Abstract: An internet service node (ISN) enabling the provision of desired service policies to each subscriber. The desired service policies for each subscriber are provided as an input. The desired service policies are translated into processing rules. Each processing rule contains a classifier and associated action. A classifier generally identifies the application data flows to which the action may be applied to provide the desired service policies. The processing rules may be generated dynamically to implement the specified service policies for each subscriber. Each data bit group may be classified to associate with a subscriber and only the processing rules corresponding to the subscriber may be applied to the data bit group to provide the desired services.

Abstract: An internet service node (ISN) enabling the provision of desired service policies to each subscriber. The ISN may contain multiple processor groups, with each subscriber being assigned to a processor group. The assigned processor group may be configured with the processing rules, which provide the service policies desired, by a subscriber. A port may determine the specific processor group to which received data is to be forwarded. A content addressable memory with masks for individual locations may be implemented to quickly determines the processor group to which received data is to be assigned to. Due to the features of the present invention, an ISN may be able to serve a large number of subscribers efficiently. The ISN may be used at the edge of an access network.

Abstract: An internet service node (ISN) for sending unsolicited web pages only to users agreeing to receive unsolicited web page. An internet service provider (ISP) may charge lower rates to users agreeing to receive unsolicited web pages. For example, an ISP may send an unsolicited web page in response to the first web page request for a user. In general, a user may agree to receive different types of unsolicited web pages under different conditions. An ISN may monitor the data flows related to the user to determine whether any condition is satisfied; and a web server may be used to generate and send the corresponding unsolicited web page.

Abstract: An internet service node (ISN) enabling the provision of desired service policies to each subscriber. The desired service policies for each subscriber are provided as an input. The desired service policies are translated into processing rules. Each processing rule contains a classifier and associated action. A classifier generally identifies the application data flows to which the action may be applied to provide the desired service policies. The processing rules may be generated dynamically to implement the specified service policies for each subscriber. Each data bit group may be classified to associate with a subscriber and only the processing rules corresponding to the subscriber may be applied to the data bit group to provide the desired services.

Abstract: This invention provides an Internet Access Provider (IAP) a simple mechanism to steer users to given Internet services, such as the Web pages, of sponsors. The mechanism allows a sponsor to grant a dial-in user unlimited access to the Internet after the user has first accessed its Internet services. The invention is thus important for any IAP that wants to receive income from sponsors by steering Internet users to their services. In the ultimate case, an IAP could receive all its income from sponsors and thus be able to offer the Internet access for free. The key characteristics of the present invention is that a user is steered to the Internet services of a sponsor based on a sponsor specific called telephone number or a sponsor specific login name.