Patent ID: 7916700

Claim:
An apparatus, comprising: a processor configured to receive, at a network control element, a message via a first interface configured to transport application level session information from a network entity supporting an application session, wherein the message comprises application session information and media component information; determine, at the network control element, control information based on the message; generate, at the network control element, a decision message such that the decision message comprises the control information, one or more service flow filters, and information on a service in question, wherein the decision message enables an access network element to perform service based processing on data belonging to the application session; and initiate sending of the decision message from the network control element to the access network element via a second interface configured to provide flow control rules, the one or more service flow filters enabling the access network element to perform service flow detecting and to identify at least one service flow, the control information in the decision message comprising quality of service parameters and a service flow identifier indicating the service in question.