Method and system for providing user configurable differentiated service

1. A method comprising:

connecting, using a wireless device, to a wireless access point configured to allow a user of the wireless device to communicate with a data network; and

generating, via the wireless device, a message including a header that specifies class of service information for establishing a communication path over the data network,

wherein the class of service information is configurable by the user of the wireless device.

2. A method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the wireless device includes a handheld mobile device.

3. A method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the wireless access point is configured to establish the connection using a short-range radio frequency.

4. A method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the message has an Internet Protocol (IP) packet format.

5. A method as recited in claim 4 , wherein the class of service information is specified in a Differentiated Services Control Point (DSCP) field of the IP packet format.

6. A method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the class of service information is utilized for load balancing.

7. A method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the wireless access point includes a cellular base station.

8. A method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the class of service information is configured in real-time by the wireless device.

9. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium bearing instructions that are arranged, upon execution, to cause one or more processors to perform the method of claim 1 .

10. A method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the class of service information is configured by marking communication packets based on user input.

11. An apparatus comprising:

a wireless communication interface configured to connect to a wireless access point, wherein the wireless access point is configured to allow a user of a wireless device to communicate with a data network; and

a message generator configured to generate, via the wireless device, a message including a header that specifies class of service information for establishing a communication path over the data network,

wherein the class of service information is configurable by the user of the wireless device.

12. An apparatus as recited in claim 11 , wherein the wireless device includes a handheld mobile device.

13. An apparatus as recited in claim 11 , wherein the wireless access point is configured to establish the connection using a short-range radio frequency.

14. An apparatus as recited in claim 11 , wherein the message has an Internet Protocol (IP) packet format.

15. An apparatus as recited in claim 14 , wherein the class of service information is specified in a Differentiated Services Control Point (DSCP) field of the IP packet format.

16. An apparatus as recited in claim 11 , wherein the class of service information is utilized for load balancing.

17. An apparatus as recited in claim 11 , wherein the wireless access point includes a cellular base station.

18. An apparatus as recited in claim 11 , wherein the class of service information is configured in real-time by the wireless device.

19. A system comprising:

a wireless access point configured to connect to a wireless device and to allow a user of the wireless device to communicate with a data network,

wherein the wireless device is configured to generate a message including a header that specifies class of service information for establishing a communication path over the data network, and the class of service information is configurable by the user of the wireless device.

20. A system as recited in claim 19 , wherein the wireless device includes a handheld mobile device.

21. A system as recited in claim 19 , wherein the wireless access point is configured to establish the connection using a short-range radio frequency.

22. A system as recited in claim 19 , wherein the message has an Internet Protocol (IP) packet format.

23. A system as recited in claim 22 , wherein the class of service information is specified in a Differentiated Services Control Point (DSCP) field of the IP packet format.

24. A system as recited in claim 19 , wherein the class of service information is utilized for load balancing.

25. A system as recited in claim 19 , wherein the wireless access point includes a cellular base station.

26. A system as recited in claim 19 , wherein the class of service information is configured in real-time by the wireless device.