Synthetic Client Emulation for Network Testing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing network testing methods require physical client devices and are inefficient in simulating client behavior across networks, especially when testing complex or large network deployments.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a server with a station engine that generates messages with fake source MAC addresses, which are sent via a wired connection to network devices acting as synthetic clients, allowing them to transmit frames wirelessly without modification, enabling efficient network testing by simulating client behavior and roaming across devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If physical client devices are used for network testing, then accurate client behavior simulation is achieved, but device complexity and testing efficiency deteriorate due to the need for multiple physical devices and manual configuration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a synthetic client that is a virtual copy of a physical client device, emulating its behavior through software rather than hardware. The synthetic client generates and processes network frames with appropriate MAC addresses, allowing multiple virtual instances to be created from a single physical device, thereby reducing the need for multiple physical devices while maintaining simulation accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The access point is designed to perform multiple functions: it acts as both a wireless network interface and a synthetic client emulator. By integrating the frame generation, extraction, and wireless transmission capabilities into a single device, the system eliminates the need for separate physical client devices for each test scenario, reducing overall system complexity
2Reliability
If multiple physical client devices are deployed for network testing, then comprehensive network coverage is achieved, but productivity and testing efficiency deteriorate due to manual setup and management overhead
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the client functionality into two parts: a centralized frame generation component and a distributed wireless transmission component. The access point extracts frames from wired messages and wirelessly transmits them, while the frame generation can be centralized at a controller or distributed to multiple access points, enabling scalable network coverage without proportional increases in physical devices
Solution Approach 2:
The synthetic client automatically generates appropriate network frames with correct source and destination MAC addresses, and the access point automatically extracts and transmits these frames wirelessly. This automation eliminates manual configuration and management overhead, allowing comprehensive network coverage to be achieved efficiently without human intervention for each test device
3Measurement precision
If physical devices are used for real-time network testing, then accurate performance data is collected, but response time and data processing speed deteriorate due to hardware limitations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical/hardware-based client device operations with software-based frame generation and processing. The synthetic client uses software to generate, extract, and process network frames, which can be executed much faster than physical device operations. This substitution maintains measurement precision while dramatically improving data processing speed and response time
Data Source
AI summary
A system with a device including a hardware processor is configured to perform operations: receiving, by the device, a message over a wired medium, wherein the message has a frame including (a) a MAC address as a source MAC address for the frame and (b) a second MAC address as a destination MAC address for the frame, extracting, by the device, the frame from the message received over the wired medium, and wirelessly transmitting, by the device, the frame without modifying the source MAC address and without modifying the destination MAC address.