Method and System for Providing a Filter for a Router

• US 20090119661A1
• Filed: 11/06/2007
• Published: 05/07/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kyndryl Incorporated (Kyndryl Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Bernoth, Andrew J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,443,359 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 717/176
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/656 while running

Abstract

A method and system for providing a standardized set of filters for a router. A set of pre-written filters are provided in a file, and a program is run on a computer to identify one of these pre-written filters as a substitute for a filter that was specifically written for the router. The standardized filter file is then loaded onto the router and the identified substitute filters are used instead of the filter that has been specifically written for the router. Preferably, the computer program is used to identify which one of the pre-written filters of the pre-written filter files most closely matches, according to a predefined test, the filter file written specifically for the router.

Claims

1. A computer program product to provide a substitute filter for an existing filter in a router installed in a network, said existing filter being specifically written for said router after said router was installed in said network, said computer program product comprising:

a computer readable media;

first program instructions to identify based on at least one feature of said existing filter one of a multiplicity of pre-written filters which matches said existing filter; and

second program instructions to write the identified one of a multiplicity of pre-written filters into a file for installation in said router to substitute for said existing filter; and

wherein

said first and second program instructions are recorded on said computer readable media.

2. A program product as set forth in claim 1, wherein said at least one feature comprises at least one of source or destination IP address, source or destination port or protocol of a message.

3. A program product as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first program instructions identify said one pre-written filter by identifying defined features of the existing filter that address the specific circumstances for which said existing filter was specifically written and matching features of said multiplicity of pre-written filters with said defined features.

4. A program product as set forth in claim 3, wherein matching features of said multiplicity of pre-written filters with said defined features comprises searching said multiplicity of pre-written filters for said defined features.

5. A program product as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first program instructions identify said one pre-written filter by identifying defined criteria for determining that the specific circumstances for which said existing filter was specifically written are addressed and matching said multiplicity of pre-written filters with said defined criteria.

6. A program product as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first program instructions identify said one pre-written filter by identifying functions of the existing filter that address the specific circumstances for which said existing filter was specifically written and matching functions of said multiplicity of pre-written filters with said identified intended functions.

7. A program product as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first program instructions:

identify one or more parameters of said specifically written filter; and

search the multiplicity of pre-written filters to identify a pre-written filter with parameters matching said identified parameters of said specifically written filter.

8. A system for providing a substitute filter for an existing filter in a router installed in a network, said existing filter being specifically written for said router after said router was installed in said network to avoid a problem with use of said router in said network, said system product comprising:

means for identifying one of a multiplicity of pre-written filters which avoids the problem with use of said router in said network for which said existing filter was specifically written; and

means for installing said one pre-written filter into said router to substitute for said existing filter.

9. A system as set forth in claim 8, wherein the identifying means identifies defined features of the existing filter that address the specific circumstances for which said existing filter was specifically written and matches features of said multiplicity of pre-written filters with said defined features.

10. A system as set forth in claim 9, wherein the identifying means matches features of said multiplicity of pre-written filters with said defined features by searching said multiplicity of pre-written filters for said defined features.

11. A system as set forth in claim 8, wherein the identifying means determines that said one pre-written filter provides a function that matches a function of said existing filter.

12. A system as set forth in claim 11, wherein the identifying means determines that said one pre-written filter provides a second function that matches a second function of said existing filter.

13. A method for providing a substitute filter for an existing filter in a router installed in a network, said existing filter being specifically written for said router to address specific circumstances of the network operation, said method comprising the steps of:

identifying one of a multiplicity of pre-written filters which address the specific circumstances of the network operation for which said existing filter was specifically written; and

in response to the identifying step, installing said one pre-written filter in said router to substitute for said existing filter.

14. A method as set forth in claim 13, wherein the identifying step includes the step of using a defined test to identify one of a multiplicity of pre-written filters that addresses the specific circumstances for which said existing filter was specifically written.

15. A method as set forth in claim 14, wherein said defined test comprises an acceptable matching criteria for one or more parameters of said existing filter.

16. A method as set forth in claim 13, wherein said identifying step includes the steps of:

identifying defined features of the existing filter that address the specific circumstances for which said existing filter was specifically written; and

matching features of said multiplicity of pre-written filters with said defined features.

17. A method as set forth in claim 15, wherein said matching step comprises searching said multiplicity of pre-written filters for said defined features.

18. A method as set forth in claim 13, wherein said identifying step comprises the steps of:

identifying defined criteria for determining that the specific circumstances for which said existing filter was specifically written are addressed; and

matching said multiplicity of pre-written filters with said defined criteria.

19. A method as set forth in claim 13, wherein said identifying step comprises the steps of:

identifying intended functions of the existing filter to address the specific circumstances for which said existing filter was specifically written; and

matching functions of said multiplicity of pre-written filters with said identified intended functions.

20. A method as set forth in claim 13, wherein said identifying step comprises the steps of:

identify one or more parameters of said specifically written filter; and

search the multiplicity of pre-written filters to identify a pre-written filter with parameters matching said identified parameters of said specifically written filter.