Patent ID: 8213422

Claim:
A network element for participating in providing an IPS (Internet Priority Service) directed to emergency preparedness communications over the Internet that involves transmission of data packets each associated with an application type of a plurality of application types, the network element comprising: an IPS function adapted to: a) for each data packet: i) determine which application type is associated with the data packet; and ii) determine a priority level to be assigned the data packet, the assigned priority level being a function of the application type associated with the data packet and a function of an IPS level of priority; b) transmit the data packets according to the assigned priority levels of the data packets; wherein the IPS function is further adapted to: responsive to invocation of an application by a user authorized to use the IPS, confirm with the user whether data packets associated with the application require the IPS; and if the associated data packets require the IPS, provide the IPS for the associated data packets.