Abstract: An example method is provided in one example embodiment and includes receiving, by a user equipment device, a list including at least one location identifier associated with an area for location reporting and an area identifier identifying the area for location reporting. The method further includes receiving a location identifier broadcast by a wireless network element, and determining whether the broadcast location identifier matches the at least one location identifier associated with the area for location reporting. The method further includes sending a location reporting message by the user equipment device to a first network node when it is determined that the broadcast location identifier matches the at least one location identifier associated with the area for location reporting. The location reporting message is indicative of the user equipment device either entering or exiting the area for location reporting.

Abstract: An example method is provided in one example embodiment and may include determining that a user equipment (UE) is approximately stationary for a threshold period of time within a particular geographic area based, at least in part, on a radio access network (RAN) node to which the UE is attached; notifying the UE that the UE has been associated with the particular geographic area; and transitioning the UE into an idle mode from an active mode, wherein the transitioning is performed without notifying a core network that the UE has transitioned to the idle mode. Determining that the UE is approximately stationary can include monitoring mobility signaling from the UE and comparing an amount of time that the UE has been attached to the RAN node with a threshold period of time. The core network can be notified when the UE moves out of the particular geographic area.

Abstract: In an example, there is disclosed a computing apparatus, having: a processor; a memory; a network interface to communicatively couple to a mobile data network; and an interconnection and routing function (IRF) server engine to: receive an incoming Control plane message from a source network function (NF) via the network interface; examine a header of the incoming Control plane message to determine a destination NF of the Control plane message; and route the Control plane message to the destination NF.

Abstract: An example method is provided in one example embodiment and may include communicating a message for a group of one or more user equipment (UE) from a machine type communication-interworking function (MTC-IWF) to a packet data network gateway (PGW), wherein the message includes a group identity (ID) associated with the group of one or more UE; communicating the message from the PGW to one or more serving gateways (SGWs); and communicating the message from each of the one or more SGWs to each of the one or more UE of the group of the one via a tunnel for each of the one or more UE.

Abstract: An example method is provided in one example embodiment and includes receiving, by a user equipment device, a list including at least one location identifier associated with an area for location reporting and an area identifier identifying the area for location reporting. The method further includes receiving a location identifier broadcast by a wireless network element, and determining whether the broadcast location identifier matches the at least one location identifier associated with the area for location reporting. The method further includes sending a location reporting message by the user equipment device to a first network node when it is determined that the broadcast location identifier matches the at least one location identifier associated with the area for location reporting. The location reporting message is indicative of the user equipment device either entering or exiting the area for location reporting.

Abstract: A method is provided in one example embodiment and may include determining a location for a user equipment (UE); determining whether at least one user data plane entity servicing at least one packet data network (PDN) flow for the UE is to be changed based, at least in part, on the location of the UE; if at least one user data plane entity is to be changed, selecting at least one new user data plane entity to service the at least one PDN flow for the UE; allocating a new PDN Internet Protocol (IP) address for the at least one PDN flow for which the user data plane entity is changed; and communicating the new PDN IP address to the UE.

Abstract: An example method is provided in one example embodiment and includes receiving, by a user equipment device, a list including at least one location identifier associated with an area for location reporting and an area identifier identifying the area for location reporting. The method further includes receiving a location identifier broadcast by a wireless network element, and determining whether the broadcast location identifier matches the at least one location identifier associated with the area for location reporting. The method further includes sending a location reporting message by the user equipment device to a first network node when it is determined that the broadcast location identifier matches the at least one location identifier associated with the area for location reporting. The location reporting message is indicative of the user equipment device either entering or exiting the area for location reporting.

Abstract: A method is provided in one example embodiment and may include determining that a periodic timer for a user equipment (UE) is about to expire; communicating to an application service, prior to expiration of the periodic timer for the UE, an indication associated with an availability of the UE to receive data from the application service; and communicating the data from the application service to the UE upon receiving the indication. In some cases, the method can include registering, by the application service, to receive the indication from a Mobility Management Entity (MME) or a serving General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) support node (SGSN), wherein the registering is performed via a service capability exposure function (SCEF) in communication with the MME or the SGSN and the application service.

Abstract: An example method is provided in one example embodiment and may include determining that a user equipment (UE) is approximately stationary for a threshold period of time within a particular geographic area based, at least in part, on a radio access network (RAN) node to which the UE is attached; notifying the UE that the UE has been associated with the particular geographic area; and transitioning the UE into an idle mode from an active mode, wherein the transitioning is performed without notifying a core network that the UE has transitioned to the idle mode. Determining that the UE is approximately stationary can include monitoring mobility signaling from the UE and comparing an amount of time that the UE has been attached to the RAN node with a threshold period of time. The core network can be notified when the UE moves out of the particular geographic area.

Abstract: A method is provided in one example embodiment and may include determining that a periodic timer for a user equipment (UE) is about to expire; communicating to an application service, prior to expiration of the periodic timer for the UE, an indication associated with an availability of the UE to receive data from the application service; and communicating the data from the application service to the UE upon receiving the indication. In some cases, the method can include registering, by the application service, to receive the indication from a Mobility Management Entity (MME) or a serving General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) support node (SGSN), wherein the registering is performed via a service capability exposure function (SCEF) in communication with the MME or the SGSN and the application service.

Abstract: A method is provided in one example embodiment and may include determining that a periodic timer for a user equipment (UE) is about to expire; communicating to an application service, prior to expiration of the periodic timer for the UE, an indication associated with an availability of the UE to receive data from the application service; and communicating the data from the application service to the UE upon receiving the indication. In some cases, the method can include registering, by the application service, to receive the indication from a Mobility Management Entity (MME) or a serving General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) support node (SGSN), wherein the registering is performed via a service capability exposure function (SCEF) in communication with the MME or the SGSN and the application service.

Abstract: A method for location reporting at a charging area level granularity is provided. The method includes detecting at a mobility management entity (MME) a transition of a user equipment (UE) from a first cell to a second cell to obtain at least a second cell identifier. The method also includes determining at the MME whether the detected UE transition constitutes a transition from a first charging area to a second charging area using the second cell identifier by comparing the second cell identifier to a charging area configuration. A charging area includes a plurality of cells that are served by at least one eNodeB. The method further includes providing to a policy server a report of the determined UE transition, if it is determined that the detected UE transition constitutes a transition from the first charging area to the second charging area.

Abstract: A method is provided in one example embodiment and may include determining that a periodic timer for a user equipment (UE) is about to expire; communicating to an application service, prior to expiration of the periodic timer for the UE, an indication associated with an availability of the UE to receive data from the application service; and communicating the data from the application service to the UE upon receiving the indication. In some cases, the method can include registering, by the application service, to receive the indication from a Mobility Management Entity (MME) or a serving General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) support node (SGSN), wherein the registering is performed via a service capability exposure function (SCEF) in communication with the MME or the SGSN and the application service.

Abstract: An example method is provided in one example embodiment and may include configuring paging parameters for a group of one or more user equipment (UE) based, at least in part, on a group identifier (ID) for the group of one or more UE; communicating the paging parameters to each of the one or more UE of the group; and paging one or more idle mode UE of the group according to the paging parameters to transition the idle mode UE to a connected mode for receiving a group message. In some instances, configuring the paging parameters can include configuring a paging frame and paging occasion for the group of one or more UE based on the group ID; configuring extended paging cycle radio frames for the group of one or more UE; and/or configuring a paging group Radio Network Temporary Identifier for the group of one or more UE.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed at systems, methods and media for mitigating congestion for roamers in a wireless access network. In some embodiments, Radio Access Network (RAN) congestion information is reported from a base station to a RAN Congestion Awareness Function (RCAF) of a visited network. The RCAF can mitigate congestion by controlling Quality of Service (QoS) parameters for roaming User Equipment (UE) in a congested cell. The RCAF can further communicate with the Mobility Management Entity (MME) of the visited cell and the Policy Charging and Rules Function (PCRF) of the UE's home network. The RCAF can relieve congestion for roamers without informing the home network of the congestion at the cell.

Abstract: A method is provided in one example embodiment and may include determining a location for a user equipment (UE); determining whether at least one user data plane entity servicing at least one packet data network (PDN) flow for the UE is to be changed based, at least in part, on the location of the UE; if at least one user data plane entity is to be changed, selecting at least one new user data plane entity to service the at least one PDN flow for the UE; allocating a new PDN Internet Protocol (IP) address for the at least one PDN flow for which the user data plane entity is changed; and communicating the new PDN IP address to the UE.

Abstract: In an example, there is disclosed a computing apparatus, having: a processor; a memory; a network interface to communicatively couple to a mobile data network; and an interconnection and routing function (IRF) server engine to: receive an incoming Control plane message from a source network function (NF) via the network interface; examine a header of the incoming Control plane message to determine a destination NF of the Control plane message; and route the Control plane message to the destination NF.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed at systems, methods and media for relieving RAN congestion in a core network. In some embodiments, RAN congestion information is reported from user equipment to a packet data gateway (PGW) through an eNodeB and a software gateway. The PGW can aggregate the RAN congestion information and periodically notify other network nodes, for example, a PCRF, about the aggregate congestion in a network. By aggregating RAN congestion information, the PGW can substantially reduce the signaling required to report RAN congestion in the core network.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for avoiding excessive paging through messaging-based solutions on a mobile network that supports multiple radio access technologies (RATs), such as both Long Term Evolution (LTE) and Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM)/Enhanced Data Rates for GSM Evolution (EDGE)/Universal Mobile Communications System (UMTS) technology, even in situations where the present location of the UE is not known. Preventing paging in access networks where the UE is not present ensures efficient use of radio resources in the paging channel and reduces signaling load on other interfaces. In one embodiment, a user equipment (UE) is simultaneously connected to a Serving General Packet Radio System (GPRS) Support Node (SGSN) and a Mobility Management Entity (MME). By using signaling between the SGSN and MME, the location of the UE may be tracked without requiring unnecessary paging, even when the UE is in IDLE mode or is inactive.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed at systems, methods and media for providing QoS differentiation between IP data flows by sorting data packets into bearers. If a first node in a communication network (e.g., a User Equipment or UE) determines that downlink packets received from a second node (e.g., a Packet Data Network Gateway or PDN-GW) via a specific bearer should be given reflective bearer treatment, the first node can be configured to send uplink packets back to the second node via the same bearer. By sending uplink traffic using the same bearer as downlink traffic, the first node can aid in ensuring that the correct QoS for the uplink traffic is used. Downlink packets or bearers can be configured to request reflective bearer treatment through reserved QoS Class Identifier (QCI) values, Allocation and Retention Priority (ARP) values, or through an indicator specifically defined for requesting such treatment.