Cellular IoT network architecture

1. An apparatus of a mobility management entity (MME), the apparatus comprising:

memory; and

processing circuitry coupled to the memory wherein to transfer data in Non-Access-Stratum (NAS) protocol data units (PDUs), the processing circuitry is configured to:

decode an attach request, sent from a user equipment (UE), the attach request indicating the UE supports a cellular internet-of-things (CIoT) optimization;

encode, for transmission to the UE, an attach accept message based on the attach request;

decode an attach complete message, sent from the UE, based on the attach accept message;

decode an initial UE message, the initial UE message sent from the UE over an a radio resource control (RRC) connection, the initial UE message including a NAS PDU, and the NAS PDU including encrypted uplink data, the NAS PDU received from the UE without establishment of a bearer in accordance with the CIoT optimization, the NAS PDU comprising an identity of a bearer for a packet data network (PDN) connection associated with the uplink data;

check integrity of the NAS PDU;

decrypt the encrypted uplink data from the NAS PDU, wherein the memory is configured to store the decrypted uplink data; and

encode the decrypted uplink data for transmission to a PDN gateway (P-GW).

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the NAS PDU includes an acknowledgment or response indication.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the processing circuitry is configured to release a signalling connection for the UE based on the acknowledgement or response indication, and

wherein if the NAS PDU does not include release information, the acknowledgement includes an indication of a bearer established for further uplink data transmission.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the processing circuitry is configured to:

decode downlink data in response to the decrypted uplink data;

encrypt the downlink data; and

encode a downlink NAS PDU that includes the encrypted downlink data for the UE.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the processing circuitry is configured to:

determine no NAS PDU activity for a time period; and

release a signalling connection for the UE based on the no NAS PDU activity for the time period.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the processing circuitry is configured to update a location of the UE based on a change in a location of the UE.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the attach request indicates a packet data network (PDN) connectivity request and a PDN type information element (IE) for a type of address.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the PDN type IE indicates an IPv4 address or IPv6 address.

9. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the processing circuitry is configured to establish a default bearer based on the PDN connectivity request.

10. A computer-readable storage medium that stores instructions for execution by processing circuitry of a mobility management entity (MME) to configure to transfer data in Non-Access-Stratum (NAS) protocol data units (PDUs), the processing circuitry configured to:

decode an attach request, sent from a user equipment (UE), the attach request indicating the UE supports a cellular internet-of-things (CIoT) optimization;

encode, for transmission to the UE, an attach accept message based on the attach request;

decode an attach complete message, sent from the UE, based on the attach accept message;

decode an initial UE message, the initial UE message sent from the UE over an a radio resource control (RRC) connection, the initial UE message including a NAS PDU, and the NAS PDU including encrypted uplink data, the NAS PDU received from the UE without establishment of a bearer in accordance with the CIoT optimization, the NAS PDU comprising an identity of a bearer for a packet data network (PDN) connection associated with the uplink data;

check integrity of the NAS PDU;

decrypt the encrypted uplink data from the NAS PDU; and

encode the decrypted uplink data for transmission to a PDN gateway (P-GW).

11. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 10 , wherein the NAS PDU includes an acknowledgment or response indication.

12. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 11 , wherein the processing circuitry is configured to release a signalling connection for the UE based on the acknowledgement or response indication, and

wherein if the NAS PDU does not include release information, the acknowledgement includes an indication of a bearer established for further uplink data transmission.

13. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 11 , wherein the processing circuitry is configured to:

decode downlink data in response to the decrypted uplink data;

encrypt the downlink data; and

encode a downlink NAS PDU that includes the encrypted downlink data for the UE.

14. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 13 , wherein the processing circuitry is configured to:

determine no NAS PDU activity for a time period; and

release a signalling connection for the UE on the no NAS PDU activity for the time period.

15. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 10 , wherein the processing circuitry is configured to update a location of the UE based on a change in a location of the UE.

16. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 10 , wherein the attach request indicates a packet data network (PDN) connectivity request and a PDN type information element (IE) for a type of address.

17. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 16 , wherein the PDN type IE indicates an IPv4 address or IPv6 address.

18. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 16 , wherein the processing circuitry is configured to establish a default bearer based on the PDN connectivity request.