Abstract: A method and apparatus for identifying data patterns of a file are described herein. In one embodiment, an exemplary process includes, but is not limited to, receiving a data packet of a data stream containing a file segment of a file originated from an external host and destined to a protected host of a local area network (LAN), the file being transmitted via multiple file segments contained in multiple data packets of the data stream, and performing a data pattern analysis on the received data packet to determine whether the received data packet contains a predetermined data pattern, without waiting for a remainder of the data stream to arrive. Other methods and apparatuses are also described.

Abstract: Some embodiments of an efficient string search have been presented. In one embodiment, a string of bytes representing content written in a non-delimited language is received, wherein the content has been classified into a predetermined category. In a single pass through the string of bytes, a set of N-grams is searched for simultaneously. Statistical information on occurrences of the N-grams, if any, in the string of bytes is collected. In some embodiments, a model is generated based on the statistical information, where the model is usable by a content filter to classify content.

Abstract: Some embodiments of on-the-fly pattern recognition with configurable bounds have been presented. In one embodiment, a pattern matching engine is configured based on user input, which may include values of one or more user configurable bounds on searching. Then the configured pattern matching engine is used to search for a set of features in an incoming string. A set of scores is updated based on the presence of any of the features in the string while searching for the features. Each score may indicate a likelihood of the content of the string being in a category. The search is terminated if the end of the string is reached or if the user configurable bounds are met. After terminating the search, the scores are output.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus to perform multiple packet payload analysis have been disclosed. In one embodiment, the method includes receiving a plurality of data packets, each of the plurality of data packets containing a portion of a data pattern, determining whether each of the plurality of data packets is out of order, and making and storing a local copy of the corresponding data packet if the corresponding data packet is out of order. Other embodiments have been claimed and described.

Abstract: Techniques for notification of reassembly-free file scanning are described herein. According to one embodiment, a first request for accessing a document provided by a remote node is received from a client. In response to the first request, it is determined whether a second request previously for accessing the document of the remote node indicates that the requested document from the remote node contains offensive data. If the requested document contains offensive data, a message is returned to the client, without accessing the requested document of the remote node, indicating that the requested document is not delivered to the client.

Abstract: Techniques for data pattern analysis using deterministic finite automaton are described herein. In one embodiment, a number of transitions from a current node to one or more subsequent nodes representing one or more sequences of data patterns is determined, where each of the current node and subsequent nodes is associated with a deterministic finite automaton (DFA) state. A data structure is dynamically allocated for each of the subsequent nodes for storing information associated with each of the subsequent nodes, where data structures for the subsequent nodes are allocated in an array maintained by a data structure corresponding to the current node if the number of transitions is greater than a predetermined threshold. Other methods and apparatuses are also described.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for identifying data patterns of a file are described herein. In one embodiment, an exemplary process includes, but is not limited to, receiving a data packet of a data stream containing a file segment of a file originated from an external host and destined to a protected host of a local area network (LAN), the file being transmitted via multiple file segments contained in multiple data packets of the data stream, and performing a data pattern analysis on the received data packet to determine whether the received data packet contains a predetermined data pattern, without waiting for a remainder of the data stream to arrive. Other methods and apparatuses are also described.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus to perform multiple packet payload analysis have been disclosed. In one embodiment, the method includes receiving a plurality of data packets, each of the plurality of data packets containing a portion of a data pattern, determining whether each of the plurality of data packets is out of order, and making and storing a local copy of the corresponding data packet if the corresponding data packet is out of order. Other embodiments have been claimed and described.

Abstract: Some embodiments of an efficient string search have been presented. In one embodiment, a string of bytes representing content written in a non-delimited language is received, wherein the content has been classified into a predetermined category. In a single pass through the string of bytes, a set of N-grams is searched for simultaneously. Statistical information on occurrences of the N-grams, if any, in the string of bytes is collected. In some embodiments, a model is generated based on the statistical information, where the model is usable by a content filter to classify content.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for centralized policy programming and distributive policy enforcement is described. A method comprises centrally maintaining a plurality of policy definitions for one or more subscribers, generating policy configurations using the plurality of policy definitions, each of the policy configurations being specific to one of the plurality of policy definitions, and disseminating the policy configurations to the appropriate ones of the subscribers' networks.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus request web pages and content rating information thereof have been disclosed. In one embodiment, the method includes receiving a request from a user for a web page, retrieving content rating of the web page in response to the request, and fetching the web page substantially simultaneously with the retrieving of the content rating in response to the request. Other embodiments have been claimed and described.

Abstract: Techniques for notification of reassembly-free file scanning are described herein. According to one embodiment, a first request for accessing a document provided by a remote node is received from a client. In response to the first request, it is determined whether a second request previously for accessing the document of the remote node indicates that the requested document from the remote node contains offensive data. If the requested document contains offensive data, a message is returned to the client, without accessing the requested document of the remote node, indicating that the requested document is not delivered to the client.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for centralized policy programming and distributive policy enforcement is described. A method comprises centrally maintaining a plurality of policy definitions for one or more subscribers, generating policy configurations using the plurality of policy definitions, each of the policy configurations being specific to one of the plurality of policy definitions, and disseminating the policy configurations to the appropriate ones of the subscribers' networks.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus request web pages and content rating information thereof have been disclosed. In one embodiment, the method includes receiving a request from a user for a web page, retrieving content rating of the web page in response to the request, and fetching the web page substantially simultaneously with the retrieving of the content rating in response to the request. Other embodiments have been claimed and described.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for multimedia content filtering are described herein. In one embodiment, an example of a network access device, in response to multimedia content transmitted from a source over a first network and destined to a destination over a second network, opens the multimedia content within the network access device interfacing the first and second networks. A content rating operation is performed on the opened multimedia content to determine whether the multimedia content should be transmitted to the destination over the second network. Other methods and apparatuses are also described.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for multimedia content filtering are described herein. In one embodiment, an example of a network access device, in response to multimedia content transmitted from a source over a first network and destined to a destination over a second network, opens the multimedia content within the network access device interfacing the first and second networks. A content rating operation is performed on the opened multimedia content to determine whether the multimedia content should be transmitted to the destination over the second network. Other methods and apparatuses are also described.

Abstract: Some embodiments of on-the-fly pattern recognition with configurable bounds have been presented. In one embodiment, a pattern matching engine is configured based on user input, which may include values of one or more user configurable bounds on searching. Then the configured pattern matching engine is used to search for a set of features in an incoming string. A set of scores is updated based on the presence of any of the features in the string while searching for the features. Each score may indicate a likelihood of the content of the string being in a category. The search is terminated if the end of the string is reached or if the user configurable bounds are met. After terminating the search, the scores are output.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus to perform multiple packet payload analysis have been disclosed. In one embodiment, the method includes receiving a plurality of data packets, each of the plurality of data packets containing a portion of a data pattern, determining whether each of the plurality of data packets is out of order, and making and storing a local copy of the corresponding data packet if the corresponding data packet is out of order. Other embodiments have been claimed and described.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for identifying data patterns of a file are described herein. In one embodiment, an exemplary process includes, but is not limited to, receiving a data packet of a data stream containing a file segment of a file originated from an external host and destined to a protected host of a local area network (LAN), the file being transmitted via multiple file segments contained in multiple data packets of the data stream, and performing a data pattern analysis on the received data packet to determine whether the received data packet contains a predetermined data pattern, without waiting for a remainder of the data stream to arrive. Other methods and apparatuses are also described.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus to perform multiple packet payload analysis have been disclosed. In one embodiment, the method includes receiving a plurality of data packets, each of the plurality of data packets containing a portion of a data pattern, determining whether each of the plurality of data packets is out of order, and making and storing a local copy of the corresponding data packet if the corresponding data packet is out of order. Other embodiments have been claimed and described.