| abstract |
An apparatus and method that can enable multi-protocol data processing at a single point in a data network. The apparatus includes a logic state machine that is capable of performing a variety of pre-defined actions for a plurality of communication protocols. The present data processing solution enables wire speed data processing, utilizing minimal instruction memory, because all the data resources required to process multiple protocols are stored on state machine tables, in the data memory. According to the data processing methodology, incoming packet headers are parsed for session ID, protocol ID and events ID per protocol. A relevant session history block is then found by a General State Machine Handler, according to the protocol ID, and the current state of each protocol is extracted. Subsequently, the relevant State Machine Table is found, according to the protocol ID, wherein a list of actions is described. These actions are then executed, according to the rules defined in an Action Handler Library, by the General State Machine Handler. |