Real-time Hierarchical USB Protocol Decoding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current USB analyzers lack the capability to perform real-time decoding of USB communications at the class level, leading to inefficiencies in monitoring and analyzing USB traffic, particularly in detecting timeouts and displaying relevant information effectively.
Innovation Solution
A hardware USB analyzer configured to monitor and decode USB communications, generating an analysis stream that includes timestamps and 'no activity' packets, allowing for real-time class level decoding and timeout detection, while using a circular buffer to store packets and preserving essential information for later use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If USB analyzers monitor and decode all USB communications in real-time, then analysis accuracy is improved, but processing time and system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments USB communication analysis into multiple hierarchical levels: raw packet level, transaction level, and class level. By organizing decoded information hierarchically, the system can efficiently process and analyze USB communications without overwhelming processing requirements, thereby maintaining high analysis accuracy while reducing processing time.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary action by performing packet capture, decoding, and hierarchical organization in advance before actual analysis is needed. The system continuously monitors and pre-processes USB communications, maintaining buffered records of decoded information ready for immediate analysis, thus eliminating processing delays when analysis is required.
2Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If USB analyzers perform detailed class level decoding, then detection capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the analysis function into distinct modular components: packet capture module, decoding module, hierarchical organization module, and analysis module. Each module handles a specific aspect of the analysis process, making the overall system more manageable and less complex while maintaining high detection capability through specialized functionality in each segment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary hierarchical structure that sits between raw packet data and final analysis results. This intermediate layer organizes decoded USB communications into structured formats with timestamps and hierarchical relationships, serving as a mediator that simplifies the complexity of raw data while preserving all necessary detection information.
3Loss of information
If USB analyzers store all captured packets, then information completeness is improved, but memory requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments stored information into hierarchical categories (packets, transactions, class-level operations) and only retains essential decoded information at each level. By organizing data hierarchically and storing only the most relevant attributes at each level rather than complete raw data, the system maintains information completeness for analysis while significantly reducing memory storage requirements.
Data Source
AI summary
Real-time USB class level decoding is disclosed. In some embodiments, a first packet associated with a USB class level operation associated with a target USB device that is being monitored is received. A second packet generated by a USB hardware analyzer configured to observe USB traffic associated with the target USB device is received. It is determined based at least in part on a time associated with one or both of the first packet and the second packet that the class level operation has timed out.