Abstract: An apparatus for providing network access and application session services includes a wireless network access device for receiving packet data streams from or transmitting packet data streams to one or more subscribers, and for conveying the packet data streams to or from a network or other subscribers. The wireless network access device includes profile information relating to the one or more subscribers. The apparatus further includes one or more application session services that are provided as a component of the wireless network access device. The wireless network access device selects, based on the profile information, zero or more of the application session services to process the packet data streams. The wireless network access device can also determine an application state associated with the packet data streams, and can modify actions of at least one of the application session services according to the application state.

Abstract: A method of renegotiating QoS levels of a communication link in one or more networks, the communication link having an initial QoS level prior to renegotiation, includes examining information flowing on the communication link between a first network endpoint and a second network endpoint. The method also includes determining, based on the information, a type of application being used by the first and second network endpoints for the communication link. The method further includes determining a QoS level that is suitable for the application, and negotiating with at least one of the one or more networks to procure resources associated with the network that will provide the suitable QoS level.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for routing multicast packets in a subnetwork so as to conserve bandwidth in at least some of the network segments or collision domains of the subnetwork. In particular, multicast packets are only retransmitted in the network segments that are on a path to a host that is a member of the multicast group of hosts to which the multicast packet is destined.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for routing multicast packets in a subnetwork so as to conserve bandwidth in at least some of the network segments or collision domains of the subnetwork. In particular, multicast packets are only retransmitted in the network segments that are on a path to a host that is a member of the multicast group of hosts to which the multicast packet is destined.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for routing multicast packets in a subnetwork so as to conserve bandwidth in at least some of the network segments or collision domains of the subnetwork. In particular, multicast packets are only retransmitted in the network segments that are on a path to a host that is a member of the multicast group of hosts to which the multicast packet is destined.