Network flow switching and flow data export

Details Network flow switching and flow data export Network flow switching and flow data export

1996-05-28

2001-06-05

Teska, Kevin J. (Department: 2123)

Data processing: structural design, modeling, simulation, and em

Emulation

Compatibility emulation

C703S020000, C370S379000, C370S392000, C370S389000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06243667

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to network switching and data export responsive to message flow patterns.
2. Description of Related Art
In computer networks, it commonly occurs that message traffic between a particular source and a particular destination will continue for a time with unchanged routing or switching parameters. For example, when using the file-transfer protocol “FTP” there is substantial message traffic between the file's source location and the file's destination location, comprising the transfer of many packets which have similar headers, differing in the actual data which is transmitted. During the time when message traffic continues, routing and switching devices receiving packets comprising that message traffic must examine those packets and determine the processing thereof.
One problem which has arisen in the art is that processing demands on routing and switching devices continue to grow with increased network demand. It continues to be advantageous to provide techniques for processing packets more quickly. This problem has been exacerbated by addition of more complex forms of processing, such as the use of access control lists.
It would therefore be advantageous to provide techniques in which the amount of processing required for any individual packet could be reduced. With inventive techniques described herein, information about message flow patterns is used to identify packets for which processing has already been determined, and therefore to process those packets without having to re-determine the same processing. The amount of processing required for any individual packet is therefore reduced.
Information about message flow patterns would also be valuable for providing information about use of the network, and could be used for a variety of purposes by network administrators, routing devices, service providers, and users.
Accordingly, it would be advantageous to provide a technique for network switching and data export responsive to message flow patterns.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention provides a method and system for switching in networks responsive to message flow patterns. A message “flow” is defined to comprise a set of packets to be transmitted between a particular source and a particular destination. When routers in a network identify a new message flow, they determine the proper processing for packets in that message flow and cache that information for that message flow. Thereafter, when routers in a network identify a packet which is part of that message flow, they process that packet according to the proper processing for packets in that message flow. The proper processing may include a determination of a destination port for routing those packets and a determination of whether access control permits routing those packets to their indicated destination.
In another aspect of the invention, information about message flow patterns is collected, responsive to identified message flows and their packets. The collected information is reported to devices on the network. The collected information is used for a variety of purposes, including: to diagnose actual or potential network problems, to determine patterns of usage by date and time or by location, to determine which services and which users use a relatively larger or smaller amount of network resources, to determine which services are accessed by particular users, to determine which users access particular services, or to determine usage which falls within selected parameters (such as: access during particular dates or times, access to prohibited services, excessive access to particular services, excessive use of network resources, or lack of proper access).


REFERENCES:
patent: Re. 33900 (1992-04-01), Howson
patent: 4131767 (1978-12-01), Weinstein
patent: 4161719 (1979-07-01), Parikh et al.
patent: 4316284 (1982-02-01), Howson
patent: 4397020 (1983-08-01), Howson
patent: 4419728 (1983-12-01), Larson
patent: 4424565 (1984-01-01), Larson
patent: 4437087 (1984-03-01), Petr
patent: 4438511 (1984-03-01), Baran
patent: 4439763 (1984-03-01), Limb
patent: 4445213 (1984-04-01), Baugh et al.
patent: 4446555 (1984-05-01), Devault et al.
patent: 4456957 (1984-06-01), Schieltz
patent: 4464658 (1984-08-01), Thelen
patent: 4499576 (1985-02-01), Fraser
patent: 4506358 (1985-03-01), Montgomery
patent: 4507760 (1985-03-01), Fraser
patent: 4532626 (1985-07-01), Flores et al.
patent: 4644532 (1987-02-01), George et al.
patent: 4646287 (1987-02-01), Larson et al.
patent: 4677423 (1987-06-01), Benvenuto et al.
patent: 4679189 (1987-07-01), Olson et al.
patent: 4679227 (1987-07-01), Hughes-Hartogs
patent: 4723267 (1988-02-01), Jones et al.
patent: 4731816 (1988-03-01), Hughes-Hartogs
patent: 4750136 (1988-06-01), Arpin et al.
patent: 4757495 (1988-07-01), Decker et al.
patent: 4763191 (1988-08-01), Gordon et al.
patent: 4769810 (1988-09-01), Eckberg, Jr. et al.
patent: 4769811 (1988-09-01), Eckberg, Jr. et al.
patent: 4771425 (1988-09-01), Baran et al.
patent: 4819228 (1989-04-01), Baran et al.
patent: 4827411 (1989-05-01), Arrowhead et al.
patent: 4833706 (1989-05-01), Hughes-Hartogs
patent: 4835737 (1989-05-01), Herrig et al.
patent: 4879551 (1989-11-01), Georgiou et al.
patent: 4893306 (1990-01-01), Chao et al.
patent: 4903261 (1990-02-01), Baran et al.
patent: 4922486 (1990-05-01), Lidinsky et al.
patent: 4933937 (1990-06-01), Konishi
patent: 4960310 (1990-10-01), Cushing
patent: 4962497 (1990-10-01), Ferenc et al.
patent: 4962532 (1990-10-01), Kasiraj et al.
patent: 4965767 (1990-10-01), Kinoshita et al.
patent: 4965772 (1990-10-01), Daniel et al.
patent: 4970678 (1990-11-01), Sladowski et al.
patent: 4979118 (1990-12-01), Kheradpir
patent: 4980897 (1990-12-01), Decker et al.
patent: 4991169 (1991-02-01), Davis et al.
patent: 5003595 (1991-03-01), Collins et al.
patent: 5014265 (1991-05-01), Hahne et al.
patent: 5020058 (1991-05-01), Holden et al.
patent: 5033076 (1991-07-01), Jones et al.
patent: 5034919 (1991-07-01), Sasai et al.
patent: 5054034 (1991-10-01), Hughes-Hartogs
patent: 5059925 (1991-10-01), Weisbloom
patent: 5072449 (1991-12-01), Enns et al.
patent: 5088032 (1992-02-01), Bosack
patent: 5095480 (1992-03-01), Fenner et al.
patent: 5115431 (1992-05-01), Williams et al.
patent: 5128945 (1992-07-01), Enns et al.
patent: 5136580 (1992-08-01), Videlock et al.
patent: 5166930 (1992-11-01), Braff et al.
patent: 5199049 (1993-03-01), Wilson
patent: 5206886 (1993-04-01), Bingham
patent: 5208811 (1993-05-01), Kashio et al.
patent: 5212686 (1993-05-01), Joy et al.
patent: 5224099 (1993-06-01), Corbalis et al.
patent: 5226120 (1993-07-01), Brown et al.
patent: 5228062 (1993-07-01), Bingham
patent: 5229994 (1993-07-01), Balzano et al.
patent: 5237564 (1993-08-01), Lespagnol et al.
patent: 5241682 (1993-08-01), Bryant et al.
patent: 5243342 (1993-09-01), Kattemalalavadi et al.
patent: 5243596 (1993-09-01), Port et al.
patent: 5247516 (1993-09-01), Bernstein et al.
patent: 5249178 (1993-09-01), Kurano et al.
patent: 5249292 (1993-09-01), Chiappa
patent: 5253251 (1993-10-01), Aramaki
patent: 5255291 (1993-10-01), Holden et al.
patent: 5260933 (1993-11-01), Rouse
patent: 5260978 (1993-11-01), Fleischer et al.
patent: 5268592 (1993-12-01), Bellamy et al.
patent: 5268900 (1993-12-01), Hluchyj et al.
patent: 5271004 (1993-12-01), Proctor et al.
patent: 5274631 (1993-12-01), Bhardwaj
patent: 5274635 (1993-12-01), Rahman et al.
patent: 5274643 (1993-12-01), Fisk
patent: 5280470 (1994-01-01), Buhrke et al.
patent: 5280480 (1994-01-01), Pitt et al.
patent: 5280500 (1994-01-01), Mazzola et al.
patent: 5283783 (1994-02-01), Nguyen et al.
patent: 5287103 (1994-02-01), Kasprzyk et al.
patent: 5287453 (1994-02-01), Roberts
patent: 5291482 (1994-03-01), McHarg et al.
patent: 5305311 (1994-04-01), Lyles
patent: 5307343 (1994-04-01), Bostica et al.
patent: 5309437 (1994-05-01), Perlman et al.
patent: 5311509 (1994-05-01), Heddes et al.
patent: 5313454 (1994-05-01), Bustini et al.
patent: 5313582 (1994-05-01), Hendel et al.
patent: 5317562 (1994-05-01), Nardin et al.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

Rating

Network flow switching and flow data export does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Network flow switching and flow data export, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Network flow switching and flow data export will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2438351