System and method for offloading data in a communication system

• US 8,897,183 B2
• Filed: 07/10/2011
• Issued: 11/25/2014
• 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.
• Primary Examiner(s): Algahaim, Helal A
• Assistant Examiner(s): ISMAIL, MAHMOUD S
• Application Number:
  US13/179,542
• Publication Number:
  US 20120082073A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,234 Days
• Field of Search: 370/254, 370/329, 370/338, 370/310, 455/419, 455/405, 713/201
• US Class Current: 370/310
• 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 transported on a backhaul link at a first network element; identifying whether the data packet is an upstream data packet; identifying whether the data packet matches an internet protocol (IP) access control list (ACL) or a tunnel endpoint identifier; performing a network address translation on the data packet; and offloading the data packet from the backhaul link. In certain implementations, the method can include identifying that the data packet does not match the IP ACL or the tunnel endpoint identifier; and communicating the data packet to a second network element. In other instances, the method can include identifying that the data packet is a downstream data packet; and restoring a tunnel header and tunnel identification based on an IP address of the data packet.

Claims

1. A method for providing an anchor point for offloading traffic to and from a mobile user device from a default path to the Internet via a core network onto a breakout path to the Internet not via the core network, comprising:

receiving an upstream data packet transported on a backhaul link at a first network element;

identifying whether the upstream data packet matches an internet protocol (IP) access control list (ACL) or a tunnel endpoint identifier to determine whether the upstream data packet belongs to traffic to be offloaded onto the breakout path;

if the upstream data packet matches the IP ACL or the tunnel endpoint identifier;

performing a network address translation on the upstream data packet to assign the first network element as the anchor point for the mobile user device; and

offloading the upstream data packet from the backhaul link onto the breakout path using the first network element as the anchor point for routing the traffic to the Internet;

receiving a downstream packet transported on the breakout path from the Internet at the first network element;

identifying that a service is to be performed for the downstream data packet that cannot be performed at the first network element; and

performing the network address translation on the downstream data packet such that the downstream data packet is returned to a gateway node in the core network where the service can be applied to the downstream data packet.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

identifying that the upstream data packet does not match the IP ACL or the tunnel endpoint identifier; and

communicating the upstream data packet to a second network element.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

restoring a tunnel header and tunnel identification based on an IP address of the downstream data packet.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

performing a general packet radio service tunneling protocol sequencing.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

identifying a change to the first network element; and

performing a network address translation on the upstream data packet or the downstream data packet such that the upstream data packet or the downstream data packet, respectively, returns to a third network element.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

identifying a carrier grade NAT (CGN) to operate as the anchor point for particular user equipment traffic; and

establishing a tunnel associated with the first network element for the particular user equipment traffic.

7. 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 for providing an anchor point for offloading traffic to and from a mobile user device from a default path to the Internet via a core network onto a breakout path to the Internet not via the core network, the operations comprising:

receiving an upstream data packet transported on a backhaul link at a first network element;

identifying whether the upstream data packet matches an internet protocol (IP) access control list (ACL) or a tunnel endpoint identifier to determine whether the upstream data packet belongs to traffic to be offloaded onto the breakout path;

if the upstream data packet matches the IP ACL or the tunnel endpoint identifier;

performing a network address translation on the data packet to assign the first network element as the anchor point for the mobile user device; and

offloading the upstream data packet from the backhaul link onto the breakout path using the first network element as the anchor point for routing the traffic to the Internet;

receiving a downstream packet transported on the breakout path from the Internet at the first network element;

identifying that a service is to be performed for the downstream data packet that cannot be performed at the first network element; and

performing the network address translation on the downstream data packet such that the downstream data packet is returned to a gateway node in the core network where the service can be applied to the downstream data packet.

8. The logic of claim 7, the operations further comprising:

identifying that the upstream data packet does not match the IP ACL or the tunnel endpoint identifier; and

communicating the upstream data packet to a second network element.

9. The logic of claim 7, the operations further comprising:

restoring a tunnel header and tunnel identification based on an IP address of the downstream data packet.

10. The logic of claim 7, the operations further comprising:

performing a general packet radio service tunneling protocol sequencing.

11. The logic of claim 7, the operations further comprising:

identifying a change to the first network element; and

performing a network address translation on the upstream data packet or the downstream data packet such that the upstream data packet or the downstream data packet, respectively, returns to a third network element.

12. The logic of claim 7, the operations further comprising:

identifying a carrier grade NAT (CGN) to operate as the anchor point for particular user equipment traffic; and

establishing a tunnel associated with the first network element for the particular user equipment traffic.

13. An apparatus for providing an anchor point for offloading traffic to and from a mobile user device from a default path to the Internet via a core network onto a breakout path to the Internet not via the core network, the 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 an upstream data packet transported on a backhaul link at a first network element;

identifying whether the upstream data packet matches an internet protocol (IP) access control list (ACL) or a tunnel endpoint identifier to determine whether the data packet belongs to traffic to be offloaded onto the breakout path;

if the upstream data packet matches the IP ACL or the tunnel endpoint identifier;

performing a network address translation on the upstream data packet to assign the first network element as the anchor point for the mobile user device; and

offloading the upstream data packet from the backhaul link onto the breakout path using the first network element as the anchor point for routing the traffic to the Internet;

receiving a downstream packet transported on the breakout path from the Internet at the first network element;

identifying that a service is to be performed for the downstream data packet that cannot be performed at the first network element; and

performing the network address translation on the downstream data packet such that the downstream data packet is returned to a gateway node in the core network where the service can be applied to the downstream data packet.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, the apparatus being further configured for:

identifying that the upstream data packet does not match the IP ACL or the tunnel endpoint identifier; and

communicating the upstream data packet to a second network element.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, the apparatus being further configured for:

restoring a tunnel header and tunnel identification based on an IP address of the upstream data packet.

16. The apparatus of claim 13, the apparatus being further configured for:

performing a general packet radio service tunneling protocol sequencing.

17. The apparatus of claim 13, the apparatus being further configured for:

identifying a change to the first network element; and

performing a network address translation on the upstream data packet or the downstream data packet such that the upstream data packet or the downstream data packet, respectively, returns to a third network element.