Patent ID: 8447718

Claim:
A device for data-stream filtering, comprising: a user interface for receiving: a set of content types; a set of content descriptors; a set of descriptors' criteria; a set of operators; a set of filter definitions; and a set of rule definitions; a configuration module storing processor-readable instructions which cause a first processor to: generate encoded filters based on said filter definitions, each encoded filter having a binary state determined by an operator, a content descriptor, and a descriptor criterion; generate encoded rules based on said rule definitions, each encoded rule having a binary outcome determined according to a binary state of each of at least one filter; and arrange said encoded rules in hierarchical rule strata where rules within a rule stratum are independent of each other and rules of a rule stratum beyond a root stratum depend on rules of preceding rule strata; a rule-memory device for storing said encoded rules, said encoded filters, and descriptor definitions; a network interface for receiving data streams from a network; and a filtering module for applying said encoded rules to said data streams.