Systems and methods for interpreting communications packets
First Claim
1. A method for describing the content of a data frame present on a communications network having a predetermined physical layer protocol, the method comprising the following steps:
- providing a protocol definition file, the protocol definition file including;
a first definition construct that defines the format of a data frame that is structured in accordance with the requirements of the predetermined physical layer protocol, and a second definition construct that defines a plurality of message protocol types;
storing the protocol definition file within a protocol database;
capturing a data frame present on the communications network;
ascertaining whether at least one protocol type of at least one message contained within the data frame from the plurality of message protocol types is defined by at least one of the plurality of message protocol types in the second definition construct;
providing a user with a protocol editor for creating a new message protocol type in the protocol definition file if at least one protocol type of at least one message contained within the data frame from the plurality of message protocol types is not defined by at least one of the plurality of message protocol types in the second definition construct; and
providing the content of the captured data frame with descriptions of the content of the captured data frame based upon the definitions of the first and the second definition constructs.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Presently preferred embodiments of the current invention are directed to a protocol analyzer for interpreting data frames captured on a communications network. The protocol analyzer includes a network interface connection for providing the electrical and physical connection to the communications network and for receiving data frames from the network in a particular physical layer protocol format. The protocol analyzer further includes analysis software for providing an interpretation of received data frames. The interpretation of a frame is based upon a series of definition constructs that are stored in a protocol definition file and a protocol database of the protocol analyzer. The definition constructs collectively define the characteristics of a data frame for a given physical layer protocol. Also, the constructs provide a means for identifying any one of a number of higher level protocols that may be embedded within the data frame.
Also disclosed is a graphical user interface for use as a protocol editor for assembling the necessary definition constructs for inclusion in a protocol definition file. Further, embodiments of a graphical interface for displaying the results of interpreted frames is also disclosed.
107 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for describing the content of a data frame present on a communications network having a predetermined physical layer protocol, the method comprising the following steps:
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providing a protocol definition file, the protocol definition file including;
a first definition construct that defines the format of a data frame that is structured in accordance with the requirements of the predetermined physical layer protocol, and a second definition construct that defines a plurality of message protocol types;
storing the protocol definition file within a protocol database;
capturing a data frame present on the communications network;
ascertaining whether at least one protocol type of at least one message contained within the data frame from the plurality of message protocol types is defined by at least one of the plurality of message protocol types in the second definition construct;
providing a user with a protocol editor for creating a new message protocol type in the protocol definition file if at least one protocol type of at least one message contained within the data frame from the plurality of message protocol types is not defined by at least one of the plurality of message protocol types in the second definition construct; and
providing the content of the captured data frame with descriptions of the content of the captured data frame based upon the definitions of the first and the second definition constructs. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A method for describing the content of a data frame present on a communications network, the method comprising the following steps:
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identifying a physical layer protocol;
ascertaining whether a corresponding protocol definition file exists for the identified physical layer protocol;
providing a user with a protocol editor for creating a new protocol definition file for the identified physical layer protocol if a corresponding protocol definition file does not exist for the identified physical layer protocol;
obtaining the data frame from the communications network;
interpreting the data frame according to at least one of the existing protocol definition file and the created protocol definition file; and
displaying frame contents and descriptions of the frame contents in accordance with at least one of the existing protocol definition file and the created protocol definition file. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. In a computer system having a graphical user interface including a video display device and a user input device, method of creating and/or editing protocol definition files used for displaying frame contents from a network with descriptions of the data frame contents, the method comprising:
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displaying a graphical representation of one or more base constructs;
receiving a user selection of one of the one or more base constructs and displaying structures belonging to a hierarchy under the selected base construct;
receiving a user selection of one of the structures and displaying manipulatable fields and options for describing characteristics of the selected structure;
receiving user input in the fields and options describing characteristics of the selected structure; and
building a protocol definition file, that defines the organization of a data frame physical layer protocol, from the user inputs. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification