Patent ID: 8111692

Claim:
A method for modifying network traffic, the method comprising: receiving a packet at an intermediate network node at a network layer, the packet associated with a communication flow between a sending device and a receiving device; determining, by the intermediate network node, whether the intermediate network node is capable of performing layer injection, wherein determining, by the intermediate network node, whether the intermediate network node is capable of performing layer injection includes checking each individual layer of the communication protocol layers and sublayers of the layers of the communication protocol layers to identify individual layers and sublayers that are protected from being modified by the intermediate network node; responsive to a determination each individual layer of the communication protocol layers and sublayers of the layers of the communication protocol layers are not protected and that the intermediate network node is capable of performing layer injection: identifying at least one of an application or protocol associated with the packet using deep packet inspection; determining a routing modification based on the identified application or protocol; and modifying the packet with the determined routing modification.