PACKET RECORDING

• US 20160065465A1
• Filed: 08/24/2015
• Published: 03/03/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Metaswitch Networks Limited (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Metaswitch Networks Limited (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Kennedy, Steven
• Granted Patent: US 10,917,503 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/31 by tagging of packets, e.g. using discard eligibility [DE] bits
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/22 Parsing or analysis of headers

Abstract

An apparatus and a method for processing a received data packet are provided. The method involves determining whether the received data packet is to be recorded and applying to the packet a virtual LAN identification tag from a first group of one or more predetermined virtual LAN identification tags if it is determined that the packet is to be recorded. A recording management system is also provided, including an apparatus and a forwarding network element. The forwarding network element is arranged to inspect as received data packet and determine a virtual LAN identification tag of the packet. The forwarding network element is further arranged to cops the data packet if the virtual LAN identification tag of the packet is in the first group and to send the copy of the data packet to a recording element.

Claims

1. An apparatus for processing a received data packet, comprising:

a processor for determining whether the received data packet is to be recorded, wherein the processor is configured to apply to the packet an identification tag from a first group of one or more predetermined identification tags, if it is determined that the packet is to be recorded.

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to apply to the packet an identification tag from a second group of one or more predetermined identification tags, if it is determined that the packet is not to be recorded.

3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said processor determines whether the received data packet is to be recorded based on a property of the packet.

4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein said property of the packet comprises at least one of an address associated with a sender of the packet and an address associated with the recipient of the packet.

5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said processor determines whether the received data packet is to be recorded based on a property of the packet.

6. An apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein said property of the packet comprises at least one of an address associated with a sender of the packet and an address associated with the recipient of the packet.

7. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the data packet is an IP packet comprising voice data of a voice conversation.

8. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said identification tag is one of a virtual LAN identification tag;

a MAC address, and an MPLS label.

17. A recording management system, comprising:

an apparatus as claimed in claim 1 and

forwarding network element, wherein

said forwarding network element is arranged to inspect a received data packet and determine the identification tag of the data packet, and

said forwarding network element is further arranged to copy the data packet if the identification tag of the packet is in said first group and to send said copy of the data packet to a recording element.

18. A recording management system, comprising:

an apparatus as claimed in claim 2 and

a forwarding network element, wherein

said forwarding network element is arranged to inspect a received data packet and determine the identification tag of the data packet, and

said forwarding network element is further arranged to copy the data packet if the identification tag of the packet is in said first group and to send said copy of the data packet to a recording element.

9. A method for processing a received data packet, comprising:

determining whether the received data packet is to be recorded; and

applying to the packet an identification tag from a first group of one or more predetermined identification tags, if it is determined that the packet is to be recorded.

10. A method as claimed in claim 9, comprising applying to the packet an identification tag from a second group of one or more predetermined identification tags, if it is determined that the packet is not to be recorded.

11. A method as claimed in claim 9, wherein said determining whether the received data packet is to be recorded comprises checking a property of the packet.

12. A method as claimed in claim 11, wherein said checking a property of the packet comprises checking at least one of an address associated with a sender of the packet and an address associated with a recipient of the packet.

13. A method as claimed in claim 10, wherein said determining whether the received data packet is to be recorded comprises checking a property of the packet.

14. A method as claimed in claim 13, wherein said checking a property of the packet comprises checking at least one of an address associated with a sender of the packet and an address associated with a recipient of the packet.

15. A method as claimed in claim 9, wherein the data packet is an IP packet comprising vice data of a voice conversation.

16. A method as claimed in claim 9, wherein said identification tag is one of a virtual LAN identification tag;

a MAC address, and an MPLS label.

19. A received data packet processing program, executable in a processor and which when executed, causes the processor to operate so as to determine whether the received data packet is to be recorded;

and

applying to the packet an identification tag from a first group of one or more predetermined identification tags, if it is determined that the packet is to be recorded.

20. A computer readable medium carrying a received data packet processing program, executable in a processor and which when executed, causes the processor to operate so as to determine whether the received data packet is to be recorded;

and

applying to the packet an identification tag from a first group of one or more predetermined identification tags, if it is determined that the packet is to be recorded.