Abstract: A system and method for modifying services provided by one or more network devices. A processor of a first network device identifies defined events in each of a plurality of applications, including a first defined event associated with a first application. The processor assigns a signal-route to each defined event. The processor then executes the first application and, when the processor detects occurrence of the first defined event during execution of the first application, the processor modifies services provided by a second network device by adding the first signal-route to or removing the first signal-route from a routing information base (RIB) on the first network device and advertising, to the second network device, the change in the RIB.

Abstract: A device may receive a control packet associated with a connection. The control packet may include a network address. The device may identify an application layer identifier that is associated with the network address. The device may identify a service rule associated with the application layer identifier. The service rule may identify a service to be applied to a data packet associated with the connection. The device may provide the control packet based on identifying the service rule. The control packet may be provided to permit the service to be applied to the data packet in accordance with the service rule.

Abstract: A device may perform dynamic load balancing to identify one or more service devices, of a group of service devices, that is to apply a set of network services to traffic associated with a session of a subscriber device. The device may provide outgoing traffic, associated with the session, to the one or more service devices based on identifying the one or more service devices. The outgoing traffic may be provided to cause the one or more service devices to apply the set of network services to the outgoing traffic. The device may provide, to another device, information that identifies the one or more service devices. The information that identifies the one or more service devices may be provided to cause the other device to provide incoming traffic, associated with the session, to the one or more service devices to apply the set of network services to the incoming traffic.

Abstract: A first device may receive first route information, from a second device, identifying a first route to the second device for a packet to be provided toward a destination via the second device. The first device may generate second route information identifying a second route to the first device for the packet. The first device may provide the second route information to a third device. The packet is to be received by the first device. The first device may receive the packet from the third device via the second route after providing the second route information to the third device. The packet is to be provided to the second device by the first device. The first device may perform a service on the packet based on being identified by the second route information as a next hop for the packet and prior to providing the packet to the second device.

Abstract: A system and method for handling critical events in service gateways. Configuration information is received in a service gateway, the configuration information defining a redundancy set having a master redundancy state and a standby redundancy state, the configuration information including one or more redundancy policies associated with the redundancy set, a service redundancy policy defining changes to be made in a service when a transition occurs in the state of the redundancy set. The service gateway receives further configuration information defining events that cause a transition between the master and standby redundancy states in the redundancy set. In response to detecting a redundancy event in the service gateway, the service gateway transitions the redundancy set, within the service gateway, from the master redundancy state to the standby redundancy state, modifies a first signal-route state associated with the redundancy set and modifies the service based on the service redundancy policy.

Abstract: A first device may receive first route information, from a second device, identifying a first route to the second device for a packet to be provided toward a destination via the second device. The first device may generate second route information identifying a second route to the first device for the packet. The first device may provide the second route information to a third device. The packet is to be received by the first device. The first device may receive the packet from the third device via the second route after providing the second route information to the third device. The packet is to be provided to the second device by the first device. The first device may perform a service on the packet based on being identified by the second route information as a next hop for the packet and prior to providing the packet to the second device.

Abstract: In general, techniques for dynamically provisioning service chains are described. In one example a network device comprises a control unit having at least one processor coupled to a memory, wherein the control unit is configured to receive a services list comprising an ordered list of services, the ordered list of services specifying at least a first service and a second service. The network device also comprises a forwarding unit coupled to the control unit and configured to receive a packet of a packet flow from a first service node that has applied the first service to the packet, wherein the forwarding unit is configured to send, based at least on the ordered list of services, the packet to a second service node that applies the second service.

Abstract: A device may receive a control packet associated with a connection. The control packet may include a network address. The device may identify an application layer identifier that is associated with the network address. The device may identify a service rule associated with the application layer identifier. The service rule may identify a service to be applied to a data packet associated with the connection. The device may provide the control packet based on identifying the service rule. The control packet may be provided to permit the service to be applied to the data packet in accordance with the service rule.

Abstract: A device may receive a control packet associated with a connection. The control packet may include a network address. The device may identify an application layer identifier that is associated with the network address. The device may identify a service rule associated with the application layer identifier. The service rule may identify a service to be applied to a data packet associated with the connection. The device may provide the control packet based on identifying the service rule. The control packet may be provided to permit the service to be applied to the data packet in accordance with the service rule.

Abstract: A method is provided in one example and includes communicating an access request to a network element, the access request is associated with network authentication relating to a subscriber. The method also includes receiving an access response that includes a profile associated with the subscriber. The profile can include a group attribute that defines the subscriber as being part of a group of subscribers sharing a network data plan, which defines a data allotment assigned to the group over a specified time interval. In more detailed embodiments, a unique data string sent by an Authentication, Authorization, and Accounting element is received, where the unique data string identifies a full set of subscribers belonging to the group. Data underutilization of a first subscriber is offset by data overutilization of a second subscriber, where a summation of the data underutilization and the data overutilization do not exceed the data allotment assigned.

Abstract: A method is provided in one example and includes communicating an access request to a network element, the access request is associated with network authentication relating to a subscriber. The method also includes receiving an access response that includes a profile associated with the subscriber. The profile can include a group attribute that defines the subscriber as being part of a group of subscribers sharing a network data plan, which defines a data allotment assigned to the group over a specified time interval. In more detailed embodiments, a unique data string sent by an Authentication, Authorization, and Accounting element is received, where the unique data string identifies a full set of subscribers belonging to the group. Data underutilization of a first subscriber is offset by data overutilization of a second subscriber, where a summation of the data underutilization and the data overutilization do not exceed the data allotment assigned.