Patent ID: 7624142

Claim:
A system for processing a plurality of packets according to a first application defined by an entity, each of the plurality of packets being communicated via a network from a source to a destination intended by the source, each of the plurality of packets comprising a plurality of portions, the system comprising: a packet interceptor coupled with the network and operative to selectively capture a packet of the plurality of packets from the network; a processor coupled with the packet interceptor and a first memory; and first logic stored in the first memory, the first logic being executable by the processor to allow the entity to select and relate a first set of at least two of a plurality of packet processing operations to be performed by the processor with respect to the captured packet to implement the first application, the plurality of packet processing operations including at least one of a data gathering operation, decision making operation, action taking operation or combinations thereof, the performance of at least one of the at least two packet processing operations being based on at least a portion of a previously captured packet which was communicated via the network from the destination to the source; and wherein the processor is further coupled with second logic, the second logic defining a plurality of sub-operations executable by the processor, each of the plurality of packet processing operations being associated with a sub-set of the plurality of sub-operations, the execution of which implements the associated packet processing operation, and further wherein the performance of a packet processing operation of the plurality of packet processing operations causes the processor to automatically execute the associated sub-set of the plurality of sub-operations to implement the packet processing operation transparently to the entity.