Method and apparatus to facilitate development of data packet-based accounting information
AssigneeUTStarcom, Inc.
InventorMichael Borella
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus (30), upon receiving a data packet at a network element interface (31), which data packet corresponds to a given network element, can use an accounting information processor (33) to develop specific accounting information regarding network usage on behalf of the given network element. For example, discrete accounting information can be developed to indicate whether data packets are blocked for forwarded as per the operations of a data packet filter (32). As another example, discrete accounting information can be developed to indicate the quantity of data packets as are handled for each of a plurality of different quality of service levels as ascertained by a quality of service-based data packet processor (34).
Claims20
A method comprising:
- receiving a data packet associated with a given network element, which data packet has a corresponding specific quality of service level of a plurality of candidate different quality of service levels associated therewith;
- developing accounting information with respect to the given network element as corresponds to the data packet as a function, at least in part, of the corresponding specific quality of service level.
A method comprising:
- receiving a data packet associated with a given network element;
- determining whether to forward the data packet;
- developing accounting information with respect to the given network element as corresponds to the data packet as a function, at least in part, of whether the data packet is forwarded.
An apparatus comprising:
- a network element interface that receives data packets as are associated with a given network element;
- a data packet filter operably coupled to the network element interface where decisions regarding whether to forward or not to forward received data packets are made;
- an accounting information processor operably coupled to the data packet filter that develops accounting information as relates to the data packets and as corresponds to network usage by the given network element, wherein the accounting information comprises discrete information regarding a quantity of data as is forwarded with respect to the given network element and a quantity of data as is not forwarded with respect to the given network element.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.