Network Content Inspection via Payload Hashing and Resource Scheduling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Network-based content inspection (NBCI) systems face inefficiencies due to high computational resource requirements for inspecting large payloads, leading to network latency, system resource exhaustion, and increased costs from duplicated tasks, especially in high-traffic enterprise and service provider networks.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a content recognition module that uses one-way hash functions to identify previously inspected payloads, allowing recognized payloads to bypass inspection and scheduling system resource allocation to prioritize other communication sessions, while sharing inspection results among NBCI systems to minimize redundant tasks and optimize resource usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If content inspection is performed on all payloads to ensure network security, then security reliability is improved, but network latency increases and throughput decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary hashing of payload content before inspection, creating a fingerprint that can be quickly compared against known malicious patterns. This preliminary action filters out benign content before applying resource-intensive inspection algorithms, reducing overall inspection time while maintaining security
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates hash copies of payload content instead of inspecting the original large payloads directly. These hash copies serve as simplified representations that can be inspected rapidly, achieving the same security goal with minimal time loss
2Reliability
If inspection resources are allocated to handle large payloads to maintain inspection accuracy, then inspection completeness is improved, but system resource exhaustion occurs under heavy traffic
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies different inspection resource allocations to different parts of the traffic stream based on local characteristics. Payloads with suspicious hash patterns receive full inspection resources, while benign payloads receive minimal processing, optimizing resource distribution across the system
Solution Approach 2:
The patent dynamically changes inspection parameters such as hash algorithm complexity and inspection depth based on traffic conditions and payload characteristics, allowing the system to maintain accuracy when needed while conserving resources during normal operation
3Reliability
If each NBCI system independently inspects all incoming payloads to ensure local security, then security coverage is improved, but computing resources are wasted on duplicated inspection tasks
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple NBCI systems merge their hash table databases to create a shared reputation service. When one system inspects a payload and generates a hash, this hash is shared with other systems in the network, allowing them to recognize and skip inspection of identical payloads, eliminating duplicated computing efforts while maintaining comprehensive security coverage
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach enhances NBCI efficiency by reducing redundant inspections, preventing system resource exhaustion, and lowering costs by allowing NBCI systems to learn from each other's results, thereby improving network stability and performance without compromising security.
Implementation Method 1
uses a content recognition module for determining if the payload or a component thereof has been previously inspected
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to network based content inspection (NBCI). More specifically, the invention provides systems and methods for improved NBCI in complex networks that are typical for enterprises and service providers. These networks are shared by large numbers of concurrent users who send and retrieve application content of various sizes via a variety of communication protocols. This invention improves the efficiency of the NBCI of an individual communication session by learning from the processing results of other communication sessions which may be carried via different network protocols. In addition, the invention provides methods that do not weaken the overall security for the network and that improve the stability of NBCI systems by minimizing the risk of system resource exhaustion if subjected to a burst of large payloads. The invention also improves perceived network stability by preventing the system resources from being “live-locked” by a few large content inspection tasks. Further still, the invention improves the cost-effectiveness of NBCI by allowing the optimization knowledge gained by one NBCI node be shared with other nodes.