Implementing a 3G packet core in a cloud computer with openflow data and control planes
First Claim
1. A method for implementing a general packet radio service (GPRS) tunnel protocol (GTP) in a packet core (PC) of a third generation (3G) network having a split architecture where a control plane of the PC of the 3G network is in a cloud computing system, the cloud computing system including a controller, the control plane to communicate with the data plane of the PC through a control plane protocol, the data plane implemented in a plurality of network elements of the 3G network separate from the cloud computing system, the method comprising the steps of:
- receiving a request by the controller to create a GTP tunnel in the PC of the 3G network between a serving GPRS support node (SGSN) and a gateway GPRS support node (GGSN) for a subscriber session, the controller to execute a plurality of control plane modules that manage the data plane of the plurality of network elements via the control plane protocol;
configuring a switch implementing a data plane of the SGSN, via the control protocol, to encapsulate and decapsulate packets of the subscriber session and to establish a first GTP tunnel endpoint;
configuring at least one switch in a route of the GTP tunnel, via the control plane protocol, to forward packets of the subscriber session according to the GTP tunnel; and
configuring a switch implementing a data plane of the GGSN, via the control plane protocol, to encapsulate and decapsulate the packets of the subscriber session and to establish a second GTP tunnel endpoint.
2 Assignments
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method for implementing a general packet radio service (GPRS) tunnel protocol (GTP) in a packet core (PC) of a third generation (3G) network having a split architecture where a control plane of the PC of the 3G network is in a cloud computing system, the cloud computing system including a controller, the controller to execute a plurality of control plane modules, the control plane to communicate with the data plane of the PC through a control plane protocol, the data plane implemented in a plurality of network elements of the 3G network by configuring switches implementing a data plane of the SGSN and GGSN and intermediate switches to establish a first and second GTP tunnel endpoint.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. A method for implementing a general packet radio service (GPRS) tunnel protocol (GTP) in a packet core (PC) of a third generation (3G) network having a split architecture where a control plane of the PC of the 3G network is in a cloud computing system, the cloud computing system including a controller, the control plane to communicate with the data plane of the PC through a control plane protocol, the data plane implemented in a plurality of network elements of the 3G network separate from the cloud computing system, the method comprising the steps of:
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receiving a request by the controller to create a GTP tunnel in the PC of the 3G network between a serving GPRS support node (SGSN) and a gateway GPRS support node (GGSN) for a subscriber session, the controller to execute a plurality of control plane modules that manage the data plane of the plurality of network elements via the control plane protocol; configuring a switch implementing a data plane of the SGSN, via the control protocol, to encapsulate and decapsulate packets of the subscriber session and to establish a first GTP tunnel endpoint; configuring at least one switch in a route of the GTP tunnel, via the control plane protocol, to forward packets of the subscriber session according to the GTP tunnel; and configuring a switch implementing a data plane of the GGSN, via the control plane protocol, to encapsulate and decapsulate the packets of the subscriber session and to establish a second GTP tunnel endpoint. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A cloud computing system for managing implementation of a general packet radio service (GPRS) tunnel protocol (GTP) in a packet core (PC) of a third generation (3G) network having a split architecture where a control plane of the PC of the 3G network is in the cloud computing system, the control plane to communicate with a data plane of the PC through a control plane protocol, the data plane implemented in a plurality of network elements of the 3G network separate from the cloud computing system, the cloud computing system comprising:
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a plurality of servers in communication with one another and in communication with the plurality of network elements implementing the data plane of the PC, the plurality of servers executing, a controller configured to execute a plurality of control plane modules implementing the control plane of the PC, each control plane module to provide a set of control plane functions for managing the data plane, the controller configured to receive a request to create a GTP tunnel in the PC of the 3G network between a serving GPRS support node (SGSN) and a gateway GPRS support node (GGSN) for a subscriber session, the controller configured to configure a switch implementing a data plane of the SGSN, via the control plane protocol, to encapsulate and decapsulate packets of the subscriber session and to establish a first GTP tunnel endpoint, the controller configured to configure at least one switch in a route of the GTP tunnel, via the control plane protocol, to forward packets of the subscriber session according to the GTP tunnel, and the controller configured to configure a switch implementing a data plane of the GGSN, via the control plane protocol, to encapsulate and decapsulate the packets of the subscriber session and to establish a second GTP tunnel endpoint; and a cloud manager communicatively coupled to the controller, the cloud manager configured to manage execution of the plurality of control plane modules of the PC. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification