Apple patents faster way for phones to reconnect after signal drops
This patent describes a method for wireless devices to quickly restore a connection with a cell tower after a signal drop. Instead of starting the setup process from scratch, the device asks the tower to reuse the existing connection settings if the tower agrees.
In the filing’s own words
This disclosure relates to techniques for quickly recovering from radio link failure in a wireless communication system. A wireless device may establish a wireless link with a cell. The wireless device may detect radio link failure for the wireless link. The wireless device may attempt to re-establish the wireless link using a previously provided wireless link configuration. If the cell accepts the attempt re-establish the wireless link using the previously provided wireless link configuration, the wireless link may be re-established in accordance with the previously provided wireless link configuration.
What exactly they claim (claim 1)
1. A wireless device, comprising: an antenna; a radio operably coupled to the antenna; and a processor operably coupled to the radio; wherein the wireless device is configured to: establish a radio resource control (RRC) connection with a first cell; receive, from a cellular base station, a timer value indicating a time window for fast radio link failure recovery; detect radio link failure for the RRC connection; start a timer with the timer value based at least in part on detecting radio link failure for the RRC connection; transmit, based at least in part on the timer not being expired, a RRC re-establishment request, wherein the RRC re-establishment request indicates a preference to restore a previously configured RRC configuration; and receive, from the cellular base station, an indication to re-establish the RRC connection using the previously configured RRC configuration.
Facts
- Company
- Apple (Apple Inc.)
- Official title
- Fast radio link failure recovery
- Patent number
- US12772317B2
- Application number
- 17778771
- Filed
- Sep 23, 2021
- Granted
- Oct 20, 2026
- Inventors
- 9
- Claims
- 20
Classified under
H04W 76/19 Electricity & electronicsH04W 72/231 Electricity & electronicsMore from Apple in Networks & wireless
- Apple patents interface for sending messages via satellite Sep 29, 2026
- Apple patents way for phones to switch from ground towers to satellites Sep 17, 2026
- Apple patents moving phone plans between devices via Bluetooth Sep 1, 2026
- Apple patents sharing Wi-Fi channel data to speed up device connections Sep 1, 2026
- Apple patents smart surface that helps phones find signal faster Sep 8, 2026
Summaries are simplified from the filing’s own abstract and first claim. A patent filing is not a product announcement.
Patent data and drawings: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Nebula is not affiliated with or endorsed by the USPTO.