Packet processing graphs

A computer-readable storage medium having computer-executable instructions stored thereupon which, when executed by one or more processors of a computing device, cause the computing device to perform operations comprising:

• accessing a packet processing graph comprising classifier nodes arranged as a packet processing graph, the classifier nodes comprising a first classifier node and a second classifier node, the first and second classifier nodes being arranged in a first packet processing path of the packet processing graph;
• at the first classifier node of the packet processing graph:
• storing node match data indicative of a match corresponding to content from a combination of two packet header field types including a first packet header field type and a second packet header field type different from the first packet header field type;
• at the second classifier node of the packet processing graph:
• storing node match data indicative of a match corresponding to content from at least one packet header field type comprising possible permutations of values of the first packet header field type;
• wherein the first classifier node is arranged to precede the second classifier node in the first packet processing path;
• processing, by the first classifier node using the combination of the two packet header field types as a graph data object of the packet processing graph, a packet when the packet matches the match data stored at the first classifier node;
• and
• when the packet does not match the match data stored at the first classifier node, sending the packet to the second classifier node via a no-match output of the first classifier node.

A method of processing packets in a packet processing system comprising a processor and memory, the method comprising:

• accessing a packet processing graph comprising classifier nodes arranged as a packet processing graph, the classifier nodes comprising a first classifier node and a second classifier node, the first and second classifier nodes being arranged in a first packet processing path of the packet processing graph;
• at the first classifier node of the packet processing graph:
• storing node match data indicative of a match corresponding to content from a combination of two packet header field types including a first packet header field type and a second packet header field type different from the first packet header field type;
• at the second classifier node of the packet processing graph:
• storing node match data indicative of a match corresponding to content from at least one packet header field type comprising possible permutations of values of the first packet header field type;
• wherein the first classifier node is arranged to precede the second classifier node in the first packet processing path;
• processing, by the first classifier node using the combination of the two packet header field types as a graph data object of the packet processing graph, a packet when the packet matches the match data stored at the first classifier node;
• and
• when the packet does not match the match data stored at the first classifier node, sending the packet to the second classifier node via a no-match output of the first classifier node.