Virtual interface applications

摘要

The invention relates to a network gateway comprising a gateway function configured to perform one or more predetermined operations on or with respect to data reaching the gateway function, a first application configured to participate in testing of the gateway function by exchanging data with a second application, and a routing unit configured for routing at least some of the data exchanged between the first application and the second application so that the at least some of the data reaches the gateway function. Implementing the first application for testing a particular gateway function on the network gateway having that function, as opposed to implementing the first application in a device in a network communicatively connected to the gateway, eliminates the need to have a device in the network that is available for testing of that function of the gateway.

主权项

1. A single network gateway device comprising:
a first communication interface configured to connect the single network gateway device to a first network; a second communication interface configured to connect the single network gateway device to a second network different from the first network; a gateway function implemented on the single network gateway device, wherein the gateway function is configured to perform one or more predetermined operations on or with respect to at least one of (i) data coming from the first network via the first communication interface and going to the second network or (ii) data coming from the second network via the second communication interface and going to the first network; a first application implemented on the single network gateway device, wherein the first application is configured to participate in testing of the gateway function by exchanging data with a second application implemented in the first network or in the second network, so as to allow for testing of the gateway function without a test device on one of the first and second networks; and a routing unit configured to route, through the gateway function, at least some of the data exchanged during the testing of the gateway function between the first application implemented on the single network gateway device and the second application implemented on the first network or on the second network, so that the at least some of the data reaches the gateway function.