System and method for service tagging for enhanced packet processing in a network environment

Abstract

An apparatus for charging in a network environment is provided that includes an access gateway encapsulation / decapsulation element operable to establish one or more packet data protocol (PDP) links on behalf of an end user and to perform encapsulation and decapsulation operations for one or more of the links associated with the end user. The access gateway encapsulation / decapsulation element is further operable to interface with a client services packet gateway (CSPG) that is operable to provide enhanced packet processing for the end user for requested information. The apparatus also includes an access gateway policy element operable to interface with the CSPG. The access gateway encapsulation / decapsulation element and the access gateway policy element cooperate to use one or more inter-module headers in order to coordinate the enhanced packet processing for one or more communication flows associated with the end user.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] This invention relates in general to the field of communications and, more particularly, to a system and a method for service tagging for enhanced packet processing in a network environment. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] Networking services have become increasingly important in today's society. One feature of networking services relates to client or source awareness. Certain services, functions, or capabilities may be provided to a group of end users or to clients based on a corresponding source profile or policy. Devices or components within a network must generally be able to identify such a profile or policy before offering selected enhanced services, functions, or capabilities to a targeted group of end users. Accordingly, sufficient information must be made available at specific times in order to allow for an accurate identification of a flow and, further, to bill for and / or process that flow accordingly. [0003] As the subscriber bas...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0004] From the foregoing, it may be appreciated by those skilled in the art that a need has arisen for an improved communications approach that provides improved signaling for implementing policy on behalf of selected end users. In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a system and a method for billing and for implementing security policies in a network environment are provided that greatly reduce disadvantages and problems associated with conventional communications techniques.

[0006] Certain embodiments of the present invention may provide a number of technical advantages. For example, according to one embodiment of the present invention, a communications approach is provided that allows for distribution of an enhanced gateway functionality in two elements that are optimized for accurate billing. Such an architecture may also provide an ideal placement of a charging functionality in any enhanced gateway system such that charging is properly executed. Further, the proffered configuration provides enhanced processing of flows generated by active charging elements in any gateway.

[0007] Another technical advantage associated with one embodiment of the present invention relates to security. The configuration of the present invention, as explained more fully below, allows for an integration of a security functionality within enhanced gateways. Thus, one example embodiment could relate to billing, but another configuration could implement similar service tagging that can be used to integrate per subscriber security into the enhanced gateway. Moreover, the present configuration may also provide the advantage of having failover scenarios with the per subscriber state being passed in-band with the packet.

Problems solved by technology

In some environments, policy, locale, or service level may be unknown, inaccurate, or ambiguous at various times during a communication session.

This deficiency may create synchronization issues where an end user may be incorrectly billed or where other users may have access to certain information that should not be made available to them or where other users are inadvertently susceptible to hacking.

Thus, the ability to properly manage policy information in a network environment, while achieving optimal policy synchronization amongst network components, whilst maintaining charging accuracy presents a significant challenge to system designers, component manufacturers, and network operators.

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