Methods and apparatus to provide a consumer services cloud in a communications network

A tangible computer readable storage medium comprising computer readable instructions which, when executed, cause a processor of a first device to perform operations comprising:

• analyzing authentication information in a request for access to a communications network to identify which of multiple possible users associated with a communications network customer is a current user of a client device, the request for access received from the client device, and the network communications diverted to the first device by a software-defined networking switch;
• in response to identifying the current user:
• accessing a first profile corresponding to the identified current user to determine a rule to be used to handle the network communications within the communications network;
• and
• configuring the software-defined networking switch to:
• identifying subsequent network communications that correspond to the identified current user of the client device;
• routing the subsequent communications between the client device and the communications network when the authentication information indicates the client device is authorized to access the communications network;
• and
• handliing the subsequent network communications in accordance with the rule.

A method, comprising:

• analyzing authentication information in a request for access to a communications network to identify which of multiple possible users associated with a communications network customer is a current user of a client device;
• in response to identifying the current user, accessing a first profile corresponding to the identified current user to determine a rule to be used to handle network communications transferred within the communications network from the client device of the communications network customer that are diverted via a software-defined networking switch;
• and
• configuring the software-defined networking switch to:
• identify subsequent network communications that correspond to the identified current user of the client device;
• handle the subsequent network communications in accordance with the rule;
• and
• route communications between the client device and the communications network when the authentication information indicates the client device is authorized to access the communications network.