Application Layer Interface for Network Simulator Input
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Solution Overview
Problem
Network simulation tools typically operate at the transport protocol layer, making it difficult for application developers to create and modify input data, as they need to translate application-layer logic into transport protocol-level packet simulations, which is a daunting task.
Innovation Solution
A user interface that facilitates the use of application-layer parameters and logic, allowing users to define and modify input data in a graphic or text/programming form, integrating the viewing of results with the creation of new input for subsequent simulations, using graphic displays, message editors, and logic scripts to model application-layer behavior.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If network simulation tools operate at the transport protocol layer, then network performance analysis is achieved, but application developers face difficulty in creating and modifying input data
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an application-level interface that acts as an intermediary between application developers and the transport protocol layer simulator. This interface allows developers to define traffic patterns using application-layer concepts (messages, transactions, services) rather than directly manipulating packet-level parameters, thereby simplifying the input data creation process while maintaining accurate network performance analysis
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of requiring application developers to translate application-layer logic into transport protocol packet structures, the patent inverts the approach by allowing developers to specify traffic patterns at the application layer, which then automatically generates the corresponding packet-level simulation data. This reversal eliminates the daunting translation task while preserving simulation accuracy
2Reliability
If application developers directly translate application-layer logic into transport protocol-level packet simulations, then accurate performance modeling is achieved, but the task becomes daunting and complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the simulation process into distinct layers: an application-level interface for defining traffic patterns using high-level concepts, and an underlying transport protocol layer for packet simulation. This segmentation allows developers to work with simplified application-layer abstractions while the system handles the complex packet-level translations automatically, reducing input complexity without sacrificing modeling accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates an application-level abstraction layer that copies and represents traffic patterns in terms of application-layer messages and transactions, which then map to the underlying packet structures. This copying mechanism allows developers to work with simplified representations while maintaining faithful correspondence to the actual network behavior, reducing complexity while preserving accuracy
Data Source
AI summary
A user interface to a network simulator facilitates the use of application layer parameters and application layer logic. The user interface is configured to allow the user to define the input in a graphic form, or a text/programming form, or a combination of both. The user interface provides common graphic forms for both inputting the data to the simulator as well as for displaying the resultant data from the simulator. In response, the simulator and user interface may provide updated information to reflect the impact of changes made to application layer parameters and logic.