Method and apparatus for triggering management of communication flow in an inter-network system

• US 9,629,018 B2
• Filed: 02/05/2014
• Issued: 04/18/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/05/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: iBasis Incorporated (Tofane Global SAS)
• Original Assignee: iBasis Incorporated (Tofane Global SAS)
• Inventors: Xu, Richard H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pham, Chi H
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mansoury, Nourali
• Application Number:
  US14/173,180
• Publication Number:
  US 20150223104A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,168 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/19 at layers above the network layer network arrangements for networked applications for scheduling or organising the servicing of application requests H04L67/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/2441 relying on flow classification, e.g. using integrated services [IntServ]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/2483 involving identification of individual flows
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/2491 Mapping quality of service [QoS] requirements between different networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/0231 based on communication conditions dynamic wireless traffic scheduling definition based on channel quality criteria H04W72/54

Abstract

According to at least one example embodiment, a method and corresponding apparatus for triggering management of a data packet flow at an inter-network system include obtaining control-plane data exchanged between a first communications network and a second communications network. An identification of the data packet flow is then determined based on the control-plane data obtained. Once the identification of the data packet flow is known, management of the data packet flow is triggered by providing the identification of data packet flow determined to an inter-network device, e.g., a switch or OpenFlow switch. In triggering management of the data packet flow, a message may be sent to the inter-network device including the identification of data packet flow and one or more indications of management action(s) to be applied to data packets of the data packet flow by the inter-network device.

Claims

1. A method of managing a data packet flow at a user-plane at an inter-network system for a data session between a user equipment (UE) roaming in a visited communications network and a home communications network, the method comprising:

obtaining, by a processing device, control-plane data packets exchanged between the visited communications network and the home communications network, wherein the processing device is intermediate between the visited communications network and the home communications network;

receiving information identifying the UE or a corresponding user of the UE;

filtering the control-plane data packets based on the identifying information received;

extracting one or more transport protocol and/or session protocol data fields from the filtered control-plane data packets to determine an identification of the data packet flow at the user-plane; and

triggering management of the data packet flow by sending to an OpenFlow switch an instruction including the data packet flow identification determined and one or more indications of one or more roaming and/or service management actions to be applied to the data packet flow at the user-plane.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein obtaining the control-plane data packets includes receiving the control-plane data packets from the OpenFlow switch, the control-plane data packets being accessed by the OpenFlow switch at a communications link between the visited communications network and the home communications network.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein obtaining the control-plane data packets includes accessing, at a communications link, the control-plane data packets exchanged between the visited communications network and the home communications network.

4. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the identification of the data packet flow includes a tunnel identifier.

5. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the identification of the data packet flow includes a session identifier.

6. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the identification of the data packet flow includes a user identifier.

7. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein extracting one or more transport protocol and/or session protocol data fields from the filtered control-plane data packets includes extracting user datagram protocol (UDP) or transport control protocol (TCP) data fields.

8. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the control-plane data packets include session initiation protocol (SIP) data.

9. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the control-plane data packets include general packet radio service (GPRS) tunneling protocol (GTP) data.

10. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the one or more roaming and/or service management actions to be applied to the data packet flow includes:

generating statistics related to the data packet flow; and

reporting the statistics generated.

11. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the one or more roaming and/or service management actions to be applied to the data packet flow includes adjusting a data rate associated with the data packet flow.

12. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the one or more roaming and/or service management actions to be applied to the data packet flow includes redirecting data packets associated with the data packet flow.

13. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the one or more roaming and/or service management actions to be applied to the data packet flow includes monitoring the data packet flow and sending a message to the UE or the corresponding user of the UE associated with the data packet flow upon a condition being met.

14. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the information identifying the UE or the corresponding user of the UE includes at least one of an international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI), a range of IMSIs, a mobile station international subscriber directory number (MSISDN), a group of MSISDNs, a destination port number, and a device identifier.

15. An apparatus for managing a data packet flow at a user-plane at an interworking system for a data session between a user equipment (UE) roaming in a visited communications network and a home communications network, the apparatus comprising:

a processor; and

a memory with computer code instructions stored thereon,

the processor and the memory, with the computer code instructions stored thereon, configured to cause the apparatus to;

obtain control-plane data packets exchanged between the visited communications network and the home communications network wherein the apparatus is intermediate between the visited communications network and the home communications network;

receive information identifying the UE or a corresponding user of the UE;

filter the control-plane data packets based on the identifying information received;

extract one or more transport protocol and/or session protocol data fields from the filtered control-plane data packets to determine an identification of the data packet flow at the user-plane; and

trigger management of the data packet flow by sending to an OpenFlow switch an instruction including the data packet flow identification determined and one or more indications of one or more roaming and/or service management actions to be applied to the data packet flow at the user-plane.

16. The apparatus as recited in claim 15, wherein in obtaining the control-plane data packets, the processor and the memory, with the computer code instructions stored thereon, are further configured to cause the apparatus to receive the control-plane data packets from the OpenFlow switch, the OpenFlow switch accessing, at a communications link, the control-plane data packets exchanged between the visited communications network and the home communications network.

17. The apparatus as recited in claim 15, wherein in obtaining the control-plane data packets, the processor and the memory, with the computer code instructions stored thereon, are further configured to cause the apparatus to access, at a communications link, the control-plane data packets exchanged between the visited communications network and the home communications network.

18. The apparatus as recited in claim 15, wherein the identification of the data packet flow includes a tunnel identifier.

19. The apparatus as recited in claim 15, wherein the identification of the data packet flow includes a session identifier.

20. The apparatus as recited in claim 15, wherein the identification of the data packet flow includes a user identifier.

21. The apparatus as recited in claim 15, wherein extracting one or more transport protocol and/or session protocol data fields from the filtered control-plane data packets includes extracting user datagram protocol (UDP) or transport control protocol (TCP) data fields.

22. The apparatus as recited in claim 15, wherein the control-plane data packets include session initiation protocol (SIP) data.

23. The apparatus as recited in claim 15, wherein the control-plane data packets include general packet radio service (GPRS) tunneling protocol (GTP) data.

24. The apparatus as recited in claim 15, wherein the one or more roaming and/or service management actions to be applied to the data packet flow includes:

generating statistics related to the data packet flow; and

reporting the statistics generated.

25. The apparatus as recited in claim 15, wherein the one or more roaming and/or service management actions to be applied to the data packet flow includes adjusting a data rate associated with the data packet flow.

26. The apparatus as recited in claim 15, wherein the one or more roaming and/or service management actions to be applied to the data packet flow includes redirecting data packets associated with the data packet flow.

27. The apparatus as recited in claim 15, wherein the one or more roaming and/or service management actions to be applied to the data packet flow includes monitoring the data packet flow and sending a message to the UE or the corresponding user of the UE associated with the data packet flow upon a condition being met.

28. The apparatus as recited in claim 15, wherein the information identifying the UE or the corresponding user of the UE includes at least one of an international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI), a range of IMSIs, a mobile station international subscriber directory number (MSISDN), a group of MSISDNs, a destination port number, and a device identifier.