Patent ID: 8842672
Filing Date: 2014-09-23
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A packet processing device for classifying and forwarding network packets, comprising: one or more input ports configured to receive input packets from one or more external source devices; packet routing circuitry configured to process modified packets from packet modification circuitry based upon data within portions of the modified packets recognized for purposes of packet processing by the packet routing circuitry, to ignore data in portions of the modified packets not recognized for purposes of packet processing by the packet routing circuitry, and to forward the modified packets based upon packet classification and forwarding control information; packet modification circuitry configured to receive the input packets, to modify the input packets so that unrecognized data becomes data within recognized portions of the input packets for purposes of packet processing by the packet routing circuitry, and to provide the modified packets to the packet routing circuitry; packet de-modification circuitry configured to receive the modified packets from the packet routing circuitry, to remove modifications from the modified packets, and to output reformed packets; one or more output ports configured to receive the reformed packets and to provide the reformed packets as output packets to one or more external destination devices; and a packet processing controller configured to provide the packet classification and forwarding control information to the packet routing circuitry, to provide packet modification control information to the packet modification circuitry, and to provide packet de-modification control information to the packet de-modification circuitry, wherein the packet processing controller is configured to be accessed by an external user to allow user configuration of the packet classification and forwarding control information; wherein the packet modification circuitry is configured to modify the input packets by adding encapsulation headers to the input packets and to insert the unrecognized data into the encapsulation headers, the encapsulation headers becoming recognized portions of the input packets; and wherein the encapsulation headers comprise IP headers configured to hold data copied from unrecognized portions of the input packets.