Paging priority and wireless access for non-high priority access users during wireless network congestion

A network device, comprising:

• a communication interface;
• and
• a processor coupled to the communication interface, wherein the processor is configured to:
• receive, from a core network, a paging message associated with a priority connection from a first user equipment device (UE) having an elevated priority status, to a second UE having a non-elevated priority status;
• cache, during congestion of non-elevated priority access channels, an identifier of the second UE based upon a priority indicator in the received paging message;
• and
• establish a wireless connection between the first UE and the second UE based upon the cached identifier of the second UE.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions, which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to:

• receive, at a base station and from a core network, a paging message associated with a priority connection from a first user equipment device (UE) having an elevated priority status, to a second UE having a non-elevated priority status;
• cache, during congestion of non-elevated priority access channels, an identifier of the second UE based upon a priority indicator in the received paging message;
• and
• establish a wireless connection between the first UE and the second UE based upon the cached identifier of the second UE.