Abstract: The method for implementing mechanisms for Layer 7 context accumulation for enforcing Layers 4, 7, and verb-based rules is presented. The method comprises: receiving stream data, and identifying a packet in the stream. If the packet includes Layer 7 headers: for each Layer 7 header: determining content of the packet identified by a Layer 7 header's identifier; and parsing the content to extract firewall input data. If one or more rules at least partially match the firewall input data, determining that a particular rule also includes additional information that cannot be found in the firewall input data; performing a DPI on the content to determine whether at least a portion of the additional information is found in the content; extracting additional input data from the content and adding it to the firewall input data; and applying the rules to the firewall input data to process the packet.

Abstract: The method for processing interleaved Layers 4, 7 and verb-based rulesets is presented. The method comprises receiving stream data; identifying a packet in the stream; parsing the packet to extract firewall input data; and determining that one or more rules at least partially match the firewall input data. If any of the rules also include additional information not found in the firewall input data, a DPI is performed to determine whether a first portion of the additional information is found in the packet. If no first portion of the additional information is found, a full DPI is performed to determine whether a second portion of the additional information is found in the packet. If the second portion is found, additional input data is extracted from the packet, and added to the firewall input data. The rules are applied to the firewall input data to determine whether to transmit the packet.

Abstract: The method for implementing mechanisms for Layer 7 context accumulation for enforcing Layers 4, 7, and verb-based rules is presented. The method comprises: receiving stream data, and identifying a packet in the stream. If the packet includes Layer 7 headers: for each Layer 7 header: determining content of the packet identified by a Layer 7 header's identifier; and parsing the content to extract firewall input data. If one or more rules at least partially match the firewall input data, determining that a particular rule also includes additional information that cannot be found in the firewall input data; performing a DPI on the content to determine whether at least a portion of the additional information is found in the content; extracting additional input data from the content and adding it to the firewall input data; and applying the rules to the firewall input data to process the packet.