Importance

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Abstract

An apparatus and method in which a User Equipment (UE) can register with a wireless network without requiring a packet data connection to be established. Embodiments are described in which a UE can indicate to a Mobility Management Entity that a packet data connection is not required to be established immediately. This can free resources when the UE knows that it will not need to transmit or receive data for some time, which is often the case for UE using Machine to Machine communication. In other embodiments, the MME can delay the establishment of a data connection for a UE if there are temporarily not enough resources to support it. In one embodiment, an apparatus for configuring a user equipment for transmission of data over a wireless network is provided. The apparatus comprises a processor arranged to, when in an unregistered state: transmit a message comprising first data indicating a request for attachment to the network, wherein the first data includes an indication that the user equipment supports registration without establishing a packet data connection; and responsive to receipt of a message comprising second data indicating an acceptance of the request for attachment to the network, selectively configure the user equipment to one of a registered state without a packet data connection and a registered state with a packet data connection in dependence on the second data.

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First Claim