Method and system for direct data recording

Apparatus for data recording, comprising:

• a network interface, which is arranged to communicate with a communication network;
• and
• a processor, which is coupled to accept a definition of a rule, said rule identifying data items exchanged between an originating endpoint and a recipient endpoint over said communication network, having nodes, as target data items for storage by a storage device, said storage device having a communication address, and to configure a node of said communication network with said rule and with said communication address of said storage device, wherein said rule causes said node to recognize said target data items while forwarding said data items between said originating and recipient endpoints and to forward respective copies of said recognized target data items to said communication address of said storage device.

A system for data recording, comprising:

• a storage device, which has a communication address and is coupled to receive copies of target data items that are exchanged over a communication network and to store said received copies;
• and
• a Recording Control System (RCS), which is coupled to accept a definition of a rule, said rule identifying data items exchanged between an originating endpoint and a recipient endpoint over said communication network, having nodes, as target data items for storage by said storage device, and to configure a node of said communication network with said rule and with said communication address of said storage device, wherein said rule causes said node to recognize said target data items while forwarding said data items between said originating and recipient endpoints and to forward respective copies of said recognized target data items to said communication address of said storage device.