Signaling Message Prioritization

Abstract

Methods, system, and articles are described herein for receiving and prioritizing a plurality of signaling messages based at least on classifications of the signaling messages. At least a number of the signaling messages are processed in order of priority, the number processed being based at least on a volume of the signaling messages.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A computer-implemented method comprising:
 receiving a plurality of signaling messages;   prioritizing the signaling messages based at least on classifications of the signaling messages; and   processing at least a number of the signaling messages in order of priority, the number processed being based at least on a volume of the signaling messages.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein in the signaling message classifications are specified by a signaling classification protocol. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the prioritizing is further based on rules for handling classifications that are specified by the signaling classification protocol. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein at least one of the classifications is represented within a header of one of the signaling messages by one or more bits of a header field. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the signaling classification protocol specifies a bit length for a representation of a classification and specifies the header field that is to include the representation. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the classifications are associated with at least one category, the at least one category including at least one of a voice call, high priority data signaling, low priority data signaling, an update, a packet data protocol (PDP) context establishment, a radio resource control (RRC) connection establishment request, a RRC radio bearer reconfiguration, a RRC release, a RRC paging message, cell updates, a session initiation protocol (SIP) request or response, or a specific type of SIP request or response. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the prioritizing is further based on rules for handling classifications that are determined by an operator or service provider. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 comparing the volume of the signaling messages to a threshold volume imposed by physical capacities of equipment performing the processing, by an operator, or by a service provider; and   based at least on the comparing, limiting how many of the signaling messages are to be processed.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising queuing unprocessed signaling messages for later processing. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the processing includes replying to the signaling messages or performing an act requested by the signaling messages. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising, for at least one unprocessed signaling message, replying to a sender of the at least one unprocessed signaling message with a request that the sender wait for a specified time before sending another signaling message. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising receiving a payload delivery message associated with one of the signaling messages, the payload delivery message having a classification that is different from the classification of the one of the signaling messages. 
     
     
         13 . An article of manufacture comprising:
 a storage medium; and   computer-readable programming instructions stored on the storage medium and configured to program a computing device to perform operations including:
 receiving a plurality of radio signaling messages; 
 prioritizing the radio signaling messages based at least on classifications of the radio signaling messages; 
 processing at least a number of the radio signaling messages in order of priority, the number processed being based at least on a volume of the radio signaling messages; and 
 for at least one unprocessed radio signaling message, replying to a sender of the at least one unprocessed radio signaling message with a request that the sender wait for a specified time before sending another signaling message. 
   
     
     
         14 . The article of  claim 13 , wherein the operations further include performing the replying in response to determining that the at least one unprocessed radio signaling message is associated with a specific classification included in a radio signaling classification protocol. 
     
     
         15 . The article of  claim 13 , wherein the wait specified in the request is determined based at least on a classification of the at least one unprocessed radio signaling message. 
     
     
         16 . The article of  claim 13 , wherein the operations further include discarding the at least one unprocessed radio signaling message after performing the replying. 
     
     
         17 . A telecommunication device comprising:
 a processor; and   a plurality of programming instructions configured to be operated by the processor to perform operations including:
 formulating a signaling message, including determining a classification associated with the signaling message based on a signaling classification protocol; and 
 transmitting the signaling message to a server for processing in accordance with the signaling message classification. 
   
     
     
         18 . The telecommunication device of  claim 1 , wherein the operations further include:
 receiving a reply from the server requesting that the telecommunication device wait for a specified time before sending another signaling message; and   after waiting for the specified time period, re-transmitting the signaling message to the server.   
     
     
         19 . The telecommunication device of  claim 17 , wherein the signaling classification protocol specifies a bit length for a representation of the classification and specifies a header field of the signaling message that is to include the representation. 
     
     
         20 . The telecommunication device of  claim 17 , wherein the classification is associated with at least one category, the at least one category including at least one of a voice call, high priority data signaling, low priority data signaling, an update, a packet data protocol (PDP) context establishment, a radio resource control (RRC) connection establishment request, a RRC radio bearer reconfiguration, a RRC release, a RRC paging message, cell updates, a session initiation protocol (SIP) request or response, or a specific type of SIP request or response.