# US 10,484,307 B2 · Method of operating a network entity > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,484,307 B2 - Document ID: US10484307B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/112,549 - Filed: 2014-01-20 - Published: 2016-11-17 - Granted: 2019-11-19 - Earliest claimed: 2014-01-20 - Assignees: Nokia Solutions and Networks Oy - Applicants: Nokia Solutions and Networks Oy - Inventors: Johanna Heinonen; Hannu Flinck; Tapio Sakari Partti; Jarmo Tapio Hillo - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10484307B2 ## CPC - H04L 49/70: {Virtual switches} - H04L 12/4633: {Interconnection of networks using encapsulation techniques, e.g. tunneling} - H04L 45/3065: {for real time traffic} - H04L 45/38: {Flow based routing} - H04W 4/70: Services for machine-to-machine communication [M2M] or machine type communication [MTC] - H04L 43/026: using flow identification - H04W 76/22: Manipulation of transport tunnels - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) ## Abstract A method of operating a network entity of a network comprising a gateway (200) is provided, wherein the method comprises dynamically changing a GTP termination point (204, 227) in the gateway (200). ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of operating a network entity of a network comprising a gateway, the method comprising: dynamically changing a general packet radio service tunneling protocol (GTP) termination point in a user plane of the gateway from a cloud GTP termination point in the control plane to a physical GTP termination point in the user plane, or from the physical GTP termination point in the user plane to the cloud GTP termination point in the control plane, wherein the dynamic changing from the cloud GTP termination point in the control plane to the physical GTP termination point in the user plane, or from the physical GTP termination point in the user plane to the cloud GTP termination point in the control plane is initiated by exceeding a traffic volume threshold. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the gateway is a virtualized gateway. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the gateway further comprises a fast path node including a fast path switch, and wherein the user data packets arrive at the gateway via the fast path switch. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the gateway further comprises a cloud comprising a virtual switch connected to a fast path switch. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method according to claim 4, wherein the virtual switch of the cloud and the fast path switch operate on the same communication protocol. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) The method according to claim 3, wherein the fast path switch acts as a router or a forwarder. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) The method according to claim 4, further comprising generating flow entries to a fast path connecting the cloud and the fast path node, wherein the generating is performed at a high priority. ### Claim 8 (depends on 4) The method according to claim 4, further comprising moving a session from the fast path to the cloud. ### Claim 9 (depends on 4) The method according to claim 4, further comprising forwarding GTP packets to the cloud. ### Claim 10 A network entity for a network comprising a gateway, the network entity comprising: a processor; and memory storing computer program code, wherein the memory and the program code are configured to, with the processor, cause the network entity at least to dynamically change a general packet radio service tunneling protocol (GTP) termination point in the gateway from a cloud GTP termination point in the control plane to a physical GTP termination point in the user plane, or from the physical GTP termination point in the user plane to the cloud GTP termination point in the control plane, wherein the dynamic changing from the cloud GTP termination point in the control plane to the physical GTP termination point in the user plane, or from the physical GTP termination point in the user plane to the cloud GTP termination point in the control plane is initiated by exceeding a traffic volume threshold. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) A network comprising at least two network entities according to claim 10 which are connected to each other by a communication link. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) A non-transitory computer-readable medium, in which a computer program is stored, which, when being executed by a processor, is configured to carry out a method according to claim 1. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The network entity according to claim 10, wherein the gateway is a virtualized gateway. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The network entity according to claim 10, wherein the gateway further comprises a fast path node including a fast path switch, and wherein the user data packets arriving at the gateway via the fast path switch. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The network entity according to claim 10, wherein the gateway further comprises a cloud comprising a virtual switch connected to a fast path switch. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The network entity according to claim 15, wherein the virtual switch of the cloud and the fast path switch operate on the same communication protocol. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The network entity according to claim 14, wherein the fast path switch acts as a router or a forwarder. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The network entity according to claim 15, wherein the memory and the program code are further configured to, with the processor, cause the network entity at least to generate flow entries to a fast path connecting the cloud and the fast path node, wherein the generating is performed at a high priority.