Patent ID: 8693348

Claim:
A method for determining a type of content, comprising: receiving a first packet from a first port, the first port adapted for receiving at least two types of content over a data network, the first packet received in a data classification module via the first port coupled to the data network; determining, through execution of instructions on a processor of the data classification module, a potential content type for the first packet or for a session with which the first packet is associated, a determined potential content type indicating that at least one classification candidate has been ruled out; receiving a second packet from the first port, the second packet received in the data classification module via the first port coupled to the data network; determining a content type of the first and second packets based on both the first and the second packets; and wherein the first and second packets are transmitted by a sender via the data network to which the first port is connected to a receiver and at least the first and second packets are processed by the data classification module after transmission by the sender and prior to receipt by the receiver.