Apple Inc.
Downlink data handling for idle mode UE when the SGW is split into control plane node and user plane node

Abstract:

An apparatus for use in a serving gateway user plane (SGW-U) of an evolved packet core (EPC) of a wireless communication network is disclosed. The apparatus comprises one or more processors configured to process a downlink (DL) data signal comprising a DL data packet for a user equipment (UE) in the network, buffer the DL data packet in the DL data signal and identify a serving gateway control plane (SGW-C) associated with the SGW-U that serves the UE, when the UE is in idle mode. The one or more processors is further configured to provide an SGW-U DL data notification message to the SGW-C, generated selectively based on a priority of the received DL data signal, in order to inform the SGW-C about the availability of DL data for the UE.