Method and apparatus for adaptive application message payload content transformation in a network infrastructure element

• US 8,458,467 B2
• Filed: 04/05/2006
• Issued: 06/04/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Dashora, Vinod, Kumar, Sandeep
• Primary Examiner(s): LaForgia, Christian
• Assistant Examiner(s): Jackson, Jenise
• Application Number:
  US11/398,983
• Publication Number:
  US 20060288208A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,617 Days
• Field of Search: 713151-152, 713/167, 726/3, 726/13
• US Class Current: 713/167
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2141 Access rights, e.g. capability lists, access control lists, access tables, access matrices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/656 while running
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/026 using e-messaging for transporting management information, e.g. email, instant messaging or chat
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/06 Management of faults, events, alarms or notifications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0893 Assignment of logical groups to network elements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0894 Policy-based network configuration management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/12 Discovery or management of network topologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5003 Managing SLA; Interaction between SLA and QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5009 Determining service level performance parameters or violations of service level contracts, e.g. violations of agreed response time or mean time between failures [MTBF]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5012 determining service availability, e.g. which services are available at a certain point in time
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5096 wherein the managed service relates to distributed or central networked applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0811 by checking connectivity
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/00 Routing or path finding of packets in data switching networks routing or path finding in wireless networks H04W40/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/56 Routing software
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/563 Software download or update
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0245 Filtering by information in the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/102 Entity profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/12 : Applying verification of the received information cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for data integrity or data verification H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 : based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 : involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/22 : Parsing or analysis of headers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 : Network security protocols

Abstract

Application message payload data elements are transformed within a network infrastructure element such as a packet data router or switch. The network element has application message transformation logic for receiving one or more packets representing an input application message logically associated with OSI network model Layer 5 or above; extracting an application message payload from the input application message; identifying one or more first content elements in the application message payload; transforming the first content elements into one or more second content elements of an output application message; and forwarding the output application message to a destination that is identified in the input application message. Transformations performed in the network element can include field reordering, field enrichment, field filtering, and presentation transformation.

Claims

1. A machine-implemented method comprising:

receiving one or more packets representing an input application message logically associated with OSI network model Layer 5 or above, wherein the input application message is from a sender application to a receiver application;

wherein the one or more packets are received in a network infrastructure data processing element comprising a plurality of network interfaces that are configured to be coupled to a data network for receiving one or more packets therefrom and sending one or more packets thereto, one or more processors, a switching system coupled to the one or more processors and packet forwarding logic, wherein the switching system and packet forwarding logic are configured to receive packets on a first network interface, determine a second network interface on which to send the packets, and to send the packets on the second network interface, and application message transformation logic;

extracting an application message payload from the input application message;

identifying one or more first content elements in the application message payload;

transforming the one or more first content elements into one or more second content elements of an output application message at least in part by;

adding, to the input application message, a field and a corresponding data value that do not exist in the input application message and are expected by the receiver application; and

forwarding the output application message to a destination that is identified in the input application message.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising transforming the first content elements into one or more second content elements of an output application message by any one of:

structural reordering;

transformation based on required media types of the receiver;

security credential mapping;

content aggregation;

content splitting;

service interface virtualization;

performing content-based lookup, extraction, routing and distribution;

content validation;

data validation; and

code page translation.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the transforming step comprises transforming the first content elements into one or more second content elements of an output application message using a transformer bladelet that uses a transformation service, and a transformer factory that creates a transformer function that is registered in the transformation service.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the transformer function performs transformation using an extensible extensible stylesheet language transformer that comprises an extensible stylesheet language transformation processor and an extensible markup language reader.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the transformer function performs transformation using a translet-based transformation function, and wherein the transformer function is configured to be coupled to an extensible stylesheet language transformation compiler, and wherein the transformer function comprises logic configured to invoke the extensible stylesheet language transformation compiler to compile an extensible stylesheet language transform file into one or more translets.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a transformation policy that specifies what transformation operations to perform on the application message payload, which translator to use, and a content type of the output message, and performing the transforming step based at least in part on the transformation policy.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising creating and storing one or more extensible stylesheet language transforms, one or more parser plugin transforms, and one or more custom transforms that are logically coupled and perform successive transformation operations on the application message payload.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein forwarding the output message comprises forwarding the output message to a selected instance among a plurality of instances of an application program.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

identifying one or more other content elements in the application message payload;

placing the one or more other content elements in a new message;

distributing the new message to another destination.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the transforming the one or more first content elements into the one or more second content elements comprises changing a value of a data field.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the transforming further includes changing an order of fields in the input application message to an order expected by the receiver application.

22. The method of claim 1, further comprising applying an extensible stylesheet language transformation file to the input application message to generate the output application message.

6. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing one or more sequences of instructions, which instructions, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to carry out the steps of:

receiving one or more packets representing an input application message logically associated with OSI network model Layer 5 or above, wherein the input application message is from a sender application to a receiver application;

wherein the one or more packets are received in a network infrastructure data processing element comprising a plurality of network interfaces that are configured to be coupled to a data network for receiving one or more packets therefrom and sending one or more packets thereto, one or more processors, a switching system coupled to the one or more processors and packet forwarding logic, wherein the switching system and packet forwarding logic are configured to receive packets on a first network interface, determine a second network interface on which to send the packets, and to send the packets on the second network interface, and application message transformation logic;

extracting an application message payload from the input application message;

identifying one or more first content elements in the application message payload;

transforming the one or more first content elements into one or more second content elements of an output application message at least in part by;

adding, to the input application message, a field and a corresponding data value that do not exist in the input application message and are expected by the receiver application; and

forwarding the output application message to a destination that is identified in the input application message.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 6, wherein the one or more sequences of instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the one or more processors to perform:

identifying one or more other content elements in the application message payload;

placing the one or more other content elements in a new message;

distributing the new message to another destination.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 6, wherein the one or more stored sequences of instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform the transforming the one or more first content elements into the one or more second content elements at least in part by changing a value of a data field.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 6, wherein the one or more sequences of instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform the transforming the one or more first content elements into the one or more second content elements at least in part according to a transformation policy that specifies what transformation operations to perform on the application message payload, which translator to use, and a content type of the output message.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 6, wherein the application message transformation logic comprises one or more extensible stylesheet language transforms, one or more parser plugin transforms, and one or more custom transforms that are configured to be logically coupled to and perform successive transformation operations on the application message payload.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 6, wherein the one or more sequences of instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform the transforming the first content elements into one or more second content elements of an output application message by any one of:

transformation based on required media types of the receiver;

security credential mapping;

content aggregation;

content splitting;

service interface virtualization;

performing content-based lookup, extraction, routing and distribution;

content validation;

data validation; and

code page translation.

21. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 6, wherein the transforming further includes changing an order of fields in the input application message to an order expected by the receiver application.

23. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 6, wherein the one or more stored sequences of instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, cause applying an extensible stylesheet language transformation file to the input application message to generate the output application message.

7. A data processing apparatus, comprising:

a plurality of network interfaces that are configured to be coupled to a data network for receiving one or more packets therefrom and sending one or more packets thereto;

one or more processors;

a switching system coupled to the one or more processors and packet forwarding logic, wherein the switching system and packet forwarding logic are configured to receive packets on a first network interface, determine a second network interface on which to send the packets, and to send the packets on the second network interface;

application message transformation logic comprising one or more stored sequences of instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform;

receiving one or more packets representing an input application message logically associated with OSI network model Layer 5 or above, wherein the input application message is from a sender application to a receiver application;

extracting an application message payload from the input application message;

identifying one or more first content elements in the application message payload;

transforming the one or more first content elements into one or more second content elements of an output application message at least in part by

adding, to the input application message, a field and a corresponding data value that do not exist in the input application message and are expected by the receiver application; and

forwarding the output application message to a destination that is identified in the input application message.

9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the application message transformation logic comprises one or more extensible stylesheet language transforms, one or more parser plugin transforms, and one or more custom transforms that are logically coupled and perform successive transformation operations on the application message payload.

11. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the destination comprises a selected instance among a plurality of instances of an application program.

24. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the one or more stored sequences of instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the transforming according to a transformation policy that specifies what transformation operations to perform on the application message payload, which translator to use, and a content type of the output message.

25. The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising sequences of instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform transforming the first content elements into one or more second content elements of an output application message by any one of:

transformation based on required media types of the receiver;

security credential mapping;

content aggregation;

content splitting;

service interface virtualization;

performing content-based lookup, extraction, routing and distribution;

content validation;

data validation; and

code page translation.

26. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the application message transformation logic comprises a transformer bladelet that uses a transformation service, and a transformer factory that creates a transformer function that is registered in the transformation service.

27. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the transformer function is coupled to an extensible extensible stylesheet language transformer that comprises an extensible stylesheet language transformation processor and an extensible markup language reader.

28. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the transformer function comprises a translet-based transformation function, and wherein the transformer function is configured to be coupled to an extensible stylesheet language tranasformation compiler, and wherein the transformer function comprises logic configured to invoke the extensible stylesheet language transformation compiler to compile an extensible stylesheet language transform file into one or more translets.

29. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the apparatus comprises any of a packet data router and a packet data switch configured to couple to a packet-switched network.

30. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the one or more stored sequences of instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the one or more processors to perform:

identifying one or more other content elements in the application message payload;

placing the one or more other content elements in a new message;

distributing the new message to another destination.

31. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the one or more stored sequences of instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform the transforming the one or more first content elements into the one or more second content elements at least in part by changing a value of a data field.

32. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the transforming further includes changing an order of fields in the input application message to an order expected by the receiver application.

33. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the application message transformation logic comprises an extensible stylesheet language transformation processor configured to apply an extensible stylesheet language transformation file to the input application message to generate the output application message.