Applying session services based on packet flows

Abstract

Session services are employed in a networked computing environment to apply specific processing to an exchange of data between processes. In a wireless communication network, a single wireless link is typically shared among multiple users through wireless channels, which are allocated and switched among the users on a demand basis. Packets sent over the wireless link need to be signaled and tagged accordingly to initiate and employ the session service for the intended packets which comprise the flow. A method for identifying and applying session services to a wireless link includes identifying a packet flow over the wireless link corresponding to a received message by employing a flow identifier and filter. The packet flow corresponds to a session, and is mapped to at least one session service. The mapped session service is then applied to the received message. A session service may therefore be transparently applied to a packet flow over a wireless link independently of the other packet flows which may also be transmitted over the wireless link.

1 . A method for identifying and applying session services to data packets, the method comprising the steps of: 
 generating a first transmission profile wherein the first transmission profile contains information that maps data packets transferred onto a wireless link with a first set of session services;    generating a second transmission profile wherein the second transmission profile contains information that maps data packets received on the wireless link with a second set of session services; and    sending a traffic flow mapping message to an opposing end of the wireless link, wherein the traffic flow mapping message includes the second transmission profile.    
     
     
         2 . A method as defined in  claim 1  further comprising the steps of: 
 establishing a flow identifier (ID) that identifies a new data packet flow on the wireless link; and    placing the flow ID in the traffic flow mapping message.    
     
     
         3 . A method as defined in  claim 2  further comprising the steps of: 
 receiving a message for transmission via the connection; and    identifying a transmission profile associated with the received message.    
     
     
         4 . A method as defined in  claim 3  further comprising the step of: 
 using the identified transmission profile to identify a session service associated with the received message.    
     
     
         5 . A method as defined in  claim 4  further comprising the step of: 
 applying the identified session service to the received message.    
     
     
         6 . A method for associating a session service with a data packet flow, the method comprising the steps of: 
 receiving a traffic flow mapping message, the traffic flow mapping message containing information that identifies the data packet flow and an associated session service to be applied to packets associated with the data packet flow; and    updating a flow table with the data packet flow and the associated session service information contained in the traffic flow mapping message wherein the flow table is operable to associate the session service with the data packet flow.    
     
     
         7 . An apparatus for identifying and applying session services to data packets, the apparatus comprising: 
 a wireless link; and    a flow mapper configured to: 
 (a) generate a first transmission profile wherein the first transmission profile contains information that maps packets transferred onto the wireless link with a first set of session services,  
 (b) generate a second transmission profile wherein the second transmission profile contains information that maps packets received on the wireless link with a second set of session services, and  
 (c) send a traffic flow mapping message to an opposing end of the wireless link, the traffic flow mapping message including the second transmission profile.  
   
     
     
         8 . An apparatus as defined in  claim 7  wherein the flow mapper is further configured to: 
 (a) establish a flow identifier (ID) that identifies a new packet flow on the wireless link, and    (b) place the flow ID in the traffic flow mapping message.    
     
     
         9 . An apparatus as defined in  claim 7  wherein the wireless link is included in a connection between the apparatus and the opposing end.  
     
     
         10 . An apparatus as defined in  claim 9  wherein the flow mapper is further configured to: 
 (a) receive a message for transmission via the connection, and    (b) identify a transmission profile associated with the received message.    
     
     
         11 . An apparatus as defined in  claim 10  wherein the flow mapper is further configured to use the identified transmission profile to identify a session service associated with the received message.  
     
     
         12 . An apparatus as defined in  claim 11  wherein the flow mapper is further configured to apply the identified session service to the received message.  
     
     
         13 . A computer readable medium comprising computer executable instructions for: 
 generating a first transmission profile wherein the first transmission profile maps data packets transferred onto a wireless link with a first set of session services;    generating a second transmission profile wherein the second transmission profile maps data packets received on the wireless link with a second set of session services; and    sending a traffic flow mapping message to an opposing end of the wireless link, the traffic flow mapping message including the second transmission profile.    
     
     
         14 . A computer readable medium as defined in  claim 13  further comprising executable instructions for: 
 establishing a flow identifier (ID) that identifies a new data packet flow on the wireless link; and    placing the flow ID in the traffic flow mapping message.