System for content based message processing

Abstract

The present invention provides a packet having a message and a processing priority associated with the message. The processing priority is dynamically changeable by a function operating on the message. The present invention also provides a method for associating a processing priority to a message by receiving the message, determining the processing priority for the message and associating the processing priority with the message such that the processing priority is dynamically changeable by a function operating on the message. In addition, the present invention provides a method for scheduling messages by receiving one or more messages and storing each message in a multidimensional processing queue based on a processing priority and an attribute associated with the message. Each queued message from the multidimensional processing queue is scheduled for processing based on an algorithm.

1 . A packet comprising:
 a message;   a processing priority associated with the message, the processing priority being dynamically changeable on a per packet basis by a function operating on the message, wherein the processing priority comprises one or more parameters per packet that are evaluated to produce a priority for the packet.   
     
     
         2 . The packet as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the processing priority comprises one or more parameters that are evaluated to produce a priority for the message. 
     
     
         3 . The packet as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the processing priority is associated with the message by attaching the processing priority to the start of the message. 
     
     
         4 . The packet as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the processing priority is associated with the message by appending the processing priority to the end of the message. 
     
     
         5 . The packet as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the processing priority is associated with the message by linking the processing priority to the message using pointers. 
     
     
         6 . A method for associating a processing priority to a message comprising the steps of:
 receiving the message;   determining the processing priority for the message on a per packet basis;   associating the processing priority with the message such that the processing priority is dynamically changeable by a function operating on the message, wherein the processing priority comprises one or more parameters that are evaluated per packet to produce a priority for the packet.   
     
     
         7 . The method as recited in  claim 6 , wherein the processing priority comprises one or more parameters that are evaluated to produce a priority for the message. 
     
     
         8 . The method as recited in  claim 6 , wherein the processing priority is associated with the message by attaching the processing priority to the start of the message. 
     
     
         9 . The method as recited in  claim 6 , wherein the processing priority is associated with the message by appending the processing priority to the end of the message. 
     
     
         10 . The method as recited in  claim 6 , wherein the processing priority is associated with the message by linking the processing priority to the message using pointers. 
     
     
         11 . A computer program loadable into a memory to be read and executed by a processor, comprising:
 code segments adapted to associate a processing priority to a message, said code segments further comprising:   a code segment for receiving the message;   a code segment for determining the processing priority for the message;   a code segment for associating the processing priority with the message such that the processing priority is dynamically changeable by a function operating on the message, wherein the processing priority comprises one or more parameters that are evaluated per packet to produce a priority for the packet.   
     
     
         12 . The computer program as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the processing priority comprises one or more parameters that are evaluated to produce a priority for the message. 
     
     
         13 . The computer program as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the processing priority is associated with the message by attaching the processing priority to the start of the message. 
     
     
         14 . The computer program as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the processing priority is associated with the message by appending the processing priority to the end of the message. 
     
     
         15 . The computer program as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the processing priority is associated with the message by linking the processing priority to the message using pointers. 
     
     
         16 . A method for scheduling one or more messages comprising the steps of:
 receiving the one or more messages on a per packet basis;   storing each message in a multidimensional processing queue based on a processing priority and an attribute associated with the message, wherein the processing priority comprises one or more parameters that are evaluated per packet to produce a priority for the packet; and   scheduling each queued message from the multidimensional processing queue for processing based on an algorithm,   
     
     
         17 . The method as recited in  claim 16 , wherein the attribute is a virtual private network classification. 
     
     
         18 . The method as recited in  claim 16 , wherein the attribute is a destination software function. 
     
     
         19 . The method as recited in  claim 16 , wherein the attribute is a function index. 
     
     
         20 . The method as recited in  claim 16 , wherein the attribute is a functionality type. 
     
     
         21 . The method as recited in  claim 16 , wherein the algorithm provides no more than a pre-determined number of consecutive messages to a function within a time period. 
     
     
         22 . The method as recited in  claim 16 , wherein the processing priority comprises one or more parameters that are evaluated to produce a priority for the message. 
     
     
         23 . The method as recited in  claim 16 , wherein the processing priority is dynamically changeable by a function operating on the message. 
     
     
         24 . A computer program embodied on a computer readable medium loadable into a computer memory to be read and executed by a processor, comprising
 code segments adapted to schedule one or more messages on a per packet basis, further comprising:   a code segment for receiving the one or more messages;   a code segment for storing each message in a multidimensional processing queue based on a processing priority and an attribute associated with the message wherein the processing priority comprises one or more parameters that are evaluated per packet to produce a priority for the packet, and further wherein the processing priority; and   a code segment for scheduling each queued message from the multidimensional processing queue for processing based on an algorithm.   
     
     
         25 . The computer program as recited in  claim 24 , wherein the attribute is a virtual private network classification. 
     
     
         26 . The computer program as recited in  claim 24 , wherein the attribute is a destination software function. 
     
     
         27 . The computer program as recited in  claim 24 , wherein the attribute is a function index. 
     
     
         28 . The computer program as recited in  claim 24 , wherein the attribute is a functionality type. 
     
     
         29 . The computer program as recited in  claim 24 , wherein the algorithm provides no more than a pre-determined number of consecutive messages to a function within a time period. 
     
     
         30 . The computer program as recited in  claim 24 , wherein the processing priority comprises one or more parameters that are evaluated to produce a priority for the message. 
     
     
         31 . The computer program as recited in  claim 24 , wherein the processing priority is dynamically changeable by a function operating on the message.