Network Simulation via Virtual Device Modeling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing network configurations face challenges due to hardware limitations such as limited bandwidth, processing capacity, and data storage, making it difficult to evaluate and optimize computer systems before implementation, leading to potential performance issues and costs.
Innovation Solution
A method is developed to simulate network connections by generating transactions that represent network interactions, defining device model characteristics, and constructing inter-site routing tables to determine optimal network paths and device models, allowing for the simulation of network activities and latency calculations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If computer systems are interconnected in large network configurations to provide additional functionality, then network capability and functionality are improved, but hardware limitations such as bandwidth, processing capacity, and data storage constrain performance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates virtual copies of network hardware devices (network cards, processors, disk drives) with simulated performance characteristics. These virtual devices allow network configurations to be evaluated in simulation without requiring actual physical hardware, thus overcoming hardware limitations while maintaining realistic performance modeling.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary evaluation of network configurations through simulation before actual implementation. By creating and testing virtual network environments beforehand, the system identifies potential performance issues and optimizes configurations in advance, preventing hardware limitations from constraining final network performance.
2Reliability
If network configurations are evaluated before implementation to identify trouble spots, then system reliability is improved, but simulation complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The simulation system divides the network evaluation process into separate modular components: network card simulations, processor simulations, disk drive simulations, and network protocol simulations. Each component independently models specific hardware aspects, allowing complex network configurations to be evaluated through composition of simpler, manageable simulation modules.
3Loss of substance
If virtual network devices are created with simulated performance characteristics, then hardware cost is reduced, but simulation model complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The simulation framework implements universal device models that can represent multiple types of network hardware (different network cards, processors, disk drives) through standardized interfaces and configurable parameters. This multi-functionality allows a single simulation engine to evaluate diverse hardware configurations without requiring separate specialized models for each device type.
Data Source
AI summary
Simulating network connections. A method includes generating a transaction by simulating a method model of a service model. The transaction includes representations of network interactions. A sequence of actions is created. The actions define network hardware activities including network actions performed by one or more source computer models, one or more network models, and one or more destination computer models. The sequence of actions is applied to network hardware device models to simulate network connectivity.