Patent ID: 8228896
Filing Date: 2012-07-24
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A method of verifying the accuracy of a value contained in at least a portion of a header of a layer 2 or layer 'packet formed using a layer 2 or layer 3 protocol, the method comprising the steps of: receiving the layer comparing, by the router or switch, information associated with the signature information with the portion of the header to determine if the signature information and the portion of the header are consistent to verify the accuracy of a value contained in the portion of the header; and if the information associated with the signature information and the value of the portion of the header are consistent, implementing a quality of service specified by the header in connection with implementing the routing or switching decision for the layer wherein the encrypted signature information is created from fields of the header that are common to a plurality of packets transmitted by a given sender to enable the same encrypted signature information to be used by the sender in connection with transmission of each of the plurality of packets; wherein the encrypted signature information is an encrypted digest of the header information; and wherein the digest is created from a quality of service field, the source address and the destination address.