Patent ID: 7636790
Filing Date: 2009-12-22
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A network system comprising: a plurality of service-option resources each having a respective numerical network address; an address server storing said numerical network addresses and a respective logical name corresponding to each numerical network address, said address server responding to queries by providing a numerical network address corresponding to a logical name contained in a respective query; an authorization server storing respective user profiles for identifying service-option resources to which each one of a plurality of users are authorized to use; and a plurality of service selection gateways coupled to said service-option resources, said address server, and said authorization server, each service selection gateway 1) receiving user traffic from a respective user directed to a nominal destination, 2) determining if said user traffic directed to said nominal destination should be redirected to a respective logical name corresponding to one of said service-option resources in response to a respective user profile, and 3) querying said address server for a respective numerical network address for redirecting said user traffic according to said respective logical name.