Method and apparatus for configuring and controlling network resources in content delivery with distributed rules

A network control framework apparatus for controlling resources at an intermediate network element connecting at least two communications networks, comprising:

• a gateway providing gateway functionality;
• a rule engine that performs a network resource control decision based on at least one specified rule, the at least one specified rule being specified according to a rule specification format;
• at least one special package added to the rule engine that provides a specialized functionality to the rule engine;
• a rule injector that injects or removes the at least one specified rule to or from the rule engine;
• and
• a distributor that distributes the at least one specified rule to the intermediate network element, comprising:
• a distributor that distributes indications that indicate whether at least part of the at least one specified rule is to be distributed;
• a distributor that distributes a signature embedded in a data packet to announce capabilities of the intermediate network element that the data packet traversed;
• a parser that parses the at least one specified rule to determine whether at least part of the at least one specified rule is distributed;
• an identifier that identifies a target network element to distribute at least part of the at least one specified rule;
• a distributor that distributes signaling data embedded in the data packet that informs the target network element to distribute at least part of the at least one specified rule;
• and
• a retriever that retrieves at least part of the at least one specified rule distributed to the target network element from the intermediate network element that distributes at least part of the at least one specified rule.