Network traffic synchronization mechanism
US7366101B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 30, 2003 |
| Grant date | Apr 29, 2008 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 1, 2026 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04L41/0894
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Methods, apparatuses and systems directed to a network traffic synchronization mechanism facilitating the deployment of network devices in redundant network topologies. In certain embodiments, when a first network device directly receives network traffic, it copies the network traffic and transmits it to at least one partner network device. The partner network device processes the copied network traffic, just as if it had received it directly, but, in one embodiment, discards the traffic before forwarding it on to its destination. In one embodiment, the partner network devices are operative to exchange directly received network traffic. As a result, the present invention provides enhanced reliability and seamless failover. Each unit, for example, is ready at any time to take over for the other unit should a failure occur. As discussed below, the network traffic synchronization mechanism can be applied to a variety of network devices, such as firewalls, gateways, network routers, and bandwidth management devices.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.