System and method for monitoring information in a network environment

• US 20030233444A1
• Filed: 04/09/2002
• Published: 12/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: OʼRourke, Chris, Mackie, Robert A., Schomburg, Keith R., Bakita, Thomas R., Pittenger, Frank W., Frye, Dwight R. Jr., Dixon, Walter G., White, John G.
• Granted Patent: US 7,103,659 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/224
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/026 using flow identification

Abstract

A method for monitoring information in a network environment is provided that includes receiving one or more packets from a communication flow initiated by an end user. The information associated with the communication flow is then selectively communicated to a plurality of client-aware network elements.

Claims

1. An apparatus for monitoring information in a network environment, comprising:

an access element operable to receive one or more packets from a communication flow and to selectively communicate information associated with the communication flow to a plurality of client-aware network elements.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the information associated with the communication flow is communicated to one or more of the client-aware network elements in response to a query from one or more of the client-aware network elements.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a network access server operable to establish the communication flow from an end user associated with the communication flow to the access element.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the network access server performs internet protocol address management to the end user.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a server operable to provide authorization, authentication, and accounting (AAA) functions to one or more end users associated with the communication flow, wherein the access element is an AAA access element.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the access element comprises a database element operable to store portions of data from the communication flow, the portions being communicated intermittently to one or more of the client-aware network elements.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the access element comprises a table that stores one or more relationships reflecting which types of information associated with the communication flow are to be selectively communicated to one or more of the client-aware network elements.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein one or more of the client-aware network elements use the information in order to provide client-specific capabilities to one or more end users associated with the communication flow.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the access element comprises an intelligence element that instructs the access element to communicate the information associated with the communication flow to a backup client-aware network element in response to a corresponding one of the client-aware network elements being inoperative.

10. A method for monitoring information in a network environment, comprising:

receiving one or more packets from a communication flow initiated by an end user; and

selectively communicating information associated with the communication flow to a plurality of client-aware network elements.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the information associated with the communication flow is communicated to one or more of the client-aware network elements in response to a query from one or more of the client-aware network elements.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

establishing the communication flow from the end user to an authentication, authorization, and accounting (AAA) server.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

performing internet protocol address management for the end user.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

providing AAA functions to one or more end users associated with the communication flow.

15. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

storing portions of data from the communication flow, the portions being communicated intermittently to one or more of the client-aware network elements.

16. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

storing one or more relationships reflecting which types of information associated with the communication flow are to be selectively communicated to one or more of the client-aware network elements.

17. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

using the information in order to provide client-specific capabilities to the end user associated with the communication flow.

18. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

providing an instruction to communicate the information associated with the communication flow to a backup client-aware network element in response to a corresponding one of the client-aware network elements being inoperative.

19. A system for monitoring information in a network environment, comprising:

means for receiving one or more packets from a communication flow initiated by an end user; and

means for selectively communicating information associated with the communication flow to a plurality of client-aware network elements.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the information associated with the communication flow is communicated to one or more of the client-aware network elements in response to a query from one or more of the client-aware network elements.

21. The system of claim 19, further comprising:

means for establishing the communication flow from the end user to a server.

22. The system of claim 21, further comprising:

means for performing internet protocol address management for the end user.

23. The system of claim 19, further comprising:

means for providing authorization, authentication, and accounting functions to the end user associated with the communication flow.

24. The system of claim 19, further comprising:

means for storing portions of data from the communication flow, the portions being communicated intermittently to one or more of the client-aware network elements.

25. The system of claim 19, further comprising:

means for storing one or more relationships reflecting which types of information associated with the communication flow are to be selectively communicated to one or more of the client-aware network elements.

26. The system of claim 19, further comprising:

means for using the information in order to provide client-specific capabilities to the end user associated with the communication flow.

27. The system of claim 19, further comprising:

means for providing an instruction to communicate the information associated with the communication flow to a backup client-aware network element in response to a corresponding one of the client-aware network elements being inoperative.

28. A computer readable medium including code for monitoring information in a network environment, the code operable to:

receive one or more packets from a communication flow initiated by an end user; and

selectively communicate information associated with the communication flow to a plurality of client-aware network elements.

29. The code of claim 28, wherein the information associated with the communication flow is communicated to one or more of the client-aware network elements in response to a query from one or more of the client-aware network elements.

30. The code of claim 28, further operable to:

establish the communication flow from the end user to a server.

31. The code of claim 30, further operable to:

perform internet protocol address management for the end user; and

provide authorization, authentication, and accounting functions to the end user associated with the communication flow.

32. The code of claim 28, further operable to:

store portions of data from the communication flow, the portions being communicated intermittently to one or more of the client-aware network elements; and

store one or more relationships reflecting which types of information associated with the communication flow are to be selectively communicated to one or more of the client-aware network elements.

33. The code of claim 28, further operable to:

use the information in order to provide client-specific capabilities to the end user associated with the communication flow.

34. The code of claim 28, further operable to:

provide an instruction to communicate the information associated with the communication flow to a backup client-aware network element in response to a corresponding one of the client-aware network elements being inoperative.

35. An apparatus, comprising:

an authentication, authorization, and accounting (AAA) access element operable to receive one or more packets from a communication flow and to selectively communicate information associated with the communication flow to a plurality of client-aware network elements, the information associated with the communication flow being communicated to one or more of the client-aware network elements in response to a query from one or more of the client-aware network elements, the AAA access element including a database element operable to store portions of data from the communication flow, the portions being communicated intermittently to one or more of the client-aware network elements, the AAA access element including a table that stores one or more relationships reflecting which types of information associated with the communication flow are to be selectively communicated to one or more of the client-aware network elements;

a network access server operable to establish the communication flow from an end user associated with the communication flow to the AAA access element, the network access server operable to perform internet protocol address management for the end user; and

an AAA server operable to provide authorization, authentication, and accounting functions to the end user associated with the communication flow.

36. A system for communicating data, comprising:

an authentication, authorization, and accounting (AAA) server, the AAA server including an AAA access element operable to receive one or more packets from a communication flow and to selectively communicate information associated with the communication flow to a plurality of client-aware network elements, wherein the AAA server is operable to provide authorization, authentication, and accounting functions to one or more end users associated with the communication flow.

37. The system of claim 36, wherein the information associated with the communication flow is communicated to one or more of the client-aware network elements in response to a query from one or more of the client-aware network elements.

38. The system of claim 36, further comprising:

a network access server operable to establish the communication flow from one or more of the end users associated with the communication flow to the AAA access element.

39. The system of claim 36, wherein one or more of the client-aware network elements use the information in order to provide client-specific capabilities to one or more of the end users associated with the communication flow.