Patent ID: 8687490

Claim:
A method for managing an input flow and an output flow of electronic message traffic into and out of a computer network system based on an open system interconnection model and including at least a network layer (Layer 3) and an application layer (Layer 7), the method comprising: exchanging information directly between Layer 3 and Layer 7, wherein Layer 7 is configured for handling software applications for producing electronic message traffic which includes a plurality of data packets, and wherein Layer 3 is configured for processing the plurality of data packets; at Layer 3, receiving from Layer 7 information regarding the software applications being handled at Layer 7; based on the information, enhancing at least one of the input flow and the output flow of the electronic message traffic; and at Layer 3, enhancing by modifying the processing of the plurality of data packets, in accordance with the information received from Layer 7.