APPARATUS AND A METHOD FOR AUTHORIZING A GATEWAY, PARTICULARLY CONCERNED WITH ENABLING A GATEWAY TO PERFORM FUNCTIONS FOR A NODE

摘要

PURPOSE: An apparatus and method for authorizing a gateway, particularly concerned with enabling a gateway to perform functions for a node, are provided to prevent concentration of excessive traffic to a terminal of an Internet service provider by enabling a premises gateway to perform several functions of the terminal of the Internet service provider. CONSTITUTION: A gateway function determining unit(27) determines whether a gateway existing in a certain network performs a certain function for a node based on a network database having information on the node managed by the gateway and information indicating whether the gateway performs the certain function for the node. A gateway authorizing unit(28) authorizes the gateway to perform the function for the node if the gateway function determining unit(27) determines that the gateway performs the function for the node. A node charging unit(29) charges the node with a lower cost than a general cost if the gateway authorizing unit(28) authorizes the gateway to perform the function for the node.