Events from network flows

A system comprising a processor;

• and a memory to store data used by the processor, wherein the processor is operative to:
• receive a plurality of network flows from a network;
• read, from the memory, a flow-specific criteria for each one event-type of a plurality of event-types, wherein for each one event-type of the plurality of event-types, the flow-specific criteria of the one event-type is defined to identify if each one network flow of the plurality of network flows potentially forms part of one of more of the one evens-type when each one network flow of the plurality of network flows is examined independently of all other ones of the plurality of network flows with respect to the flow-specific criteria of the one event-type;
• for each one event-type of the plurality of event-types, compare each one network flow of the plurality of network flows satisfying the flow-specific criteria of the one event-type to determine if the one network flow satisfies the flow-specific criteria of the one event-type;
• for each one event-type of the plurality of event-types, for each one network flow of the plurality of network flows satisfying the flow-specific criteria criteria of the one event-type to a proto-event of the one-event type, the proto-event being assigned at least two network flows of the plurality of network flows, wherein the plurality of event-types includes a plurality of proto-events, each one event-type of the plurality of event-types including at least one proto-event;
• read, from the memory, an aggregation criteria for one of the event-types, wherein the aggregation criteria is defined to identify an event in the proto-event of the one event-type from the at least two networks flows in the proto-event of the one event-type when the at least two network flows that form part of the proto-event of the one event-type are examined together as a group;
• and
• test different combinations of the at least two network flows assigned to the proto-event of the one event-type against the aggregation criteria of the one event-type to determine if one combination of the different combinations of the at least two network flows assigned to the proto-event of the one event-type satisfies the aggregation criteria for the one event-type and identifies an event of the one event-type from among the at least two network flows of the proto-event.