System and method for general purpose network analysis

• US 5,793,954 A
• Filed: 12/20/1995
• Issued: 08/11/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: NB Networks LLC
• Original Assignee: NB Networks LLC
• Inventors: Baker, Peter D., Neal, Karen
• Primary Examiner(s): Voeltz, Emanuel T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PEESO, THOMAS R
• Application Number:
  US08/575,506
• Time in Patent Office: 965 Days
• Field of Search: 364/514 C, 364/514 R, 364/551.01, 340/825.06, 371/35, 371/48, 371/53, 371/67.1, 371/68.2, 371/20.1, 371/3, 395/182.02, 395/182.19, 395/183.13, 395/183.15, 395/183.22, 395/185.01, 395/200.8
• US Class Current: 709/250
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/142 using statistical or mathematical methods
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/028 by filtering
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/16 Threshold monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/18 Protocol analysers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/03 Protocol definition or specification protocol conformance testing H04L1/244
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/22 Parsing or analysis of headers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

A network interface system and related methods. A single logic control module, which may be implemented in hardware or software, is utilized to perform any of a number of data manipulation functions including, for example, parsing, filtering, data generation or analysis, based upon one or more programmably configurable protocol descriptions which may be stored in and retrieved from an associated memory.

Claims

1. A method for parsing data transmitted over a data communications network, said method comprising the steps of:

storing in a first memory a plurality of programmably configurable protocol descriptions, said programmably configurable protocol descriptions defining a plurality of characteristics of said data transmitted over said data communications network;

storing in a second memory a program for controlling a data parsing function to be executed by a processing unit, said program including instructions for causing said processing unit to selectively retrieve at least one of said programmably configurable protocol descriptions from said first memory and to vary the execution of said data parsing function based upon said at least one retrieved protocol description;

delivering to said processing unit said program for controlling said data parsing function;

enabling said processing unit to execute said data parsing function; and

delivering to said processing unit said data transmitted over said data communications network.

2. A method for filtering data transmitted over a data communications network, said method comprising the steps of:

storing in a first memory a plurality of programmably configurable protocol descriptions, said programmably configurable protocol descriptions defining a one or more filter criteria;

storing in a second memory a program for controlling a data filtering function to be executed by a processing unit, said program including instructions for causing said processing unit to selectively retrieve at least one of said programmably configurable protocol descriptions from said first memory and to vary the execution of said data filtering function based upon said at least one retrieved protocol description;

delivering to said processing unit said program for controlling said data filtering function;

enabling said processing unit to execute said data filtering function; and

delivering to said processing unit said data transmitted over said data communications network.

3. A method for routing data transmitted over a data communications network, said method comprising the steps of:

storing in a first memory a plurality of programmably configurable protocol descriptions, said programmably configurable protocol descriptions defining one or more rules for routing data within said data communications network;

storing in a second memory a program for controlling a data routing function to be executed by a processing unit, said program including instructions for causing said processing unit to selectively retrieve at least one of said programmably configurable protocol descriptions from said first memory and to vary the execution of said data routing function based upon said at least one retrieved protocol description;

delivering to said processing unit said program for controlling said data routing function;

enabling said processing unit to execute said data routing function; and

delivering to said processing unit said data transmitted over said data communications network.

4. A network interface system comprising:

at least one network interface unit for communicating with a data communications network;

at least one memory coupled to said network interface unit, said memory being configured to store a plurality of network data files and a plurality of programmably configurable protocol descriptions; and

a logic control module comprising a microprocessor and a C++ computer program which may be executed by said microprocessor said C++ computer program having abstract data types defined for statistics gathering, value verification, next protocol determination, filtering, value modification, display and route determination capabilities;

said logic control module being coupled to said at least one network interface unit and to said at least one memory, and having the capability to selectively retrieve one or more of said programmably configurable protocol descriptions from said memory and to implement a selected data manipulation function in a manner defined by said one or more retrieved protocol descriptions.