User plane replicator

Abstract

A replicator device may capture and evaluate data traffic before it affects the core network or before it is delivered to the end device. After capturing the data traffic, the replicator may replicate the effect of the data traffic on mobile devices or other devices and take an appropriate corrective action.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . An apparatus comprising:
 a processor; and   a memory coupled with the processor, the memory storing executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to effectuate operations comprising:   based on a first device connecting with a network, obtaining redirected data traffic, wherein the redirected data traffic is from the first device intended for a physical second device, and wherein the physical second device is associated with a vehicle;   based on the obtaining the redirected data traffic, creating an image of the physical second device using a virtual machine;   receiving, by the virtual machine, the redirected data traffic;   simulating, using the redirected data traffic by the virtual machine, actions of the physical second device, resulting in simulated actions;   based on the simulating, determining a risk score for the redirected data traffic, wherein the risk score is based on a threat level of one or more actions of the simulated actions that would be taken by the physical second device if the redirected data traffic would have been sent to the physical second device; and   based on the risk score, permitting data traffic from the first device to be sent to the physical second device.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first device is a mobile device. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the physical second device is an autonomous vehicle. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the one or more actions of the simulated actions is an increase in speed of the autonomous vehicle. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the physical second device is an Internet-of-Things (IoT) device. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the operations further comprise altering the data traffic, resulting in altered data traffic, and sending the altered data traffic. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the operations further comprise sending an alert to a third device to remedy the image of the physical second device, and wherein the remedy comprises sending an updated image to the physical second device. 
     
     
         8 . A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing computer executable instructions that, when executed by a computing device, cause the computing device to effectuate operations comprising:
 based on a determination that a first device is communicatively coupled with a network, obtaining redirected data traffic, wherein the redirected data traffic is from the first device intended for a physical second device, and wherein the physical second device is associated with a vehicle;   based on the obtaining the redirected data traffic, creating an image of the physical second device using a virtual network function;   receiving, by the virtual network function, the redirected data traffic;   simulating, using the redirected data traffic by the virtual network function, actions of the physical second device, resulting in simulated actions;   based on the simulating, determining a risk score for the redirected data traffic, wherein the risk score is based on a threat level of one or more actions of the simulated actions that would be taken by the physical second device if the redirected data traffic would have been sent to the physical second device; and   based on the risk score, permitting data traffic from the first device to be sent to the physical second device.   
     
     
         9 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 8 , wherein the obtaining the redirected data traffic is based on the first device being within a threshold distance from the physical second device. 
     
     
         10 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 8 , wherein the physical second device is an autonomous vehicle. 
     
     
         11 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 10 , wherein the one or more actions of the simulated actions is an increase in speed of the autonomous vehicle. 
     
     
         12 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 8 , wherein the physical second device is an Internet-of-Things (IoT) device. 
     
     
         13 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 8 , wherein the operations further comprise altering the data traffic, resulting in altered data traffic, and sending the altered data traffic. 
     
     
         14 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 8 , wherein the operations further comprise sending an alert to a third device to remedy the image of the physical second device, and wherein the remedy comprises sending an updated image to the physical second device. 
     
     
         15 . A system comprising:
 one or more processors; and   memory coupled with the one or more processors, the memory storing executable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to effectuate operations comprising:   based on detecting a first device connecting with a network, obtaining redirected data traffic, wherein the redirected data traffic is from the first device intended for an autonomous vehicle;   based on the obtaining the redirected data traffic, creating an image of the autonomous vehicle using a virtual network function;   receiving, by the virtual network function, the redirected data traffic;   simulating, using the redirected data traffic by the virtual network function, actions of the autonomous vehicle, resulting in simulated actions;   based on the simulating, determining a risk score for the redirected data traffic, wherein the risk score is based on a threat level of one or more actions of the simulated actions that would be taken by the autonomous vehicle if the redirected data traffic had been sent to the autonomous vehicle; and   based on the risk score, permitting data traffic from the first device to be sent to the autonomous vehicle.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the obtaining the redirected data traffic is based on the first device being within a threshold distance from the autonomous vehicle. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the operations further comprise altering the data traffic, resulting in altered data traffic, and sending the altered data traffic. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the first device is a second autonomous vehicle. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the first device is an Internet-of-Things (IoT) device. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the operations further comprise sending an alert to a third device to remedy the image of the autonomous vehicle, and wherein the remedy comprises sending an updated image to the autonomous vehicle.