System and method for offloading data in a communication system

• US 9,014,158 B2
• Filed: 07/10/2011
• Issued: 04/21/2015
• 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:
  US13/179,541
• Publication Number:
  US 20120082146A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,381 Days
• Field of Search: 370/329, 370/328, 370/338, 455/419, 707/10, 713/201
• US Class Current: 370/338
• 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; de-capsulating the data packet; 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; and offloading the data packet from the backhaul link. In more specific embodiment, 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 examples, the method can include identifying that the data packet is a downstream data packet; identifying a service to be performed for the data packet that cannot be performed at the first network element; and communicating the data packet to a second network element.

Claims

1. A method implemented by a network element, the method comprising:

receiving a data packet transported on a backhaul link at the network element;

de-capsulating the data packet, if the data packet is an upstream data packet;

performing an identification of 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 with the network element, in response to the identification identifying that the data packet does not match the IP ACL or the tunnel endpoint identifier;

offloading the data packet from the backhaul link at the network element in response to the identification identifying that the data packet matches the IP ACL or the tunnel endpoint identifier; and

communicating the data packet from the network element to a gateway or general packet radio service support node using a generic routing encapsulation tunnel in response to the identification identifying that the data packet does not match the IP ACL or the tunnel endpoint identifier.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

identifying that the data packet is a downstream data packet; and

identifying a service to be performed for the data packet.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

identifying that the data packet is a downstream data packet; and

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

communicating the data packet to a radio network controller or an eNode B.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the offloading offloads the data packet to the Internet.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

using carrier grade network address translation to act as an anchor point.

6. 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 transported on a backhaul link at a network element including the processor;

de-capsulating the data packet, if the data packet is an upstream data packet;

performing an identification of 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 with the network element, in response to the identification identifying that the data packet does not match the IP ACL or the tunnel endpoint identifier;

offloading the data packet from the backhaul link at the network element in response to the identification identifying that the data packet matches the IP ACL or the tunnel endpoint identifier; and

communicating the data packet from the network element to a gateway or general packet radio service support node using a generic routing encapsulation tunnel in response to the identification identifying that the data packet does not match the IP ACL or the tunnel endpoint identifier.

7. The logic of claim 6, the operations further comprising:

identifying that the data packet is a downstream data packet; and

identifying a service to be performed for the data packet.

8. The logic of claim 6, the operations further comprising:

identifying that the data packet is a downstream data packet; and

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

9. The logic of claim 6, the operations further comprising:

performing a general packet radio service tunneling protocol sequencing.

10. The logic of claim 6, the operations further comprising:

identifying that the data packet is a downstream data packet; and

communicating the data packet to a radio network controller or an eNode B.

17. The logic of claim 6, wherein the offloading offloads the data packet to the Internet.

18. The logic of claim 6, the operations further comprising:

using carrier grade network address translation to act as an anchor point.

11. An apparatus, comprising:

a memory element configured to store data;

a processor operable to execute instructions associated with the data; and

a traffic offload module configured to interface with the memory element and the processor, wherein

the apparatus is configured to

receive a data packet transported on a backhaul link at the apparatus;

de-capsulate the data packet, if the data packet is an upstream data packet;

perform an identification of whether the data packet matches an internet protocol (IP) access control list (ACL) or a tunnel endpoint identifier;

perform a network address translation on the data packet, in response to the identification identifying that the data packet does not match the IP ACL or the tunnel endpoint identifier;

offload the data packet from the backhaul link at the apparatus in response to the identification identifying that the data packet matches the IP ACL or the tunnel endpoint identifier; and

communicate the data packet from the apparatus to a gateway or general packet radio service support node using a generic routing encapsulation tunnel in response to the identification identifying that the data packet does not match the IP ACL or the tunnel endpoint identifier.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, the apparatus further configured to identify that the data packet is a downstream data packet and to identify a service to be performed for the data packet.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, the apparatus further configured to identify that the data packet is a downstream data packet and to restore a tunnel header and a tunnel identification based on an IP address of the data packet.

14. The apparatus of claim 11, the apparatus further configured to perform a general packet radio service tunneling protocol sequencing.

19. The apparatus of claim 11, the apparatus further configured to offload the data packet to the Internet in response to the identification identifying that the data packet matches the IP ACL or the tunnel endpoint identifier.

20. The apparatus of claim 11, the apparatus further configured to use carrier grade network address translation to act as an anchor point.