Deep packet inspection indication for a mobile CDN

A method, comprising:

• generating, by a first device, a packet as part of an uplink message, the packet comprising a packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) protocol data unit (PDU);
• determining, by the first device, whether the packet includes a request for a predetermined type of content;
• inserting, by the first device, in the packet of the uplink message, a deep packet inspection (DPI) flag to specify that DPI should be performed on the packet, in response to determining the packet includes the request for the predetermined type of content, the DPI flag being set in one or more reserved bits of the PDCP PDU;
• and
• transmitting the packet to a second device.

A method, comprising:

• generating, by a first device, a packet as part of an uplink message;
• determining, by the first device, whether the packet includes a request for a predetermined type of content;
• inserting, in the packet of the uplink message, a medium access control (MAC) layer control element (CE) that comprises a deep packet inspection (DPI) flag, the DPI flag specifying that DPI should be performed on the packet, in response to determining the packet includes the request for the predetermined type of content, the MAC CE comprising a newly defined CE for use with respect to DPI;
• and
• transmitting the packet to a second device.

An apparatus, comprising:

• a transceiver configured to receive a packet from a separate device, the packet including a flag that specifies whether deep packet inspection (DPI) should be performed on the packet, the packet further including a packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) protocol data unit (PDU), the flag being set in one or more reserved bits of the PDCP PDU;
• an inspection module configured to:
• check the flag included in the packet;
• check the one or more reserved bits of the PDCP PDU for a status of the flag identifying whether the DPI should be performed;
• and
• perform DPI of the packet to obtain content information for requested content in response to determining the flag as specifying that the DPI should be performed on the packet;
• and
• a processor configured to execute the inspection module.

An apparatus, comprising:

• a transceiver configured to receive a packet from a separate device, the packet comprising a flag that specifies whether deep packet inspection (DPI) should be performed on the packet, the packet further comprising a newly defined media access control (MAC) layer control element (CE);
• an inspection module configured to:
• check the flag included in the packet;
• check an indication section of the MAC CE that comprises the flag for a status of the flag identifying whether the DPI should be performed;
• and
• perform DPI of the packet to obtain content information for requested content in response to determining the flag as specifying that the DPI should be performed on the packet;
• and
• a processor configured to execute the inspection module.

An apparatus, comprising:

• a processor configured to generate a packet as part of an uplink message, the packet comprising a packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) protocol data unit (PDU;
• a flag insertion module configured to:
• determine whether the packet includes a request for a predetermined type of content;
• and
• insert, in the packet of the uplink message, a deep packet inspection (DPI) flag to specify that DPI should be performed on the packet, in response to determining the packet includes the request for the predetermined type of content;
• and
• set the DPI flag in one or more reserved bits of the PDCP PDU;
• and
• a transceiver configured to transmit the packet to a separate device, wherein the processor is further configured to execute the flag insertion module.

An apparatus, comprising:

• a processor configured to generate a packet as part of an uplink message;
• a flag insertion module configured to:
• determine whether the packet includes a request for a predetermined type of content;
• and
• insert, in the packet of the uplink message, a deep packet inspection (DPI) flag to specify that DPI should be performed on the packet, in response to determining the packet includes the request for the predetermined type of content;
• and
• include a medium access control (MAC) layer control element (CE) that comprises the DPI flag, the MAC CE further comprising a newly defined CE for use with respect to DPI;
• and
• a transceiver configured to transmit the packet to a separate device, wherein the processor is further configured to execute the flag insertion module.

A method, comprising:

• receiving, at a first device, a packet from a second device, the packet including a flag specifying whether requested content should be obtained from a cache of a cache server;
• checking, by the first device, the flag included in the packet;
• determining, by the first device, the flag as specifying that the requested content should be obtained from the cache of the cache server;
• routing, by the first device, the packet to the cache server, in response to the determining;
• and
• receiving, by the first device, the requested content from the cache of the cache server.