In-Line Network Device For Storing Application-Layer Data, Processing Instructions, And/Or Rule Sets

In a network device situated in a communication path between a first network node and a second network node, a method for maintaining at least one selected from the group consisting of application data, instructions, and rule sets, comprising:

• at the network device, performing the steps of:
• intercepting a first network message from the first network node and intended for the second network node, the first network message comprising at least one selected from the group consisting of application data, instructions, and rule sets;
• storing a portion of the first network message at a storage device associated with the network device, the stored portion comprising at least one of application data, instructions, and rule sets;
• removing the stored portion from the first network message to generate a groomed network message, the groomed network message comprising an index identifying the stored portion;
• transmitting the groomed network message from the network device to the second network node;
• intercepting a second network message from the second network node and intended for the first network node, the second network message comprising index data identifying the stored portion;
• responsive to intercepting the second network message, retrieving, from the storage device associated with the network device, the portion identified by the index data;
• and
• transmitting the second network message and the retrieved portion to the first network node.

A computer program product for maintaining at least one selected from the group consisting of application data, instructions, and rule sets in a network device situated in a communication path between a first network node and a second network node, the first network node comprising a server belonging to a first group of servers, comprising:

• a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium;
• and
• computer program code, encoded on the medium, for causing a network device to perform the steps of:
• intercepting a first network message from the first network node and intended for the second network node, the first network message comprising at least one selected from the group consisting of application data, instructions, and rule sets;
• storing a portion of the first network message at a storage device associated with the network device, the stored portion comprising at least one of application data, instructions, and rule sets;
• removing the stored portion from the first network message to generate a groomed network message, the groomed network message comprising an index identifying the stored portion;
• transmitting the groomed network message from the network device to the second network node;
• intercepting a second network message from the second network node and intended for a server belonging to the first group of servers, the second network message comprising index data identifying the stored portion;
• responsive to intercepting the second network message, retrieving, from the storage device associated with the network device, the portion identified by the index data;
• and
• transmitting the second network message and the retrieved portion to a selected server belonging to the first group of servers.

A computer program product for maintaining at least one selected from the group consisting of application data, instructions, and rule sets in a network device situated in a communication path between a first network node and a second network node, comprising:

• a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium;
• and
• computer program code, encoded on the medium, for causing a network device to perform the steps of:
• intercepting a first network message from the first network node and intended for the second network node, the first network message comprising at least one selected from the group consisting of application data, instructions, and rule sets;
• storing a portion of the first network message at a storage device associated with the network device, the stored portion comprising at least one of application data, instructions, and rule sets;
• removing the stored portion from the first network message to generate a groomed network message, the groomed network message comprising an index identifying the stored portion;
• transmitting the groomed network message from the network device to the second network node;
• intercepting a second network message from the second network node and intended for the first network node, the second network message comprising index data identifying the stored portion;
• responsive to intercepting the second network message, retrieving, from the storage device associated with the network device, the portion identified by the index data;
• and
• transmitting the second network message and the retrieved portion to the first network node.

A network device situated in a communication path between a first network node and a second network node, the first network node comprising a server belonging to a first group of servers, for maintaining at least one selected from the group consisting of application data, instructions, and rule sets, comprising:

• a communication module, for intercepting a first network message from the first network node and intended for the second network node, the first network message comprising at least one selected from the group consisting of application data, instructions, and rule sets;
• a storage device, for storing a portion of the first network message, the stored portion comprising at least one of application data, instructions, and rule sets;
• and
• a processor, for removing the stored portion from the first network message to generate a groomed network message, the groomed network message comprising an index identifying the stored portion;
• wherein:
• the communication module transmits the groomed network message from the network device to the second network node;
• the communication module intercepts a second network message from the second network node and intended for a server belonging to the first group of servers, the second network message comprising index data identifying the stored portion;
• responsive to intercepting the second network message, the processor retrieves, from the storage device associated with the network device, the portion identified by the index data;
• and
• the communication module transmits the second network message and the retrieved portion to a selected server belonging to the first group of servers.

A network device situated in a communication path between a first network node and a second network node, for maintaining at least one selected from the group consisting of application data, instructions, and rule sets, comprising:

• a communication module, for intercepting a first network message from the first network node and intended for the second network node, the first network message comprising at least one selected from the group consisting of application data, instructions, and rule sets;
• a storage device, for storing a portion of the first network message, the stored portion comprising at least one of application data, instructions, and rule sets;
• and
• a processor, for removing the stored portion from the first network message to generate a groomed network message, the groomed network message comprising an index identifying the stored portion;
• wherein:
• the communication module transmits the groomed network message from the network device to the second network node;
• the communication module intercepts a second network message from the second network node and intended for the first network node, the second network message comprising index data identifying the stored portion;
• responsive to intercepting the second network message, the processor retrieves, from the storage device associated with the network device, the portion identified by the index data;
• and
• the communication module transmits the second network message and the retrieved portion to the first network node.