Patent ID: 7761596

Claim:
A method for redirecting incoming packets to a plurality of servers comprising the steps of: receiving an incoming packet; determining if the incoming packet matches an application filter or a dynamic filter; if not, then a firewall filter drops the incoming packet; if yes, then determining if the incoming packet matched the application filter; if not, then the incoming packet matches the dynamic filter which redirects the incoming packet to a chosen server; and if yes, then the application filter creates a new dynamic filter which redirects future incoming packets associated with the incoming packet to a new chosen remote server; wherein said application filter includes: a source IP address field; a destination IP address field; a protocol field; and an action field; wherein said dynamic filter includes: a source IP address field; a destination IP address field; a protocol field; and an action field which has action logic that redirects the incoming packet to the chosen server; and, wherein said firewall filter includes: a source IP address field; a destination IP address field; a protocol field; and, an action field with action logic that drops the incoming packet.