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.

1 . An apparatus for enhanced packet processing in a network environment, comprising: 
 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, wherein the access gateway encapsulation/decapsulation element is further operable to interface with a client services packet gateway (CSPG) that is operable to provide an enhanced packet processing for the end user for requested information; and    an access gateway policy element operable to interface with the CSPG, wherein 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.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein one or more of the inter-module headers are used to pass routing domain and tunnel ID information associated with one or more of the flows from the access gateway encapsulation/decapsulation element to the CSPG.  
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the routing domain information corresponds to an Access Point Name.  
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein one or more of the inter-module headers are used to ensure locally generated packets are routed through a down-link policy control in order to determine whether one or more of the locally generated packets should be dropped.  
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the CSPG is operable to provide one or more services to the end user, the services being selected from a group of services consisting of: 
 a) accounting;    b) firewalling;    c) filtering;    d) wireless application protocol transformations;    e) compression;    f) optimization;    g) billing;    h) content authorization;    i) intrusion detection; and    j) intrusion prevention.    
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the access gateway encapsulation/decapsulation element and the access gateway policy element are general packet radio service (GPRS) network elements.  
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the enhanced packet processing corresponds to a charging functionality.  
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , further comprising: 
 a quota server operable to distribute a quantity of quota to the end user, wherein the CSPG is further operable to communicate with the quota server in order to execute enabling or disabling of the charging associated with the end user.    
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the access gateway encapsulation/decapsulation element and the access gateway policy element are used to manage access for the end user in a selected one of a group of environments, the group consisting of: 
 a) digital subscriber line environment;    b) cable model termination system environment;    c) a packet data serving node (PDSN) for code division multiple access (CDMA) environment; and    d) a home agent environment for mobile IP services.    
   
   
       10 . A method for enhanced packet processing in a network environment, comprising: 
 establishing one or more packet data protocol (PDP) links on behalf of an end user;    performing encapsulation and decapsulation operations for one or more of the links associated with the end user;    interfacing with a client services packet gateway (CSPG) that is operable to provide enhanced packet processing for the end user for requested information; and    using 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.    
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein one or more of the inter-module headers are used to pass access point name (APN) and tunnel ID information associated with one or more of the flows to the CSPG.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein one or more of the inter-module headers are used to ensure locally generated packets are routed through a down-link policy control in order to determine whether one or more of the locally generated packets should be dropped.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the CSPG is operable to provide one or more services to the end user, the services being selected from a group of services consisting of: 
 a) accounting;    b) firewalling;    c) filtering;    d) wireless application protocol transformations;    e) compression;    f) optimization;    g) billing;    h) content authorization;    i) intrusion detection; and    j) intrusion prevention.    
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising: 
 distributing a quantity of quota to the end user, wherein the CSPG is further operable to execute enabling or disabling of charging associated with the end user.    
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising: 
 managing access for the end user in a selected one of a group of environments, the group consisting of:    a) digital subscriber line environment;    b) cable model termination system environment;    c) a packet data serving node (PDSN) for code division multiple access (CDMA) environment; and    d) a home agent environment for mobile IP services.    
   
   
       16 . A system for enhanced packet processing in a network environment, comprising: 
 means for establishing one or more packet data protocol (PDP) links on behalf of an end user;    means for performing encapsulation and decapsulation operations for one or more of the links associated with the end user;    means for interfacing with a client services packet gateway (CSPG) that is operable to provide enhanced packet processing for the end user for requested information; and    means for using 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.    
   
   
       17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein one or more of the inter-module headers are used to pass access point name (APN) and tunnel ID information associated with one or more of the flows to the CSPG.  
   
   
       18 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein one or more of the inter-module headers are used to ensure locally generated packets are routed through a down-link policy control in order to determine whether one or more of the locally generated packets should be dropped.  
   
   
       19 . The system of  claim 16 , further comprising: 
 means for distributing a quantity of quota to the end user, wherein the CSPG is further operable to execute enabling or disabling of charging associated with the end user.    
   
   
       20 . Software for charging in a network environment, the software being embodied in a computer readable medium and comprising computer code such that when executed is operable to: 
 establish one or more packet data protocol (PDP) links on behalf of an end user;    perform encapsulation and decapsulation operations for one or more of the links associated with the end user;    interface with a client services packet gateway (CSPG) that is operable to provide a charging functionality for charging the end user for requested information; and    use one or more inter-module headers in order to coordinate charging for one or more communication flows associated with the end user.    
   
   
       21 . The medium of  claim 20 , wherein one or more of the inter-module headers are used to pass access point name (APN) and tunnel ID information associated with one or more of the flows to the CSPG.  
   
   
       22 . The medium of  claim 20 , wherein one or more of the inter-module headers are used to ensure locally generated packets are routed through a down-link policy control in order to determine whether one or more of the locally generated packets should be dropped.  
   
   
       23 . The medium of  claim 20 , wherein the code is further operable to: 
 distribute a quantity of quota to the end user, wherein the CSPG is further operable to execute enabling or disabling of the charging associated with the end user.    
   
   
       24 . A method for signing up an end user in a network environment, comprising: 
 enrolling an end user in a charging plan;    generating a bill for the end user that corresponds to the charging plan, wherein the charging plan is based on a plurality of operations that include: 
 establishing one or more packet data protocol (PDP) links on behalf of an end user;  
 performing encapsulation and decapsulation operations for one or more of the links associated with the end user;  
 interfacing with a client services packet gateway (CSPG) that is operable to provide a charging functionality for charging the end user for requested information; and  
 using one or more inter-module headers in order to coordinate charging for one or more communication flows associated with the end user.  
   
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein one or more of the inter-module headers are used to pass access point name (APN) and tunnel ID information associated with one or more of the flows to the CSPG.  
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein one or more of the inter-module headers are used to ensure locally generated packets are routed through a down-link policy control in order to determine whether one or more of the locally generated packets should be dropped.  
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the CSPG is operable to provide one or more services to the end user, the services being selected from a group of services consisting of: 
 a) accounting;    b) firewalling;    c) filtering;    d) wireless application protocol transformations;    e) compression;    f) optimization;    g) billing;    h) content authorization;    i) intrusion detection; and    j) intrusion prevention.    
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising: 
 distributing a quantity of quota to the end user, wherein the CSPG is further operable to execute enabling or disabling of the charging associated with the end user.    
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising: 
 managing access for the end user in a selected one of a group of environments, the group consisting of:    a) digital subscriber line environment;    b) cable model termination system environment;    c) a packet data serving node (PDSN) for code division multiple access (CDMA) environment; and    d) a home agent environment for mobile IP services.