Using the maintenance channel in a mobile data network to provide subscriber data when a cache miss occurs

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) providing a first service mechanism in the radio access network that performs the step of:
• injecting a first plurality of channel maintenance data packets into an uplink data stream in the radio access network on a network tunnel;
• (B) providing a second service mechanism in the core network that performs the steps of:
• injecting a second plurality of channel maintenance data packets into a downlink data stream in the core network on the network tunnel;
• (C) providing an edge cache mechanism that performs the steps of:
• indicating when a cache miss occurs;
• and
• in response to the cache miss, receiving data corresponding to the cache miss on the network tunnel without regard to a need for channel maintenance data packets.