Providing services to packet flows in a network
First Claim
1. A communications apparatus providing services comprising:
- at least one network processing unit configured to receive an accounting message for signaling session initiation, and to receive a packet,the network processing unit directing the accounting message to an IP services gateway (IPSG) manager,the IPSG manager receiving the accounting message, extracting information from the accounting message, and sending the information to a session manager,the network processing unit directing the received packet to the session manager,the session manager using the information received from the IPSG manager to obtain a subscriber profile wherein the subscriber profile includes an access control list describing which services are to be performed on a subscriber'"'"'s packets; and
a content service steering interface (CSS API),the CSS API using information obtained from the subscriber profile to select a service provider, and to cause the received packet to be routed to the selected service provider, wherein the selection of a service provider includes selecting between in-line services or external servers.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for providing services to packet flows in a communication network. The services include enhanced charging, stateful firewalls, traffic performance optimization (TPO) and advanced services such as content differentiated charging, per-subscriber stateful firewalls, and VPNs, for example. A gateway can be used to route each packet flow through the services on a per-subscriber basis by inspecting accounting messages and checking subscriber profiles prior to setting up a new packet flow session. By directing the packet flow through the services requested latency can be reduced as well as the need to have equipment for each session regardless of whether the service is provided to the packet flow. The services can be provided in-line as well.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A communications apparatus providing services comprising:
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at least one network processing unit configured to receive an accounting message for signaling session initiation, and to receive a packet, the network processing unit directing the accounting message to an IP services gateway (IPSG) manager, the IPSG manager receiving the accounting message, extracting information from the accounting message, and sending the information to a session manager, the network processing unit directing the received packet to the session manager, the session manager using the information received from the IPSG manager to obtain a subscriber profile wherein the subscriber profile includes an access control list describing which services are to be performed on a subscriber'"'"'s packets; and a content service steering interface (CSS API), the CSS API using information obtained from the subscriber profile to select a service provider, and to cause the received packet to be routed to the selected service provider, wherein the selection of a service provider includes selecting between in-line services or external servers. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 15)
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10. A communications networking method comprising:
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receiving an accounting message at a network processing unit, the accounting message not being addressed to the network processing unit; receiving a packet; redirecting the accounting message for inspection; extracting information from the accounting message; sending the information to a session manager to setup a new session, wherein the session manager obtains a subscriber profile using the information received at the session manager; using the information to select a service provider, wherein the selection of a service provider includes selecting between in-line services or external servers; and causing the received packet to routed to the selected service provider. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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16. Logic encoded in one or more non-transient media that includes code for execution and when executed by a processor is operable to perform operations comprising:
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receiving an accounting message at a network processing unit, the accounting message not being addressed to the network processing unit; redirecting the accounting message for inspection; extracting information from the accounting message; sending the information to a session manager to setup a new session, wherein the session manager obtains a subscriber profile using the information received at the session manager; using the information to select a service provider, wherein the selection of a service provider includes selecting between in-line services or external servers; and routing the received packet to the selected service provider. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification