Statistical gathering framework for extracting information from a network multi-layer stack
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for gathering statistics associated with a network session, comprising:
- receiving a plurality of packets including payloads at a plurality of analyzers;
analyzing the plurality of packets including the payloads thereof to identify a plurality of flows;
identifying a session associated with the plurality of flows;
identifying at least one application associated with the session;
reconstructing the session utilizing the identified application;
analyzing the reconstructed session;
gathering a plurality of statistics associated with the session based on the analysis;
determining a policy;
outputting records reflecting the statistics; and
performing an accounting operation based on the records and the policy;
wherein a timing associated with the output of the records is based on the identified application.
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Abstract
A system, method and computer program product are provided for gathering statistics associated with a network session. Initially, a plurality of packets is received at a plurality of analyzers. Such packets are analyzed to identify a plurality of flows. Further identified are a session associated with the plurality of flows and at least one application associated with the session. The session is then reconstructed utilizing the identified application for analysis purposes. A plurality of statistics associated with the session is then gathered based on the analysis.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A method for gathering statistics associated with a network session, comprising:
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receiving a plurality of packets including payloads at a plurality of analyzers;
analyzing the plurality of packets including the payloads thereof to identify a plurality of flows;
identifying a session associated with the plurality of flows;
identifying at least one application associated with the session;
reconstructing the session utilizing the identified application;
analyzing the reconstructed session;
gathering a plurality of statistics associated with the session based on the analysis;
determining a policy;
outputting records reflecting the statistics; and
performing an accounting operation based on the records and the policy;
wherein a timing associated with the output of the records is based on the identified application. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A computer program product for gathering statistics associated with a network session, comprising:
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computer code for receiving a plurality of packets including payloads at a plurality of analyzers;
computer code for analyzing the plurality of packets including the payloads thereof to identify a plurality of flows;
computer code for identifying a session associated with the plurality of flows;
computer code for identifying at least one application associated with the session;
computer code for reconstructing the session utilizing the identified application;
computer code for analyzing the reconstructed session;
computer code for gathering a plurality of statistics associated with the session based on the analysis;
computer code for determining a policy;
computer code for outputting records reflecting the statistics; and
computer code for performing an accounting operation based on the records and the policy;
wherein a timing associated with the output of the records is based on the identified application. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A method for gathering statistics associated with a network session, comprising:
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(a) receiving a plurality of packets including payloads at a plurality of analyzers;
(b) analyzing the plurality of packets including the payloads thereof to identify at least a first flow;
(c) identifying a session associated with the first flow;
(d) identifying additional flows in the plurality of packets associated with the session;
(e) filtering the packets for removing packets unrelated to the session;
(f) gathering a plurality of flow statistics associated with the plurality of flows including timestamps;
(g) identifying at least one application associated with the session;
(h) reconstructing the session utilizing the identified application and the flow statistics;
(i) analyzing the reconstructed session;
(j) determining a policy;
(k) gathering a plurality of session statistics associated with the session from a plurality of layers of a network protocol based on the analysis and the policy;
(l) said session statistics selected from the group consisting of start time, end time, time since last output, number of packets, number of bytes, average time between packets, moving average, latency, throughput, and jitter;
(m) said layers of the network protocol including a physical layer, a data link layer, a network layer, a transport layer, a session layer, a presentation layer, and an application layer;
(n) outputting a plurality of reports including a plurality of the session statistics reported in terms of the identified application, in accordance with the policy;
(o) said reports selected from the group consisting of service detail reports, quality of service reports, and router command reports; and
(p) combining the session statistics from the reports;
(q) wherein the reports are outputted at an application-specific interval;
(r) wherein records are outputted reflecting the statistics, an accounting operation including billing is performed based on the policy, and a timing associated with the output of the records is based on the identified application.
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Specification