Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes receiving one or more packets of a communication session from one or more interfaces, such that the interface is a subscriber interface or a network interface. The method further includes associating the communication session to an end user with a source Internet Protocol (IP) address of the packet if the packet is received from the subscriber interface or to an end user with a destination IP address of the packet if the packet is received from the network interface.

Abstract: A method is provided in one example and includes receiving a request to initiate a communication flow associated with a subscriber and identifying one or more parameters to be monitored for the communication flow. The method further includes extracting one or more bits from packets associated with the communication flow; the bits are used to determine an operating system associated with the communication flow. A policy decision can be executed for the communication flow based on the operating system associated with the communication flow. In more specific examples, the bits are sent to a next destination in response to a threshold being reached for at least one of the parameters. The parameters can be associated a volume parameter or a time parameter. The policy decision could include blocking traffic associated with the subscriber, initiating billing, redirecting the communication, managing a quality of service level for the communication flow, etc.

Abstract: A method is provided in one example embodiment and includes creating at a network element an entry designating an out of order (“OOO”) sequence number range associated with a flow and receiving at the network element a packet associated with the flow, wherein the packet corresponds to a first sequence number range, wherein the first sequence number range falls within the OOO sequence number range designated in the entry. The method may further include updating the entry to remove sequence numbers comprising the first sequence number range from the OOO sequence number range and forwarding the packet without awaiting receipt of any other packets associated with the flow.

Abstract: A method is provided in one example and includes receiving a plurality of packets associated with a flow; parsing the plurality of packets associated with the flow; executing a first quality of service decision such that a first set of packets within the plurality of packets are not forwarded to their intended destination; receiving a second set of packets, which reflects a retransmission of at least a portion of the first set of packets; executing a second quality of service decision such that the second set of packets is forwarded to their intended destination; and billing the second set of packets in response to forwarding the second set of packets. In more detailed embodiments, the method includes accessing a table in which entries are provided for particular sequence number ranges for the first set of packets.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes receiving one or more packets of a communication session from one or more interfaces, such that the interface is a subscriber interface or a network interface. The method further includes associating the communication session to an end user with a source Internet Protocol (IP) address of the packet if the packet is received from the subscriber interface or to an end user with a destination IP address of the packet if the packet is received from the network interface.

Abstract: A method is provided in one example and includes receiving a request to initiate a communication flow associated with a subscriber and identifying one or more parameters to be monitored for the communication flow. The method further includes extracting one or more bits from packets associated with the communication flow; the bits are used to determine an operating system associated with the communication flow. A policy decision can be executed for the communication flow based on the operating system associated with the communication flow. In more specific examples, the bits are sent to a next destination in response to a threshold being reached for at least one of the parameters. The parameters can be associated a volume parameter or a time parameter. The policy decision could include blocking traffic associated with the subscriber, initiating billing, redirecting the communication, managing a quality of service level for the communication flow, etc.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes receiving one or more packets of a communication session from one or more interfaces, such that the interface is a subscriber interface or a network interface. The method further includes associating the communication session to an end user with a source Internet Protocol (IP) address of the packet if the packet is received from the subscriber interface or to an end user with a destination IP address of the packet if the packet is received from the network interface.

Abstract: A method is provided in one example and includes receiving a request to initiate a communication flow associated with a subscriber and identifying one or more parameters to be monitored for the communication flow. The method further includes extracting one or more bits from packets associated with the communication flow; the bits are used to determine an operating system associated with the communication flow. A policy decision can be executed for the communication flow based on the operating system associated with the communication flow. In more specific examples, the bits are sent to a next destination in response to a threshold being reached for at least one of the parameters. The parameters can be associated a volume parameter or a time parameter. The policy decision could include blocking traffic associated with the subscriber, initiating billing, redirecting the communication, managing a quality of service level for the communication flow, etc.

Abstract: A method is provided in one example embodiment and includes creating at a network element an entry designating an out of order (“OOO”) sequence number range associated with a flow and receiving at the network element a packet associated with the flow, wherein the packet corresponds to a first sequence number range, wherein the first sequence number range falls within the OOO sequence number range designated in the entry. The method may further include updating the entry to remove sequence numbers comprising the first sequence number range from the OOO sequence number range and forwarding the packet without awaiting receipt of any other packets associated with the flow.

Abstract: A method is provided in one example and includes receiving a request packet associated with a flow; designating an out of order sequence number range associated with the flow; creating an entry that designates the out of order sequence number range; receiving a subsequent packet that includes a particular sequence number range; referencing the out of order sequence number range; resolving a portion of the entry corresponding to the particular sequence number range for the subsequent packet; and forwarding the subsequent packet. In other embodiments, the request packet includes a content length field indicating the out of order sequence number range associated with the flow. Creating the entry can include creating a segment within a queue for the out of order sequence number range, which reflects expected sequence numbers for packets associated with the flow.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes receiving a packet at a network processor, and determining the packet is to be directed to a selected one of a plurality of traffic processors if a tunnel endpoint identifier of the packet is associated with a subscriber terminal. The method further includes determining that the packet is to be directed to the selected one of the plurality of traffic processors if a destination address of the packet is associated with the subscriber terminal. The method still further includes distributing the packet to the selected one of the plurality of traffic processors.

Abstract: A method is provided in one example and includes receiving a plurality of packets associated with a flow; parsing the plurality of packets associated with the flow; executing a first quality of service decision such that a first set of packets within the plurality of packets are not forwarded to their intended destination; receiving a second set of packets, which reflects a retransmission of at least a portion of the first set of packets; executing a second quality of service decision such that the second set of packets is forwarded to their intended destination; and billing the second set of packets in response to forwarding the second set of packets. In more detailed embodiments, the method includes accessing a table in which entries are provided for particular sequence number ranges for the first set of packets.

Abstract: A method is provided in one example and includes receiving a request to initiate a communication flow associated with a subscriber and identifying one or more parameters to be monitored for the communication flow. The method further includes extracting one or more bits from packets associated with the communication flow; the bits are used to determine an operating system associated with the communication flow. A policy decision can be executed for the communication flow based on the operating system associated with the communication flow. In more specific examples, the bits are sent to a next destination in response to a threshold being reached for at least one of the parameters. The parameters can be associated a volume parameter or a time parameter. The policy decision could include blocking traffic associated with the subscriber, initiating billing, redirecting the communication, managing a quality of service level for the communication flow, etc.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes receiving one or more billing instructions, the billing instructions being operable to initiate one or more billing actions associated with one or more token combinations. The billing actions are performed when the one or more token combinations match a portion of a received protocol. The matched portion of the protocol is associated with a new, unknown, or emerging protocol or protocol extension.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes receiving a packet at a network processor, and determining the packet is to be directed to a selected one of a plurality of traffic processors if a tunnel endpoint identifier of the packet is associated with a subscriber terminal. The method further includes determining that the packet is to be directed to the selected one of the plurality of traffic processors if a destination address of the packet is associated with the subscriber terminal. The method still further includes distributing the packet to the selected one of the plurality of traffic processors.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes receiving one or more packets of a communication session from one or more interfaces, such that the interface is a subscriber interface or a network interface. The method further includes associating the communication session to an end user with a source Internet Protocol (IP) address of the packet if the packet is received from the subscriber interface or to an end user with a destination IP address of the packet if the packet is received from the network interface.

Abstract: A method for billing end users in a peer-to-peer transaction in a network environment is provided that includes a client services packet gateway operable to communicate with a first end user and a second end user in order to facilitate the peer-to-peer transaction and a flow manager element operable to receive one or more packets of the peer-to-peer transaction from one or more interfaces, such that the interface is a subscriber interface or a network interface. The flow manager is further operable to associate a first session object with the first user and associate a second session object with the second user.

Abstract: A system and method of managing transmission loads in a data communication network implement a plurality of data processing modules, such as computer servers, each of which may be responsible for a limited range of data processing tasks. A load manager may distribute incoming data packets in accordance with the particular network transaction with which the data packets are associated as well as the present load at each of the plurality of data processing modules. A dedicated load manager, such as a computer server, may execute a hash function to direct incoming, data traffic and to allocate system resources.