REPROGRAMMABLE HARDWARE FOR EXAMINING NETWORK STREAMING DATATO DETECT REDEFINABLE PATTERNS AND DEFINE RESPONSIVE PROCESSING

摘要

A reprogrammable packet processing system for processing streams is disclose d. A reprogrammable data processor is programmed to determine whether a stream of data includes a string that matches a specific data pattern. If so, the data processor performs a specified action. The data processor is reprogrammable to search packets for the presence of different data patterns and/or perform different actions when a matching string is detected. A reconfiguration devi ce receives input from a user specifying the data pattern and action, processes the input to generate the configuration information necessary to reprogram t he data processor, and transmits the configuration information to the packet processor for reprogramming thereof.