Methods and apparatus for reducing undeliverable server-initiated ip traffic in a wireless network

Abstract

A host server is operative to control the pushing of user data messages to a plurality of mobile communication devices adapted to communicate in a wireless communication network. In particular, the host server is adapted to cause, for each one of the mobile communication devices operating in the wireless communication network, user data messages to be pushed to a mobile communication device via a packet data connection; receive, from a serving node in the wireless communication network, an IP notification message having an IP destination address of the host server and including an identification or address that identifies one of the mobile communication devices, the IP notification message being produced in response to a termination of packet data connectivity for the identified mobile communication device; and in response to receiving the IP notification message, at least temporarily refrain from pushing user data messages to the identified mobile communication device. The IP notification message may be formatted and communicated based on an existing protocol, such as Internet Control Message Protocol (ICMP), or any other suitable protocol.