in terms ofFIG. 1, mobile140, mobile150, base station130and finally core network node CN, which is not illustrated inFIG. 1. Time advances from top to bottom. In phase310, mobile140is in or is caused to transition to an idle mode. In phase320, mobile140and mobile150are engaged in a direct D2D session with each other. In some embodiments, the chronological order of phases310and320may be reversed. In phase330, mobile150may transmit a message, such as for example a radio resource usage report or charging report, to base station130. The message of phase330may comprise information on mobile140, such as for example at least one of a home network identity, subscriber identity, description of resources used by mobile140and a tunnel endpoint identity of mobile140. The message of phase330may comprise information on radio resource usage in the D2D session between mobile140and mobile150. The message of phase330may comprise information on radio resource usage separately for mobile140and mobile150. The message of phase330may be sent in two parts, wherein the first part concerns mobile140and the second part concerns mobile150. For example, the message of phase330may comprise information describing resources used by mobile140and a home network identity of mobile140. In phase340, base station130may forward the message of phase330to core network node CN.

FIG. 4illustrates signaling in accordance with at least some embodiments of the invention.FIG. 4The vertical axes correspond to mobile140, mobile150, base station130and core network node CN as inFIG. 3. In phase410, mobile140is in or is caused to transition to an idle mode, as in phase310ofFIG. 3. In phase420, mobile140and mobile150are engaged in a local D2D session with each other via base station130. In some embodiments, the chronological order of phases410and420may be reversed. In phase430, base station130may transmit a message, such as for example a radio resource usage report or charging report, to core network node CN. The contents of the message of phase430may be similar to the contents of the message of phase330ofFIG. 3.

FIG. 5is a flowgraph illustrating a method in accordance with at least some embodiments of the invention. The phases of the illustrated method may be performed in a mobile, for example. Alternatively, the phases may be performed in a base station, for example. Phase510comprises compiling a message comprising information concerning resources used in a communication network. Phase520comprises performing a first determination, that a second user equipment is engaged in a device-to-device session with the first user equipment. Phase530comprises including, responsive to the first determination, in the message information concerning the second user equipment. Finally, phase540comprises causing the message to be transmitted toward a network node

FIG. 2illustrates a block diagram of an apparatus10such as, for example, a mobile terminal, in accordance with an example embodiment of the invention. To appropriate extent,FIG. 2also illustrates structure of a base station, as will be described further hereinbelow. While several features of the apparatus are illustrated and will be hereinafter described for purposes of example, other types of electronic devices, such as mobile telephones, mobile computers, portable digital assistants, PDAs, pagers, laptop computers, desktop computers, gaming devices, televisions, routers, home gateways, and other types of electronic systems, may employ various embodiments of the invention.

As shown, the mobile terminal10may include at least one antenna12in communication with a transmitter14and a receiver16. Alternatively transmit and receive antennas may be separate. The mobile terminal10may also include a processor20configured to provide signals to and receive signals from the transmitter and receiver, respectively, and to control the functioning of the apparatus. Processor20may be configured to control the functioning of the transmitter and receiver by effecting control signaling via electrical leads to the transmitter and receiver. Likewise processor20may be configured to control other elements of apparatus10by effecting control signaling via electrical leads connecting processor20to the other elements, such as for example a display or a memory. The processor20may, for example, be embodied as various means including circuitry, at least one processing core, one or more microprocessors with accompanying digital signal processor(s), one or more processor(s) without an accompanying digital signal processor, one or more coprocessors, one or more multi-core processors, one or more controllers, processing circuitry, one or more computers, various other processing elements including integrated circuits such as, for example, an application specific integrated circuit, ASIC, or field programmable gate array, FPGA, or some combination thereof. A processor comprising exactly one processing core may be referred to as a single-core processor, while a processor comprising more than one processing core may be referred to as a multi-core processor. Accordingly, although illustrated inFIG. 2as a single processor, in some embodiments the processor20comprises a plurality of processors or processing cores. Signals sent and received by the processor20may include signaling information in accordance with an air interface standard of an applicable cellular system, and/or any number of different wireline or wireless networking techniques, comprising but not limited to Wi-Fi, wireless local access network, WLAN, techniques such as Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, IEEE, 802.11, 802.16, and/or the like. In addition, these signals may include speech data, user generated data, user requested data, and/or the like. In this regard, the apparatus may be capable of operating with one or more air interface standards, communication protocols, modulation types, access types, and/or the like. More particularly, the apparatus may be capable of operating in accordance with various first generation, 1G, second generation, 2G, 2.5G, third-generation, 3G, communication protocols, fourth-generation, 4G, communication protocols, Internet Protocol Multimedia Subsystem, IMS, communication protocols, for example, session initiation protocol, SIP, and/or the like. For example, the apparatus may be capable of operating in accordance with 2G wireless communication protocols IS-136, Time Division Multiple Access TDMA, Global System for Mobile communications, GSM, IS-95, Code Division Multiple Access, CDMA, and/or the like. Also, for example, the mobile terminal may be capable of operating in accordance with 2.5G wireless communication protocols General Packet Radio Service. GPRS, Enhanced Data GSM Environment, EDGE, and/or the like. Further, for example, the apparatus may be capable of operating in accordance with 3G wireless communication protocols such as Universal Mobile Telecommunications System, UMTS, Code Division Multiple Access 2000, CDMA2000, Wideband Code Division Multiple Access, WCDMA, Time Division-Synchronous Code Division Multiple Access, TD-SCDMA, and/or the like. The apparatus may be additionally capable of operating in accordance with 3.9G wireless communication protocols such as Long Term Evolution, LTE, or Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network, E-UTRAN, and/or the like. Additionally, for example, the apparatus may be capable of operating in accordance with fourth-generation, 4G, wireless communication protocols such as LTE Advanced and/or the like as well as similar wireless communication protocols that may be developed in the future.

Some Narrow-band Advanced Mobile Phone System, NAMPS, as well as Total Access Communication System, TACS, mobile terminal apparatuses may also benefit from embodiments of this invention, as should dual or higher mode phone apparatuses, for example, digital/analogue or TDMA/CDMA/analogue phones. Additionally, apparatus10may be capable of operating according to Wi-Fi or Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access, WiMAX, protocols.

It is understood that the processor20may comprise circuitry for implementing audio/video and logic functions of apparatus10. For example, the processor20may comprise a digital signal processor device, a microprocessor device, an analogue-to-digital converter, a digital-to-analogue converter, and/or the like. Control and signal processing functions of the mobile terminal may be allocated between these devices according to their respective capabilities. The processor may additionally comprise an internal voice coder, VC,20a,an internal data modem, DM,20b,and/or the like. Further, the processor may comprise functionality to operate one or more software programs, which may be stored in memory. In general, processor20and stored software instructions may be configured to cause apparatus10to perform actions. For example, processor20may be capable of operating a connectivity program, such as a web browser. The connectivity program may allow the mobile terminal10to transmit and receive web content, such as location-based content, according to a protocol, such as wireless application protocol, WAP, hypertext transfer protocol, HTTP, and/or the like

Apparatus10may also comprise a user interface including, for example, an earphone or speaker24, a ringer22, a microphone26, a display28, a user input interface, and/or the like, which may be operationally coupled to the processor20. In this regard, the processor20may comprise user interface circuitry configured to control at least some functions of one or more elements of the user interface, such as, for example, the speaker24, the ringer22, the microphone26, the display28, and/or the like. The processor20and/or user interface circuitry comprising the processor20may be configured to control one or more functions of one or more elements of the user interface through computer program instructions, for example, software and/or firmware, stored on a memory accessible to the processor20, for example, volatile memory40, non-volatile memory42, and/or the like. Although not shown, the apparatus may comprise a battery for powering various circuits related to the mobile terminal, for example, a circuit to provide mechanical vibration as a detectable output. The user input interface may comprise devices allowing the apparatus to receive data, such as a keypad30, a touch display, which is not shown, a joystick, which is not shown, and/or at least one other input device. In embodiments including a keypad, the keypad may comprise numeric 0-9 and related keys, and/or other keys for operating the apparatus.

As shown inFIG. 2, apparatus10may also include one or more means for sharing and/or obtaining data. For example, the apparatus may comprise a short-range radio frequency, RF, transceiver and/or interrogator64so data may be shared with and/or obtained from electronic devices in accordance with RF techniques. The apparatus may comprise other short-range transceivers, such as, for example, an infrared, IR, transceiver66, a Bluetooth™, BT, transceiver68operating using Bluetooth™ brand wireless technology developed by the Bluetooth™ Special Interest Group, a wireless universal serial bus, USB, transceiver70and/or the like. The Bluetooth™ transceiver68may be capable of operating according to low power or ultra-low power Bluetooth™ technology, for example, Bluetooth low energy, radio standards. In this regard, the apparatus10and, in particular, the short-range transceiver may be capable of transmitting data to and/or receiving data from electronic devices within a proximity of the apparatus, such as within 10 meters, for example. Although not shown, the apparatus may be capable of transmitting and/or receiving data from electronic devices according to various wireless networking techniques, including 6LoWpan, Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi low power, WLAN techniques such as IEEE 802.11 techniques, IEEE 802.15 techniques, IEEE 802.16 techniques, and/or the like.

The apparatus10may comprise memory, such as a subscriber identity module, SIM,38, a removable user identity module, R-UIM, and/or the like, which may store information elements related to a mobile subscriber. In addition to the SIM, the apparatus may comprise other removable and/or fixed memory. The apparatus10may include volatile memory40and/or non-volatile memory42. For example, volatile memory40may include Random Access Memory, RAM, including dynamic and/or static RAM, on-chip or off-chip cache memory, and/or the like. Non-volatile memory42, which may be embedded and/or removable, may include, for example, read-only memory, flash memory, magnetic storage devices, for example, hard disks, floppy disk drives, magnetic tape, etc., optical disc drives and/or media, non-volatile random access memory, NVRAM, and/or the like. Like volatile memory40, non-volatile memory42may include a cache area for temporary storage of data. At least part of the volatile and/or non-volatile memory may be embedded in processor20. The memories may store one or more software programs, instructions, pieces of information, data, and/or the like which may be used by the apparatus for performing functions of the mobile terminal. For example, the memories may comprise an identifier, such as an international mobile equipment identification, IMEI, code, capable of uniquely identifying apparatus10.

WhileFIG. 2is described above primarily in the context of a mobile device, certain of the components discussed, such as memories, processors and transceivers, can be employed to implement a network-side device such as a base station. Structural elements of a base station include elements similar to the ones described above. Elements ofFIG. 2that may be absent in a base station include ringer22, speaker24, microphone26, display28, keypad30, SIM38, IR66, BT68and/or WUSB70.

Without in any way limiting the scope, interpretation, or application of the claims appearing below, a technical effect of one or more of the example embodiments disclosed herein is that resource usage reporting in a network is facilitated. Another technical effect of one or more of the example embodiments disclosed herein is that managing network resources becomes more efficient. Another technical effect of one or more of the example embodiments disclosed herein is that energy is saves by enabling mobiles to remain in an idle mode.