Patent ID: 8185962

Claim:
A computer-implemented method of providing a network service comprising: determining, by a processor, that a user of the network service is not complying with at least one policy requirement associated with the network service; notifying the user, using an electronic network interface, of the noncompliance with the at least one policy requirement; determining, after a specified period of time, that the user has continued to not comply with the at least one policy requirement after notifying the user of the noncompliance; degrading a level of service provided to the user as part of the network service in response to determining that the user has continued to not comply, after the specified period of time, with the at least one policy requirement, while continuing to allow the user to access the network service in a reduced manner; notifying the user, using an electronic network interface, of the degradation of the level of service; continuing to degrade the level of service in proportion to a period of time in which the user continues to not comply with the at least one policy requirement; determining that the user has complied with the at least one policy requirement; and restoring the level of service to the user in response to determining that the user has complied with the at least one policy requirement.