The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 29, 2003
Filed:
Mar. 23, 1999
David W. Carr, Nepean, CA;
Paul Nadj, Ottawa, CA;
Alcatel Canada Inc., Kanata, CA;
Abstract
A method and apparatus for packet classification stores rules or parameters for classifying the packets in a memory structure. The memory structure receives a set of rule selection signals, where the memory provides a selected set of rules in response to the rule selection signals. A comparison block operably coupled to the memory receives a key, which is also preferably derived from the header information for the packet. The key includes the relevant information for classifying the packet according to the rules stored in the memory. The comparison block compares the key with each of the rules in the selected set of rules, and when a favorable comparison is determined, the comparison block provides an indication of the favorable comparison. A prioritization block operably coupled to the comparison block prioritizes the rules that resulted in a favorable comparison to determine a preferred rule, where the preferred rule includes the resulting classification information for the packet.