Remotely configurable device agent for packet routing

A mobile device comprising:

• a modem configurable to connect to a wireless access network;
• a processor and a plurality of stored applications capable of execution on the processor so as to cause the generation of associated packets for forwarding over the wireless access network;
• and
• a device agent configured to
• monitor a flow of packets comprising one or more packets associated respectively with each of the plurality of applications when executing on the processor,
• for at least a first subset traffic flow of the monitored flow of packets, the subset associated with a first strict subset of the applications,
• direct the first subset traffic flow to a first network element reachable through the wireless access network, the first network element having a destination address differing from a destination address specified in the packets as generated, and
• provide side information to a second network element reachable through the wireless access network, the side information comprising an identifier associated with one or more of the first strict subset of the applications that are associated with respective portions of the first subset traffic flow, and
• for at least a second subset traffic flow of the monitored flow of packets not associated with the first strict subset of the applications, forward packets in the second subset traffic flow over the wireless access network without directing them to the first network element.

An apparatus comprising a non-transitory computer-readable medium containing computer instructions that, when executed or interpreted by at least one processor on a mobile device that is configured to connect to a wireless access network, cause the at least one processor to perform a method comprising:

• monitoring a flow of packets comprising one or more packets associated respectively with each of a plurality of applications capable of executing on a processor on the mobile device so as to cause the generation of associated packets for forwarding over the wireless access network;
• for at least a first subset traffic flow of the monitored flow of packets, the subset traffic flow associated with a first strict subset of the applications,
• directing the first subset traffic flow to a first network element reachable through the wireless access network, the first network element having a destination address differing from a destination address specified in the packets as generated, and
• providing side information to a second network element reachable through the wireless access network, the side information comprising an identifier associated with one or more of the first strict subset of the applications that are associated with respective portions of the first subset traffic flow;
• and
• for at least a second subset traffic flow of the monitored flow of packets not associated with the first strict subset of the applications, forwarding packets in the second subset traffic flow over the wireless access network without directing them to the first network element.