Patent ID: 7912001

Claim:
A method of enforcing a rate limit for data traffic, the method comprising: identifying a unidirectional stream of data packets flowing to a downstream end user; at a metering application network management tool, classifying the unidirectional stream data packets according to a rate class, with each rate class having an associated rate limit, each rate limit specifying a maximum bit rate for the unidirectional; and discarding packets of data within the unidirectional stream of data packets to reduce a bit rate such that the bit rate is less than or equal to the maximum bit rate permitted for the associated rate class and the bit rate is greater than zero; wherein the unidirectional stream of data packets is provided as a combination of a first unidirectional stream in response to a first request from the end user and a second unidirectional stream of data packets in response to a second request from the same end user; wherein discarding packets includes discarding packets of data from both the first and second streams to reduce a combined bit rate such that the combined bit rate is less than or equal to the maximum bit rate; wherein classifying the unidirectional stream of data packets comprises classifying according to the end user's monthly payment history, wherein a history of one or more delinquent payments influences a frequency of enforcement of the rate limit.