DEVELOPMENT AND TEST TOOLS FOR COMMUNICATION SYSTEM

摘要

The development system comprises reuseable computer implemented components (812 to 836) to be used in conjunction with a hardware network interface board (804, 806), for emulation of devices in a functioning network. The same components can provide tools for stimulation and analysis of network traffic and compliance verification. The components provide an interface between a client program (810) and the network interface hardware. They include a protocol database (838), in which application-level protocols specific to devices such as CD changers, amplifiers and audio-video control units are defined. The proposed tools offer a mechanism for filtering commands instructed by the user (client program), where these conflict with application protocols defined for the specific type of device being emulated. The components include program modules for automatic implementation of standard behaviours, such as network management and source data connection routing. In addition to application protocols generic to all network configurations employing a certain protocol, the tools may store a network system description defining the particular number and type of devices present or emulated on the network, to restrit further the range of legal commands.