Method and apparatus for managing data traffic associated with a user on a network
DCFirst Claim
1. A method for controlling the communication of user data associated, at a plurality of network switches on a network, with a user on the network, the method comprising:
- in at least one of the plurality of network switches,accessing user profile information of the user, wherein the user profile information comprises at least a data volume allowance for the user;
monitoring a volume of data used by the user over the network regardless of which of a plurality of devices the user uses to access the at least one of the plurality of network switches;
controlling the communication of user data on the network by permitting said communication of user data through the plurality of switches while the volume of data used by the user is within the data volume allowance for the user, andpreventing said communication of user data if the volume of data used by the user reaches or exceeds the data volume allowance for the user.
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Abstract
A method and processing device for controlling the communication of data associated with a user on a network 1 is described, in which the communication of data to and from a user is controlled according to user profile information. In a preferred embodiment, the user profile information is maintained in a database 9 accessible to processing devices 5 providing access to the network 1, and includes a volume allowance for a predetermined time period, a maximum transmission rate and current usage information for the user. Each time a user connects to the network 1, the method determines whether the user is within the volume allowance, and if so, permits access to the network 1. The communication of data is controlled according to the maximum transmission rate. The method may be implemented in software.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A method for controlling the communication of user data associated, at a plurality of network switches on a network, with a user on the network, the method comprising:
in at least one of the plurality of network switches, accessing user profile information of the user, wherein the user profile information comprises at least a data volume allowance for the user; monitoring a volume of data used by the user over the network regardless of which of a plurality of devices the user uses to access the at least one of the plurality of network switches; controlling the communication of user data on the network by permitting said communication of user data through the plurality of switches while the volume of data used by the user is within the data volume allowance for the user, and preventing said communication of user data if the volume of data used by the user reaches or exceeds the data volume allowance for the user. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A network switch associated with a device providing access to a user to a network, the network switch being configured to access user profile information of a user of the device, wherein the user profile information comprises at least a data volume allowance for the user, to monitor a volume of data used by the user over the network regardless of which of a plurality of devices the user uses to access the network switch, and to control the communication of data associated with the user at a plurality of points on the network, wherein the network switch prevents the user from accessing the network when the volume of data used by the user reaches or exceeds the data volume allowance for the user.
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13. A method for controlling, at a plurality of points on a network, the communication of user data associated with a user on the network, the method comprising:
in at least one hub on the network, accessing user profile information of the user, wherein the user profile information comprises at least a data volume allowance for the user; monitoring a volume of data used by the user over the network regardless of which of a plurality of devices the user uses to access the at least one hub; controlling the communication of user data on the network by permitting said communication of user data through the at least one hub while the volume of data used by the user is within the data volume allowance for the user, and preventing said communication of user data if the volume of data used by the user reaches or exceeds the data volume allowance.
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14. A method for controlling, at a plurality of points on a network, the communication of user data associated with a user on the network, the method comprising:
in at least one wireless access point on the network, accessing user profile information of the user, wherein the user profile information comprises at least a data volume allowance for the user; monitoring a volume of data used by the user over the network regardless of which of a plurality of devices the user uses to access the at least one wireless access point; controlling the communication of user data at a plurality of points on the network by permitting said communication of user data through the at least one wireless access point while the volume of data used by the user is within a data volume allowance for the user, and preventing said communication of user data if the volume of data used by the user reaches or exceeds the data volume allowance.
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15. A network hub associated with a device providing access to a network, the network hub being configured to access user profile information of a user of the device, wherein the user profile information comprises at least a data volume allowance for the user, to monitor a volume of data used by the user over the network regardless of which of a plurality of devices the user uses to access the network hub, and to control the communication of data associated with the user at a plurality of points on the network, wherein the network hub prevents a user from accessing the network when the volume of data used by the user reaches or exceeds the data value allowance for the user.
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16. A wireless access point associated with a device providing access to a network, the wireless access point being configured to access user profile information of a user of the device, wherein the user profile information comprises at least a data volume allowance for the user, to monitor a volume of data used by the user over the network regardless of which of a plurality of devices the user uses to access the wireless access point, and to control the communication of data associated with a user at a plurality of points on the network, wherein the wireless access point prevents a user from accessing the network when the volume of data used by the user reaches or exceeds the data volume allowance.
Specification