Graphical system and method for editing multi-layer data packets
First Claim
1. A method for creating and editing an encoded data packet comprising a plurality of protocol fields, each protocol field having a protocol value corresponding to a protocol layer, said method comprising:
- generating simulated network traffic to test network equipment, wherein generating simulated network traffic includes;
displaying on a first pane of a computer window a hierarchical order of said protocol layers and values of said protocol fields of said encoded data packet, each protocol layer comprising a header describing said protocol layer, said header being displayed with said protocol value corresponding to that header, wherein said protocol values of said protocol fields of a plurality of different protocol layers are editable within said first pane while said protocol values of said protocol fields of said different protocol layers are displayed within said first pane;
displaying on a second pane of said window said entire encoded data packet for transmission as simulated traffic;
editing the encoded data packet; and
transmitting the edited encoded data packet over a communications network.
7 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A graphical system and method for creating and editing packets of data is disclosed, which displays on a first pane of a computer window a hierarchical order of all of the protocol layers and protocol fields of a data packets, and displays on a second pane of the same window the entire encoded data packet in standard hexadecimal notation. In the first pane, a user can select a field of data pertaining to any of the protocol layers from the hierarchical order, and change any of the protocol field values, change options within a protocol, or add additional protocol layers to the packet, and the portion of the encoded data pertaining to the changed data will be updated in the second pane.
29 Citations
28 Claims
-
1. A method for creating and editing an encoded data packet comprising a plurality of protocol fields, each protocol field having a protocol value corresponding to a protocol layer, said method comprising:
generating simulated network traffic to test network equipment, wherein generating simulated network traffic includes; displaying on a first pane of a computer window a hierarchical order of said protocol layers and values of said protocol fields of said encoded data packet, each protocol layer comprising a header describing said protocol layer, said header being displayed with said protocol value corresponding to that header, wherein said protocol values of said protocol fields of a plurality of different protocol layers are editable within said first pane while said protocol values of said protocol fields of said different protocol layers are displayed within said first pane; displaying on a second pane of said window said entire encoded data packet for transmission as simulated traffic; editing the encoded data packet; and transmitting the edited encoded data packet over a communications network. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
-
22. A system for displaying packets of encoded data whose content and format is defined by communications protocols, said data packets including encoded data transportable over a communication network, said system comprising:
a traffic simulator for generating simulated network traffic to test network equipment, said traffic simulator including; a processor that generates a portion of one of said data packets based upon a user selected communications protocol, said protocol comprising a list of header fields, each header field corresponding to a portion of said data packet; a display that displays said data packet in a first window pane, said first window pane comprising a plurality of header field presentations, each header field presentation comprising one of said header fields and further comprising said portion of that data packet corresponding to that header field, said portion of said data packet being displayed in a format that depends on said header field and the display displays in a second window pane the encoded data of said data packet for transmission as simulated traffic; an input for receiving changes to said protocol, including changes to said header fields and said data packet, said changes resulting in new encoded data for transmission as simulated traffic, with said processor receiving said input and changing said display of said data packet to reflect said new encoded data in said second window pane; and an output from which the new encoded data is transmitted over a communications network, wherein said protocol values of said protocol fields of a plurality of different protocol layers are editable within said first window pane while said protocol values of said protocol fields of said different protocol layers are displayed within said first window pane. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
Specification