Larry Alan Maxwell

US Patent:

7002974, Feb 21, 2006

Filed:

Mar 28, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/885249

Inventors:

James Robert Deerman - Lucas TX, US
Aswinkumar Vishanji Rana - Plano TX, US
Milton Andre Lie - Plano TX, US
Mark Warden Hervin - Plano TX, US
John Raymond Carman - Fairview TX, US
Larry Gene Maxwell - Farmers Branch TX, US

Assignee:

Netrake Corporation - Richardson TX

International Classification:

H04L 12/28
H04L 12/54

US Classification:

370401, 370229, 709224

Abstract:

A network processing system is described that is able to scan the entire contents of data packets passing through it, and to associate related data packets into discrete sessions, or flows. This ability allows the network processing system to learn characteristics of flows and events contained within those flows. Further, the network processing system can remember characteristics and events that have already been learned for use in processing future data packets. And finally, the network processing system can apply treatments to individual data packets and flows based on the characteristics and events learned, as well as previous state that has been maintained for that flow. To accomplish this, the network processing system includes processing engines, referred to as learning state machines, that scan the entire contents of data packets, use specific information in the data packets to associate the data packet with a particular session, or flow, identify characteristics of the data packet and associated flow, as well as events contained within the flow, store a state for the flow that contains the characteristics and events already learned, and determine a treatment for the data packet based on its contents and flow state.

US Patent:

20020143948, Oct 3, 2002

Filed:

Apr 11, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/832670

Inventors:

Robert Maher - Plano TX, US
Aswinkumar Rana - Plano TX, US
Milton Lie - Plano TX, US
Travis Strother - Rowlett TX, US
Mark Hervin - Plano TX, US
James Deerman - Lucas TX, US
John Carman - Fairview TX, US
Larry Maxwell - Farmers Branch TX, US

International Classification:

G06F015/173
G06F015/16

US Classification:

709/226000, 709/224000, 709/232000

Abstract:

A network processing system is described that functions as a policy gateway in order to enforce programmable network policies designed to provide quality of service in and across networks. The programmable network policies are converted into an image load file using a management interface at a remote server, and sent to the network processing system where the image is loaded into a processing engine. The network processing system includes line interfaces to take the data from the network and to send processed data back onto the network. Unidirectional processing engines take the data from the line interfaces, and associate each data packet with an identifier, which identifies the flow of which the data packet is a part. The flows are then compared to the database of programmable network policies and the processing engine determines a treatment based on the results of the comparison. A quality of service processor in the processing engine then uses the treatment to modify and direct the data packets in a manner consistent with the network policies.