Network packet processing using multi-stage classification
First Claim
1. A method comprising:
- receiving a data packet at a first processing stage;
examining the packet at the first processing stage to determine a first attribute of the packet;
assigning a first classification to the data packet based on the first attribute;
communicating the packet and the first classification to a second processing stage;
examining the packet at the second processing stage to determine a second attribute of the packet;
assigning a second classification based on the second attribute; and
processing the packet based on the first classification and the second classification.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and systems for processing packets in data network using multistage classification are disclosed. An example method for processing packets includes receiving a data packet at a first processing stage and examining the packet at the first processing stage to determine a first attribute of the packet. Based on the first attribute, a first classification is assigned to the packet. In the example method, the packet and the first classification are communicated from the first processing stage to a second processing stage and the packet is examined at the second processing stage to determine a second attribute of the packet. Based on the second attribute, a second classification is assigned to the packet. The example method further includes processing the packet based on the first classification and the second classification.
54 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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receiving a data packet at a first processing stage; examining the packet at the first processing stage to determine a first attribute of the packet; assigning a first classification to the data packet based on the first attribute; communicating the packet and the first classification to a second processing stage; examining the packet at the second processing stage to determine a second attribute of the packet; assigning a second classification based on the second attribute; and processing the packet based on the first classification and the second classification. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A data network node comprising:
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a first packet processing stage; and a second packet processing stage operatively coupled with the first processing stage, wherein the first processing stage is adapted to; receive a data packet from a data network; examine the packet to determine a first attribute of the packet; assign a first classification based on the first attribute; and communicate the first classification to the second processing stage, and wherein the second processing stage is adapted to; receive the packet from one of the data network and the first processing stage; receive the first classification from the first processing stage; examine the packet to determine a second attribute of the packet; assign a second classification based on the second attribute; and process the packet based on the first classification and the second classification. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. An Ethernet data packet switch comprising:
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a first packet processing stage including a first content-addressable memory (CAM) implementing a first lookup table, the first lookup table associating a first set of packet attributes with a first set of respective classes; and a second packet processing stage including a second CAM implementing a second lookup table, the second lookup table associating a second set of packet attributes with a second set of respective classes, wherein the first processing stage is adapted to; receive a data packet from a data network; examine the packet to determine a first attribute of the packet, the first attribute being one of the first set of packet attributes; assign a first classification from the first set of classes based on the first attribute; and communicate the packet and the first classification to the second processing stage; and wherein the second processing stage is adapted to; receive the packet from one of the first processing stage and the data network; receive the first classification from the first processing stage; examine the packet to determine a second attribute of the packet, the second attribute being one of the second set of packet attributes; assign a second classification based on the second attribute; and process the packet based on the first classification, the second classification and a set of packet processing rules. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification