System and method for detecting and directing traffic in a network environment

• US 7,327,746 B1
• Filed: 08/08/2003
• Issued: 02/05/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Iyer, Jayaraman R., Au, Andrew Wan-yeung
• Primary Examiner(s): Chan; Wing
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mais; Mark A.
• Application Number:
  US10/638,144
• Time in Patent Office: 1,642 Days
• Field of Search: 370/310, 370/310.2, 370/328, 370/329, 370/336, 370/337, 370/338, 370/345, 370/347, 370/349, 370/351, 370/352, 370/356, 370/389, 370/392, 370/396, 370/400, 370/401, 370/409, 370/410, 370/442, 370/443, 370/464, 370/465, 370/498, 370/529
• US Class Current: 370/410
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/66 Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways

Abstract

A method for detecting and directing traffic in a network environment is provided that includes receiving a packet included within a communication flow that is initiated by a mobile terminal and setting a flag within the packet. The method further includes directing the packet to a next destination by recognizing that the flag included within the packet was set and therefore is associated with a mobile-to-mobile communication session.

Claims

1. An apparatus for detecting and directing traffic in a network environment, comprising:

a gateway general packet radio service (GPRS) support node (GGSN) operable to receive a packet included within a communication flow that is initiated by a mobile terminal, the GGSN including first and second access point name (APN) elements, wherein the second APN element is operable to direct the packet to a next destination by recognizing that a flag included within the packet was set and therefore is associated with a mobile-to-mobile communication session.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first APN element sets the flag in order to indicate that the packet was sourced by the first APN element, the second APN element using the flag to identify the communication flow is associated with the mobile-to-mobile communication session.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the GGSN further comprises a routing table that is coupled to the first and second APN elements and that is operable to facilitate directing of one or more packets included within the communication flow based on an address included within one or more of the packets.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the routing table directs the packet to a firewall in cases where the communication flow is associated with an Internet destination.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the mobile terminal communicates a request to a serving GPRS support node (SGSN) in order to establish the communication flow.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second APN element provides a next hop destination for the packet in cases where the communication flow is associated with the mobile-to-mobile communication session.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the next hop destination is associated with a selected one of a group of elements consisting of:

a) a firewall;

b) a switch;

c) a gateway;

d) a loadbalancer;

e) a bridge; and

f) a router.

8. A method for detecting and directing traffic in a network environment, comprising:

receiving a packet included within a communication flow that is initiated by a mobile terminal;

setting a flag within the packet; and

directing the packet to a next destination by recognizing that the flag included within the packet was set and therefore is associated with a mobile-to-mobile communication session.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein a first APN element sets the flag in order to indicate that the packet was sourced by the first APN element, and wherein a second APN element uses the flag to identify the communication flow is associated with the mobile-to-mobile communication session.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

directing one or more packets included within the communication flow based on an address included within one or more of the packets.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein a routing table directs the packet to a firewall in cases where the communication flow is associated with an Internet destination.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the mobile terminal communicates a request to a serving GPRS support node (SGSN) in order to establish the communication flow.

13. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

providing a next hop destination for the packet in cases where the communication flow is associated with the mobile-to-mobile communication session.

14. A system for detecting and directing traffic in a network environment, comprising:

means for receiving a packet included within a communication flow that is initiated by a mobile terminal;

means for setting a flag within the packet; and

means for directing the packet to a next destination by recognizing that the flag included within the packet was set and therefore is associated with a mobile-to-mobile communication session.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein a first APN element sets the flag in order to indicate that the packet was sourced by the first APN element, and wherein a second APN element uses the flag to identify the communication flow is associated with the mobile-to-mobile communication session.

16. The system of claim 14, further comprising:

means for directing one or more packets included within the communication flow based on an address included within one or more of the packets.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein a routing table directs the packet to a firewall in cases where the communication flow is associated with an Internet destination.

18. The system of claim 14, further comprising:

means for providing a next hop destination for the packet in cases where the communication flow is associated with the mobile-to-mobile communication session.