Patent ID: 8244859

Claim:
A method for Internet Protocol (IP) charging and rating gateway within an IP charging and rating gateway system, said system comprising: an access gateway; and an IP classification engine for connection between a data network and said access gateway; and a gateway controller connected to said IP classification engine; and an open charging middleware gateway for connection between a subscriber account server and said gateway controller; a rating engine connected to said gateway controller and said open charging middleware gateway; said system configured for: receiving IP packets at said IP classification engine, said IP packets originating from said data network and destined for a subscriber device via said access gateway; classifying said IP packets according to the protocol of each of said packets at said IP classification engine; modifying subscriber information stored in said subscriber account server according to classes of IP packets as classified by said IP classification engine as said IP packets flow to or from said data network or to or from said access gateway; and, selectively instructing said IP classification engine to permit or deny the flow of IP packets between said data network and said access gateway at said gateway controller.