NETWORK DEVICE SIMULATION SYSTEM AND METHOD

• US 20010011215A1
• Filed: 08/31/1998
• Published: 08/02/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/1998
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: MULLALLY, MARK P., FALVEY, CORNELIUS J., BEEKER, SCOTT A.
• Application Number:
  US09/143,957
• Publication Number:
  US 20010011215A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 703/27
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/145 involving simulating, designing, planning or modelling of a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/50 Testing arrangements

Abstract

A network device simulation system (40) has a device message emulator (42). A data source (44) is connected to the device message emulator (42). A protocol translator (44) is connected to the device message emulator (42) and outputs a protocol data unit in one of a plurality of specified protocols.

Claims

1. A network device simulation system comprising:

a device message emulator;

a data source connected to the device message emulator; and

a protocol translator connected to the device message emulator that outputs a protocol data unit in one of a plurality of specified protocols.

2. The network device simulation system of

claim 1

, wherein the device message emulator comprises:

a processor; and

an emulation program capable of being executed by the processor.

3. The network device simulation system of

claim 2

, wherein the emulation program uses an emulation language that includes a command to accept a request for connection from a component under test.

4. The network device simulation system of

claim 2

, wherein the emulation program uses an emulation language that includes a command to request a connection to a component under test.

5. The network device simulation system of

claim 4

, wherein the command to request the connection includes a parameter specifying a protocol for the connection.

6. The network device simulation system of

claim 2

, wherein the emulation program uses an emulation language that includes a command to register a service of the network device simulation system.

7. The network device simulation system of

claim 6

, wherein the emulation program uses the emulation language that includes a command to unregister the service of the network device simulation system.

8. The network device simulation system of

claim 2

, wherein the emulation program uses an emulation language that includes a command to disconnect from a component under test.

9. The network device simulation system of

claim 2

, wherein the emulation program uses an emulation language that includes a command to send a datum from the data source to a component under test.

10. The network device simulation system of

claim 2

, wherein the emulation program uses an emulation language that includes a command to receive a datum from a component under test.

11. The network device simulation system of

claim 2

, wherein the emulation program uses an emulation language that includes a group of conditional commands.

12. The network device simulation system of

claim 1

, wherein the protocol translator is capable of emulating TCP/IP.

13. The network device simulation system of

claim 1

, wherein the device message emulator is capable of emulating a client server model.

14. The network device simulation system of

claim 1

, wherein the device message emulator is capable of emulating a peer to peer model.

15. The network device simulation system of

claim 1

, wherein the device message emulator is capable of emulating a publish subscribe model.

16. The network device simulation system of

claim 1

, wherein the protocol emulator is capable of emulating a system network architecture.

17. The network device simulation system of

claim 1

, further including a default command file accessible by the device message emulator.

18. A method of operating a network device simulator, comprising the steps of:

(a) creating a communication emulation module;

(b) coupling the network device simulator to a component under test;

(c) when the network device simulator is simulating a client, sending a connect message to the component under test in one of a plurality of specified protocols; and

(d) when the network device simulator is simulating a server, waiting for a connection request in one of the plurality of specified protocols.

19. The method of

claim 18

, wherein step (a) further includes the step of:

(a1) creating an emulation program using an emulation language.

20. The method of

claim 18

, wherein the step of sending the connect message includes specifying a protocol.

21. The method of

claim 18

, wherein the step of sending the connect message further includes specifying a handle.

22. The method of

claim 18

, wherein step (d) further includes the step of:

(d1) executing a register command.

23. The method of

claim 22

, further including the step of:

(d2) executing an accept command.

24. The method of

claim 23

, further including the step of:

(d3) executing an unregistered command.

25. The method of

claim 18

, further includes the step of:

(d1) executing a send command to transmit a datum to the component under test.

26. The method of

claim 25

, wherein a protocol translator formats the datum in a specified communication protocol before transmission to the component under test.

27. The method of

claim 25

, further including the step of:

(d2) executing a receive command to receive a datum from the component under test.

28. The method of

claim 27

, further including the step of:

(d3) storing the datum;

(d4) performing a filter operation on the datum.

29. The method of

claim 28

, wherein the filter operation converts the datum from a first data format to a second data format.

30. The method of

claim 28

, further including the step of:

(d5) executing a disconnect command.

31. A programming language for simulating a network device, comprising:

a network communication language to emulate a communication interface between a network device and a component under test, the network communication language including a plurality of commands; and

an execution system capable of executing the plurality of commands.

32. The programming language of

claim 31

, wherein the programming language allows a user to specify a default command file.

33. The programming language of

claim 31

, wherein the network communication language implements a send command to transmit a datum.

34. The programming language of

claim 31

, wherein the network communication language implements a filter command.

35. The programming language of

claim 31

, wherein the programming language allows a user to specify a log file to which the execution system writes a plurality of informational messages.

36. The programming language of

claim 31

, wherein the network communication language allows a user to specify a data file for holding data received from the component under test.

37. The programming language of

claim 31

, wherein the programming language allows a user to specify an error file to which the execution system writes an error message.

38. The programming language of

claim 31

, wherein the plurality of commands includes a connect command to request a connection to the component under test.

39. The programming language of

claim 38

, wherein the connect command includes a protocol parameter that defines the protocol to be used for the connection to the component under test.

40. The programming language of

claim 38

, wherein the connect command includes a handle.

41. The programming language of

claim 38

, wherein the plurality of commands includes a disconnect command, that disconnects the connection to the component under test.

42. The programming language of

claim 31

, wherein the plurality of commands includes a register command that registers a service of a server.

43. The programming language of

claim 42

, wherein the register command includes a protocol parameter that defines the protocol to be used for a connection to the component under test.

44. The programming language of

claim 42

, wherein the register command includes a handle.

45. The programming language of

claim 42

, wherein the plurality of commands includes an unregistered command that unregisters the service of the server.

46. The programming language of

claim 31

, wherein the plurality of commands includes a group of conditional commands.

47. The programming language of

claim 31

, wherein the network communication language is multithreaded.