Patent ID: 9692567
Date: 2017-06-27
CPC Classifications: H04L,H04W

Claim:
1. A method, comprising: receiving, at a mobility management entity (MME) in a wireless network, an extended service request from a user equipment (UE), wherein the extended service request includes an evolved packet system (EPS) bearer identity (EBI) of an EPS bearer configured for small data communication over a packet data network (PDN) connection comprising one or more EPS bearer, wherein the one or more EPS bearer includes at least one small data bearer configured for the small data communication, wherein the small data communication comprises communication of packets smaller than 1000 bytes in size per communication session or alternatively, packets of any size communicated infrequently for a short duration of time, wherein the EBI comprises a one-half octet component of an EPS header of the EPS bearer; selectively activating only the small data bearer, comprising setting an EPS bearer context in a mobility management (MM) context of the small data bearer to active status, and setting the EPS bearer context in the MM context of other EPS bearers to inactive status; facilitating the small data communication; determining whether the small data communication is allowed; enabling the small data communication on the PDN connection; receiving a service request for non-small data communication; and activating all EPS bearers; wherein determining whether the small data communication is allowed comprises using subscription permission on a home subscriber server (HSS) database on a per-access point name (APN) basis and a per-International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) basis.