Patent ID: 8331229

Claim:
A method, for managing communications network resources using a policy management framework, comprising: communicating, by the policy management framework, a policy condition, stored at a policy repository of the policy management framework, from the policy management framework to a deep packet inspection component, wherein the deep packet inspection component has a processing resource that is separate from and in communication with a processing resource of the policy management framework; and in response to the deep packet inspection component monitoring data traffic using the policy condition and determining that the policy condition is satisfied: receiving, by the policy management framework, from the deep packet inspection component, being separate from the policy management framework, a trigger communication, the trigger communication comprising an indication that the policy condition has been satisfied based on the results of the monitoring; generating, by the policy management framework, in response to receiving the trigger communication from the deep packet inspection component, an enforcement decision comprising an enforcement action for execution by an enforcement function, wherein: the enforcement function is implemented by a network gateway component, which is: (i) separate from the policy management framework; (ii) a separate network element than the deep packet inspection component to accomplish performance and efficiency benefits in the method; and (iii) in communication with the policy management framework; and the enforcement action comprises a characteristic selected from a group of characteristics consisting of: a warning message; and a charge for one or more services; and sending, by the policy management framework, the enforcement action to the enforcement function of the network gateway component.