Method of simulating network communications
First Claim
1. A method for simulating network communications traffic comprising the steps of:
- capturing network packets by;
attaching a network capture device to a network;
using the network capture device to capture network packets as the network packets are passed across the network;
storing the network packets on a mass storage device in chronological order;
selecting a portion of the captured network packets based on a first predetermined set of criteria;
sequencing the selected network packets using a predetermined process;
simulating a network communication session by a process comprising the steps of;
acquiring sequenced packets that are associated with the network communication session until a first request packet is detected;
feeding the first request packet to a display engine;
acquiring a next sequenced packet;
if the next sequenced packet is a response packet produced in response to the first request packet, determining whether the next sequenced packet is of a type that may be interpreted by the display engine and either;
if the next sequenced packet is of a type that may be interpreted by the display engine, sending the next sequenced packet to the display engine and acquiring additional response packets until all of the additional response packets responding to the first request packet have been sent to the display engine;
orif the next sequenced packet is not of a type that may be interpreted by the display engine, initiating the creation of a visualization of the information in the next sequenced packet and acquiring additional response packets until all of the additional response packets responding to the first request packet have been incorporated into the visualization, and then sending the visualization to the display engine.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method for simulating network communication sessions is disclosed. A control engine sequences the packets using a protocol stack or by putting the packets into a sorted list. A simulation engine acquires the packets until a request packet or other initiation packet is received. The simulation engine feeds the request packet to a display engine that has the ability to treat the request packet as though the display engine itself originated the request (or initiation) packet. The simulation engine then sends the response packets relating to the request to the display engine, and the display engine uses those packets to simulate the display of the network communication session substantially in the form of the original communication.
58 Citations
27 Claims
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1. A method for simulating network communications traffic comprising the steps of:
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capturing network packets by; attaching a network capture device to a network; using the network capture device to capture network packets as the network packets are passed across the network; storing the network packets on a mass storage device in chronological order; selecting a portion of the captured network packets based on a first predetermined set of criteria; sequencing the selected network packets using a predetermined process; simulating a network communication session by a process comprising the steps of; acquiring sequenced packets that are associated with the network communication session until a first request packet is detected; feeding the first request packet to a display engine; acquiring a next sequenced packet; if the next sequenced packet is a response packet produced in response to the first request packet, determining whether the next sequenced packet is of a type that may be interpreted by the display engine and either; if the next sequenced packet is of a type that may be interpreted by the display engine, sending the next sequenced packet to the display engine and acquiring additional response packets until all of the additional response packets responding to the first request packet have been sent to the display engine;
orif the next sequenced packet is not of a type that may be interpreted by the display engine, initiating the creation of a visualization of the information in the next sequenced packet and acquiring additional response packets until all of the additional response packets responding to the first request packet have been incorporated into the visualization, and then sending the visualization to the display engine. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for simulating network communications traffic comprising the steps of:
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sequencing selected packets from a network communication using a predetermined process; simulating a network communication session by a process comprising the steps of; acquiring sequenced packets that are associated with the network communication session until a first request packet is detected; feeding the first request packet to a display engine; acquiring a next sequenced packet; if the next sequenced packet is a response packet produced in response to the first request packet, determining whether the next sequenced packet is of a type that may be interpreted by the display engine and either; if the next sequenced packet is of a type that may be interpreted by the display engine, sending the next sequenced packet to the display engine and acquiring additional response packets until all of the additional response packets responding to the first request packet have been sent to the display engine;
orif the next sequenced packet is not of a type that may be interpreted by the display engine, initiating the creation of a visualization of the information in the next sequenced packet and acquiring additional response packets until all of the additional response packets responding to the first request packet have been incorporated into the visualization, and then sending the visualization to the display engine; wherein the predetermined process comprises the steps of; reading a first selected packet; determining whether the first selected packet meets a second predetermined set of criteria; if the first selected packet meets the second predetermined set of criteria, determining whether the first selected packet is out of sequence; if the first selected packet is not out of sequence, sending the first selected packet to the simulation engine; if the first selected packet is out of sequence, adding the first selected packet to a temporary store; repeating the steps of reading packets, determining whether the second predetermined set of criteria is met, and sending the packets to the simulation engine or adding out-of-sequence packets to the temporary store; as the out-of-sequence packets in the temporary store fall into proper sequence, sending properly sequenced packets to the simulation engine; and each time an out-of-sequence packet is added to the temporary store testing the temporary store for an overflow condition and, if the overflow condition is detected, generating an error message. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method for simulating network communications traffic comprising the steps of:
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acquiring sequenced packets that are associated with a network communication; feeding a first request packet to a display engine; acquiring a next sequenced packet; if the next sequenced packet is a response packet produced in response to the first request packet, either; if the next sequenced packet is of a type that may be interpreted by the display engine, sending the next sequenced packet to the display engine;
orif the next sequenced packet is not of a type that may be interpreted by the display engine, creating a visualization of the information in the next sequenced packet and sending the visualization to the display engines; sequencing selected packets from the network communication using a predetermined process; wherein the predetermined process comprises the steps of; reading a first selected packet; determining whether the first selected packet meets a second predetermined set of criteria; if the first selected packet meets the second predetermined set of criteria, determining whether the first selected packet is out of sequence; if the first selected packet is not out of sequence, sending the first selected packet to the simulation engine; if the first selected packet is out of sequence, adding the first selected packet to a temporary store; repeating the steps of reading the selected packets, determining whether the second captured network set of criteria is met, and sending the selected packets to the simulation engine or adding out-of-sequence packets to the temporary store; as the out-of-sequence packets in the temporary store fall into proper sequence, sending properly sequenced packets to the simulation engine; and each time an out-of-sequence packet is added to the temporary store, testing the temporary store for an overflow condition and, if the overflow condition is detected, generating an error message. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification