A method and apparatus where network-layer devices use host-provided, detailed, per-packet, semantic information (DPPS information), which describes the content, meaning, importance, and/or other attributes of particular application data and is associated with each packet, to provide enhanced network services. In some embodiments of the above method, network-layer devices use DPPS information that includes QoS-related information to provide fine-grained, content-aware, and/or complex QoS assurances or similar services. In some embodiments, network-layer devices use DPPS information to provide network-based, application-protocol-independent, rate-adaptation services. In some embodiments, network-layer devices use DPPS information to provide highly efficient, application-protocol-independent, publish/subscribe dissemination services.