PACKET CLASSIFICATION METHOD AND APPARATUS

摘要

Apparatus for performing packet classification of data packets belonging to a packet flow through a packet data network. The apparatus comprises an ingress interface for receiving packets of said packet flow, and an active filter for disturbing one or more of said packets or for otherwise disturbing a characteristic of said flow. An egress interface is provided for sending the packets including a disturbance towards a destination. A monitor is also provided for monitoring said packet flow and/or one or more associated packet flows received by the apparatus to detect subsequent reactions in the flow/s to the disturbance, whilst a flow classifier is provided for attempting to classify the flow into one of a set of defined classes according to a detected reaction.