Differentiated Handling of Data Traffic with Adaptation of Network Address Lookup

Abstract

a method of differentiated handling of data traffic, the data traffic is related to a network resource ( 80 ) and is preceded by a lookup procedure for obtaining a network address of the network resource ( 80 ). A message ( 203 ) of the lookup procedure is processed for adapting the lookup procedure. Due to the adaptation, the lookup procedure returns a network address of a replacement network resource ( 60 ). The replacement network resource ( 60 ) is capable of replacing the network resource ( 80 ) in communication of data packets of the data traffic. On the basis of the network address of the replacement network resource ( 60 ), differentiated handling of the data packets in said communication with the replacement network resource ( 60 ) is accomplished.

1 . A method for differentiated handling of data traffic related to a network resource, said data traffic being preceded by a lookup procedure for obtaining a network address of the network resource, the method comprising the steps of:
 processing a message of the lookup procedure for adapting the lookup procedure to return a network address of a replacement network resource capable of replacing the network resource in communication of data packets,   wherein differentiated handling of the data packets in said communication with the replacement network resource is accomplished on the basis of the network address of the replacement network resource.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said processing of the message comprises:
 receiving a query for the network address of the network resource, and   responding to the query with the network address of the replacement network resource.   
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said processing of the message comprises:
 receiving a response to a query for the network address of the network resource; and   modifying the response by replacing the network address of the network resource with the network address of the replacement network resource.   
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said processing of the message comprises redirecting a query for the network address of the network resource. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said differentiated handling in said communication of the data packets is accomplished on the basis of a preconfigured packet classification rule operating on the basis of the network address of the replacement network resource. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 5 , wherein the network address of the replacement network resource is selected from a network address range matching the packet classification rule. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 5 , further comprising the steps of:
 inspecting the data packets, and   updating the packet classification rule on the basis of the inspection.   
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said differentiated handling comprises routing the data packets to a bearer established across a radio interface. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the data packets are routed to the bearer by a packet filter operating on the basis of the network address of the replacement network resource. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 8 , further comprising the step of:
 establishing the bearer between a user equipment and a gateway when the user equipment attaches to the gateway.   
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein a plurality of replacement network resources are provided for differentiating between data traffic related to corresponding network resources, and wherein the network addresses of the replacement network resources are each selected from a different network address range corresponding to a subnet. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the replacement network resource comprises a cache server or a tunnel edge server. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the replacement network resource operates as a proxy node for the network resource. 
     
     
         14 . A network device, comprising:
 an interface for receiving a message of a lookup procedure for obtaining a network address of a network resource, and   a processor configured to process the message so as to adapt the lookup procedure to return a network address of a replacement network resource capable of replacing the network resource in communication of data packets,   wherein differentiated handling of the data packets in said communication with the replacement network resource is accomplished on the basis of the network address of the replacement network resource.   
     
     
         15 . The network device according to  claim 14 , wherein the network device is configured to operate according to a method as defined in  claim 1 . 
     
     
         16 . A network system, comprising:
 a replacement network resource capable of replacing a network resource in communication of data packets;   a network device configured to process a message of a lookup procedure for obtaining a network address of the network resource, said processing adapting the lookup procedure to return a network address of the replacement network resource; and   at least one communication device configured to accomplish differentiated handling of the data packets in said communication with the replacement network resource on the basis of the network address of the replacement network resource.   
     
     
         17 . The network system according to  claim 16 , wherein the network system is configured to operate according to a method as defined in  claim 1 . 
     
     
         18 . A computer program product comprising data to be processed by a processor of a network device, thereby causing the network device to operate according to a method as defined in  claim 1 .