System and method for monitoring information in a network environment

• US 7,734,770 B2
• Filed: 07/03/2006
• Issued: 06/08/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Bakita, Thomas R, Schomburg, Keith R, Dixon, Walter G, Pittenger, Frank W, White, John G, Frye, Dwight R, Mackie, Robert A, O'Rourke, Chris
• Primary Examiner(s): Hamza; Faruk
• Application Number:
  US11/428,412
• Publication Number:
  US 20060252410A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,436 Days
• Field of Search: 709223-226, 709/229, 705/30, 705/34, 705/40
• US Class Current: 709/224
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/026 using flow identification

Abstract

A method for monitoring information in a network environment is provided that includes receiving one or more packets from a communication flow initiated by an end user. The information associated with the communication flow is then selectively communicated to a plurality of client-aware network elements.

Claims

1. A method for enlisting one or more end users in a network environment in which information is being monitored, comprising:

enlisting one or more end users in a billing plan associated with network communications;

generating a bill associated with one or more of the end users, the bill being based on the billing plan; and

facilitating network communications for one or more of the end users in response to the end users being enlisted in the billing plan, whereby the network communications includes a protocol that comprises;

an access element configured to receive one or more packets from a communication flow and to selectively communicate information associated with the communication flow to a plurality of client-aware network elements, wherein the information is authorization, authentication, and accounting (AAA) information that propagates between an end user and an AAA server, which is coupled to the access element, the AAA information being replicated and sent to the client-aware network elements, the access element including a table that identifies a selected one of the client-aware network elements to receive specific AAA data but not all incoming AAA data such that a filtering operation is achieved and only a portion of the incoming AAA data is sent to the selected client-aware network elements.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the information associated with the communication flow is communicated to one or more of the client-aware network elements in response to a query from one or more of the client-aware network elements.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

a network access server configured to establish the communication flow from an end user associated with the communication flow to the access element.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the network access server performs internet protocol address management to the end user.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the access element provides access to information derived from AAA flows across XML, Diameter, or Cobra interfaces.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the access element comprises a database element configured to store portions of data from the communication flow, the portions being communicated intermittently to one or more of the client-aware network elements.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the information associated with the communication flow is associated with communication service data, bandwidth parameters, or protocol information.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein one or more of the client-aware network elements use the information in order to provide client-specific capabilities to one or more end users associated with the communication flow.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the access element comprises an intelligence element that instructs the access element to communicate the information associated with the communication flow to a backup client-aware network element in response to a corresponding one of the client-aware network elements being inoperative.

10. A method for enlisting one or more end users in a network environment in which information is being monitored, comprising:

enlisting one or more end users in a billing plan associated with network communications;

generating a bill associated with one or more of the end users, the bill being based on the billing plan; and

facilitating network communications for one or more of the end users in response to the end users being enlisted in the billing plan, whereby the network communications includes a protocol that comprises;

receiving one or more packets from a communication flow initiated by an end user; and

selectively communicating information associated with the communication flow to a plurality of client-aware network elements, wherein the information is authorization, authentication, and accounting (AAA) information that propagates between an end user and an AAA server, which is coupled to an access element, the AAA information being replicated and sent to the client-aware network elements, the access element including a table that identifies a selected one of the client-aware network elements to receive specific AAA data but not all incoming AAA data such that a filtering operation is achieved and only a portion of the incoming AAA data is sent to the selected client-aware network elements.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the information associated with the communication flow is communicated to one or more of the client-aware network elements in response to a query from one or more of the client-aware network elements.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the access element provides access to information derived from AAA flows across XML, Diameter, or Cobra interfaces.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

performing internet protocol address management for the end user.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

providing AAA functions to one or more end users associated with the communication flow.

15. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

storing portions of data from the communication flow, the portions being communicated intermittently to one or more of the client-aware network elements.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein the information associated with the communication flow is associated with communication service data, bandwidth parameters, or protocol information.

17. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

using the information in order to provide client-specific capabilities to the end user associated with the communication flow.

18. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

providing an instruction to communicate the information associated with the communication flow to a backup client-aware network element in response to a corresponding one of the client-aware network elements being inoperative.

19. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

maintaining, by the access element, state information about AAA flows.

20. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

broadcasting the information associated with the communication flow to all the client-aware network elements.