Unified Gateway Packet Classification Index
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Solution Overview
Problem
In typical gateway configurations, packets are repeatedly classified at each node, leading to redundant processing inefficiencies as the same information is extracted and compared against similar rules at multiple nodes, resulting in sub-optimal routing and security processing.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a unified services gateway that globally classifies packets once for multiple nodes using a common classifier, with the classification index being used across all nodes to determine node-specific actions, and centrally storing information needed by multiple nodes to eliminate redundant processing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If packets are classified at each gateway node independently, then each node can determine its own policy for the packet, but redundant processing occurs as the same information is extracted and compared multiple times
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the classification function across multiple gateway nodes by introducing a common classifier that performs packet classification once and shares the results with all nodes. This eliminates redundant classification operations at each node while maintaining accurate policy determination through centralized classification logic.
Solution Approach 2:
The common classifier serves multiple gateway nodes simultaneously, providing a universal classification service that benefits all nodes. Instead of each node having its own dedicated classifier, the universal classifier performs the classification function for the entire gateway system, improving overall productivity while maintaining reliability.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the same classification rules are applied at multiple nodes, then consistent policy enforcement is achieved, but processing time increases due to repeated classification operations
Solution Approach 1:
The common classifier performs packet classification in advance, generating classification results that are then reused by all gateway nodes. This preliminary classification action eliminates the need for repeated classification operations at each node, reducing processing time while maintaining policy consistency through the shared classification results.
Solution Approach 2:
The classification results produced by the common classifier are copied and distributed to all gateway nodes. Instead of each node performing its own classification, nodes receive copies of the classification results, which maintains policy consistency across all nodes while dramatically reducing the time spent on classification operations.
3Adaptability or versatility
If information is extracted from packets at each node, then node-specific processing can be performed, but redundant information extraction increases processing overhead
Solution Approach 1:
The common classifier extracts the necessary information from packets once and makes this extracted information available to all gateway nodes. Each node then uses this pre-extracted information for its specific processing needs, eliminating the redundant information extraction operations while maintaining the ability to perform node-specific processing.
Data Source
AI summary
Classifying packets is disclosed. In some embodiments, a packet can be classified once for a plurality of nodes. The classification of a packet can be used at a receiving node to determine the receiving node policy for the packet. In some embodiments, the classification of a packet is specified by a classification index associated with the packet. In some embodiments, the receiving node policy for the packet can be determined by performing a lookup in a data structure associated with the receiving node based at least in part on the classification index of the packet. In some embodiments, the classification of the packet is sufficient to specify not only the receiving node policy but also a plurality of policies of a plurality of nodes.