Patent ID: 7457865

Claim:
An Internet Protocol (IP) charging and rating gateway system comprising: a proxy server for connection to an Authentication, Authorization, and Accounting (AAA) server and an access gateway; said proxy server configured to reside between said AAA server and said access gateway; said proxy server further configured to emulate said access gateway such that when said AAA server communicates with said proxy server said AAA server presupposes said AAA server is communicating with said access gateway; said proxy server further configured to emulate said AAA server such that when said access gateway communicates with said proxy server said access gateway presupposes said access server is in communication with said AAA server; an IP classification engine for connection between a data network and said access gateway; said IP classification engine for classifying IP packets according to the protocol of each of said packets; said IP packets originating from said data network and destined for a subscriber device via said access gateway; and, a gateway controller connected to said proxy server and said IP classification engine for selectively instructing said IP classification engine to permit or deny the flow of IP packets between said data network and said access gateway.