At 710, the base station transmits one or more SID packets associated with a packet-switched voice call during an interval over which at least one communicating device for the call is silent.

At 720, the base station suppresses one or more SID packets (e.g., by not transmitting the suppressed packets) associated with the call during the silence interval. This may reduce power consumption and network congestion, in some embodiments, especially for relatively long silence intervals.

At 730, the base station transmits a packet associated with the packet-switched voice call during the silence interval, in response to determining that SID suppression has continued for a threshold time interval. This packet may allow a communicating device to determine that an absence of packets from the base station is based on SID suppression rather than poor network conditions, which may allow the communicating device to maintain the call rather than dropping the call. In some embodiments, the base station and one or more of the communicating devices may negotiate the length of the threshold time interval.

FIG. 8 is a flow diagram illustrating a method for recognizing patterns in silence packets prior to SID suppression, according to some embodiments. The method shown in FIG. 8 may be used in conjunction with any of the computer circuitry, systems, devices, elements, or components disclosed herein, among other devices. In various embodiments, some of the method elements shown may be performed concurrently, in a different order than shown, or may be omitted. Additional method elements may also be performed as desired. Flow begins at 810.