Enforcing network service level agreements in a network infrastructure element comprises
receiving, at the network infrastructure element, an application-layer message comprising …

6,771,646 B1 8/2004 Sarkissian et al. 2004/0064512 A1 4/2004 Aurora et al. 6,772,211 B2
8/2004 Lu et al. 2004/OO88460 A1 5, 2004 Poisner 6,785,732 B1 8/2004 Bates et al …

6,300,903 B1 10/2001 Richards et al. 2002/0069279 A1 6/2002 Romero et al. 6,321,264
B1* 1 1/2001 Fletcher et al................ TO9, 224 2002, 0083, 817 A1 7, 2002 Hoshino …

A network element such as a router or switch provides application-level quality of service for
application-layer messages processed in the network element, using application QoS logic …

(57) ABSTRACT A method is disclosed for application layer message-based load balancing.
According to one aspect, when a network element receives one or more data packets that …

Network elements provide application-level QoS for applica tion-layer messages processed
therein. An application based message is examined upon IP reassembly thereof. Informa …

(22) Filed: Jan. 25, 2005(Continued) Primary Examiner—Larry Donaghue (65) Prior
Publication Data(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Hickman Palermo Truong & US …

5,790,542 A 8, 1998 Kim et al. 6,021,135 A 2, 2000 Ishihara et al. session or database
connection state information, is deter 6. 1 15.37 s A 9, 2000 Hendel et al. mined from the …

A method is disclosed for protecting a network against a denial-of-service attack by
inspecting application layer messages at a network element. According to one aspect, when …

A method is disclosed for interpreting an application message at a network element using
sampling and heuristics. Using this method, a network element such as a router can …