Patent ID: 9515934
Filing Date: 2016-12-06
CPC Classification: H04L

Claim Text:
1. A particular packet inspection device comprising: a storage medium to store a data structure containing information relating to load distribution across packet inspection devices of a stack, wherein the information in the data structure is dynamically modifiable based on input from a master in the stack in response to metric information regarding utilization of the packet inspection devices, and wherein the information relating to load distribution favors keeping incoming data units at the particular packet inspection device; a switch to determine, based on the data structure, whether a received data unit is to be processed by the particular packet inspection device or by a different packet inspection device in the stack; and an inspection module to examine content of the received data unit based on a determination by the switch that the received data unit is to be processed by the particular packet inspection device, wherein the switch is to receive a second data unit that has been redirected to the particular packet inspection device from another packet inspection device of the stack, and wherein the switch is to cause the second data unit to be processed by the inspection module and to prevent further redirection of the second data unit to a further packet inspection device of the stack.