1. A multi-service communications network comprising more than one node, each node having storage means storing least one nodal policy and processing means operable to process at least one service corresponding to said at least one nodal policy, said network comprising: (i) a service request identifier means for determining the type of service request that is capable of being processed by each respective node; and (ii) at least one service request criteria means for determining whether a type of service request defined by said service request identifier means will be processed by each respective node; wherein the processing of said at least one service request criteria means determines an activity indicator of said node such that the node autonomously varies at least one of the nodal policies in accordance with the activity indicator and causes the node to thereafter behave differently in accordance with a changed algorithm of node operation such that a set of inputs will thereafter cause different node behavior as compared to node operation occurring before the variation in policy was effected.