The Cisco Content Services Gateway (CSG) is a software and hardware extension for the Cisco Catalyst 6500 or 7600 platforms. Cisco CSG technology provides a content-metering base that enables applications for network traffic accounting, usage-based network billing, network planning, network monitoring, outbound marketing, and data mining. Information is provided about the traffic statistics in byte counts; the content that was transferred; the authentication, authorization, and accounting (AAA) identity of the user; and the TCP connection termination type. For HTTP requests, for example, the URL of each request is provided. The Cisco CSG tracks the user's content transactions in real time and forwards this information to a billing agent for further processing, rating, and invoicing. Thus, the Cisco CSG measures and delivers the information required to bill based on content, which is required to generate higher revenues for new wireless data services.