Sequence Number Generator for Network Traffic Testing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for generating sequence numbers in network traffic testing equipment are inefficient, leading to high overhead and system bottlenecks, especially when emulating multiple sources and sessions, and lack flexibility in generating complex or arbitrary sequences.
Innovation Solution
A system that uses a data storage entity to store coefficients for generating sequence numbers according to a desired pattern, allowing for low-overhead and flexible sequence number generation by calculating values using these coefficients without changing them during generation, and includes a sequencing method selection module to choose between different generation methods based on desired patterns.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional memory storage and read-modify-write operations are used to generate sequence numbers, then sequence numbers can be generated for multiple sessions, but system overhead increases and performance bottlenecks occur at high traffic rates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the software-based read-modify-write memory operations with hardware-based sequence number generation using counters and multiplexers. This substitution of mechanical/software systems with hardware circuits eliminates the performance bottleneck while maintaining the ability to generate sequence numbers for multiple sessions simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent divides the sequence number generation system into separate counter units, each dedicated to a specific session or source. Each counter independently generates sequence numbers for its assigned session, eliminating the need for centralized memory access and read-modify-write operations, thereby enabling parallel generation for multiple sessions without overhead.
2Productivity
If simple counter output is used as the source for sequence numbers, then overhead is reduced, but only simple sequences can be generated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the sequence number generation dynamic by allowing the selection of different counter configurations and patterns through multiplexers. The system can adapt between simple incrementing sequences and more complex patterns by dynamically selecting which counter outputs are used and how they are combined, providing both efficiency and flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal sequence number generation system where the same hardware infrastructure (counters and multiplexers) can generate multiple types of sequence patterns. By configuring the multiplexers to select different counter outputs and combination methods, the system can produce simple sequences, complex sequences, or arbitrary patterns as needed.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, systems, and computer readable media for generation of sequence numbers for insertion into a data stream are disclosed. According to one aspect, low-overhead sequence number generation includes reading a stored set of coefficients and using them to calculate a value for a sequence number according to an equation for calculating a sequence number value, but not changing the values of the stored set of coefficients during generation of the sequence numbers. According to another aspect, a sequence number generation method is selected from multiple available methods based on a desired pattern of sequence numbers and used to generate sequence numbers that are included in a data stream. According to yet another aspect, sequence numbers are calculated using multiple inputs, each input being a counter output or a value referenced by a counter output.