Systems and methods for reduced latency tracking area selection

A mobility management entity comprising:

• a plurality of communication interfaces;
• at least one memory;
• at least one processor;
• and wherein the mobility management entity is to:
• receive a message from a base transceiver station, the message including a list of tracking areas handled by the base transceiver station;
• receive a message from a user equipment indicating a first tracking area from which the user equipment is connected to a network, the first tracking area being handled by the base transceiver station;
• perform at least one domain name system (DNS) query for tracking areas in the list of tracking areas, the at least one DNS query including a DNS query for at least one tracking area that comprises a logical grouping of a plurality of cells;
• store an association between the list of tracking areas and a plurality of serving gateways based on information received in response to the at least one DNS query,
• identify a current serving gateway serving the first tracking area based on the stored association between the list of tracking areas and the serving gateways;
• and
• select, based on the stored association between the list of tracking areas and the serving gateways, a second tracking area handled by the current serving gateway such that the first tracking area and the second tracking area are both handled by the current serving gateway;
• and
• send a tracking area identity list to the user equipment including the selected second tracking area;
• and
• wherein the message from the user equipment is received after the at least one DNS query for the tracking areas in the list of tracking areas is performed.

A method comprising:

• sending, by a base transceiver station to a mobility management device, a message comprising a list of tracking areas handled by the base transceiver station, wherein the mobility management device is to perform at least one domain name system (DNS) query for tracking areas in the list of tracking areas, the at least one DNS query including a DNS query for at least one tracking area that comprises a logical grouping of a plurality of cells;
• receiving a message from a user equipment indicating a first tracking area from which the user equipment is connected to a network, the first tracking area being handled by the base transceiver station, wherein the message from the user equipment is received by the base transceiver station after the at least one DNS query for the tracking areas in the lists of tracking areas is performed;
• and
• sending a tracking area identity list to the user equipment including a second tracking area, wherein the first tracking area and the second tracking area are both handled by a same serving gateway, and the second tracking area is selected based on a stored association between the list of tracking areas and a plurality of serving gateways, wherein the association is based on information received in response to the at least one DNS query.