Mobile user identification and tracking for load balancing in packet processing systems

摘要

Systems and methods are disclosed for mobile user identification and tracking for load balancing in packet processing systems. Packet processing systems, such as network tool optimizer (NTO) systems, are configured to receive packets associated with multiple mobile users, to extract user identification information from the packets, to store identity binding information for the mobile users, to track changes in identification information for mobile users within a communication system by analyzing control information within packets for the communication system, and to forward packets to one or more tool ports associated with the packet processing system. The packet processing systems disclosed thereby allow for user packets to be identified and sent to the same load-balanced network tool, even though the user identification information changes over time within the communication system. The disclosed embodiments are useful for a wide variety of mobile and/or non-mobile communication systems and related communication protocols.

主权项

1. A packet processing system for forwarding network packets based upon user identification information, comprising:
one or more input ports configured to receive input packets associated with one or more user devices within a communication system; one or more output ports configured to receive forwarded packets and to output forwarded packets to one or more network analysis tools; a storage system configured to store binding records, the binding records identifying one or more output ports associated with user identification information for the one or more user devices; packet processing circuitry configured to extract user identification information from received input packets, to store extracted user identification information in the binding records, and to forward the input packets to the one or more output ports based upon the binding records; and a load balancer configured to load balance forwarded packets among two or more output ports; wherein the packet processing system is further configured to identify communication system control information within the input packets, to extract identification change information for the one or more user devices from identified control information, and to update the binding records using the extracted identification change information.