Patent ID: 9621372
Date: 2017-04-11
CPC Classifications: G06Q,H04L

Claim:
1. A computer-implemented method for processing packets in a network according to a packet processing protocol, a first subset of the packets being included in a first session, and a second subset of the packets being included in a second session, the method comprising: receiving a first one of the packets included in the first session with a network device operating in the network, the first packet having a header configured as specified by the packet processing protocol, the header including title materials comprising one or more of a title object, a component of the title object, or a reference to the title object, the title object comprising a digital bearer instrument representing at least one right relating to processing of the first packet in the network in accordance with the packet processing protocol which may be redeemed by presentation of the title object to a title-enabled device or process operating in the network; extracting, by the network device, at least some of the title materials from the header of the first packet; validating the title object in one or more title validation steps in addition to the packet processing protocol, validation of the title object including computing a first value using indicia included in the title object, and comparing the first value to a second value stored separately from the title object; upon validation of the title object based on the first and second values matching, processing the first packet with the network device in accordance with the packet processing protocol and the at least one right represented by the title object; updating the second value and the indicia in the title object; based on the validation of the title object associated with the first packet and without requiring processing of additional title materials, processing others of the packets of the first session in accordance with the packet processing protocol and the at least one right represented by the title object; receiving the packets of the second session with the network device, each of the packets of the second session having a header configured as specified by the packet processing protocol; determining that no title materials are associated with the packets of the second session; and processing the packets of the second session in accordance with the packet processing protocol; wherein the processing of the packets of the first session corresponds to a differentiated level of service relative to the processing of the packets of the second session, the differentiated level of service being enabled by the title object.