Patent ID: 8174970

Claim:
A method of operating a data network, the method comprising: establishing a data path through the data network between a routing gateway for a subscriber of the data network and a service provider providing a data service, the data service being provided for use at the routing gateway over the data path during a data session; receiving a request from the service provider at the data network, the request defining a data flow characteristic for the data path between the routing gateway and the service provider providing the data service during the data session wherein the data flow characteristic comprises an allowed bandwidth for the data path during the data session and a prioritization of a plurality of data services provided by the service provider during the data session so that receiving the request from the service provider includes receiving the allowed bandwidth and the prioritization from the service provider at the data network; after receiving the request from the service provider including the allowed bandwidth and the prioritization, creating a policy for enforcement of the data flow characteristic for the data path between the routing gateway and the service provider using the allowed bandwidth and the prioritization received from the service provider wherein the data flow characteristic is defined by the request received from the service provider; and transmitting the data flow characteristic to a node along the data path between the routing gateway and the service provider for enforcement of the data flow characteristic for the data path at the node, wherein transmitting the data flow characteristic includes transmitting the policy for enforcement of the data flow characteristic to the node.