Patent ID: 8103790

Claim:
An apparatus, comprising: a first functional entity operable for supporting traffic in a first traffic category across a communications network; a second functional entity operable for supporting traffic in a second traffic category across the communications network, the second traffic category being associated with specific routing requirements through the communications network; and a network interface operable for: releasing a request for a first address which, when received from an address-assigning entity, enables the first functional entity to act as a receptor of traffic in the first traffic category that is destined for the apparatus; releasing a request for a second address which, when received from the address-assigning entity, enables the second functional entity to act as a receptor of traffic in the second traffic category that is destined for the apparatus; wherein said request for a second address comprises data instrumental in causing the second address to be assigned by the address-assigning entity from a particular set of at least one address; wherein the communications network is pre-configured to route traffic destined for a given address in the particular set of at least one address in accordance with said specific routing requirements.