US 11,991,772 B2
Enhanced cellular connectivity via opportunistic extension of RRC connected mode
Tarakkumar G. Dhanani, Cupertino, CA (US); Vijay Ventkataraman, Cupertino, CA (US); Karan R. Sachdev, Cupertino, CA (US); Neeraj D. Vaghela, Cupertino, CA (US); Raghuram Mungara, Cupertino, CA (US); Sharad Garg, Cupertino, CA (US); and Vijay Gadde, Cupertino, CA (US)
Assigned to APPLE INC., Cupertino, CA (US)
Filed by APPLE INC., Cupertino, CA (US)
Filed on Jul. 8, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/811,366.
Application 17/811,366 is a division of application No. 16/905,620, filed on Jun. 18, 2020, granted, now 11,464,065.
Prior Publication US 2022/0346177 A1, Oct. 27, 2022
Int. Cl. H04W 76/25 (2018.01); H04B 17/318 (2015.01); H04L 5/00 (2006.01); H04W 24/08 (2009.01); H04W 24/10 (2009.01); H04W 76/27 (2018.01)
CPC H04W 76/25 (2018.02) [H04B 17/318 (2015.01); H04L 5/0051 (2013.01); H04W 24/08 (2013.01); H04W 24/10 (2013.01); H04W 76/27 (2018.02)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for a user equipment (UE) to extend connectivity with a cellular network, the method comprising:
determining a maximum number of extensions to allow in an extension activity period associated with an amount of time during which the UE is in a Radio Resource control (RRC) connected mode, wherein the maximum number of extensions is determined based on a number of secondary devices connected to the cellular network through the UE; and
during the extension activity period, in response to detecting traffic from a secondary device and in response to determining that the maximum number of extensions has not been reached during the extension activity period, before expiration of an inactivity period, initiating signaling activity with a radio access network (RAN) node of a serving cell.