Network Device Session Offloading via Security Bypass
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Solution Overview
Problem
Network devices face challenges in efficiently managing traffic flow due to extensive processing resources and latency caused by performing security checks on all packets, especially when handling high-volume sessions, leading to wasted resources and memory depletion.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a network device with the capability to intelligently identify and offload sessions using a set of offloading indicators and machine learning techniques, allowing packets from selected sessions to bypass security processing units, thereby conserving resources and reducing latency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If security checks are performed on all packets, then network security is improved, but processing resources are wasted and latency increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments packets into two categories: new packets that require security checks and established packets that can be offloaded. A session table maintains segmentation of session states (new, established, closed), allowing the system to differentiate between packets needing security validation and those that can bypass security processing, thus resolving the contradiction between security and efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary security checks on the first packet of each session to establish trust before offloading subsequent packets. By conducting security validation in advance (on initial packets) and caching session information in the session table, the system prepares ahead of time to enable rapid offloading of established packets without repeated security checks
2Reliability
If security checks are performed on all packets, then security reliability is improved, but processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different processing qualities to different packets based on their session state. New packets receive full security inspection (high quality validation), while established packets from the session table receive expedited processing with minimal checks (lower quality validation). This local differentiation of processing quality reduces overall latency while maintaining security for packets that actually need it
3Productivity
If session information is cached for offloading, then packet processing speed is improved, but memory resources are depleted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only essential offloading criteria from full session information and stores them in the session table (source IP, source port, destination IP, destination port, protocol, session state). By taking out only the minimum necessary information required for offloading decisions rather than caching complete session details, the system reduces memory consumption while maintaining processing speed benefits
Data Source
AI summary
A network device may receive a packet associated with a traffic flow of a session that includes session identification information for the session. The network device may determine to offload subsequent packets associated with the traffic flow using offloading indicators and/or a data model. The network device may store, using a data structure, the session identification information with other session identification information for other sessions that have been selected for offloading, and may provide the packet to a device. The network device may receive another packet associated with the traffic flow, and may determine to offload the other packet by determining that the other packet includes the session identification information. The device may offload the other packet to permit the other packet to traverse through the network device without the network device performing security checks on the other packet, and may provide the other packet to the device.