Device connectivity management for mobile all-IP broadband network architecture: The solution for scaling the communication in the machine-2-machine age

With the increasing deployment of autonomous machine type devices which highly surpass in number the devices directly controlled by humans, the wireless environment should support efficiently and in a scalable manner the Machine-2-Machine (M2M) type of communication enabling new services and business opportunities. However, the current mobile network architecture is designed for human interaction, missing the optimization which can be derived from the basic characteristics of the machine type communication. This article introduces the concept of device connectivity management as a core network means for indicating governing policies to the wireless connected devices on when and how to communicate in order to be able to deliver the machine services in an efficient manner in regard to core network available capabilities and to service requirements. Also it includes the execution means in the wireless device for handling these policies. Furthermore, the concept is exemplif ied as an addition to the current 3GPP Evolved Packet Core architecture and to the Fraunhofer OpenEPC testbed.