US 8621627

As a senior US patent analyst, I have conducted a thorough review of US Patent 8,621,627 as of May 1, 2026. Below is a concise summary of the patent and its legal status.

Summary of US Patent 8,621,627

Title: Intrusion detection and prevention processing within network interface circuitry

Assignee: The original assignee is Chelsio Communications Inc. The patent has been assigned multiple times, including to various banks as security interests, but the most recent assignments on record with the USPTO show these security interests have been released. As of the latest available information, Chelsio Communications Inc. appears to be the current assignee.

Inventors:

• Asgeir Thor Eiriksson
• Wael Noureddine
• Anamaya Sullerey

Filing Date: February 12, 2010

Issue Date: December 31, 2013

Abstract:
The patent describes a network interface controller (NIC) designed to work with a host computer that runs multiple virtual machines. The NIC is capable of receiving a data frame, determining if that frame requires additional processing (such as for security purposes), and if so, sending it to the host for that processing. After the host completes the additional processing, the NIC receives the frame back and directs it to its intended destination. This allows for efficient handling of tasks like intrusion detection in a virtualized environment by offloading some of the decision-making to the NIC.

Plain-Language Overview of Independent Claims

US Patent 8,621,627 has three independent claims: Claim 1, Claim 7, and Claim 24. Here is a plain-language overview of each:

Claim 1: This claim describes a Network Interface Controller (NIC) that connects a host computer with multiple virtual machines to a network. The core of this claim is a three-step process:

1. The NIC receives a data frame and decides if it needs special processing.
2. If special processing is needed, the NIC sends the frame to the host computer to perform that task.
3. After the host is finished, the NIC takes the processed frame back and sends it to its final destination.

Claim 7: This claim is also for a NIC with a "data frame processing pipeline." The key aspect here is that the NIC makes the decision to send a frame for additional processing based on a specific "indication" within the data frame itself. After the host performs the additional processing, the NIC then sends the frame on to its destination.

Claim 24: This claim outlines a broader method performed by a NIC. It involves:

1. Receiving a data frame.
2. Determining if additional processing is required.
3. If so, sending the frame for this additional processing before it goes to its final destination.
4. Finally, receiving the processed frame back and steering it to its destination.

Litigation Status

A search of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (CAFC) dockets for the year 2026 revealed no cases specifically citing US Patent 8,621,627. I have a high degree of confidence that there is no ongoing litigation involving this patent at the CAFC in 2026.