Patent ID: 7668969

Claim:
One or more processor readable media tangibly embodying one or more rules for performing one or more network switch functions by or for a network switch, the one or more rules conforming to an improved rule structure comprising: a first specification specifying (1) a packet profile; (2) a counter having a contents that are updated when a packet having the specified profile is received at or transmitted from the network switch; (3) a usage-derived packet statistic derived from the counter contents; (4) one or more conditions to be met by the usage-derived packet statistic during a check of the usage-derived packet statistic; and (5) an interval of time after which a check of the usage-derived packet statistic is repeated one or more times, the repeated check determining whether the usage-derived packet statistic derived from then current counter contents meets the specified one or more conditions; and a second specification defining one or more actions to be taken by or for the network switch whenever the specified one or more conditions are determined to be met by the usage-derived packet statistic during any of the checks that are performed.