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ApplePatent applicationNetworks & wirelessInterest 4/10

Apple patents phone method to spread out network reconnections

Apple describes a way for phones to avoid jamming the network when their internal clocks drift. Instead of all devices trying to reconnect at once to get time updates, they pick a random wait time before connecting.

Why it mattersThis helps keep mobile networks stable during widespread clock errors by preventing a sudden flood of connection requests.

In the filing’s own words

Systems and methods for user equipment (UE) timing resiliency are disclosed herein. When a timing source at the network degrades, this may be communicated to one or more UEs. The UEs may then perform random access channel (RACH) access procedures in an attempt to connect to the network and receive updated clock quality information. Embodiments herein relate mechanisms for randomizing/spreading such UE access attempts in time, such that system congestion is reduced. Embodiments of access stratum (AS)-timer-based UE access randomization, embodiments of non-access stratum (NAS)-timer-based UE access randomization, of embodiments of random access prioritization, and embodiments of unified access control (UAC) extensions for clock quality information retrieval are described herein. Also described are embodiments for performing a time synchronization update between the UE and the network while the UE remains in a non-connected state with respect to the network.

What exactly they claim (claim 1)

1. A method of a user equipment (UE), comprising: receiving, from a network, an indication that updated clock quality information is available; selecting a random time value between zero and a maximum clock quality information retrieval wait time; starting a timer for the random time value; and triggering a connection to the network upon expiration of the timer in order to enable reception, from the network, of the updated clock quality information.

Facts

Company
Apple (APPLE INC.)
Official title
USER EQUIPMENT ACCESS RANDOMIZATION FOR TIMING RESILIENCY
Publication number
US20260270902A1
Application number
19166670
Filed
Apr 24, 2023
Published
Sep 10, 2026
Inventors
11
Claims
22

Classified under

H04W 56/0015 Electricity & electronicsH04W 60/00 Electricity & electronics
Read the full filing (official PDF) ↗ Open in the Patent Tracker

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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.