Network Packet Processor Simulator Using Specification Translation
Solution Overview
Problem
The development of network packet processors is time-consuming and requires specialized knowledge from multiple fields, making rapid prototyping and improvement challenging.
Innovation Solution
A method for simulating a network packet processor using a textual language specification that translates into a hardware description language, allowing for quick generation of a hardware implementation in a programmable logic device, enabling efficient resource utilization and low latency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a hardware implementation of a network packet processor is developed using traditional methods requiring specialized knowledge from multiple fields, then the implementation can be created with proper expertise, but the development process becomes time-consuming and expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an automated translation system that acts as an intermediary between protocol specifications and hardware implementations. This mediator automatically converts high-level protocol descriptions into hardware implementation code, eliminating the need for manual translation by experts in multiple fields while maintaining implementation quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates a formal representation or copy of the protocol specification that can be automatically processed and translated into hardware code. This copying approach allows the original protocol design to be preserved while generating multiple hardware implementations quickly through automated translation.
2Reliability
If specialized knowledge from multiple fields is required for developing hardware implementations, then proper expertise is ensured, but the ease of manufacture and development accessibility deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The translation system performs self-service by automatically generating hardware implementation code from protocol specifications without requiring manual intervention from experts in multiple fields. The system serves itself by handling the complex translation process that would otherwise require specialized knowledge, making the development process accessible to protocol designers without hardware expertise.
Solution Approach 2:
The automated translation system acts as an intermediary that bridges the gap between protocol specifications and hardware implementations, eliminating the need for developers to possess specialized hardware expertise while ensuring proper implementation quality through automated code generation.
3Productivity
If rapid development iterations are implemented by quickly generating hardware from protocol specifications, then timeliness and quality improvement are achieved, but the complexity of the development system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses formal copying of protocol specifications into machine-processable representations, allowing rapid automatic translation into hardware code. This copying mechanism enables quick generation of multiple implementation iterations without manual rework, significantly improving development speed despite the underlying translation complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The translation system leverages parameter changes in the formal specification language to automatically generate different hardware implementation configurations. By systematically varying parameters in the protocol specification, the system can rapidly produce multiple implementation versions with different performance characteristics, enabling fast iterative development.
Data Source
AI summary
A method is provided for simulating a processor of network packets. A specification is input for the processor. The specification includes actions specifying a modification of the network packets by the processor. Each action includes a guard condition that enables and disables the action. First and second values of certain fields are determined for each action. The guard condition enables and disables the action respectively for the first and second values of the fields. The network packets are generated. For each field included in the guard conditions, a value of the field is selected for each generated network packet from the values of the field within the first and second values for the actions. The specification of the processor is translated into a simulator of the processor. The modification of the network packets is simulated in the simulator. A result of the modification is displayed on a user interface.