Associating a packet with a flow

• US 7,159,030 B1
• Filed: 07/30/1999
• Issued: 01/02/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Elzur, Uri
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, THU HA T
• Application Number:
  US09/364,085
• Time in Patent Office: 2,713 Days
• Field of Search: 709/223, 709/224, 709/238, 709/240, 709/231, 709/233, 709/250, 709/201, 709/232, 370/392, 370/389, 710/29, 712/28
• US Class Current: 709/238
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/10 Flow control; Congestion control
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/2441 relying on flow classification, e.g. using integrated services [IntServ]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/2475 for supporting traffic characterised by the type of applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/2483 involving identification of individual flows
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/18 Multiprotocol handlers, e.g. single devices capable of handling multiple protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/22 Parsing or analysis of headers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/324 in the data link layer [OSI layer 2], e.g. HDLC
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/325 in the network layer [OSI layer 3], e.g. X.25 H04L69/16 takes precedence

Abstract

A computer system includes a system memory, a processor and a peripheral. The peripheral includes a peripheral memory, a circuit, a first interface to receive a packet and a second interface that is adapted to communicate with the system memory. The peripheral memory is adapted to store a table that includes entries that identify different packet flows. The circuit is adapted to use the table to associate the packet with one of the packet flows and based on the association, interact with the second interface to selectively transfer a portion of the packet to the system memory for processing by the processor.

Claims

1. A method for use with a computer system, comprising:

storing a table in a memory of a peripheral, the table including entries identifying different packet flows;

receiving a packet; and

using the table to associate the packet with one of the packet flows.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the packet indicates a header and the act of using the table comprises:

parsing the packet to identify at least one characteristic of the packet; and

comparing said at least one characteristic to the entries.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said at least one characteristic comprises:

a port number being associated with an application.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said at least one characteristic comprises:

a security attribute.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

based on the association, selectively using hardware to process the packet.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

based on the association, selectively executing software to process the packet.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the peripheral comprises:

a network controller.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing the packet in another memory of the peripheral.

9. A computer system comprising:

a system memory;

a processor; and

a peripheral comprising;

a peripheral memory adapted to store a table including entries identifying different packet flows;

a first interface adapted to receive a packet;

a second interface adapted to communicate with the system memory; and

a circuit adapted to;

use the table to associate the packet with one of the packet flows, and

based on the association, interact with the second interface to selectively transfer a portion of the packet to the system memory for processing by the processor.

10. The computer system of claim 9, wherein the peripheral comprises:

a network controller.

11. The computer system of claim 9, wherein the packet indicates a header and the circuit is further adapted to:

parse the packet to identify flow characteristics of the packet; and

compare the characteristics to the entries to associate the packet with one of the packet flows.

12. The computer system of claim 9, wherein the characteristics comprise:

a port number.

13. The computer system of claim 9, wherein the characteristic comprise:

a security attribute.

14. The computer system of claim 9, further comprising:

another memory coupled to the first interface and adapted to store the packet.