Patent ID: 6466976
Filing Date: 2002-10-15
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
An internet service node (ISN) for providing a desired set of service policies for each of a plurality of subscribers, the ISN comprising:an access port for receiving a plurality of bit groups related to a subscriber comprised in the plurality of subscribers; a switch fabric coupled to the access port, the switch fabric for receiving the plurality of bit groups and generating a plurality of packets, wherein the plurality of packets contain the data generated from applications related to the subscriber, wherein each of the plurality of packets contains sufficient data to be identified with data flows generated by the applications related to the subscriber; a packet service card for receiving the plurality of packets, the packet service card processing each of the packets according to a plurality of processing rules related to the subscriber, each of the plurality of processing rules including a classifier to identify a data flow and an action associated with the classifier to apply a bandwidth prioritization policy and a bandwidth allocation policy to packets associated with the data flow identified by the classifier, each of the plurality of processing rules further including a time field to specify a time of day during which the bandwidth prioritization policy and the bandwidth allocation policy should be applied; and a trunk port coupled to the switch fabric, the trunk port for transmitting any of the plurality of packets desired to be transmitted, wherein providing a corresponding plurality of processing rules to each of the plurality of subscribers enables the ISN to provide the desired set of service policies for each of the plurality of subscribers.