Method and apparatus for filtering streaming data
First Claim
1. A device for data-stream filtering, comprising:
- a user interface for receiving;
a set of content types;
a set of content descriptors;
a set of descriptors'"'"' criteria;
a set of operators;
a set of filter definitions; and
a set of rule definitions;
a configuration module storing processor-readable instructions which cause a first processor to;
generate encoded filters based on said filter definitions, each encoded filter having a binary state determined by an operator, a content descriptor, and a descriptor criterion;
generate encoded rules based on said rule definitions, each encoded rule having a binary outcome determined according to a binary state of each of at least one filter; and
arrange said encoded rules in hierarchical rule strata where rules within a rule stratum are independent of each other and rules of a rule stratum beyond a root stratum depend on rules of preceding rule strata;
a rule-memory device for storing said encoded rules, said encoded filters, and descriptor definitions;
a network interface for receiving data streams from a network; and
a filtering module for applying said encoded rules to said data streams.
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Abstract
A method of content filtering of data containers of multiple content types is based on generating a set of encoded filters and a set of encoded rules for each content type. Each encoded filter is expressed as a respective operator, from among user-defined operators, and two operands including a content descriptor and a descriptor criterion. A filter has a binary state and a rule may be based on a single filter or a number of selected filters. An apparatus implementing the method has a user interface for receiving user-defined configuration data, a configuration module for generating a set of encoded filters and a set of encoded rules for each content type, a network interface for receiving data containers from a network and transmitting filtered data containers to the network, and a filtering module for applying the rules to received data containers.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A device for data-stream filtering, comprising:
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a user interface for receiving; a set of content types; a set of content descriptors; a set of descriptors'"'"' criteria; a set of operators; a set of filter definitions; and a set of rule definitions; a configuration module storing processor-readable instructions which cause a first processor to; generate encoded filters based on said filter definitions, each encoded filter having a binary state determined by an operator, a content descriptor, and a descriptor criterion; generate encoded rules based on said rule definitions, each encoded rule having a binary outcome determined according to a binary state of each of at least one filter; and arrange said encoded rules in hierarchical rule strata where rules within a rule stratum are independent of each other and rules of a rule stratum beyond a root stratum depend on rules of preceding rule strata; a rule-memory device for storing said encoded rules, said encoded filters, and descriptor definitions; a network interface for receiving data streams from a network; and a filtering module for applying said encoded rules to said data streams. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A device for content filtering of data containers, comprising:
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a first data-memory device storing; a set of content types; a set of content descriptors; a set of descriptors'"'"' criteria; and a set of operators; a first instructions-memory device having stored thereon a first set of processor readable instructions which cause a first processor to; prompt a user to define a set of filters, each filter specifying a content type, a content descriptor, a descriptor criterion, and an operator; encode said each filter to produce a set of encoded filters; prompt said user to define a set of rules; encode said rules to produce a set of encoded rules; and prompt said user to select an order of exercising said encoded rules for each content type to produce a set of content-specific ordered rules; and a second instructions-memory device having stored thereon a second set of processor readable instructions which cause a second processor to; parse each data container into components; determine a content type of each component; and apply a respective set of ordered rules to said each component. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of content filtering of data containers, the method comprising employing at least one processor and at least one memory device storing processor-executable instructions for:
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receiving from a user definitions of content types, content descriptors, descriptors'"'"' criteria, filters, and rules; generating for each said content type, based on said definitions; a set of encoded filters, each encoded filter having a binary state and expressed as a respective operator, from among user-specified operators, and two operands including a content descriptor and a descriptor criterion; and a set of rules, every rule of which expressed as a user-specified function of binary states of selected filters; receiving from a network a data container having components of different content types; determining for each component a respective content type; and assigning to said each component a respective set of rules pertinent to said respective content type. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification