System using stream specification and action specification stored in policy cache to process the flow of data packets by appropriate action processor
First Claim
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1. A method for processing a flow of packets of a stream over a computer network, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing initial packets from the flow of packets of the stream to a flow classifier for analysis of the initial packets to aid in determining an action specification;
determining said action specification for the flow of packets of the stream;
providing the action specification to a policy cache, said action specification detailing the specific further processing of the packets of the stream;
directing the flow of packets of the stream to a stream classifier;
selecting a stream specification from the policy cache for the flow of packets of the stream; and
activating an action processor according to the stream specification to process the flow of packets of the stream.
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Abstract
A hardware-based policy engine that employs a policy cache to process packets of network traffic. The policy engine includes a stream classifier that associates each packet with at least one action processor based on data in the packet, and the action processor further acts on the packets based on the association determined by the stream classifier.
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Citations
9 Claims
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1. A method for processing a flow of packets of a stream over a computer network, the method comprising the steps of:
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providing initial packets from the flow of packets of the stream to a flow classifier for analysis of the initial packets to aid in determining an action specification; determining said action specification for the flow of packets of the stream; providing the action specification to a policy cache, said action specification detailing the specific further processing of the packets of the stream; directing the flow of packets of the stream to a stream classifier; selecting a stream specification from the policy cache for the flow of packets of the stream; and activating an action processor according to the stream specification to process the flow of packets of the stream. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A system for processing a flow of packets over a computer network, the system comprising:
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a policy engine that receives an action specification, said action specification detailing the specific further processing of the flow of packets from a policy-based application, the policy engine having a stream classifier that matches the flow to a stream classification, and a plurality of action processors, each one of the plurality of action processors being associated with an action specification; and a policy cache that stores action specifications and stream classifications, the stream classifier processes the flow of packets by checking each packet, selecting one action specification from the policy cache, one of the plurality of action processors applies the selected action specification to the packet. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9)
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Specification