Patent ID: 7653932

Claim:
A method for performing a subscriber login session for equipment of a network user, comprising: a cable modem and a client of the network user each communicating with a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) server to obtain separate network communication addresses; the client using its network address to send a network access request message to a login server over a secure connection; sending from the login server to a Remote Authentication Dial In User Service (RADIUS) server the network access request message; receiving a network authorization status corresponding to the network user from the RADIUS server based on the network access request message; the login server obtaining from the DHCP server a network communication address of a Cable Modem Termination System (CMTS); sending from the login server to the CMTS an authorization status for the network user; the CMTS providing network access to the network user based on the authorization status to start a session, and obtaining service flow counters corresponding to the equipment of the user in response to sending a message from the login server to the CMTS.