System and method for offloading data in a communication system
First Claim
1. A method, comprising:
- receiving a data packet over a first tunnel at a first network element;
receiving a discovery message over a second tunnel at the first network element, the discovery message including an in-band signaling packet;
establishing a first generic routing encapsulation (GRE) tunnel between the first network element and a second network element;
receiving instructions over the first GRE tunnel at the first network element specifying criteria for selectively offloading data packets from the first tunnel, based at least in part on identifying whether the data packets correspond to at least one of an Internet Protocol (IP) access control list (ACL) or a tunnel endpoint identifier;
determining whether to offload the data packet from the first tunnel to a second GRE tunnel, based on the received instructions.
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Accused Products
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.
212 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method, comprising:
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receiving a data packet over a first tunnel at a first network element; receiving a discovery message over a second tunnel at the first network element, the discovery message including an in-band signaling packet; establishing a first generic routing encapsulation (GRE) tunnel between the first network element and a second network element; receiving instructions over the first GRE tunnel at the first network element specifying criteria for selectively offloading data packets from the first tunnel, based at least in part on identifying whether the data packets correspond to at least one of an Internet Protocol (IP) access control list (ACL) or a tunnel endpoint identifier; determining whether to offload the data packet from the first tunnel to a second GRE tunnel, based on the received instructions. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. 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 tunnel at a first network element; receiving a discovery message over a second tunnel at the first network element, the discovery message including an in-band signaling packet; establishing a first generic routing encapsulation (GRE) tunnel between the first network element and a second network element; receiving instructions over the first GRE tunnel at the first network element specifying criteria for selectively offloading data packets from the first tunnel, based at least in part on identifying whether the data packets correspond to at least one of an Internet Protocol (IP) access control list (ACL) or a tunnel endpoint identifier; determining whether to offload the data packet from the first tunnel to a second GRE tunnel, based on the received instructions. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An apparatus, comprising:
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a memory element that stores data; a processor configured 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 receives a data packet over a first tunnel and receives a discovery message over a second tunnel, the discovery message including an in-band signaling packet, the apparatus is configured to establish a first generic routing encapsulation (GRE) tunnel with a network element, and the apparatus receives instructions over the first GRE tunnel specifying criteria for selectively offloading data packets from the first tunnel, based at least in part on identifying whether the data packets correspond to at least one of an Internet Protocol (IP) access control list (ACL) or a tunnel endpoint identifier, and wherein the apparatus determines whether to offload the data packet from the first tunnel to a second GRE tunnel, based on the received instructions. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification