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.

Date of Patent:
Feb. 23, 2016

Filed:

Dec. 27, 2013
Applicant:

Fortinet, Inc., Sunnyvale, CA (US);

Inventors:

Edward Lopez, Herndon, VA (US);

Joe Mihelich, Folsom, CA (US);

Matthew F. Hepburn, Vancouver, CA;

Assignee:

Fortinet, Inc., Sunnyvale, CA (US);

Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Assistant Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
H04L 29/06 (2006.01); H04L 12/803 (2013.01); H04L 12/741 (2013.01); H04L 29/08 (2006.01);
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
H04L 63/0218 (2013.01); H04L 45/74 (2013.01); H04L 47/125 (2013.01); H04L 67/1002 (2013.01); H04L 63/0227 (2013.01);
Abstract

A method for balancing load among firewall security devices in a network is disclosed. Firewall security devices are arranged in multiple clusters. A switching device is configured with the firewall security devices by communicating control messages and heartbeat signals. Information regarding the configured firewall security devices is then included in a load balancing table. A load balancing function is configured for enabling the distribution of data traffic received by the switching device. A received data packet by the switching device is forwarded to one of the firewall security devices in a cluster based on the load balancing function, the load balancing table and the address contained in the data packet.


Find Patent Forward Citations

Loading…