Network traffic processing according to network traffic rule criteria and transferring network traffic metadata in a network device that includes hosted virtual machines
US8954957B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 1, 2009 |
| Grant date | Feb 10, 2015 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 13, 2031 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F2009/45595
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Network devices include hosted virtual machines and virtual machine applications. Hosted virtual machines and their applications implement additional functions and services in network devices. Network devices include data taps for directing network traffic to hosted virtual machines and allowing hosted virtual machines to inject network traffic. Network devices include unidirectional data flow specifications, referred to as hyperswitches. Each hyperswitch is associated with a hosted virtual machine and receives network traffic received by the network device from a single direction. Each hyperswitch processes network traffic according to rules and rule criteria. A hosted virtual machine can be associated with multiple hyperswitches, thereby independently specifying the data flow of network traffic to and from the hosted virtual machine from multiple networks. The network device architecture also enables the communication of additional information between the network device and one or more virtual machine applications using an extended non-standard network protocol.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.