System and method for offloading data in a communication system

摘要

A method is provided in one example embodiment and includes receiving a data packet transported on a backhaul link at a first network element; 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; performing a network address translation on the data packet; and offloading the data packet from the backhaul link. In certain implementations, 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 instances, the method can include identifying that the data packet is a downstream data packet; and restoring a tunnel header and tunnel identification based on an IP address of the data packet.

主权项

1. A method for providing an anchor point for offloading traffic to and from a mobile user device from a default path to the Internet via a core network onto a breakout path to the Internet not via the core network, comprising:
receiving an upstream data packet transported on a backhaul link at a first network element; identifying whether the upstream data packet matches an internet protocol (IP) access control list (ACL) or a tunnel endpoint identifier to determine whether the upstream data packet belongs to traffic to be offloaded onto the breakout path; if the upstream data packet matches the IP ACL or the tunnel endpoint identifier:
performing a network address translation on the upstream data packet to assign the first network element as the anchor point for the mobile user device; andoffloading the upstream data packet from the backhaul link onto the breakout path using the first network element as the anchor point for routing the traffic to the Internet; receiving a downstream packet transported on the breakout path from the Internet at the first network element; identifying that a service is to be performed for the downstream data packet that cannot be performed at the first network element; and performing the network address translation on the downstream data packet such that the downstream data packet is returned to a gateway node in the core network where the service can be applied to the downstream data packet.