Patent ID: 7609630
Filing Date: 2009-10-27
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A device comprising: an interface for receiving blocks of communication traffic; a plurality of analysis modules operatively coupled to the interface and operable to concurrently analyze a received block of communication traffic relative to respective traffic type definitions, each analysis module of the plurality of analysis modules being further operable to provide an indication of whether the received block of communication traffic conforms to its respective traffic type definition; and a definition set selector operatively coupled to the interface and to the plurality of analysis modules, wherein the respective traffic type definitions comprise definitions associated with a level in a multi-level traffic type definition, wherein the level comprises a predetermined level in a hierarchy of the multi-level traffic type definition, wherein the definition set selector is operable to detect, in overhead of the received block of communication traffic, an indication of a type of the received block of communication traffic at a level of the multi-level traffic type definition that is higher in the hierarchy than the predetermined level, wherein the hierarchy comprises groups of types at the predetermined level associated with respective types at the higher level, and wherein the plurality of analysis modules comprises respective groups of analysis modules corresponding to the groups of types.