Patent ID: 9705918
Date: 2017-07-11
CPC Classifications: H04L

Claim:
1. A method, comprising: receiving, by a computing system on a network, a candidate flow rule, wherein the candidate flow rule is received during live operation of the network, wherein the network is dynamically programmable, wherein a flow rule is associated with an action, wherein an action determines a disposition of a communication corresponding to the flow rule, and wherein a flow rule can be implemented by a network switch on the network; comparing the candidate flow rule against a set of currently active flow rules, wherein the set of currently active flow rules control a flow of communications across the network during live operation of the network; determining that the candidate flow rule does not conflict with the set of currently active flow rules, wherein determining that the candidate flow rule does not conflict includes determining that a same action is associated with both the candidate flow rule and a rule from the set of currently active flow rules; and transmitting a packet when the candidate flow rule does not conflict with the set of currently active flow rules, wherein the packet is configured to reprogram the network switch during live operation of the network, wherein reprogramming the network switch includes adding the candidate flow rule to the network switch.