Network packet classification

Details Network packet classification Network packet classification

1999-08-25

2003-07-22

Yao, Kwang Bin (Department: 2664)

Multiplex communications

Data flow congestion prevention or control

Flow control of data transmission through a network

C370S395320

Reexamination Certificate

active

06597661

ABSTRACT:

TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention is directed to the field of computer networking, and more particularly, to the field of network packet processing.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In computer networks, information can be transmitted between two connected computer systems, herein termed the “source” and “destination” computer systems. A particular pair of computer systems exchanging information are said to be engaged in a “session.”
Many protocols are available for formatting and transmitting this information, such as Transmission Control Protocol (“TCP”), defined in Internet Requests for Comment 675, 761, and 793, currently available at ftp://ftp.isi.edu/in-notes/rfc675.txt, ftp://ftp.isi.edu/in-notes/rfc761.txt, and ftp://ftp.isi.edu/innotes/rfc793.txt, respectively; and User Datagram Protocol (“UDP”), defined in Internet RFC 768, currently available at ftp://ftp.isi.edu/in-notes/rfc768.txt.
Protocols such as TCP and UDP generally specify dividing a body of information to be transmitted into a number of pieces, called “packets,” attaching to each packet a “header” containing additional information about the packet, and sending these packets from the source computer system to the destination computer system. Both of the above protocols specify including in each packet header a numerical network address of the source computer system and the destination computer system. They additionally each specify including in each packet header a “port number” for each the source and destination computer system that allows these computer systems to differentiate between packets arriving for different purposes.
In many cases, it is useful to track packets based on the particular network session that they are part of. Packet classification of this sort may be used, for example, to perform packet filtering—determining, for packets addressed to a protected computer system, which to forward to the protected computer system and which to discard. Such classification may also be used to selectively perform packet modification, such as reformatting packet contents, or to perform network traffic analysis. Unfortunately, existing approaches to classifying packets to identify the network sessions to which they belong each have significant disadvantages. Accordingly, a new, more effective approach to classifying packets to identify the network sessions to which they belong would have considerable utility.


REFERENCES:
patent: 5216670 (1993-06-01), Ofek et al.
patent: 5526352 (1996-06-01), Min et al.
Cerf, Vinton, et al., “Specification of Internet Transmission Control Program,” RFC 675, Dec. 1974, 66 pages.
Postel, Jon, “DOD Standard Transmission Control Protocol,” RFC 761, University of Southern California, Information Sciences Institute, Jan. 1980, 87 pages.
Postel, J., “User Datagram Protocol,” RFC 768, Univeisty of Southern California, Information Sciences Institute, Aug. 28, 1980, 3 pages.
Postel, Jon, “Transmission Control Protocol, DARPA Internet Program Protocol Specification,” RFC 793, University of Southern California, Information Sciences Institute, Sep. 1981, 88 pages.
Hinden, Robert M., “IP Next Gerneration Overview,” May 14, 1995, 21 pages http://playground.sum.com/pub/ipng/html/INET-IPng-Paper.html (Accessed Jul. 16, 1999).
Talley, Brooks, “IPv6 cuts address chaos,”Intranets&I-Commerce, Tech Spotlight, Aug. 24, 1998 (vol. 20, Issue 34), 6 pages http://archive.infoworld.com/cgi-bin/displayArchive.pl?/98/34/ipv6a.dat.htm (Accessed Jul. 16, 1999).

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