Systems and methods for user plane function ("upf") offload at configurable routing fabric

A system, comprising:

• one or more network devices configured to:
• receive traffic associated with a first destination device;
• determine whether the traffic is associated with an existing traffic flow;
• when the traffic is not associated with an existing traffic flow:
• forward the traffic to the first destination device, and
• establish a traffic flow associated with the traffic;
• and
• when the traffic is associated with an existing traffic flow:
• identify one or more policies associated with the traffic,
• process the traffic by implementing the one or more policies associated with the traffic without forwarding the traffic to the first destination device, and
• forward the processed traffic to a second destination device associated with the traffic.

A method, comprising:

• receiving traffic associated with a first destination device;
• determining whether the traffic is associated with an existing traffic flow;
• when the traffic is not associated with an existing traffic flow:
• forwarding the traffic to the first destination device, and
• establishing a traffic flow associated with the traffic;
• and
• when the traffic is associated with an existing traffic flow:
• identifying one or more policies associated with the traffic,
• processing the traffic by implementing the one or more policies associated with the traffic without forwarding the traffic to the first destination device, and
• forwarding the processed traffic to a second destination device associated with the traffic.