Controlling data transmissions for machine type communications in a mobile communication system

A method for controlling transmission of machine type communication data to or from machine type communication devices within a mobile communication system, wherein the method comprises:

• in the control plane, transmitting, by a mobile terminal, a connection request message to a network node in a radio access network or a core network of the mobile communication system, wherein the connection request message requests establishment of a connection for transmitting timeslot information and indicates that the mobile terminal is a machine type communication device;
• receiving, by the mobile terminal, in the control plane and from the network node, a first connection setup message, wherein the first connection setup message informs the mobile terminal regarding one or more timeslots for transmitting machine type communication data;
• transmitting, by the mobile terminal, in response to the first connection setup message and in the control plane, a connection setup complete message to the network node accepting one of the one or more timeslots;
• and
• in the accepted timeslot, transmitting, by the mobile terminal, in the control plane a second connection request message to the network node to establish a connection for transmitting machine type communication data.

A network node for controlling transmission of machine type communication data to or from machine type communication devices within a mobile communication system, wherein the network node comprises:

• a receiver configured to receive a first connection request message in the control plane from a mobile terminal, wherein the first connection request message requests establishment of a connection between the network node and the mobile terminal and indicates that the mobile terminal is a machine type communication device;
• a processor configured to determine one or more timeslots for transmitting machine type communication data based on load information that indicates estimated load of the mobile communication system at different future timeslots including the determined one or more timeslots, wherein the determined one or more timeslots are one or more timeslots for which a maximum load count has not been reached;
• and
• a transmitter configured to transmit, in the control plane and to the mobile terminal, a first connection setup message, wherein the first connection setup message informs the mobile terminal regarding the determined one or more timeslots for transmitting machine type communication data.

A mobile terminal comprising:

• a transmitter configured to transmit, in the control plane, a connection request message to a network node, wherein the connection request message requests establishment of a connection for transmitting timeslot information and indicates that the mobile terminal is a machine type communication device;
• and
• a receiver configured to receive, in the control plane and from the network node, a first connection setup message, wherein the first connection setup message informs the mobile terminal regarding one or more timeslots for transmitting machine type communication data;
• wherein the transmitter is further configured to transmit, in response to the first connection setup message and in the control plane, a connection setup complete message to the network node accepting one of the one or more timeslots, and to transmit in the control plane, in the accepted timeslot, a second connection request message to the network node to establish a connection for transmitting machine type communication data.

A non transitory computer-readable medium having processor-executable instructions stored thereon, the processor-executable instructions, when executed, facilitating performance of the following steps:

• receiving a first connection request message in the control plane from a mobile terminal, wherein the first connection request message requests establishment of a connection between a network node and the mobile terminal and indicates that the mobile terminal is a machine type communication device;
• determining one or more timeslots for transmitting machine type communication data, wherein the determined one or more timeslots are one or more timeslots for which a maximum load count has not been reached and the determination is based on load information that indicates estimated load of the mobile communication system at different future timeslots including the determined one or more timeslots;
• and
• transmitting, in the control plane and to the mobile terminal, a first connection setup message, wherein the first connection setup message informs the mobile terminal regarding the determined one or more timeslots for transmitting machine type communication data.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium having processor-executable instructions stored thereon, the processor-executable instructions, when executed, facilitating performance of the following steps:

• in a control plane, transmitting a connection request message to a network node, wherein the connection request message requests establishment of a connection for transmitting timeslot information and indicates that the mobile terminal is a machine type communication device;
• receiving, in the control plane and from the network node, a first connection setup message, wherein the first connection setup message informs the mobile terminal regarding one or more timeslots for transmitting the machine type communication data;
• transmitting, in response to the first connection setup message and in the control plane, a connection setup complete message to the network node accepting one of the one or more timeslots;
• and
• in the accepted timeslot, transmitting in the control plane a second connection request message to the base station to establish a connection for transmitting the machine type communication data.