Method for paging user equipment and apparatus

A network device, comprising:

• at least one processor;
• and
• a computer readable medium having computer readable instructions stored thereon, wherein the computer readable instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, facilitate:
• determining a coverage-oriented area in a registration area of a user equipment based on an area identifier and a corresponding layering type, wherein the layering type is a coverage-oriented type;
• and
• paging the user equipment in the coverage-oriented area in the registration area of the user equipment.

A communication device, comprising:

• at least one processor;
• and
• a computer readable medium having computer readable instructions stored thereon, wherein the computer readable instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, facilitate:
• receiving an area identifier and a corresponding layering type, wherein the layering type is a capacity-oriented type or a coverage-oriented type;
• if an area currently accessed by the communication device is a capacity-oriented area, switching the communication device to a coverage-oriented area when the communication device changes to an idle state;
• and
• receiving a paging message for the coverage-oriented area.