Multiplex communications – Pathfinding or routing – Switching a message which includes an address header
Reexamination Certificate
1998-06-26
2003-07-22
Yao, Kwang Bin (Department: 2664)
Multiplex communications
Pathfinding or routing
Switching a message which includes an address header
Reexamination Certificate
active
06597694
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a network simulation for testing network performance. In particular, the present invention relates to bulk call generation and application emulation for purposes of testing and simulation for evaluating the performance of a network.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A computer network includes a set of communication channels interconnecting a set of computing devices or nodes that can communicate with each other. These nodes may be computers, terminals, workstations, or communication units of various kinds distributed over different locations. They communicate over communications channels that can be leased from common carriers (e.g. telephone companies) or are provided by the owners of the network. These channels may use a variety of transmission media, including optical fibers, coaxial cable, twisted copper pairs, satellite links, or digital microwave radio. The nodes may be distributed over a wide area (distances of hundreds or thousands of miles) or over a local area (distances of a hundred feet to several miles), in which case the networks are called wide area (WAN) or local area (LAN) networks, respectively. Combinations of LANs and WANs are also possible in the case of widely separated LANs in branch offices located via a WAN to the LAN in corporate headquarters.
Recently, modem computer networks have greatly increased in number and geographical area, in the number and variety of devices interconnected, and in the scope of applications supported. A modem network may consist of thousands of computing devices made by various manufacturers connected by a variety of transmission media spanning international and intercontinental boundaries.
FIG. 1
is a block diagram illustrating interactions between users and a network.
FIG. 1
shows users
100
A-
100
C who are attempting to make calls to various Internet protocol addresses in the network
106
. Users
100
A-
100
C may be any entity attempting to access network
106
, such as an individual user, a server, or a corporation. Users
100
A-
100
C typically call into a central office, such as Pacific Bell, which in turn calls an Internet service provider
104
, such as Netcom. The call typically terminates with an Internet service provider
104
. A router then typically uses a network protocol connection, such as a transmission control protocol/Internet protocol (TCP/IP), to distribute the calls made by the users
100
A-
100
C to the appropriate Internet protocol (IP) addresses in the network
106
.
For testing and simulation purposes, it is often useful to simulate users
100
A-
100
C and the central office
102
to determine the quality and performance of the network
106
. For instance, it may be useful for the Internet service provider
104
to determine how many number of calls it can handle within a given amount of time. With that information, the Internet service provider
104
could determine whether its infrastructure is adequate to provide services for its customers. Another instance in which testing and simulation may be required is if a customer does not wish to build its own network, but contracts for a service agreement to utilize someone else's private network. Typically, these service level agreements agree to provide availability for a certain percent of time. In order to monitor the contracts, simulations can occur which mimics the customers' access to provide proof that the network can simultaneously handle a given number of calls and that the agreed percentage of availability is actually being provided.
FIG. 2
shows a block diagram of a system for testing a network.
FIG. 2
shows a bulk call generator
200
, such as the bulk call generator manufactured by Abacus, making calls to the network
106
. The bulk call generator
200
simulates the users
100
A-
100
C and the central office
102
of
FIG. 1
by generating a large number of calls into the network
106
. The bulk call generator
200
typically generates a large number of calls into the network
106
to be rerouted back to the bulk call generator
200
. In other words, the bulk call generator
200
makes a large number of calls to itself through the network
106
. In this manner, the bulk call generator
200
simulates the users
100
A-
100
C and the central office
102
of
FIG. 1
to test the performance of the network
106
. These conventional bulk call generators
200
are typically a device with dedicated hardware specifically designed to create bulk calls. The conventional bulk call generators
200
typically range in price from $100,000 to $500,000.
Although simulation and testing can be accomplished with conventional bulk call generators, they tend to be extremely expensive. Additionally, conventional bulk call generators typically do not include a variety of IP addresses as part of the test scenario.
It would be desirable to have a bulk call generator which does not require dedicated hardware, which can be manufactured at a reasonable price, and which includes a variety of IP addresses as part of the test scenario. The present invention addresses such a need.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is a system and method for generating bulk calls and emulating applications. According to an embodiment of the present invention, a router is converted into a bulk call generator which generates packets with Internet protocol (IP) addresses for the purpose of simulating network traffic. These packets may be initially either captured or created. When the packets are captured, they may be captured from actual network traffic and rerouted to various selected IP addresses which are used for simulation purposes. Alternatively, when the packets are created, they may be created within the converted router and various selected IP addresses, reserved for simulation purposes, are assigned to the packets. The various selected IP addresses may be in a range which is user configurable. The IP addresses may be selected from this range by any method, such as incrementation, decrementation, or random selection. Connections may be set up according to a routing table based on the IP addresses of the various data packets.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, a set of parameters is assigned to each data packet. Examples of parameters include an interface assignment, packet issuance rate, duration for the rate, number of times to repeat this set of parameters, and a modification scheme for modifying the IP address. A send engine in the converted router may receive the set of parameters and send the data packet according to the instructions in the set of parameters associated with the data packet.
A method according to an embodiment of the present invention for generating a plurality of calls to a network is presented. The method comprising a step of providing a data packet with an address, wherein the address identifies a location within a network, the device being configurable to perform as a router. The method also comprising providing a record with at least one traffic parameter; and sending the data packet to the network for a simulation purpose, the data packet being sent according to the at least one traffic parameter.
A system according to an embodiment of the present invention for generating a plurality of calls to a network is also presented. The system comprising a packet generator subsystem included in a device, wherein the device is configurable to perform as a router, and wherein the packet generator subsystem provides a data packet with an address, wherein the address identifies a location within a network. The system also comprising a dial shelf coupled to the packet generator subsystem, wherein the packet generator subsystem is configured to request the dial shelf to prepare to send a predetermined number of calls for a simulation purpose.
Another system according to an embodiment of the present invention for generating a plurality of calls to a network is presented. The system comprising a means for providing a data packet with an address, wherein the address identifie
Fondekar Biren V.
Zhang Kui
Baker & Botts L.L.P.
Cisco Technology Inc.
Jones Prenell
Yao Kwang Bin
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