Certain bits of a packet, such as bits in the IP header of an IP packet,
are used to designate the type of service or Quality of Service (QoS) level to
be afforded to the packet as it passes through a data communications network. A
user entitled to a certain QoS level logs into a service selection gateway SSG.
The SSG queries an authentication, authorization and accounting (AAA) server in
response to a log-in attempt by the user. Upon authorization, the AAA server returns
an access accept signal in addition to an indication from the user's service profile
(user profile) as to the QoS level to be afforded the user. While the user is logged
in, all packets are routed through the SSG. The SSG sets the certain bits of the
packet in accordance with the user's assigned QoS level so that as the packets
are routed through the data communications network, they are consistently afforded
the assigned Quality of Service level. In another aspect of the invention, on-demand
QoS may be provided by the SSG and accounted for by communications with the AAA server.
