Method and apparatus for idle mode synchronization

A method and system to manage idle mode operation of a communication device are disclosed. The method includes receiving from the communication device a request to enter idle mode comprising a request to enable automatic renewal of an internet protocol (IP) address currently assigned to the communication device, transmitting, to an IP address allocation unit which allocated the IP address to the communication device, the idle mode request, receiving, from the IP address allocation unit, an idle mode response comprising an IP lease update acknowledgement associated with the idle mode request, transmitting, to the communication device, the idle mode response, enabling automatic renewal of the IP address, configuring an idle mode timer, and transmitting to the IP address allocation unit, an IP lease update request corresponding to the IP address, when the idle mode timer expires and the communication device is in idle mode.