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: A content addressable memory (CAM) having a search field, a mask and an output for each CAM location is used to efficiently determine a processor for processing IP packets, with each IP packet being received as a sequence of cells. IP packets may be assigned to a processor (group) based on an examination of the header data, potentially including IP header and other higher layer protocols headers. The search field of a CAM location is pre-stored with header data, and the bit positions to be searched in the location are specified by using a mask. The output of the location identifies the processor group for executing packets with headers matching the search field, with only the bits specified by the mask being compared. When a first cell of an IP packet is received, the header data is provided as an input to the CAM, and the output identifies the processor (group) for executing the IP packet.

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.