System and method for efficient classification and processing of network traffic
First Claim
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1. A system, comprising:
- multiple flow analysis processors which are configured to analyze data content of flows of communication packets, wherein each of the multiple flow analysis processors is configured to carry out a different analytics function;
at least one classification processor, which is configured to classify each the flows of communication packets to one of a plurality of classifications, wherein the plurality of classifications include one or more classifications selected from a group of classifications consisting of;
unclassified;
requested for further analysis;
not requested for further analysis;
requested for forwarding to a monitoring center;
requested for long-term storage; and
requested for further analysis by a given flow analysis processor of the multiple flow analysis processors; and
a front-end processor, which is configured to receive input packets from a communication network, to associate each of the input packets with a respective one of the input flows of communication packets, and determine to which of the multiple flow analysis processors to forward each of the flows based on the respective classification of each of the flows of communication packets.
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Abstract
Methods and systems for analyzing flows of communication packets. A front-end processor associates input packets with flows and forwards each flow to the appropriate unit, typically by querying a flow table that holds a respective classification for each active flow. In general, flows that are not yet classified are forwarded to the classification unit, and the resulting classification is entered in the flow table. Flows that are classified as requested for further analysis are forwarded to an appropriate flow analysis unit. Flows that are classified as not requested for analysis are not subjected to further processing, e.g., discarded or allowed to pass.
24 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A system, comprising:
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multiple flow analysis processors which are configured to analyze data content of flows of communication packets, wherein each of the multiple flow analysis processors is configured to carry out a different analytics function; at least one classification processor, which is configured to classify each the flows of communication packets to one of a plurality of classifications, wherein the plurality of classifications include one or more classifications selected from a group of classifications consisting of;
unclassified;
requested for further analysis;
not requested for further analysis;
requested for forwarding to a monitoring center;
requested for long-term storage; and
requested for further analysis by a given flow analysis processor of the multiple flow analysis processors; anda front-end processor, which is configured to receive input packets from a communication network, to associate each of the input packets with a respective one of the input flows of communication packets, and determine to which of the multiple flow analysis processors to forward each of the flows based on the respective classification of each of the flows of communication packets. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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5. A system, comprising:
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multiple flow analysis processors which are configured to analyze data content of flows of communication packets, wherein each of the multiple flow analysis processors is configured to carry out a different analytics function; at least one classification processor, which is configured to classify each the flows of communication packets to one of a plurality of classifications; a front-end processor, which is configured to receive input packets from a communication network, to associate each of the input packets with a respective one of the flows of communication packets, and determine to which of the multiple flow analysis processors to forward each of the flows based on the respective classification of each of the flows of communication packets; and an additional flow analysis processor of a given one of the multiple flow analysis processors, the additional flow analysis processor configured to carry out the same analytics function as the given one of the multiple flow analysis processors, wherein the front-end processor is further configured to balance a flow analysis load among the additional flow analysis processor and the given one of the multiple flow analysis processors.
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10. A method, comprising:
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receiving an input packet from a communication network at a front-end processor; associating, by the front-end processor, the input packet with a flow of communication packets; determining, by the front-end processor, to which one of multiple flow analysis processors to forward the input packet based on a classification of the flow to one of a plurality of classifications, wherein each of the multiple flow analysis processors is configured to carry out a different analytics function to analyze data content of flows of communications packets, wherein the plurality of classifications include one or more classifications selected from a group of classifications consisting of;
unclassified;
requested for further analysis;
not requested for further analysis;
requested for forwarding to a monitoring center;
requested for long-term storage; and
requested for further analysis by a given flow analysis processor of the multiple flow analysis processors; andsending, by the front-end processor, the input packet to the determined flow analysis processor. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method, comprising:
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receiving an input packet from a communication network at a front-end processor; associating, by the front-end processor, the input packet with a flow of communication packets; determining, by the front-end processor, to which one of multiple flow analysis processors to forward the input packet based on a classification of the flow to one of a plurality of classifications, wherein each of the multiple flow analysis processors is configured to carry out a different analytics function to analyze data content of flows of communications packets; sending, by the front-end processor, the input packet to the determined flow analysis processor; and balancing, by the front-end processor, a flow analysis load among the determined flow analysis processor and an additional flow analysis processor configured to carry out the same analytics function as the determined flow analysis processor.
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Specification