Machine type communications (MTC) in networks using non access stratum (NAS) signaling

1. A network element for a communication network, the network element comprising a processor and an associated memory;

the network element configured to retrieve a profile for a device when the device attaches to the communication network, wherein the profile includes at least one parameter defining what Machine Type Communication (MTC) data transmissions are allowed for the device through Non Access Stratum (NAS) signaling;

the network element further configured to receive NAS signaling that encapsulates MTC data from the device after the device attaches to the communication network;

the network element further configured to process the at least one parameter of the profile for the device to determine whether transmission of the MTC data using NAS signaling is allowed by the device;

the network element further configured to send the MTC data to another MTC entity when the transmission of the MTC data is allowed;

the network element further configured to reject the transmission of the MTC data to the another MTC entity when the transmission of the MTC data is not allowed, and to send a notification to the device to transmit the MTC data over a bearer connection.

2. The network element of claim 1 wherein:

the network element is further configured to identify an authorization parameter in the profile that defines whether the device is authorized to send MTC data using NAS signaling, and to determine that the transmission of the MTC data is not allowed if the device is not authorized.

3. The network element of claim 1 wherein:

the network element is further configured to identify a size parameter in the profile that defines a size allowed for MTC data transmissions using NAS signaling, to compare the size of the MTC data to the size parameter, and to determine that the transmission of the MTC data is not allowed using NAS signaling if the size of the MTC data exceeds the size parameter.

4. The network element of claim 1 wherein:

the network element is further configured to identify a time parameter in the profile that defines a time range allowed for MTC data transmissions using NAS signaling, to compare the time of the transmission of the MTC data to the time parameter, and to determine that the transmission of the MTC data is not allowed using NAS signaling if the time of the transmission is outside of the time range defined in the time parameter.

5. The network element of claim 1 wherein:

the network element is further configured to identify a location parameter in the profile that defines at least one location where the device is allowed to perform MTC data transmissions using NAS signaling, to compare a location of the device to the location parameter, and to determine that the transmission of the MTC data is not allowed using NAS signaling if the location of the device fails to comply with the location parameter.

6. The network element of claim 1 wherein:

when the transmission of the MTC data is not allowed using NAS signaling:

the network element is further configured to establish the bearer connection with the device, and to receive the MTC data from the device over the bearer connection instead of using NAS signaling.

7. The network element of claim 1 wherein:

the network element comprises a Mobility Management Entity (MME) for a Long Term Evolution (LTE) network.

8. The network element of claim 7 wherein:

the MME is configured to receive the profile in a Diameter Update-Location-Answer (ULA) from a Home Subscriber Server (HSS), and to store the profile for the device.

9. The network element of claim 8 wherein:

the MME is further configured to receive updated profile information for the profile in a Diameter Insert-Subscriber-Data-Request (IDR) from the HSS, and to update the profile being stored for the device based on the updated profile information.

10. A method comprising:

retrieving, in a network element of a communication network, a profile for a device when the device attaches to the communication network, wherein the profile includes at least one parameter defining what Machine Type Communication (MTC) data transmissions are allowed for the device through Non Access Stratum (NAS) signaling;

receiving, in the network element of the communication network, NAS signaling that encapsulates MTC data from the device after the device attaches to the communication network;

processing the at least one parameter of the profile for the device to determine whether transmission of the MTC data using NAS signaling is allowed by the device;

if the transmission of the MTC data is allowed, then sending the MTC data to another MTC entity; and

if the transmission of the MTC data is not allowed, then rejecting the transmission of the MTC data to the another MTC entity, and sending a notification to the device to transmit the MTC data over a bearer connection.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein processing the at least one parameter of the profile for the device to determine whether transmission of the MTC data is allowed comprises:

identifying an authorization parameter in the profile that defines whether the device is authorized to send MTC data using NAS signaling; and

determining that the transmission of the MTC data is not allowed if the device is not authorized.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein processing the at least one parameter of the profile for the device to determine whether transmission of the MTC data is allowed comprises:

identifying a size parameter in the profile that defines a size allowed for MTC data transmissions using NAS signaling;

comparing the size of the MTC data to the size parameter; and

determining that the transmission of the MTC data is not allowed using NAS signaling if the size of the MTC data exceeds the size parameter.

13. The method of claim 10 wherein processing the at least one parameter of the profile for the device to determine whether transmission of the MTC data is allowed comprises:

identifying a time parameter in the profile that defines a time range allowed for MTC data transmissions using NAS signaling;

comparing the time of the transmission of the MTC data to the time range; and

determining that the transmission of the MTC data is not allowed using NAS signaling if the time of the transmission is outside of the time range defined in the time parameter.

14. The method of claim 10 wherein processing the at least one parameter of the profile for the device to determine whether transmission of the MTC data is allowed comprises:

identifying a location parameter in the profile that defines at least one location where the device is allowed to perform MTC data transmissions using NAS signaling;

comparing a location of the device to the location parameter; and

determining that the transmission of the MTC data is not allowed using NAS signaling if the location of the device fails to comply with the location parameter.

15. The method of claim 10 wherein:

when the transmission of the MTC data is not allowed using NAS signaling, the method further comprises:

establishing a bearer connection with the device; and

receiving the MTC data from the device over the bearer connection instead of using NAS signaling.

16. The method of claim 10 wherein:

the network element comprises a Mobility Management Entity (MME) of a Long Term Evolution (LTE) network; and

the method further comprises:

receiving the profile into the MME from a Home Subscriber Server (HSS) in a Diameter Update-Location-Answer (ULA); and

storing the profile for the device in the MME.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising:

receiving updated profile information for the profile into the MME from the HSS in a Diameter Insert-Subscriber-Data-Request (IDR); and

updating the profile being stored for the device based on the updated profile information.

18. A system comprising:

a Mobility Management Entity (MME) of a Long Term Evolution (LTE) network;

the MME configured to receive an attach request from a device to attach to the LTE network, and to transmit a Diameter Update-Location-Request (ULR) to a Home Subscriber Server (HSS);

the MME configured to receive a Diameter Update-Location-Answer (ULA) from the HSS that includes a profile for a device, and to store the profile;

wherein the profile includes parameters defining what Machine Type Communication (MTC) data transmissions are allowed for the device using Non Access Stratum (NAS) signaling;

the MME is further configured to receive NAS signaling that encapsulates MTC data from the device after the device attaches to the LTE network, and to process the at least one parameter of the profile for the device to determine whether transmission of the MTC data is allowed by the device;

the MME is further configured to send the MTC data to another MTC entity when the transmission of the MTC data is allowed;

the MME is further configured to reject the transmission of the MTC data to the another MTC entity when the transmission of the MTC data is not allowed, and to send a notification to the device to transmit the MTC data over a bearer connection.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein:

the MME is further configured to receive updated profile information for the profile from the HSS in a Diameter Insert-Subscriber-Data-Request (IDR), and to update the profile being stored for the MTC device based on the updated profile information.

20. The system of claim 18 wherein:

if the transmission of the MTC data is not allowed, then the MME is further configured to establish a Packet Data Network (PDN) connection with the device when the MME does not have a prior PDN connection established with the device, and to receive the MTC data from the device over the PDN connection instead of using NAS signaling.