Packet forwarding in telecommunication network

摘要

A solution for rearranging data transfer in a telecommunication network is provided. Accordingly, a data packet related to a first logical connection and originating from a first user terminal is received in a network node of a first logical connection associated with a first user terminal and a second logical connection associated with a second user terminal in a telecommunication network, wherein the data packet is addressed to the second user terminal. Then, the network node checks for an intermediate network node common to both the first logical connection and the second logical connections, and arranges a shortcut between the first and the second logical connection through the intermediate network node, if the common intermediate network node has been detected.

主权项

1. A method comprising:
receiving, in an intermediate network node of each a first logical connection associated with a first user terminal and a second logical connection associated with a second user terminal in a telecommunication network, a data packet transferred over the first logical connection and originating from the first user terminal, wherein the first logical connection and the second logical connection comprise at least one GTP-tunneled connection; comparing a destination address of the received data packet to a service list including addresses of user terminals having data packets conveyed through the intermediate network node, wherein each of the addresses of user terminals is associated with a specific logical connection established between the user terminals and a terminating network node within a core network of the telecommunication network; inserting, by the intermediate network node into the data packet, a shortcut preparation indicator indicating to the terminating network node that the intermediate network node is preparing a shortcut for the first logical connection; receiving, from the intermediate network node, an acknowledgement for the shortcut preparation indicator, the acknowledgement including a shortcut-preparation-approved message or a shortcut-preparation-denied message; and conveying the received data packet towards the second user terminal over the second logical connection using values in tunnel header information associated with the at least one GTP-tunneled connection, if the destination address of the data packet matches with the address of the second user terminal included in the service list.