Patent ID: 8804511

Claim:
A method, for managing communications network resources using a policy management framework, comprising: communicating, by the policy management framework, a policy condition, stored at a policy repository of the policy management framework, from the policy management framework to a deep packet inspection component being separate from and in communication by way of a P4 interface with the policy management framework; and performing, in response to the deep packet inspection component monitoring data traffic using the policy condition and determining that the policy condition is satisfied, operations comprising: receiving, by the policy management framework, from the deep packet inspection component, being separate from the policy management framework, a trigger communication, the trigger communication comprising an indication that the policy condition has been satisfied based on results of the monitoring; and generating, by the policy management framework, in response to receiving the trigger communication from the deep packet inspection component, an enforcement decision comprising an enforcement action for execution by an enforcement function, wherein: the deep packet inspection component is part of a first network element and comprises a first processing resource; the enforcement function is implemented by a network gateway component; the network gateway component is implemented as a gateway general packet radio service support node; the gateway packet radio service support node is: (i) part of, to accomplish performance benefits, and to accomplish efficiency benefits, a second network element being distinct from the first network element; and (ii) in communication via a Gx interface with the policy management framework; and the enforcement action comprises a characteristic selected from a group of characteristics consisting of: a warning message communicated to an address associated with a user account; an account closure, closing the user account; and a financial charge to the user account for one or more services.