Selecting a network gateway based on a number of supported bearers

1. A method comprising:

receiving, by a mobility management entity (MME), a first message for a wireless device supporting a first number of bearers;

selecting, by the MME in response to receiving the first message, a network gateway from a plurality of network gateways, based on a second number of bearers supported by the network gateway;

sending, by the MME to the network gateway, a create session request message for creating an internet protocol-connectivity access network (IP-CAN) session for the wireless device supporting the first number of bearers, wherein the create session request message comprises an address of the network gateway; and

receiving, by the MME from the network gateway, a create session response message confirming creation of the IP-CAN session.

2. The method of claim 1 , receiving, by the MME from the plurality of network gateways, a plurality of messages, each message of the plurality of messages comprising an information element indicating a capability of a supported number of bearers for each of the plurality of network gateways.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising receiving, by a first base station from at least one second base station, a first message comprising a capability parameter indicating a maximum number of bearers per wireless device that can be supported by the at least one second base station.

4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising receiving, by the first base station from a first wireless device, a measurement report comprising a received power of a cell of the second base station.

5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising determining, by the first base station, a handover to the cell based on the measurement report and the maximum number of bearers per wireless device that can be supported by at least one second base station.

6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising sending, by the first base station to the at least one second base station, a handover request in response to the determining the handover.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising sending, by a first base station to a second MME, a handover required message comprising an identity of at least one second base station.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising receiving, by a second MME from at least one third MME, a second capability parameter indicating a maximum number of bearers per wireless device that can be supported by the at least one third MME.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising determining, by the second MME, a relocation of the second MME to the at least one third MME, based on at least the maximum number of bearers per wireless device that can be supported by the at least one third MME.

10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising sending, by a second MME to at least one third MME, a forward relocation request message comprising an identity of at least one second base station.

11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising determining, by at least one third MME, a relocation of a first serving gateway and in response to the forward relocation request message.

12. The method of claim 1 , further comprising selecting, by at least one third MME, at least one second serving gateway, based on at least a maximum number of bearers per wireless device that can be supported by the at least one second serving gateway.

13. The method of claim 1 , further comprising receiving, by a second MME from at least one second serving gateway, a third capability parameter indicating a maximum number of bearers per wireless device that can be supported by the at least one second serving gateway.

14. The method of claim 1 , further comprising sending, by at least one third MME to at least one second serving gateway, a create session request message requesting creation of a session.

15. The method of claim 1 , further comprising receiving, by at least one third MME from at least one second serving gateway and in response to the create session request message, create session response message.

16. The method of claim 1 , further comprising sending, by at least one third MME to at least one second base station, a handover request message.

17. A system comprising:

a mobility management entity (MME); and

a network gateway of a plurality of network gateways; and

wherein:

the MME is configured to:

receive a first message for a wireless device supporting a first number of bearers;

select, in response to receiving the first message, a network gateway from the plurality of network gateways, based on a second number of bearers supported by the network gateway; and

send, to the network gateway, a create session request message for creating an internet protocol-connectivity access network (IP-CAN) session for the wireless device supporting the first number of bearers, wherein the create session request message comprises an address of the network gateway; and

the network gateway is configured to:

send, to the MME, a create session response message confirming creation of the IP-CAN session.

18. The system of claim 17 , further comprising a first base station configured to receive, from at least one second base station, a first message comprising a capability parameter indicating a maximum number of bearers per wireless device that can be supported by the at least one second base station.

19. A system comprising:

a network gateway of a plurality of network gateways, the network gateway comprising:

one or more first processors; and

first memory storing first instructions that, when executed by the one or more first processors, cause the network gateway to send a create session response message confirming creation of an IP-CAN session; and

a mobility management entity (MME) comprising:

one or more second processors; and

second memory storing second instructions that, when executed by the one or more second processors, cause the MME to:

receive a first message for a wireless device supporting a first number of bearers;

select, in response to receiving the first message, the network gateway from the plurality of network gateways, based on a second number of bearers supported by the network gateway;

send, to the network gateway, a create session request message for creating an internet protocol-connectivity access network (IP-CAN) session for the wireless device supporting the first number of bearers, wherein the create session request message comprises an address of the network gateway; and

receive, from the network gateway, the create session response message.

20. The system of claim 19 , further comprising a first base station comprising:

one or more third processors; and

third memory storing third instructions that, when executed by the one or more third processors, cause the first base station to receive, from at least one second base station, a first message comprising a capability parameter indicating a maximum number of bearers per wireless device that can be supported by the at least one second base station.