Hierarchical display of multilevel protocol for communication data

• US 6,826,639 B2
• Filed: 07/27/2001
• Issued: 11/30/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Teledyne LeCroy, Inc. (Teledyne Technologies Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Computer Access Technology Corp. (Teledyne Technologies Incorporated)
• Inventors: Tzarnotsky, Peretz, Fooksman, Valera, Pasumansky, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Thai, Xuan M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mason, Donna K.
• Application Number:
  US09/916,481
• Publication Number:
  US 20030028693A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,222 Days
• Field of Search: 714/39, 710/105, 710/315, 345/810, 345/853, 345/841, 345/843
• US Class Current: 710/105
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/387 for adaptation of different data processing systems to different peripheral devices, e.g. protocol converters for incompatible systems, open system

Abstract

A hierarchical display of protocol layers for communication data. Fields of the communication data are converted into field cells where each field cell has a text field and a field descriptor. The field cells for each protocol layer are arranged by an interpreter into protocol units according to a protocol standard for that layer and then displayed in a hierarchical manner. Detailed specifications for field cells taken directly from the protocol standard can be displayed by using a cursor over the field cell. Indicators in particular ones of the field cells allow certain field cells within a protocol unit to be collapsed or expanded within the protocol unit or allow lower protocol units to be collapsed or expanded into the higher protocol units.

Claims

1. A method for displaying communication data transmitted according to a communication protocol standard, comprising:

receiving one or more first protocol units of said communication data transmitted according to a first protocol level of said communication protocol standard for completing a second protocol unit at a second protocol level of said communication protocol standard;

converting said first protocol unit into first text fields according to said first protocol level and converting said second protocol unit into second text fields according to said second protocol level;

associating said first text fields with respective first field descriptors on a one-to-one basis according to said first protocol level for forming respective first field cells and associating said second text fields with respective second field descriptors on a one-to-one basis according to said second protocol level for forming respective second field cells; and

displaying said second protocol unit having said second field cells in a hierarchical manner with respect to said one or more first protocol units having said first field cells.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein:

said one or more first protocol units represent packets in said communication protocol standard.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein:

said second protocol unit represents said one or more first protocol units at said second protocol level.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein:

displaying said first and second field cells includes;

displaying said first protocol units in a horizontal manner having said first field descriptors disposed above said associated first text fields, respectively, as identifiable cells; and

displaying said second protocol unit in a horizontal manner having said second field descriptors disposed above said associated second text fields, respectively, as identifiable cells.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

selecting an indicator associated with said second protocol unit for toggling between an expanded display state for showing said one or more first protocol units and a collapsed display state for hiding said one or more first protocol units.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

selecting a one of said field cells within a corresponding said protocol unit for toggling between a collapsed display state and an expanded display state;

wherein said expanded display state shows certain ones of said field cells within said corresponding protocol unit and said collapsed display state hides said certain ones of said field cells.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

selecting one of said field cells; and

displaying additional descriptive information from said protocol standard for said selected one of said field cells.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

selecting a particular one of said field cells for displaying a menu of user options associated with said particular field cell.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving further said first protocol units for one or more (Nth−

1) protocol units of said communication data transmitted according to an (Nth−

1) protocol level of said communication protocol standard for completing an Nth protocol unit at an Nth protocol level of said communication protocol standard;

converting said (Nth−

1) protocol unit into (Nth−

1) text fields according to an (Nth−

1) protocol level and converting said Nth protocol unit into Nth text fields according to said Nth protocol level;

associating said (Nth−

1) text fields with respective (Nth−

1) field descriptors according to said (Nth−

1) protocol level for forming respective (Nth−

1) field cells and associating said Nth text fields with respective Nth field descriptors according to said Nth protocol level for forming respective Nth field cells; and

displaying said Nth protocol unit having said Nth field cells in a hierarchical manner with respect to said one or more (Nth−

1) protocol units having said (Nth−

1) field cells.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein:

said first text fields are one of a number, a measurement, or an interpretation representative of a sequence of bits having specific meanings at said first protocol level specified by said communication protocol standard; and

said first field descriptors are captions respectively indicative of said first protocol level meanings of said first text fields.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein:

said second text fields are one of a number, a measurement, or an interpretation representative of one or more sequences of bits for said one or more first protocol units having specific attributes at said second protocol level; and

said second field descriptors are captions respectively indicative of said second protocol level attributes of said one or more sequences of bits.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein:

said first and second field descriptors use colors for representing said first and second field descriptors.

13. An apparatus for displaying communication information transmitted according to a communication protocol standard, comprising:

a receiver for receiving one or more first protocol units of said communication data transmitted according to a first protocol level of said communication protocol standard for completing a second protocol unit at a second protocol level of said communication protocol standard;

an interpreter for converting each said first protocol unit into first text fields according to said first protocol level and converting said second protocol unit into second text fields according to said second protocol level, and associating said first text fields on a one-to-one basis with respective first field descriptors according to said first protocol level for forming respective first field cells and associating said second text fields on a one-to-one basis with respective second field descriptors according to said second protocol level for forming respective second field cells; and

a display for presenting said second protocol unit having said second field cells in a hierarchical manner with respect to said one or more first protocol units having said first field cells.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein:

said one or more first protocol units represent packets in said communication protocol standard.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein:

said second protocol unit represents said one or more first protocol units at said second protocol level.

16. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein:

the display presents said first protocol units in a horizontal manner having said first field descriptors disposed above said associated first text fields, respectively, as identifiable cells; and

presents said second protocol unit in a horizontal manner having said second field descriptors disposed above said associated second text fields, respectively, as identifiable cells.

17. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein:

said second protocol unit includes an indicator having a first indication for indicating a collapsed display state and a second indication for indicating an expanded display state; and

the display includes an interface coupled to said indicator toggling between said collapsed display state and said expanded display state;

wherein said expanded display state shows said one or more first protocol units and said collapsed display state hides said one or more first protocol units.

18. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein:

a particular one of said field cells within a corresponding said protocol unit includes an indicator having a first indication for indicating a collapsed display state and a second indication for indicating an expanded display state; and

the display includes an interface coupled to said indicator for toggling between said collapsed display state and said expanded display state;

wherein said expanded display state shows certain ones of said field cells within said corresponding protocol unit and said collapsed display state hides said certain ones of said field cells.

19. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising:

a selector coupled to the display for selecting a particular one of said field cells; and

wherein;

the display presents additional descriptive information from said protocol standard for said particular field cell when said particular field cell is selected.

20. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising:

a selector coupled to the display for selecting a particular one of said field cells; and

wherein;

the display presents a menu of user options associated with said particular field cell when said particular field cell is selected.

21. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein:

the receiver receives further said first protocol units for one or more (Nth−

1) protocol units of said communication data transmitted according an (Nth−

1) protocol level of said communication protocol standard for completing an Nth protocol unit at an Nth protocol level of said communication protocol standard;

interpreter converts said (Nth−

1) protocol unit into (Nth−

1) text fields according to an (Nth−

1) protocol level and converts said Nth protocol unit into Nth text fields according to said Nth protocol level;

associates said (Nth−

1) text fields with respective (Nth−

1) field descriptors according to said (Nth−

1) protocol level for forming respective (Nth−

1) field cells and associates said Nth text fields with respective Nth field descriptors according to said Nth protocol level for forming respective Nth field cells; and

the display displays said Nth protocol unit having said Nth field cells in a hierarchical manner with respect to said one or more (Nth−

1) protocol units having said (Nth−

1) field cells.

22. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein:

said first text fields are one of a number, a measurement, or an interpretation representative of a sequence of bits having a specific meanings at said first protocol level specified by said communication protocol standard; and

said first field descriptors are captions respectively indicative of said first protocol level meanings of said first text fields.

23. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising:

said second text fields are one of a number, a measurement, or an interpretation representative of one or more sequences of bits for said one or more first protocol units having specific attributes at said second protocol level; and

said second field descriptors are captions respectively indicative of second protocol level attributes of said one or more sequences of bits.

24. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein:

said first and second field descriptors use colors for representing said first and second field descriptors.