Patent ID: 6831893
Filing Date: 2004-12-14
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
A network interface that processes data packets transmitted on a network, comprising:a first data path unit that inputs only data packets transmitted upstream on the network, wherein a first data packet input to the first data path unit comprises a first header, said first header comprising a first source address and a first destination address a second data path unit that receives only data packets transmitted downstream on the network, wherein a second data packet received by the second data path unit comprises a second header, said second header comprising a second source address and a second destination address and a classifier unit that inputs the first header from the first data path unit and the second header from the second data path unit, evaluates the first header to determine a flow corresponding to the first data packet, and evaluates the second header to determine a flow corresponding to the second data packet, wherein the first source address is different from the second source address and the first destination address is different from the second destination address, and wherein the first data packet and the second data packet belong to the same flow.