Patent ID: 7046680
Filing Date: 2006-05-16
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A network access system, comprising: an external processor configured to invoke a policy-based service on received messages according to a policy rule and to establish a network connection between a first network and a second network; and a programmable access device having a message interface coupled to said external processor configured to enforce the policy rule associated with the network connection, wherein said programmable access device includes a packet header filter and a forwarding table for forwarding packets between the first network and second network through, respectively, a first network interface and a second network interface, said packet header filter identifying messages received from one of the first network interface or the second network interface on which the policy-based services is to be implemented, the identified messages being passed via a message interface to the external processor for processing and other messages are forwarded correspondingly to the first network or the second network.