States for breakout appliance in a mobile data network

A method for processing data packets in a mobile data network that includes a radio access network coupled to a core network, the method comprising the steps of:

• a plurality of antennas sending and receiving network messages between user equipment and a plurality of basestations in the radio access network, each basestation communicating with a corresponding one of the plurality of antennas;
• providing a breakout appliance in one of the plurality of basestations, the breakout appliance comprising:
• a system controller that controls function of the breakout appliance;
• a service processor that monitors the breakout appliance and provides control functions for the breakout appliance;
• a security subsystem that provides secure access to keys stored in a non-volatile memory;
• and
• a telco breakout system that performs the steps of:
• defining an existing first data path in the radio access network for non-broken out data;
• defining a second data path for broken out data;
• identifying first data received from a corresponding basestation as data to be broken out;
• sending the first data on the second data path;
• forwarding other data that is not broken out on the first data path;
• and
• performing a plurality of services with respect to internet protocol (IP) data sent to the first user equipment in response to an IP data request in the first data from the first user equipment;
• wherein the service processor defines a plurality of states for the breakout appliance, each state defining a different set of steps, wherein the plurality of states comprises:
• a manufacturing state;
• a tampered state;
• a production state;
• a testing state;
• and
• an end of life state;
• placing the breakout appliance in the manufacturing state, and in response thereto, performing the steps of:
• initializing the security subsystem;
• and
• writing the keys to the security subsystem;
• placing the breakout appliance in the production state, and in response thereto, performing the steps of:
• allowing the telco breakout system to send the first data on the second data path during normal operation of the breakout appliance.