Methods and systems for recording and real-time playback of presentation layer protocol data

• US 7,996,549 B2
• Filed: 11/01/2006
• Issued: 08/09/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/14/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Citrix Systems, Inc. (Cloud Software Group)
• Original Assignee: Citrix Systems, Inc. (Cloud Software Group)
• Inventors: Ryman, Paul Adam
• Primary Examiner(s): Jaroenchonwanit; Bunjob
• Application Number:
  US11/555,611
• Publication Number:
  US 20070106810A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,742 Days
• Field of Search: 709/231
• US Class Current: 709/231
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/65 Network streaming protocols, e.g. real-time transport protocol [RTP] or real-time control protocol [RTCP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/765 intermediate

Abstract

A method for recording and real-time playback of presentation layer protocol data includes the step of intercepting, by a recorder, a presentation layer protocol data stream comprising a plurality of packets, during transmission of the presentation layer protocol data stream from a first device to a second device, the presentation layer protocol data stream representing display data. A distributor transmits a copy of at least one packet of the presentation layer protocol data stream. A protocol engine uses information associated with the at least one copied packet to regenerate the display data represented by the at least one copied packet. The steps of intercepting the presentation layer protocol data stream and of transmitting the copy of the at least one packet repeat until the first device completes transmission of the protocol data stream to the second device.

Claims

1. A method for recording and real-time playback of presentation layer protocol data transmitted from an application server (i) executing an application for a client and (ii) streaming an output display generated by the application to the client, the method comprising:

(a) intercepting, by a recorder executing on a first device, a presentation layer protocol data stream, during transmission of the presentation layer protocol data stream from a second device to the first device, the presentation layer protocol data stream representing display data;

(b) transmitting, by the recorder to a distributor executing on the first device, the presentation layer protocol data stream, comprising a first plurality of packets and a second plurality of packets of the presentation layer protocol data stream;

(c) receiving, by a background protocol engine executing on the first device, the first plurality of packets of the presentation layer protocol data stream from the distributor;

(d) generating, by the background protocol engine, at least one state-snapshot, responsive to receiving the first plurality of packets;

(e) modifying, by the background protocol engine, the at least one state-snapshot, responsive to receiving at least one packet in the second plurality of packets;

(f) rendering, by the background protocol engine, the at least one state-snapshot to a buffer;

(g) identifying, by a foreground protocol engine, the at least one state-snapshot;

(h) using, by the foreground protocol engine, the at least one rendered state-snapshot from the buffer to regenerate the display data represented by the presentation layer protocol data stream; and

(i) recording, by the recorder, the presentation layer protocol data stream contemporaneously as the foreground protocol engine regenerates the presentation layer protocol data stream using the at least one rendered state-snapshot from the buffer.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein step (a) further comprises intercepting a virtual channel.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein step (b) further comprises storing, by the recorder, the at least one packet of the presentation layer protocol data stream.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein step (b) further comprises transmitting, by the recorder, the at least one packet to the distributor.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein step (b) further comprises storing, by the recorder, the at least one packet in the buffer.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein step (b) further comprises transmitting, by the recorder, a plurality of packets stored in the buffer to the distributor.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein step (b) further comprises retrieving, by the distributor, the at least one packet of the presentation layer protocol data stream from a storage device.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein step (b) further comprises determining to copy a packet of the presentation layer protocol data stream when the packet contains data.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein step (b) further comprises determining to copy a packet of the presentation layer protocol data stream responsive to a policy.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of storing a recording of the presentation layer protocol data stream.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein step (b) further comprises associating a time stamp with the at least one packet.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein step (b) further comprises embedding the associated time stamp into a recording of the presentation layer protocol data stream.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein step (b) further comprises embedding a data length indicator into a recording of the presentation layer protocol data stream.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein step (e) further comprises using the at least one packet upon receipt of the at least one packet.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein step (e) further comprises using the at least one packet upon receiving a request to regenerate the display data represented by the at least one packet.

16. A system for recording and real-time playback of presentation layer protocol data transmitted from an application server (i) executing an application for a client and (ii) streaming an output display generated by the application to the client comprising:

a first computing device;

a recorder executing on the first device

intercepting a presentation layer protocol data stream during transmission of the presentation layer protocol data stream from a second device to the first device, said presentation layer protocol data stream representing display data; and

recording the presentation layer protocol data stream contemporaneously as a foreground protocol engine regenerates the presentation layer protocol data stream using at least one state-snapshot from a buffer;

a distributor transmitting the presentation layer protocol data stream, comprising a first plurality of packets and a second plurality of packets of the presentation layer protocol data stream to a background protocol engine;

the background protocol engine executing on the first device

receiving the first plurality of packets of the presentation layer protocol data stream;

generating the at least one state-snapshot, responsive to receiving the first plurality of packets;

modifying the at least one state-snapshot responsive to receiving at least one packet in the second plurality of packets; and

rendering the at least one state-snapshot of the presentation layer protocol data stream to a buffer; and

the foreground protocol engine

identifying the at least one state-snapshot; and

using the at least one rendered state-snapshot from the buffer to regenerate the display data represented by the presentation layer protocol data stream.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the recorder further comprises a means for copying the at least one packet from the presentation layer protocol data stream.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the recorder further comprises a means for intercepting a virtual channel.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein the recorder further comprises the buffer for storing the at least one packet.

20. The system of claim 16, wherein the recorder further comprises a means for storing the at least one packet in a storage device.

21. The system of claim 16, wherein the recorder further comprises a means for associating the at least one packet with a time reference.

22. The system of claim 16, wherein the recorder further comprises a means for associating the at least one packet with a data length indicator.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the data length indicates a length of data in the at least one packet.

24. The system of claim 16, wherein the recorder is located on the second device.

25. The system of claim 16, wherein the recorder resides on a third device.

26. The system of claim 16, wherein the recorder is located on a proxy server.

27. The system of claim 16, wherein the recorder is located on a passthrough server.

28. The system of claim 16, wherein the recorder is located on a network packet sniffer.

29. The system of claim 16, wherein the recorder further comprises a recording generator for creating a recording of the presentation layer protocol data stream.

30. The system of claim 16, wherein the distributor further comprises a transceiver for retrieving a copy of the at least one packet.

31. The system of claim 16, wherein the distributor further comprises a transceiver for transmitting a copy of the at least one packet to the protocol engine.