Signaling Message Prioritization

1 . A computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving a plurality of signaling messages;

prioritizing the signaling messages based at least on classifications of the signaling messages; and

processing at least a number of the signaling messages in order of priority, the number processed being based at least on a volume of the signaling messages.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein in the signaling message classifications are specified by a signaling classification protocol.

3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the prioritizing is further based on rules for handling classifications that are specified by the signaling classification protocol.

4 . The method of claim 2 , wherein at least one of the classifications is represented within a header of one of the signaling messages by one or more bits of a header field.

5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the signaling classification protocol specifies a bit length for a representation of a classification and specifies the header field that is to include the representation.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the classifications are associated with at least one category, the at least one category including at least one of a voice call, high priority data signaling, low priority data signaling, an update, a packet data protocol (PDP) context establishment, a radio resource control (RRC) connection establishment request, a RRC radio bearer reconfiguration, a RRC release, a RRC paging message, cell updates, a session initiation protocol (SIP) request or response, or a specific type of SIP request or response.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the prioritizing is further based on rules for handling classifications that are determined by an operator or service provider.

8 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

comparing the volume of the signaling messages to a threshold volume imposed by physical capacities of equipment performing the processing, by an operator, or by a service provider; and

based at least on the comparing, limiting how many of the signaling messages are to be processed.

9 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising queuing unprocessed signaling messages for later processing.

10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the processing includes replying to the signaling messages or performing an act requested by the signaling messages.

11 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising, for at least one unprocessed signaling message, replying to a sender of the at least one unprocessed signaling message with a request that the sender wait for a specified time before sending another signaling message.

12 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising receiving a payload delivery message associated with one of the signaling messages, the payload delivery message having a classification that is different from the classification of the one of the signaling messages.

13 . An article of manufacture comprising:

a storage medium; and

computer-readable programming instructions stored on the storage medium and configured to program a computing device to perform operations including:

receiving a plurality of radio signaling messages;

prioritizing the radio signaling messages based at least on classifications of the radio signaling messages;

processing at least a number of the radio signaling messages in order of priority, the number processed being based at least on a volume of the radio signaling messages; and

for at least one unprocessed radio signaling message, replying to a sender of the at least one unprocessed radio signaling message with a request that the sender wait for a specified time before sending another signaling message.

14 . The article of claim 13 , wherein the operations further include performing the replying in response to determining that the at least one unprocessed radio signaling message is associated with a specific classification included in a radio signaling classification protocol.

15 . The article of claim 13 , wherein the wait specified in the request is determined based at least on a classification of the at least one unprocessed radio signaling message.

16 . The article of claim 13 , wherein the operations further include discarding the at least one unprocessed radio signaling message after performing the replying.

17 . A telecommunication device comprising:

a processor; and

a plurality of programming instructions configured to be operated by the processor to perform operations including:

formulating a signaling message, including determining a classification associated with the signaling message based on a signaling classification protocol; and

transmitting the signaling message to a server for processing in accordance with the signaling message classification.

18 . The telecommunication device of claim 1 , wherein the operations further include:

receiving a reply from the server requesting that the telecommunication device wait for a specified time before sending another signaling message; and

after waiting for the specified time period, re-transmitting the signaling message to the server.

19 . The telecommunication device of claim 17 , wherein the signaling classification protocol specifies a bit length for a representation of the classification and specifies a header field of the signaling message that is to include the representation.

20 . The telecommunication device of claim 17 , wherein the classification is associated with at least one category, the at least one category including at least one of a voice call, high priority data signaling, low priority data signaling, an update, a packet data protocol (PDP) context establishment, a radio resource control (RRC) connection establishment request, a RRC radio bearer reconfiguration, a RRC release, a RRC paging message, cell updates, a session initiation protocol (SIP) request or response, or a specific type of SIP request or response.