AN APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR BUNDLING ASSOCIATED NETWORK PROCESS FLOWS IN SERVICE AWARE NETWORKS

摘要

A network apparatus and method capable of providing the appropriate association of process flows streaming through. The association is performed by either uniting or relating relevant process flows. Such process flows are handled as one all encompassing entity, and may be allocated to the same packet processor and assigned other respective system resources in a way that allows for a faster throughput of the system and an improved performance. The disclosed apparatus is capable of allowing both upstream and downstream monitoring of Internet Protocol packets, associate them with a certain process flow, and associate process flows between themselves, when applicable. The apparatus is capable of either uniting or relating such process flows in a way that allows for better system performance.