Abstract: In one embodiment, a request for content is received. An electronic advertisement is associated with the content. A status of a device that transmitted the request for the content is determined. Data corresponding to the status is included in the request for the content. The electronic advertisement or receipt of the electronic advertisement is provided as a function of the included data.

Abstract: Providing service information includes receiving session initiation protocol (SIP) packets from a SIP proxy. Service information is extracted from the SIP packets. The service information describes a service provided to an access terminal associated with a subscriber. The service information is sent to a charging/enforcement point operable to charge the subscriber for the service.

Abstract: In one embodiment, at least one portion of a request for an electronic advertisement is received. The request includes an indicator indicative of one of a plurality of demographic servers. The at least one portion is analyzed. The at least one portion includes data of a user. Demographic information is identified as a function of the user data. A request for a selection of the electronic advertisement as a function of the demographic information is transmitted.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method can include: (i) receiving an outbound packet in a network device, where the outbound packet includes a packet header; (ii) modifying the outbound packet by adding a service identifier to a cleartext portion of the packet header; (iii) when the outbound packet represents an event boundary, adding an event delimiter to the packet header; and (iv) passing the outbound packet to an encryption process for packaging and transmitting across a tunnel.

Abstract: A method for communicating in a loadbalancing environment is provided that in a particular embodiment includes receiving a request packet from a network access server (NAS) to initiate a communication session. The request packet is then communicated to a tunneling protocol network server (TPNS) and a response packet is received in response to the request packet. The response packet establishes a tunnel that facilitates the communication session and that includes an identification element associated with the TPNS such that a data transfer associated with the communication session is executed between the NAS and the TPNS.

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: An apparatus for managing information in a network environment is provided that includes a content service gateway operable to communicate with an end user in order to facilitate a communication session. The communication session relates to a request by the end user for content or for a service. A quota server coupled to the content service gateway is operable to receive a service authorization request from the content service gateway relating to the communication session. The service authorization request operates to authorize access to the service or to the content for the end user.

Abstract: A method for managing network access is provided that includes receiving a signal indicating a change in a network parameter, the change reflecting that an end user associated with a communication session has changed from using a first network node to a second network node. Each of the network nodes is operable to facilitate the communication session associated with the end user. The method also includes communicating with a billing system element to notify the billing system element of the change in the network parameter and receiving quota information for the end user associated with the second network node. The billing information associated with the second network node may be applied to the communication session, the billing information being based on the quota information.

Abstract: A method for distributing information in a network environment is provided that includes receiving one or more packets from a communication flow initiated by an end user and selectively communicating information associated with the communication flow to a network element so that the network element may correlate a source with the communication flow.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for providing correlation of billing entries for a mobile communications network is provided. A correlating network element in a bearer path determines a plurality of billing entries for a flow. One or more of the billing entries may be received from other network elements and includes traffic altering information for a flow. The correlating network element correlates the plurality of billing entries using state information included in the billing entries. The state information is used to determine information in billing entries that may be related, such as billing entries for a single flow. Also, the correlating network element uses the traffic altering information to determine a data volume sent for the flow. A correlated billing entry may then be generated using the data volume for the flow. The correlated billing entry is then sent to a billing system from the correlating network element.

Abstract: A method for protecting firewall load balancers from a denial of service attack is provided. Packets are received by the firewall load balancer. Each packet has a source and a destination. The firewall load balancer is equipped with a connection database that can contain entries about the packets. Upon receipt of a packet, the connection database is queried to determine whether or not there is an entry for the received packet. If an entry is found in the database, the packet is forwarded to its destination. Otherwise, if the packet was received from a firewall, then a new connection entry for the packet is built and is saved to the connection database and the packet is forwarded on to its destination. If the packet does not have an entry (match) in the connection database and the packet was not received from a firewall, then the packet is forwarded to a firewall.

Abstract: A method for relaying information in a network environment is provided that includes establishing primary and secondary packet data protocol (PDP) links on behalf of an end user and communicating traffic pattern information associated with the primary and secondary PDP links to a client services packet gateway (CSPG), the traffic pattern information providing data associated with how traffic flows propagating via each of the primary and secondary PDP links are to be treated in a network.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for providing a network service. A first criteria specifying a first set of flows from a first service manager is received at a forwarding agent. The first criteria specifies an expiration time interval. The first criteria is stored on the forwarding agent. A second criteria is received that specifies a second set of flows from a second service manager at the forwarding agent. The second set of flows includes flows that are in the first set of flows and the second criteria is designated as a lower priority criteria. The second criteria is stored on the forwarding agent. The first criteria is deleted from the forwarding agent upon the expiration of the expiration time interval. A packet is received that belongs to a flow that is included in the first set and the second set. It is determined that the packet matches the second set ant the packet is forwarded to the second service manager.

Abstract: An apparatus for charging in a network environment is provided that includes an access gateway encapsulation/decapsulation element operable to establish one or more packet data protocol (PDP) links on behalf of an end user and to perform encapsulation and decapsulation operations for one or more of the links associated with the end user. The access gateway encapsulation/decapsulation element is further operable to interface with a client services packet gateway (CSPG) that is operable to provide enhanced packet processing for the end user for requested information. The apparatus also includes an access gateway policy element operable to interface with the CSPG. The access gateway encapsulation/decapsulation element and the access gateway policy element cooperate to use one or more inter-module headers in order to coordinate the enhanced packet processing for one or more communication flows associated with the end user.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a request for content is received. An electronic advertisement is associated with the content. A status of a device that transmitted the request for the content is determined. Data corresponding to the status is included in the request for the content. The electronic advertisement or receipt of the electronic advertisement is provided as a function of the included data.

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 request for content is received. An electronic advertisement is associated with the content. A status of a device that transmitted the request for the content is determined. Data corresponding to the status is included in the request for the content. The electronic advertisement or receipt of the electronic advertisement is provided as a function of the included data.

Abstract: An information service provider network includes a content gateway to process requests for information from a client terminal. The content gateway includes a router for receiving a request for information from the client terminal. The request includes a domain name and additional content. The router forwards the request according to the domain name to a selected one of a plurality of processors to further process the request. The selected one of the plurality of processors identifies an information source to satisfy the request in response to the additional content of the request.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for providing correlation of billing entries for a mobile communications network is provided. A correlating network element in a bearer path determines a plurality of billing entries for a flow. One or more of the billing entries may be received from other network elements and includes traffic altering information for a flow. The correlating network element correlates the plurality of billing entries using state information included in the billing entries. The state information is used to determine information in billing entries that may be related, such as billing entries for a single flow. Also, the correlating network element uses the traffic altering information to determine a data volume sent for the flow. A correlated billing entry may then be generated using the data volume for the flow. The correlated billing entry is then sent to a billing system from the correlating network element.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method can include: (i) receiving an outbound packet in a network device, where the outbound packet includes a packet header; (ii) modifying the outbound packet by adding a service identifier to a cleartext portion of the packet header; (iii) when the outbound packet represents an event boundary, adding an event delimiter to the packet header; and (iv) passing the outbound packet to an encryption process for packaging and transmitting across a tunnel.