20130080903 | PLANT COMMUNICATION NETWORK - A communication network comprising: a plurality of end devices; and a plurality of multilayer switches connected to the end devices that direct transmission of data packets between the end devices, wherein each switch comprises: a plurality of communication ports for receiving and transmitting data packets in different data formats; a data format translator that receives data packets configured in different data formats via the ports and reconfigures the data to a common data format; an application aware engine that receives data packets in the common format and inspects content of the received packets at a plurality of OSI layers, which plurality includes layer 7, to determine if they represent a security threat; and a wire speed packet switch that directs packets, which the application aware engine determines do not represent a security threat, to their destinations. | 03-28-2013 |