Abstract: This disclosure relates to a system and method for providing machine to machine communication in a communication network. Although machines are ever more capable of sensing and processing information, machines are expected to garner even more intelligence by autonomously communicating the sensed and processed information with other machines. Therefore, machine to machine (M2M) communication is emerging as an important application of a communication network. Despite the opportunity, accommodating a large number of machines in a communication network is a challenge for network operators. This disclosure provides systems and methods for efficiently accommodating M2M communication in a communication network.

Abstract: Prioritization of data traffic is a common technique for providing enhanced quality of service (QoS), allowing some traffic to reach its destination on an expedited basis without being obstructed or delayed by other lower-priority traffic. A mechanism is disclosed using the bearer architecture of the evolved packet core (EPC) to provide prioritization of traffic from specific packet data networks (PDNs), as well as over specific bearers. The priority information is requested by the mobile management entity (MME), which is commonly overloaded with traffic to and from multiple users and PDNs. In addition, a mechanism is provided for reducing the frequency of unwanted paging notifications for MMEs that are overloaded.