System and method for offloading data in a communication system

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; and

offloading 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.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

identifying that the upstream data packet does not match the IP ACL or the tunnel endpoint identifier; and

communicating the upstream data packet to a second network element.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

restoring a tunnel header and tunnel identification based on an IP address of the downstream data packet.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

performing a general packet radio service tunneling protocol sequencing.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

identifying a change to the first network element; and

performing a network address translation on the upstream data packet or the downstream data packet such that the upstream data packet or the downstream data packet, respectively, returns to a third network element.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

identifying a carrier grade NAT (CGN) to operate as the anchor point for particular user equipment traffic; and

establishing a tunnel associated with the first network element for the particular user equipment traffic.

7. Logic encoded in one or more non-transitory media that includes code for execution and when executed by a processor is operable to perform operations 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, the operations 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 data packet to assign the first network element as the anchor point for the mobile user device; and

offloading 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.

8. The logic of claim 7 , the operations further comprising:

identifying that the upstream data packet does not match the IP ACL or the tunnel endpoint identifier; and

communicating the upstream data packet to a second network element.

9. The logic of claim 7 , the operations further comprising:

restoring a tunnel header and tunnel identification based on an IP address of the downstream data packet.

10. The logic of claim 7 , the operations further comprising:

performing a general packet radio service tunneling protocol sequencing.

11. The logic of claim 7 , the operations further comprising:

identifying a change to the first network element; and

performing a network address translation on the upstream data packet or the downstream data packet such that the upstream data packet or the downstream data packet, respectively, returns to a third network element.

12. The logic of claim 7 , the operations further comprising:

identifying a carrier grade NAT (CGN) to operate as the anchor point for particular user equipment traffic; and

establishing a tunnel associated with the first network element for the particular user equipment traffic.

13. An apparatus 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, the apparatus comprising:

a memory element configured to store data;

a processor operable to execute instructions associated with the data;

a traffic offload module configured to interface with the memory element and the processor, wherein the apparatus is configured for:

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 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; and

offloading 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.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 , the apparatus being further configured for:

identifying that the upstream data packet does not match the IP ACL or the tunnel endpoint identifier; and

communicating the upstream data packet to a second network element.

15. The apparatus of claim 13 , the apparatus being further configured for:

restoring a tunnel header and tunnel identification based on an IP address of the upstream data packet.

16. The apparatus of claim 13 , the apparatus being further configured for:

performing a general packet radio service tunneling protocol sequencing.

17. The apparatus of claim 13 , the apparatus being further configured for:

identifying a change to the first network element; and

performing a network address translation on the upstream data packet or the downstream data packet such that the upstream data packet or the downstream data packet, respectively, returns to a third network element.