| 摘要 |
A method and computer program product for classifying network communication packets being processed in a network stack. The computer program product is a centralized packet classifier (80) that receives calssification requests from drivers (86, 88, 90, 92) or other clients according to a defined interface. This reduces the cost for producing a driver (86, 88, 90, 92) since less code is required initially at development time as well as a corresponding reduction in maintenance costs. The present invention groups drivers or other clients that utilize a certaint body of classification information into classification families. Further, reference patterns used to make classifications are stored in separate databases depending on whether they are specific or general. These exists a single specific pattern database for all specific reference patterns regardless of classification family having a constant search time and a general pattern database for each general reference pattern for each classification family defined to the system whose search time may vary according to the amount of information contained therein. When servicing a classification request, the packet classifier (80) will first search the specific pattern database followed by a search in the appropriate general pattern database if necessary.
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