US Patent 7548556 Secure communication through a network fabric

Methods of providing a secure communication over a network fabric are presented. A network fabric preferably comprises multiple interconnected network elements. Devices connect to the fabric through one or more ports and communicate with each other over the fabric by exchanging communications. A port-to-port session can be established within which multiple communication paths can be constructed. As devices communicate via the ports, the communication can be divided into data chunks and transmitted along different paths. Additionally, each chunk can be independently encrypted on one or more legs of its journey across the fabric.