SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR OFFLOADING DATA IN A COMMUNICATION SYSTEM

• US 20120082132A1
• Filed: 07/10/2011
• Published: 04/05/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Andreasen, Flemming S., Leung, Kent K., Khouderchah, Michel, Iyer, Jayaraman R., Stammers, Timothy P.
• Granted Patent: US 9,031,038 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/331
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/4633 Interconnection of networks using encapsulation techniques, e.g. tunneling
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/22 Alternate routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/243 using M+N parallel active paths
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/26 Route discovery packet
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/2514 between local and global IP addresses
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/0226 based on location or mobility handoff or reselection H04W36/00; mobile application services making use of the location of users or terminals H04W4/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/24 Connectivity information management, e.g. connectivity discovery or connectivity update
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/16 Discovering, processing access restriction or access information

Abstract

A method is provided in one example embodiment and includes receiving a data packet over a first link at a first network element; establishing an out-of-band channel over a second link between the first network element and a second network element; and receiving instructions at the first network element to offload the data packet from the first link. In more particular embodiments, the first network element is a mobile enabled router, and the second network element is a gateway general packet radio service support node or a packet data network gateway. The method can also include receiving a discovery message from the second network element, the discovery message triggering the establishment of the out-of-band channel. In certain cases, the data packet is offloaded based on a type of data in the data packet.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving a data packet over a first link at a first network element;

establishing an out-of-band channel over a second link between the first network element and a second network element; and

receiving instructions at the first network element to offload the data packet from the first link.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first network element is a mobile enabled router, and the second network element is a gateway general packet radio service support node or a packet data network gateway.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a discovery message from the second network element, the discovery message triggering the establishment of the out-of-band channel.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the data packet is offloaded based on a type of data in the data packet.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein predefined classes of traffic are provisioned such that the first network element is configured to map certain classes of traffic to available backhaul links.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

establishing a generic routing encapsulation (GRE) tunnel between the first network element and the second network element using the out-of-band channel.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the GRE tunnel is used to loopback traffic to the first network element during handover activities involving a user equipment.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the first network element is configured to use the out-of-band channel to identify itself, confirm receipt of a discovery request, and obtain session control instructions.

9. Logic encoded in one or more non-transitory media that includes code for execution and when executed by a processor is operable to perform operations comprising:

receiving a data packet over a first link at a first network element;

establishing an out-of-band channel over a second link between the first network element and a second network element; and

receiving instructions at the first network element to offload the data packet from the first link.

10. The logic of claim 9, wherein the first network element is a mobile enabled router, and the second network element is a gateway general packet radio service support node or a packet data network gateway.

11. The logic of claim 9, the operations further comprising:

receiving a discovery message from the second network element, the discovery message triggering the establishment of the out-of-band channel.

12. The logic of claim 9, wherein the data packet is offloaded based on a type of data in the data packet.

13. The logic of claim 9, wherein predefined classes of traffic are provisioned such that the first network element is configured to map certain classes of traffic to available backhaul links.

14. The logic of claim 9, the operations further comprising:

establishing a generic routing encapsulation (GRE) tunnel between the first network element and the second network element using the out-of-band channel.

15. The logic of claim 14, wherein the GRE tunnel is used to loopback traffic to the first network element during handover activities involving a user equipment.

16. The logic of claim 9, wherein the first network element is configured to use the out-of-band channel to identify itself, confirm receipt of a discovery request, and obtain session control instructions.

17. An apparatus, comprising:

a memory element configured to store data;

a processor operable to execute instructions associated with the data;

a traffic offload module configured to interface with the memory element and the processor, wherein the apparatus is configured for;

receiving a data packet over a first link;

establishing an out-of-band channel over a second link with a network element; and

receiving instructions to offload the data packet from the first link.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the apparatus is further configured for:

receiving a discovery message from the network element, the discovery message triggering the establishment of the out-of-band channel.

19. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the data packet is offloaded based on a type of data in the data packet, and wherein predefined classes of traffic are provisioned such that the apparatus is configured to map certain classes of traffic to available backhaul links.

20. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the apparatus is configured to use the out-of-band channel to identify itself, confirm receipt of a discovery request, and obtain session control instructions.