Patent ID: 7747776
Filing Date: 2010-06-29
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A method for routing a response message packet in a session, said response message packet being a response to a request message packet that traveled along an outbound path in said session from a source computer to a destination computer, said outbound path comprising a first firewall for said source computer and a first router coupled to said first firewall, said method comprising the steps of: in response to receipt of said request message packet by said first firewall, said first firewall broadcasting an identification (session ID) of said session to a first plurality of peer devices including said first router; in response to the step of said first firewall broadcasting said session ID to said first plurality of peer devices, said first plurality of peer devices recording said session ID and an indication that said first firewall received said request message packet as a first hop in said outbound path; subsequent to the step of said first firewall broadcasting said session ID to said first plurality of peer devices, said first firewall forwarding said request message packet to said first router; in response to the step of said first firewall forwarding said request message packet to said first router, said first router broadcasting said session ID to a second plurality of peer devices including said first firewall; in response to the step of said first router broadcasting said session ID to said second plurality of peer devices, said second plurality of peer devices recording said session ID and an indication that said first router received said request message packet as a second hop in said outbound path; subsequent to the step of said second plurality of peer devices recording said session ID and said indication that said first router received said request message packet as said second hop, said second router receiving said response message packet, wherein said response message packet includes said session ID; subsequent to the step of said second router receiving said response message packet, said second router determining that said second router is not in said outbound path based on a session table of said second router not including a record of said second router receiving said request message packet in said outbound path in said session; subsequent to the step of said second router receiving said response message packet and based on said session table of said second router, said second router selecting said first firewall or said first router from one or more devices by in response to the step of said second router selecting said first firewall or said first router, said second router forwarding said response message packet to a first device, wherein said first device is said first firewall or said first router, as selected by the step of said second router selecting said first firewall or said first router.