System for user-space network packet modification
US6675218B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 14, 1998 |
| Grant date | Jan 6, 2004 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 14, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04L69/32
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A system for user-space packet modification, including a set of kernel code and a user-level application programming interface (API). The system facilitates creation of a special socket for passing packets between kernel space and user space. The system in turn facilitates creation and application of a packet filter associated with the socket, in order to trap incoming or outgoing packets being processed in the kernel at a designated point in a protocol stack. Once a packet is trapped, it is moved through the socket into user space, thereby at least temporarily preventing the protocol stack from further processing the packet. In user space, an application may operate on the packet, for instance, modifying aspects of the packet or deleting the packet altogether. The system in turn facilitates injection of a packet from user space into kernel space, and into a designated point in the protocol stack for desired stack processing.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.