System and method for offloading data in a communication system
First Claim
1. A method, comprising:
- receiving a data packet over a first link at a first network element;
transmitting from the first network element a tunnel endpoint identifier of the first link over the first link;
receiving a discovery message over a second link, the discovery message including a tunnel endpoint identifier of the second link, the discovery message triggering an establishment of an out-of-band channel;
establishing the out-of-band channel over a third link between the first network element and a second network element;
establishing a generic routing encapsulation (GRE) tunnel between the first network element and the second network element using the out-of-band channel; and
receiving instructions at the first network element over the third link to offload the data packet from the first link, wherein the first network element is configured to use the out-of-band channel to identify the first network element to the second network element, to confirm a receipt of the discovery message, and to obtain the instructions.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method is provided in one example embodiment and includes receiving a data packet over a first link at a first network element; establishing an out-of-band channel over a second link between the first network element and a second network element; and receiving instructions at the first network element to offload the data packet from the first link. In more particular embodiments, the first network element is a mobile enabled router, and the second network element is a gateway general packet radio service support node or a packet data network gateway. The method can also include receiving a discovery message from the second network element, the discovery message triggering the establishment of the out-of-band channel. In certain cases, the data packet is offloaded based on a type of data in the data packet.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A method, comprising:
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receiving a data packet over a first link at a first network element; transmitting from the first network element a tunnel endpoint identifier of the first link over the first link; receiving a discovery message over a second link, the discovery message including a tunnel endpoint identifier of the second link, the discovery message triggering an establishment of an out-of-band channel; establishing the out-of-band channel over a third link between the first network element and a second network element; establishing a generic routing encapsulation (GRE) tunnel between the first network element and the second network element using the out-of-band channel; and receiving instructions at the first network element over the third link to offload the data packet from the first link, wherein the first network element is configured to use the out-of-band channel to identify the first network element to the second network element, to confirm a receipt of the discovery message, and to obtain the instructions. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 13)
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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:
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receiving a data packet over a first link at a first network element; transmitting from the first network element a tunnel endpoint identifier of the first link over the first link; receiving a discovery message over a second link, the discovery message including a tunnel endpoint identifier of the second link, the discovery message triggering an establishment of an out-of-band channel; establishing the out-of-band channel over a third link between the first network element and a second network element; establishing a generic routing encapsulation (GRE) tunnel between the first network element and the second network element using the out-of-band channel; receiving instructions at the first network element over the third link to offload the data packet from the first link; and using the out-of-band channel to identify the first network element to the second network element, to confirm a receipt of the discovery message, and to obtain the instructions. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 14)
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11. An apparatus, comprising:
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a memory element configured to store data; and a processor operable to execute instructions associated with the data; wherein the apparatus is configured to receive a data packet over a first link; transmit from the apparatus a tunnel endpoint identifier of the first link over the first link; receive a discovery message over a second link, the discovery message including a tunnel endpoint identifier of the second link, the discovery message triggering an establishment of an out-of-band channel; establish the out-of-band channel over a third link with a network element; establish a generic routing encapsulation (GRE) tunnel between the apparatus and the network element using the out-of-band channel; and receive instructions over the third link to offload the data packet from the first link, wherein the apparatus is configured to use the out-of-band channel to identify the apparatus to the network element, to confirm a receipt of the discovery message, and to obtain the instructions. - View Dependent Claims (12, 15)
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Specification