Network access system including a programmable access device having distributed service control

• US 20050117576A1
• Filed: 12/30/2004
• Published: 06/02/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/28/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: MCI Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Yao, Lei, Thomas, Howard Lee, McDysan, Dave
• Granted Patent: US 7,499,458 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/389
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/308 Route determination based on user's profile, e.g. premium users
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/60 Router architectures
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/2475 for supporting traffic characterised by the type of applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0236 Filtering by address, protocol, port number or service, e.g. IP-address or URL
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/102 Entity profiles

Abstract

A distributed network access system in accordance with the present invention includes at least an external processor and a programmable access device. The programmable access device has a message interface coupled to the external processor and first and second network interfaces through which packets are communicated with a network The programmable access device includes a packet header filter and a forwarding table that is utilized to route packets communication between the first and second network interfaces. In response to receipt of a series of packets, the packet header filter in the programmable access device identifies messages in the series of messages upon which policy-based services are to be implemented and passes identified messages via the message interface to the external processor for processing. In response to receipt of a message, the external processor invokes service control on the message and may also invoke policy control on the message.

Claims

1. A network access system, comprising:

an external processor that invokes a policy-based service on received messages; and

a programmable access device having a message interface coupled to said external processor and first and second network interfaces through which packets are communicated with a network, wherein said programmable access device includes a packet header filter and a forwarding table that is utilized to route packets communicated between the first and second network interfaces, wherein said packet header filter identifies messages received at one of the first and second network interfaces on which policy-based services are to be implemented and passes identified messages via the message interface to the external processor for processing.

2-39. -39. (canceled)