Method for embedding meta-commands in normal network packets

• US 8,838,819 B2
• Filed: 04/16/2010
• Issued: 09/16/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/17/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Empirix Incorporated (Empirix Holdings I, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Empirix Incorporated (Empirix Holdings I, Inc.)
• Inventors: Eidelman, Sergey, Turgeon, Anne-Marie, Ivanyi, Tibor, Hsing-Wang Wong, David, Nath, Anuj
• Primary Examiner(s): Daftuar, Saket K
• Application Number:
  US12/762,270
• Publication Number:
  US 20100268834A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,614 Days
• Field of Search: 709/230, 709/231, 709/232, 709/233, 709/234, 709/236, 709/237, 709/238, 709/203, 709/202, 709/248, 709/246, 709/247, 709/242, 709/243, 709/244, 709/223, 709/224, 709/225, 709/226, 709/227, 709/228, 709/229, 709/235, 370/352, 370/353, 370/354, 370/355, 370/356, 370/466, 370/389, 370/392, 370/485, 370/396, 370/401, 370/404, 370/410, 370/512, 370/259, 379/90.01, 379/93.01, 379/93.05, 379/93.09, 379/100.15, 379/100.16, 379/88.17, 379/265, 379/266, 715/734, 715/735, 715/736, 715/739, 715/740, 715/741, 715/742, 715/743, 703/90.01, 703/93.01, 703/93.05, 703/93.09, 703/100.15, 703/100.16, 703/88.17, 703/265, 703/266
• US Class Current: 709/230
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5009 Determining service level performance parameters or violations of service level contracts, e.g. violations of agreed response time or mean time between failures [MTBF]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5083 wherein the managed service relates to web hosting
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5096 wherein the managed service relates to distributed or central networked applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/00 Arrangements for monitoring or testing data switching networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/50 Testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/55 Testing of service level quality, e.g. simulating service usage

Abstract

A method for synchronizing different components of a computer network system using meta-commands embedded in normal network packets. The data communication channel between different components of a computer network system can be used to transport meta-commands piggybacked in normal network packets, without modifying or compromising the validity of the protocol message. Embodiments of the method can be used for embedding test synchronization and control commands into the network packets sent through a device or system under test. The device or system under test can be an edge device, with the data communication channel carrying normal packets containing meta-commands embedded in the packets to synchronize the test control of the test clients and the test servers connected to the edge device.

Claims

1. A method of communicating control information between a first component and a second component of a computer network system in packet-based communication, comprising the steps of:

assigning by the first component a control sequence for communicating information between the first component and the second component, the control sequence defining test control information for emulating a behavior profile associated with a user of the computer network system, wherein the behavior profile specifies one or more user activities selected from a group comprising a plurality of user activities performed by the user over the computer network system, and one or more bandwidth usage levels corresponding to the one or more user activities;

embedding by the first component meta information based at least in part on the control sequence into one or more fields in a packet to be sent to the second component, the one or more fields available according to a protocol and specifying at least data information, the meta information overriding one or more values of the one or more fields without corrupting the data information in the packet, the protocol and the data information being selected based at least in part on the emulation of the activity associated with the user of the computer network system, wherein the protocol is selected from the group comprising HTTP, HTTPS, SIP, RTSP, and MGCP, and wherein the one or more fields are custom message elements from the protocol;

sending the packet from the first component to the second component, the sending causing the second component to parse the packet and determine the meta information from the one or more fields in the packet; and

receiving a response by the first component from the second component according to the meta information;

wherein the packet sent from the first component to the second component passes through a device under test (DUT);

wherein the meta information comprises an encoded instruction for controlling the behavior of the second component without affecting the operation of the DUT.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the DUT is an edge device.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the first component is a client and the second component is a server.

4. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the control sequence synchronizes a behavior of the first component and the second component.

5. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the first component and the second component are housed in a single hardware device.

6. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the first component is housed in a first hardware device and the second component is housed in a second hardware device.

7. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the one or more fields are one or more string message elements from the protocol.

8. The method as recited in claim 7, wherein the protocol is selected from the group consisting of FTP and TFTP.

9. The method as recited in claim 7, wherein the meta information is enclosed within a predetermined sequence of one or more characters.

10. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the one or more fields are one or more numeric message elements from the protocol.

11. The method as recited in claim 10, wherein the protocol is selected from the group consisting of MGCP, DNS, and RTP.

12. The method as recited in claim 10, wherein the one or more numeric message elements consist of floating point elements, integer elements, and binary elements.