System and method for offloading data in a communication system

• US 9,049,046 B2
• Filed: 07/10/2011
• Issued: 06/02/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/2010
• 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:
  US13/179,539
• Publication Number:
  US 20120082093A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,423 Days
• Field of Search: 370/329, 370/338, 370/235, 370/466
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 communicating an in-band message packet from a first network element; receiving a response to the in-band message from a second network element, the response contains tunnel identification binding data that identifies a tunnel on a backhaul link on which traffic from a user equipment can flow; and receiving instructions from the second network element to offload a received data packet from the backhaul link. In particular instances, the in-band message is set to loopback when the in-band message is sent from the first network element. In other embodiments, the tunnel identification binding data is provided in the payload of the in-band message when the in-band message is sent from the first network element. In other examples, the method can include receiving an assigned Internet protocol (IP) address of the user equipment in the response to the in-band message.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving a data packet using a first tunnel;

communicating a message in the first tunnel from a first network element, in response to the receiving, the message including tunnel identification binding data identifying the first tunnel;

receiving a response to the message in a second tunnel, wherein the response contains

tunnel identification binding data that identifies a third tunnel on a backhaul link, and

identification data of a second network element;

establishing an out-of-band channel using the identification data; and

receiving instructions through the out-of-band channel to determine whether to offload the data packet from the backhaul link and whether to transmit the data packet using the first and third tunnels.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the message is set to loopback when the message is sent from the first network element.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the tunnel identification binding data identifying the first tunnel is provided in a payload of the message.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the response includes an Internet protocol (IP) address of user equipment.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

changing an endpoint of the message at a servicing general packet radio service support node or a serving gateway; and

communicating the message from the servicing general packet radio service support node or the serving gateway using the third tunnel.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the second network element is a gateway general packet radio service support node or a packet data network gateway, and the first network element is a mobile enabled router.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the instructions indicate a backhaul link for voice traffic.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein the response includes tunnel identification binding data that identifies a fourth tunnel.

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 comprising:

receiving a data packet using a first tunnel;

communicating a message in the first tunnel from a first network element, in response to the receiving, the message including tunnel identification binding data identifying the first tunnel;

receiving a response to the message in a second tunnel, wherein the response contains

tunnel identification binding data that identifies a third tunnel on a backhaul link, and

identification data of a second network element;

establishing an out-of-band channel using the identification data; and

receiving instructions through the out-of-band channel to determine whether to offload the data packet from the backhaul link and whether to transmit the data packet using the first and third tunnels.

8. The logic of claim 7, wherein the message is set to loopback when the message is sent from the first network element.

9. The logic of claim 7, wherein the tunnel identification binding data identifying the first tunnel is provided in a payload of the message.

10. The logic of claim 7, wherein the response includes an Internet protocol (IP) address of user equipment.

11. The logic of claim 7, wherein the message is communicated to a servicing general packet radio service support node or a serving gateway.

12. The logic of claim 7, wherein the second network element is a gateway general packet radio service support node or a packet data network gateway, and the first network element is a mobile enabled router.

19. The logic of claim 7, wherein the instructions indicate a backhaul link for voice traffic.

13. 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

communicate a message in a first tunnel, in response to receiving a data packet using the first tunnel, the message including tunnel identification binding data identifying the first tunnel;

receive a response to the message in a second tunnel, wherein the response contains

tunnel identification binding data that identifies a third tunnel on a backhaul link, and

identification data of a network element;

establish an out-of-band channel using the identification data; and

receive instructions through the out-of-band channel to determine whether to offload the data packet from the backhaul link and whether to transmit the data packet using the first and third tunnels.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the message is set to loopback when the message is sent from the apparatus.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the tunnel identification binding data identifying the first tunnel is provided in a payload of the message.

16. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the response includes an Internet protocol (IP) address of user equipment.

17. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the message is communicated to a servicing general packet radio service support node or a serving gateway.

20. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the instructions indicate a backhaul link for voice traffic.