METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR REDUCING DATA TRANSMISSION OVERHEAD

Methods and apparatus for reducing data transmission. In one embodiment, rather than immediately transmitting first data, a first device postpones opening a data connection; any subsequently arriving data is queued with the first data, and transmitted together. Connection overhead is optimized by delaying connection establishment until it is necessary, and in some cases eliminating idle mode operation altogether. Stochastic embodiments are also disclosed for adjusting transmission behavior to maximize one or more desirable outcomes. For example, one such embodiment queues data for a stochastically determined period of time, prior to opening a data connection. The stochastically determined time interval balances the likelihood of efficiently servicing successively arriving data, and overall performance. Mechanisms for receiving and utilizing device user and/or receiver (e.g., base station) feedback are also disclosed.