Network device in a communication network and method for providing communications traffic breakout

Abstract

According to an exemplary embodiment of the invention a network device may be provided which may comprise a receiving unit, a sending unit and an evaluating unit. It may be foreseen that the receiving unit may be adapted to receive a trigger signal for preparing a breakout of a plurality of packets, wherein the plurality of packets may comprise at least one packet from a first source and at least one packet from a second source and wherein the evaluating unit may be adapted to evaluate the trigger signal. Moreover, the evaluation unit may be adapted to evaluate packets from a first source and packets from a second source and the evaluation unit may be adapted to distinguish packets from the first source from packets from the second source.

1 . A network device comprising
 a receiving unit,   a sending unit,   an evaluating unit,   wherein the receiving unit is adapted to receive a trigger signal for preparing a breakout of a plurality of packets, wherein the plurality of packets comprise at least one packet from a first source and at least one packet from a second source,   wherein the evaluating unit is adapted to evaluate the trigger signal,   wherein the evaluation unit is adapted to evaluate packets from the first source and packets from the second source, and   wherein the evaluation unit is adapted to distinguish packets from the first source from packets from the second source.   
     
     
         2 . Network device according to  claim 1 , wherein the network device is adapted to
 analyzing the plurality of packets received via a bearer service,   forwarding packets from the first source to a server via the bearer service, and   breaking out, from the bearer service, packets from the second source and routing the packets from the second source to a separate network.   
     
     
         3 . Network device according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the network device is at least one of the group of network devices consisting of an UE, a MME, a S-GW, a P-GW, a S-/P-GW, a network node, an eNodeB, a HeNodeB, an eNB/L-GW, a HeNB/L-GW and a L-GW.   
     
     
         4 . Network device according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the network device is adapted to use a first IP address for the first source and a second IP address for the second source and wherein the network device is adapted to generate the second IP address.   
     
     
         5 . Network device according to  claim 1 , wherein the breakout is UE initiated. 
     
     
         6 . Network device according to  claim 1 , wherein the breakout is network initiated. 
     
     
         7 . Network device according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the trigger signal is at least one of the group of signals consisting of a NAS message, a detection of a SIPO supported service in the network and a movement of an UE.   
     
     
         8 . Network device according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the network device comprises a local interface.   
     
     
         9 . Network device according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the network device comprises a BOGW-function.   
     
     
         10 . Network device according to  claim 9 , wherein
 the BOGW-function is at least one of the group of functions consisting of routing of packets, routing of uplink packets, collecting of UL statistics, collecting of DL statistics, gateway bridging, downlink packet buffering, ECM-IDLE mode downlink packet buffering, initiating of network triggered service request procedure, assisting in UE IP-address allocation for accessing a home based network, DHCPv4-functions, DHCPv6 functions, providing server functionalities, providing relay functionalities, providing client functionalities, providing local IP address signaling in control messages, providing local IP address signaling in control messages, such as GTP and NAS and providing downlink local packets in a tunnel, especially providing an inclusion of downlink local packets in a GTP tunnel at an S 1 -U interface.   
     
     
         11 . Network device according to  claim 1 , wherein the network device is adapted to support a breakout service based on a received information, which information is at least one of the group of information consisting of a UE Requested PDN Connectivity, a UE Triggered Service Request, a UE Requested Bearer Resource Modification, a Dedicated Bearer Activation, a Bearer Modification, a Network Triggered Service Request, a S1 Release procedure, a UE-initiated Detach procedure for E-UTRAN, a MME Initiated Dedicated Bearer Deactivation, a UE Requested PDN disconnection and a Create/Update (Default) Bearer Request. 
     
     
         12 . Network device according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the network device is adapted to provide a local IP address.   
     
     
         13 . A method for providing communications traffic breakout comprising:
 receiving a trigger signal for preparing a breakout of a plurality of packets, wherein the plurality of packets comprise at least one packet from a first source and one packet from a second source,   evaluating the trigger signal,   evaluating packets from a first source and from a second source,   distinguishing packets from the first source from packets from the second source.   
     
     
         14 . Network device according to  claim 13 , wherein the method further comprising:
 analyzing the packets received via a bearer service,   forwarding packets from the first source to a server via the bearer service, and   breaking out, from the bearer service, packets from the second source and routing the packets from the second source to a separate network.   
     
     
         15 . Computer readable medium, comprising program code, which program code when being executed on a processor is adapted to carry out the method according to  claim 13 .