Test and debug method and apparatus

Abstract

A method for performing wireless analyzer spatial position optimization for a network having a particular network topology. The method comprises the steps of recording one or more reference network topology measurements to perform an initial parameter calibration, estimating a plurality of possible relative positions for the particular network topology, and calculating a link estimator function for each link between a plurality of the possible relative positions. Recording quality for each received packet is calculated at each of the plurality of possible relative positions over each of the links so that a position indicative of an optimal position is determined.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding of the invention, reference is made to the following description and accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a network topology example depicting a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram depicting an UltraWideband frame structure used to describe a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram depicting a programmable pattern match sequence in accordance with the second embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 4 is a block diagram depicting an instruction format useful in explaining the second embodiment of the present invention.

Claims

1. A method for performing wireless analyzer spatial position optimization for a network having a particular network topology, comprising the steps of: recording one or more reference network topology measurements to perform an initial parameter calibration;estimating a plurality of possible relative positions for the particular network topology;calculating a link estimator function for each link between a plurality of the possible relative positions; andcalculating recording quality for each received packet at each of the plurality of possible relative positions over each of the links;whereby a position indicative of an optimal position is determined.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of: determining that the particular network topology has changed; andautomatically performing the steps of claim 1 in accordance with the changed network topology.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the network topology changes when a new device is added to the network.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the network topology changes when a device is removed from the network.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the network topology changes when the link estimator function of one of the plurality of positions changes.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of positions are in a substantially two dimensional plane.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of positions are in a substantially three dimensional space.

8. The method of claim 1, whereby recording quality is optimized at the optimal position.

9. A method for determining a pattern match between a designated pattern and data in a data sequence of data received in a protocol analyzer, comprising the steps of: designating a portion of a pattern to be matched as bits that can take on any value;designating bit values of a portion of the pattern to be matched;performing a bitwise logical comparison between the pattern to be matched, including the designated bit values and bits that can take on any value, and the data sequence in substantially real time; andindicating a location in the data stream of any determined matches.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the designated portions of the pattern are constructed into an instruction sequence.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the instruction sequence is implemented in a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA).

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the instruction sequence comprises the pattern to be matched, including the designated bit values and bits that can take on any value.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein a user is notified in substantially real time when a match is determined.

14. A system for generating traffic for testing a network, comprising: a traffic generation module for generating traffic to be injected into a network;wherein one or more parameters of the traffic conforms to a predetermined statistical distribution.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the he number of sent packets over time conforms to the predetermined statistical distribution.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the Payload length of packets sent over time conforms to the predetermined statistical distribution

17. The system of claim 14, wherein the time between sent packets conforms to the predetermined statistical distribution.

18. The system of claim 14, wherein the predetermined statistical distribution is an exponential distribution used to model uncorrelated packets.

19. The system of claim 14, wherein the predetermined statistical distribution is a self-similar distribution used to model correlated packets that are sent in bursts.