Patent ID: 8837365

Claim:
A machine-implemented method for processing X2 traffic of a packet network, the method comprising: receiving, at a network element, a first packet from a first eNodeB (eNB/HeNB) of a packet network via a first secured X2 link; decrypting, by a security module of the network element, the first packet to reveal a second packet encapsulated within the first packet; accessing a routing table maintained within the network element, the routing table including a plurality entries, each of the entries corresponding to a destination IP address, a tunnel identifier (ID) identifying a secure tunnel and an encryption method associated with the destination IP address; determining, by a routing module of the network element, a second secured X2 link associated with a second eNB as an intended recipient of the second packet, including performing a lookup operation in the routing table to locate a first entry based on a destination IP address of the second packet to retrieve a tunnel ID for the second secured X2 link; encrypting, by the security module of the network element, the second packet to generate a third packet using an encryption method that is identified from the first entry of the routing table; and transmitting, by the routing module of the network element, the third packet to the second eNB via the second secured X2 link, wherein the network element is coupled to a plurality of eNBs of the packet network via a plurality of secured X2 links, respectively, including the first and second eNBs, and wherein each of the eNBs has to go through the network element in order to communicate with a remainder of the eNBs.