Mechanism for tracing back anonymous network flows in autonomous systems
US7565426B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 7, 2003 |
| Grant date | Jul 21, 2009 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 23, 2026 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04L2463/146
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A system and method of tracing network flows in an autonomous communications system are described. The Autonomous System may be formed of multiple subgroups depending on size and application. Each subgroup contains multiple, interconnected routers which participate in transporting data flow across the Autonomous System (AS). A Director within the AS has a full and complete vision of the network topology. When it is desired to trace a particular flow because of an identified attack, selected routers in key locations—through which that particular flow travels—mark packets with labels which enable the tracing of the path. These labels permit the source of the attack, at least in so far as it travels through the AS, to be identified. If the number of entry (or key) points to the AS is larger than the number of available labels, the AS will be divided into subgroups, the flow is traced from subgroup to subgroup.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.