Packet communication testing apparatus and associated methods

• US 8,850,300 B1
• Filed: 10/20/2010
• Issued: 09/30/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Altera Corporation (Intel Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Altera Corporation (Intel Corporation)
• Inventors: de Jong, Lambertus, Tyson, James
• Primary Examiner(s): Lohn, Joshua
• Application Number:
  US12/908,529
• Time in Patent Office: 1,441 Days
• Field of Search: 714/43, 714/712, 714/715, 714/716, 714/821, 714/824, 370/248
• US Class Current: 714/821
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1004 to protect a block of data words, e.g. CRC or checksum G06F11/1076 takes precedence; security arrangements for protecting computers or computer systems against unauthorized activity G06F21/00

Abstract

A system includes a packet generator and a packet checker. The packet generator is operable to operable to generate a packet for transmission to a destination device. The packet includes a plurality of fields, including a code field that is operable to store a code generated based on an expected modification to the packet during transmission. The packet checker is associated with the destination device and is operable to receive the packet.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a packet generator operable to generate a packet for transmission to a destination device, wherein the packet comprises a plurality of fields, including a code field operable to store a first code generated based on an expected modification to the packet during transmission; and

a packet checker associated with the destination device operable to receive the packet.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein a device under test (DUT) causes the expected modification to the packet.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein an intermediary device between the packet generator and the packet checker causes the expected modification to the packet.

4. The system according to claim 2, wherein the device modifies the packet by modifying a source field of the packet.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the packet checker calculates a second code for the packet, and compares the calculated code to the first code.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein the code comprises cyclic redundancy check (CRC).

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein the code comprises an error detection or error correction code.

8. The system according to claim 3, wherein the device comprises a router.

9. The system according to claim 3, wherein the device comprises a switch.

10. The system according to claim 1, wherein the packet comprises an Ethernet packet.

11. An apparatus, comprising a code generator that generates a code for inclusion in a packet to be transmitted from a packet source to a packet destination via a path, wherein the code is generated by taking into account expected changes to the packet during transit from the packet source to the packet destination via the path, wherein the code is included in a code field of the packet.

12. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the packet comprises a code field.

13. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the code is encoded in the code field of the packet.

14. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the code comprises an error detection or error correction code.

15. The apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising a packet checker coupled to receive the packet at the destination.

16. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the packet checker calculates a received packet code for the received packet and compares the received packet code to the code included in the packet.

17. A method of communicating a packet from a source to a destination via a packet path, the method comprising:

obtaining a characteristic of the packet path that is expected to modify the packet during communication from the source to the destination;

generating a code depending on the characteristic of the packet path; and

including the code in the packet.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein the characteristic of the packet path comprises a change made to a field of the packet during transit.

19. The method according to claim 17, further comprising:

receiving the packet at the destination;

calculating a code for the packet; and

comparing the calculated code to the code included in the packet.

20. The method according to claim 17, wherein the code comprises an error detection code.