Abstract: In a data communications network, an edge router comprises a buffer for storing data packets, one or more line interface cards for routing data packets to and from the data communications network, and a processing engine for processing a limited portion of each packet that has been captured by an associated line interface card in a packet tag. The processing engine includes one or more pipeline processing modules (PPMs) which may be dynamically configured by a system controller to perform specific processing functions in a pipelined arrangement. In order to increase edge router throughput, each packet tag is processed by the processing engine essentially in parallel with storage of the associated data packet in the buffer by the associated line interface card.

Abstract: The novel method and system for classifying packets through the use of filters combines heuristic tree search with the use of filter buckets. This provides high performance and reasonable storage requirement, even when applied to large number of filters (from 4K to 1 million). In addition, the novel method can adapt to the input packet distribution by taking into account the relative filter usage. The capability of employing a large number of filters in a packet classifciation system is useful in providing value-added services, such as security, quality of service (QoS), load balancing, and traffic accounting.