Patent ID: 6549516
Filing Date: 2003-04-15
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
A method of providing instructions for forwarding packets comprising:broadcasting a general instruction specifying a plurality of flows to a plurality of forwarding agents; receiving at a service manager a first message responsive to the general instruction indicating that a packet for a specific flow has been received by a specific forwarding agent; generating a specific instruction at the service manager for handling the specific flow; and sending the specific instruction for handling the specific flow to the specific forwarding agent; wherein the specific instruction is stored at the forwarding agent until a forwarding agent expiration interval elapses, the specific instruction is stored at the service manager until a service manager expiration interval elapses, and the service manager expiration interval is greater than the forwarding agent expiration interval; and wherein the service manager expiration interval is reset when the service manager receives a message from the specific forwarding agent indicating that a packet matching the general instruction has been received by the forwarding agent.