Abstract: This Application sets forth techniques for managing the cellular connectivity state of a submerged wireless device. The wireless device can include sensors that analyze environmental conditions to determine when the wireless device is (or is not) submerged underwater as well as at what depth the wireless device is submerged underwater. The sensors can also determine different types of aquatic activity in which a user of the wireless device is currently engaged, such as swimming, snorkeling, free diving, and scuba diving. In turn, the wireless device can utilize this information to manage its cellular connectivity state in order to avoid wasteful consumptions of energy. In particular, the techniques enable the submerged wireless device to eliminate any existing cellular connection as well as connection reattempts so long as they are unlikely to succeed. Moreover, the techniques enable the wireless device to execute connection reattempts when they are appropriate and likely to succeed.

Abstract: A home agent (104, 108) and a foreign agent (110, 114) in a wireless communication system (100) establish (202) a special communications channel (140–154) between themselves, the special communications channel dedicated to messages addressed to multiple mobile nodes. The home agent then detects (206) whether a message received by the home agent is addressed to multiple mobile nodes. When the message is addressed to multiple mobile nodes, the home agent sends (208) the message to the foreign agent through the special communications channel.