A communication system includes a communication apparatus that processes a packet according to control information set by a control apparatus; a first control apparatus that controls the communication apparatus by setting the control information in the communication apparatus; and a second control apparatus that operates in concert with the first control apparatus. The first control apparatus transmits information necessary for interoperation between the first and second control apparatuses to the second control apparatus via the communication apparatus.

A method for combining Internet protocols in a Differentiated Services model environment is described. The Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) and Common Open Policy Service (COPS) are combined together to provide methods of setting up a session and tearing down a session, while maintaining Authentication, Authorization, and Accounting (AAA) policies. The Open Settlement Policy (OSP) is also combined with SIP and COPS. This combination provides for an interchange of parameters between session setup, teardown, authorization, policy, Quality of Service (QoS), and usage reporting