23. A method for performing collaborative application classification in a system including a hierarchy of classification aggregators, the hierarchy of classification aggregators including a first classification aggregator communicatively coupled to a second and third classification aggregator, the second classification aggregator further coupled to a first and second traffic classifier, and the third classification aggregator further coupled to a third and fourth traffic classifier, the method comprising: receiving, at the second classification aggregator, classification information from the first traffic classifier, the classification information including a destination Internet protocol (IP) address, a destination port number, a protocol and an application name associated with a first communication flow classified by the first traffic classifier; storing the classification information in a data store of the second classification aggregator, the data store of the second classification aggregator containing multiple entries, each of the entries mapping a group of characteristics, including a destination IP address, a destination port number and a protocol, to a corresponding application name; in response to determining to transmit the classification information from the second classification aggregator to the first classification aggregator, providing the classification information to the first classification aggregator; receiving, at the first classification aggregator, a query requesting an application name associated with a second communication flow from the third classification aggregator; and providing the first application name, in response to determining that the second communication flow is associated with the first application name, to the third classification aggregator, wherein determining that the second communication flow is associated with the first application name is based on the classification information provided to the first classification aggregator.
23. A method for performing collaborative application classification in a system including a hierarchy of classification aggregators, the hierarchy of classification aggregators including a first classification aggregator communicatively coupled to a second and third classification aggregator, the second classification aggregator further coupled to a first and second traffic classifier, and the third classification aggregator further coupled to a third and fourth traffic classifier, the method comprising: receiving, at the second classification aggregator, classification information from the first traffic classifier, the classification information including a destination Internet protocol (IP) address, a destination port number, a protocol and an application name associated with a first communication flow classified by the first traffic classifier; storing the classification information in a data store of the second classification aggregator, the data store of the second classification aggregator containing multiple entries, each of the entries mapping a group of characteristics, including a destination IP address, a destination port number and a protocol, to a corresponding application name; in response to determining to transmit the classification information from the second classification aggregator to the first classification aggregator, providing the classification information to the first classification aggregator; receiving, at the first classification aggregator, a query requesting an application name associated with a second communication flow from the third classification aggregator; and providing the first application name, in response to determining that the second communication flow is associated with the first application name, to the third classification aggregator, wherein determining that the second communication flow is associated with the first application name is based on the classification information provided to the first classification aggregator. 25. The method of claim 23 , further comprising transmitting the classification information from the second classification aggregator to the first classification aggregator.