Patent ID: 9392010
Filing Date: 2016-07-12
CPC Classification: H04L

Claim Text:
1. A method of processing network metadata generated on a network transmitting network traffic using one or more network protocols, the network including devices at least some of which receive network traffic through an ingress interface and transmit network traffic through an egress interface, the method comprising the steps of: receiving network metadata from a plurality of sources in a data processing system, in at least one data format; determining the type or character of said network metadata; processing said network metadata to extract useful information therefrom; converting at least a portion of said network metadata into one or more different data formats that are used in said data processing system for other system metadata, in response, at least in part, to the results of said determining step; wherein said processing step is performed while said network metadata is in transition on said network between a network device that generated said network metadata and a device that is able to store said network metadata; and wherein said processing step is achieved by applying at least one policy governing network metadata processing, wherein said at least one policy is applied for the purpose of deduplicating flow information reported by flow exporters, and wherein said at least one policy includes the steps of: