In-Line Network Device for Storing Application-Layer Data, Processing Instructions, and/or Rule Sets

• US 20080120434A1
• Filed: 01/31/2008
• Published: 05/22/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/21/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Radware Limited
• Original Assignee: Strangeloop Networks, Inc. (Radware Limited)
• Inventors: Alstad, Kent
• Granted Patent: US 8,037,127 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/246
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/142 Managing session states for stateless protocols; Signalling session states; State transitions; Keeping-state mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/2871 Implementation details of single intermediate entities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/56 Provisioning of proxy services store-and-forward switching systems in data switching networks H04L12/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/5651 Reducing the amount or size of exchanged application data

Abstract

A network device located in the data path between a user computer and a server stores application data, processing instructions, and/or rule sets. By storing user computer-specific application data, processing instructions, and/or rule sets in the data path between the user computer and the server, the invention reduces the complexity of the web server, improves the handling of server failure, and increases the overall scalability and performance of the system.

Claims

1. In a network device situated in a communication path between a first network node and a second network node, a method for maintaining at least one selected from the group consisting of application data, instructions, and rule sets, the method comprising:

receiving a network message from the first network node, the first network message comprising index data and at least one selected from the group consisting of application data, instructions, and rule sets, application data;

storing at least one of the application data, instructions, and rule sets at the network device;

removing the at least one of the application data, instructions, and rule sets at from the network message to generate a groomed network message; and

transmitting the groomed network message to the second network node.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the application data, instructions, and rule sets at comprises at least one instruction to be performed by the network device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the network message comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of:

a page request; and

a response to a page request.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein each network node comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of:

a client; and

a server.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a network message from the second network node, the first network message comprising index data;

based on the index data, retrieving the at least one of the application data, instructions, and rule sets previously stored at the network device; and

transmitting the network message and the retrieved at least one of the application data, instructions, and rule sets to the first network node.

6. In a network device situated in a communication path between a first network node and a second network node, a method for retrieving at least one selected from the group consisting of application data, instructions, and rule sets, the method comprising:

receiving a network message from the first network node, the first network message comprising index data;

based on the index data, retrieving at least one of the application data, instructions, and rule sets previously stored at the network device; and

transmitting the network message and the retrieved at least one of the application data, instructions, and rule sets to the second network node.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the at least one of the application data, instructions, and rule sets comprises at least one instruction and wherein the method further comprises performing the at least one instruction at the network device.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the network message comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of:

a page request; and

a response to a page request.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein each network node comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of:

a client; and

a server.

10. A computer program product for maintaining at least one selected from the group consisting of application data, instructions, and rule sets in a network device situated in a communication path between a first network node and a second network node, the computer program product comprising:

a computer-readable medium; and

computer program code, encoded on the medium, for;

receiving a network message from the first network node, the first network message comprising index data and at least one selected from the group consisting of application data, instructions, and rule sets, application data;

storing at least one of the application data, instructions, and rule sets at the network device;

removing the at least one of the application data, instructions, and rule sets at from the network message to generate a groomed network message; and

transmitting the groomed network message to the second network node.

11. The computer program product of claim 10, wherein at least one of the application data, instructions, and rule sets at comprises at least one instruction to be performed by the network device.

12. The computer program product of claim 10, wherein the network message comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of:

a page request; and

a response to a page request.

13. The computer program product of claim 10, wherein each network node comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of:

a client; and

a server.

14. The computer program product of claim 10, further comprising computer program code for:

receiving a network message from the second network node, the first network message comprising index data;

based on the index data, retrieving the at least one of the application data, instructions, and rule sets previously stored at the network device; and

transmitting the network message and the retrieved at least one of the application data, instructions, and rule sets to the first network node.

15. A network device situated in a communication path between a first network node and a second network node, for maintaining at least one selected from the group consisting of application data, instructions, and rule sets, the device comprising:

a communication module, for receiving a network message from the first network node, the first network message comprising index data and at least one selected from the group consisting of application data, instructions, and rule sets, application data;

a storage device, for storing at least one of the application data, instructions, and rule sets; and

a processor, for removing the at least one of the application data, instructions, and rule sets at from the network message to generate a groomed network message;

wherein the communication module transmits the groomed network message to the second network node.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein at least one of the application data, instructions, and rule sets at comprises at least one instruction to be performed by the network device.

17. The device of claim 15, wherein the network message comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of:

a page request; and

a response to a page request.

18. The device of claim 15, wherein each network node comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of:

a client; and

a server.

19. The device of claim 15, wherein:

the communication module receives a network message from the second network node, the first network message comprising index data;

based on the index data, the processor retrieves the at least one of the application data, instructions, and rule sets previously stored at the network device; and

the communication module transmits the network message and the retrieved at least one of the application data, instructions, and rule sets to the first network node.

20. A network device situated in a communication path between a first network node and a second network node, for retrieving at least one selected from the group consisting of application data, instructions, and rule sets, the device comprising:

a communication module, for receiving a network message from the first network node, the first network message comprising index data; and

a processor, for, based on the index data, retrieving at least one of the application data, instructions, and rule sets previously stored at the network device;

wherein the communication module transmits the network message and the retrieved at least one of the application data, instructions, and rule sets to the second network node.

21. The device of claim 20, wherein the at least one of the application data, instructions, and rule sets comprises at least one instruction and wherein the system further comprises performing the at least one instruction at the network device.

22. The device of claim 20, wherein the network message comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of:

a page request; and

a response to a page request.

23. The device of claim 20, wherein each network node comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of:

a client; and

a server.