Method and apparatus for policy-based packet classification using hashing algorithm

1. A method in a data processing system for processing a request, the method comprising:

receiving the request;

responsive to a first hash value being present within the request, comparing the first hash value to a second hash value, wherein the second hash value represents a current policy configuration for a quality of service;

responsive to a match between the first hash value and the second hash value, setting a quality of service based on information associated with the first hash value;

responsive to an absence of a hash value in the request, identifying a policy rule for processing the request to form an identified policy rule;

identifying a classification for the request using the identified policy rule; hashing the current policy configuration, of which the identified policy rule is a part, using a hashing algorithm to generate a current hash value; and

placing the current hash value and the information into the request.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the hash value and the information are placed into a cookie.

3. A method in a data processing system for processing a request, the method comprising:

responsive to receiving a request containing a selected cookie in which the selected cookie includes a first hash value and information associated with the hash value, determining whether the first hash value corresponds to a second hash value, wherein the second hash value represents a current policy configuration for processing reguests by the data processing system;

responsive to a correspondence between the first hash value and the second hash value, processing the request using the information;

responsive to receiving a request containing the selected cookie, determining whether the selected cookie is stale;

responsive to a determination that the selected cookie is not stale, generating a new classification; and

responsive to a determination that the selected cookie is stale, preventing initiation of the step of determining whether the first hash value corresponds to a second hash value.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising:

responsive to an absence of the selected cookie, processing the request with the current policy.

5. The method of claim 3 , wherein the selected cookie includes a universal resource identifier, a user identification, and a user group identification.

6. A data processing system for processing a request, the data processing system comprising:

receiving means for receiving the request;

comparing means, responsive to a first hash value being present within the request, for comparing the first hash value to a second hash value, wherein the second hash value represents a current policy configuration for a quality of service; and

setting means, responsive to a match between the first hash value and the second hash value, for setting a quality of service based on information associated with the first hash value;

first identifying means, responsive to an absence of a hash value in the request, for identifying a policy rule for processing the request to form an identified policy rule;

second identifying means for identifying a classification for the request using the identified policy rule;

hashing means for hashing the current policy configuration, of which the identified policy rule is a part, using a hashing algorithm to generate a current hash value; and

placing means for placing the current hash value and the information into the request.

7. The data processing system of claim 6 , wherein the hash value and the information are placed into a cookie.

8. A data processing system for processing a request, the data processing system comprising:

first determining means, responsive to receiving a request containing a selected cookie in which the selected cookie includes a first hash value and information associated with the hash value, for determining whether the first hash value corresponds to a second hash value, wherein the second hash value represents a current policy configuration for processing reguests by the data processing system;

processing means, responsive to a correspondence between the first hash value and the second hash value, for processing the request using the information;

second determining means, responsive to receiving a request containing the selected cookie, for determining whether the selected cookie is stale;

generating means, responsive to a determination that the selected cookie is not stale, for generating a new classification for the request; and

preventing means, responsive to a determination that the selected cookie is stale, for preventing initiation of the first determining means.

9. The data processing system of claim 8 , wherein the processing means is a first processing means and hater comprising:

second processing means, responsive to an absence of the selected cookie, for processing the request with the current policy configuration to generate a first classification for the request;

applying means for applying a hashing algorithm to the current policy configuration to generate the first hash value; and

placing means for placing the first hash value and information associated with the first hash value within a new cookie.

10. The data processing system of claim 8 , wherein the selected cookie includes a universal resource identifier, a user identification, and a group identification.

11. A computer program product in a computer readable medium for processing a request, the computer program product comprising:

first instructions for receiving the request;

second instructions, responsive to a first hash value being present within the request, for comparing the first hash value to a second hash value, wherein the second hash value represents a current policy configuration for a quality of service;

third instructions, responsive to a match between the first hash value and the second hash value, for setting a quality of service based on information associated with the first hash value,

fourth instructions, responsive to an absence of a hash value in the request, for identifying a policy rule for processing the request to form an identified policy rule;

fifth instructions for identifying a classification for the request using the identified policy rule;

sixth instructions for hashing the current policy configuration, of which the identified policy rule is a part, using a hashing algorithm to generate a current hash value; and

seventh instructions for placing the current hash value and the information into the request.

12. A computer program product in a computer readable medium for processing a request, the computer program product comprising:

first instructions, responsive to receiving a request containing a selected cookie in which the selected cookie includes a first hash value and information associated with the hash value, for determining whether the first hash value corresponds to a second hash value, wherein the second hash value represents a current policy configuration for processing reguests by the data processing system;

second instructions, responsive to a correspondence between the first hash value and the second hash value, for processing the request using the information;

third instructions, responsive to receiving a request containing the selected cookie, for determining whether the selected cookie is stale;

fourth instructions, responsive to a determination that the cookie is not stale, for generating a new classification for the request; and

fifth instructions, responsive to a determination that the selected cookie is stale, for preventing initiation of the first determining step.

13. The computer program product of claim 11 , wherein the hash value and the information arc placed in a cookie.

14. The computer program product of claim 12 further comprising:

sixth instructions, responsive to en absence of the selected cookie, for processing the request with the current policy configuration to generate a first classiacation for the request;

seventh instructions for applying a bashing algorithm to the current policy configuration to generate the first hash value; and

eighth instructions for placing the first hash value and information associated with the first hash value within a new cookie.

15. The computer program product of claim 12 , wherein the selected cookie includes a universal resource identifier, a user identification, and a group identification. configuration to generate a first classification for the request;

applying a hashing algorithm to the current policy configuration to generate the first hash value; and

placing the first bash value and information associated with the first hash value within a new cookie.