Patent ID: 6678734
Filing Date: 2004-01-13
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
A method for intercepting and processing network packets in a computer system, where network packets are communicated between a first network adapter and a first protocols entity, of which said first network adapter implements a first network interface, the method comprising the steps ofproviding a set of three or more replacement functions within a packet interceptor software component, said replacement functions capable of processing said network packets in a desired way or receiving status information about a network interface; hooking at least a first original function used for transmitting network packets from said first protocols entity to said first network adapter into a first replacement function; hooking at least a second original function used for transmitting network packets from said first network adapter to said first protocols entity into a second replacement function; and hooking at least a third original function used for receiving information about the status of the network interface implemented by said first network adapter into a third replacement function; and wherein hooking is defined as redirecting function calls to all said original functions to corresponding replacement functions so that said replacement functions are invoked by said redirected function calls.