Patent ID: 7644158

Claim:
A method for Internet Protocol (IP) charging and rating gateway within an IP charging and rating gateway system, said system comprising: a proxy server for connection to an Authentication, Authorization, and Accounting (AAA) server; 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 that 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; and a gateway controller connected to said proxy server and said IP classification engine, said method comprising: 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; 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.