The invention claimed is:
1. An apparatus for use in a wireless communication system, the apparatus
comprising:
an audio processing module configured to detect a period of silence in a voice signal and to output an indication of the detected period of silence; and
a communication module coupled to the audio processing module and configured to transmit upload packets according to a predefined scheduling allocation, the upload packets comprising the voice signal;
wherein the communication module is further configured to, upon receipt of an indication of a detected period of silence refrain from transmitting further upload packets using the predefined scheduling allocation for a predetermined period of time.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the communication module is further configured to, upon receipt of an indication of a detected period of silence, transmit an indication to an eNB that it will refrain from transmitting further packets in the predefined scheduling allocation during the predetermined period of time.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein transmitting the indication to the eNB comprises transmitting an upload packet comprising a MAC control element indicating a silence period.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein transmitting the indication to the eNB comprises transmitting an upload packet comprising specific information in a MAC header indicating a silence period.
5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the MAC control element signals a length of time when the user equipment will refrain transmitting further upload packets using the predefined scheduling allocation.
6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the predefined allocation schedule comprises a

semi-persistent allocation schedule.
7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the predefined allocation comprises a Connected -DRX pattern.
8. The apparatus of claim 1 where the wireless communication system is implemented using a packet-oriented technology and where UL transmission is under control of an eNB and where predetermined UL scheduling is used.
9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the wireless technology is one of: the 3rd Generation Partnership Project Long Term Evolution, LTE, Highspeed Uplink Packet Access/Highspeed Downlink Packet Access, HSUPA/HSDPA, or IEEE 802.16, WiMAX.
10. A method of transmitting VoLTE packets in a wireless communication network, the method comprising:
obtaining an indication of a detected period of silence from an audio processing module;
in response to receiving the indication of a detected period of silence, refraining from transmitting voice data upload packets using a predefined scheduling allocation for a predetermined period of time.
11. The method of claim 10, further comprising detecting a period of silence in a voice signal and providing the indication of a detected period of silence.
12. The method of claim 10, further comprising in response to receiving the indication of a detected period of silence, transmitting an indication to an eNB that no voice data upload packets will be transmitted in the predefined scheduling allocation during the predetermined period of time.
13. The method of claim 12, wherein transmitting the indication to the eNB comprises transmitting an upload packet comprising a MAC control element indicating a silence period.
14. The method of claim 12, wherein transmitting the indication to the eNB comprises

transmitting an upload packet comprising specific information in a MAC header indicating a silence period.
15. The method of claim 13, wherein the MAC control element signals the length of time when the user equipment may refrain transmitting further upload packets using the predefined scheduling allocation.
16. The method of claim 10, wherein the predefined allocation schedule comprises one of: a semi-persistent allocation schedule; and a connected-DRX pattern.
17. An apparatus for use in a wireless communication system, the apparatus comprising:
audio processing means for detecting a period of silence in a voice signal and outputting an indication of the detected period of silence; and
communication means for transmitting upload packets according to a predefined scheduling allocation, the upload packets comprising the voice signal;
wherein the communication means are further configured to upon receipt of an indication of a detected period of silence refrain from transmitting further upload packets using the predefined scheduling allocation for a predetermined period of time.
18. A user equipment comprising:
a processor; and
a non-transient memory comprising computer program instructions that when executed on the processor cause the user equipment to perform the method of any of claims 10 to 16. 19. A user equipment comprising the apparatus of any of claims 1 to 9, and further comprising one or more of: a screen, a speaker, a touchscreen, a keyboard, an antenna array including a plurality of antennas, a graphics processor, or an application processor.
20. A circuit for use in an eNodeB in a wireless communication system, the
circuit comprising:

a communication module configured to receive UL packets transmitted by a user equipment on a predefined scheduling allocation; and
a processing module coupled to the communication module configured to detect a silence period notification indicating that the user equipment will not transmit on the predefined scheduling allocation for a predetermined period of time.
21. The circuit of claim 20, wherein the silence period notification comprises one of: a MAC control element indicating a silence period; and specific information in a MAC header indicating a silence period.
22. The circuit of claim 20, wherein the silence period notification further comprises an indication of the length of time when the user equipment will refrain from transmitting further upload packets using the predefined scheduling allocation.
23. The circuit of claim 20, wherein the predefined allocation schedule comprises one of: a semi-persistent allocation schedule; and a Connected-DRX pattern.
24. A method for use in an eNB in a wireless communication system, the method comprising:
detecting a silence period notification indicating that a user equipment will not transmit on a predefined scheduling allocation for a predetermined period of time; and
refraining from determining a radio link failure for the user equipment for the predetermined period.
25. A non-transient computer readable medium comprising computer program instructions that when executed on a processor cause the method of any of claims 10 to 16, or 24 to be performed.