Patent ID: 8792491

Claim:
A method for providing multi-level classification of a network packet, the method comprising: (a) classifying, by a first classifier operating in a first portion of a network stack of a device, a packet of network traffic received via a network port as corresponding to a first predetermined application; (b) including with the packet, by the first classifier, an application identifier of the first predetermined application; (c) receiving, by a second classifier operating at layer of the network stack above the first portion, the packet communicated by the first classifier; (d) classifying, by the second classifier, the packet as corresponding to a second predetermined application; (e) determining, by the second classifier, to use the first classifier's classification of the packet identified by the application identifier responsive to determining by the second classifier that the first predetermined application is more granular than the second predetermined application; and (f) maintaining the application identifier of the first classifier.