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: 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 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: 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: 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: 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.