Apparatuses and Methods Related to Connecting Tunnels Through a Virtual Switch
First Claim
1. A method for interposing a computing unit between a network node and another network device in a mobile network, the method comprising:
- dispatching a virtual machine on the computing unit, the virtual machine being configured to provide a service by processing data in a data flow from a user terminal to the other network device through the network node;
configuring a first General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) Tunneling Protocol (GTP) tunnel between the network node and the computing unit to receive the data flow via the first GTP tunnel, and a second GTP tunnel between the computing unit and the other network device to forward the data flow there-through; and
configuring, in the computing unit, a virtual switch having a first port that is a terminal point for the first GTP tunnel and a second port that is a starting point for the second GTP tunnel to forward the data flow there-between, and configured to supply the data to the virtual machine.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatuses and methods enable connecting tunnels channeling data flow from a user terminal and to a mobile network through a virtual switch in a network device which is configured to provide a service by processing data in the data flow. A method (300) performed by a device (110, 400) having one or more processors (420) includes establishing (S310) (A) a first tunnel (125) between the device (110) and a node (120) of the mobile network, and (B) a second tunnel (135) between the device (110) and another network device (130) of the mobile network, the first tunnel and the second tunnel operating according to Internet protocols. The method further includes connecting (S320) the first tunnel to the second tunnel using a virtual switch (112) running on the device, and connecting (S330) a virtual machine (114) running on the device to the virtual switch, the virtual machine being configured to provide a service by processing data in the data flow.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A method for interposing a computing unit between a network node and another network device in a mobile network, the method comprising:
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dispatching a virtual machine on the computing unit, the virtual machine being configured to provide a service by processing data in a data flow from a user terminal to the other network device through the network node; configuring a first General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) Tunneling Protocol (GTP) tunnel between the network node and the computing unit to receive the data flow via the first GTP tunnel, and a second GTP tunnel between the computing unit and the other network device to forward the data flow there-through; and configuring, in the computing unit, a virtual switch having a first port that is a terminal point for the first GTP tunnel and a second port that is a starting point for the second GTP tunnel to forward the data flow there-between, and configured to supply the data to the virtual machine.
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2. A method performed by a device having one or more processors, the method comprising:
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establishing a first tunnel between the device and a node of a mobile network to receive a data flow from a user terminal via the first tunnel, and a second tunnel between the device and another network device of the mobile network to forward the data flow via the second tunnel, the first tunnel and the second tunnel operating according to Internet protocols; connecting the first tunnel to the second tunnel using a virtual switch running on the device; and connecting a virtual machine running on the device to the virtual switch, the virtual machine being configured to provide a service by processing data in the data flow. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A computing unit, comprising:
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at least one physical interface configured to communicate with a node of a mobile network and another network device of the mobile network; and a data processing unit including one or more processors and configured to establish (A) a first tunnel between the computing unit and the node of the mobile network to enable a data flow from a user terminal via the first tunnel, and (B) a second tunnel between the computing unit and the other network device to forward the data flow, the first tunnel and the second tunnel operating according to Internet protocols, to run executable codes corresponding to a virtual switch connecting the first tunnel to the second tunnel, and to run executable codes corresponding to a virtual machine connected to the virtual switch, the virtual machine being configured to provide a service to the user terminal by processing data in the data flow. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
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17. A computer readable medium non-transitory storing executable codes which, when executed on a computer having a mobile network interface and one or more processors, make the computer perform a method comprising:
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establishing a first tunnel between the device and a node of a mobile network to receive a data flow from a user terminal via the first tunnel, and a second tunnel between the device and another network device of the mobile network to forward the data flow, the first tunnel and the second tunnel operating according to Internet protocols; connecting the first tunnel to the second tunnel using a virtual switch running on the device; and connecting a virtual machine running on the device to the virtual switch, the virtual machine being configured to provide a service by processing data in the data flow. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A device in a mobile network, the device comprising:
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a mobile network interface configured to enable the device to communicate to a computing unit; a data processing unit configured to provide information to a switch controller for configuring a virtual switch running on the computing unit to operate as a GTP tunnel end point, and to redirect a network node and another network device that have initially been connected via a GTP tunnel, to connect via a first GTP tunnel and a second GTP tunnel to the computing unit, respectively, wherein the computing unit (A) receives a data flow from a user terminal via the first tunnel, (B) forwards the data flow via the second tunnel, the first tunnel being connected to the second tunnel by the virtual switch, and (C) connects a virtual machine running on the computing unit to the virtual switch, the virtual machine being configured to provide a service by processing data in the data flow.
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Specification