Patent ID: 7813292
Filing Date: 2010-10-12
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A method comprising: representing, using a processor, a communication endpoint as a protocol stack having a plurality of different protocol software modules, each of said plurality of different protocol software modules configured to implement a different associated protocol providing different associated protocol services for a packet flowing through said protocol software module wherein at least one of said plurality of protocol software modules comprises entry code, protocol code, and exit code; enabling, using said processor, a test application to access internal state information of said packet as said packet moves between said plurality of protocol software modules for selecting a configuration of said different protocols in said protocol stack using at least one packet time manipulation language (PTML) expression wherein each at least one PTML expression comprises at least one protocol software module identifier and at least one operation; enabling, using said processor, said test application to control said internal state information as said packet moves between said plurality of protocol software modules using said at least one PTML expression; and enabling, using said processor, test code to be written and registered with one of said plurality of protocol software modules, said test code comprising said at least one PTML expression, said test code representative of an action to take in case of a condition wherein said action and said condition are included in said at least one PTML expression, said one of said plurality of protocol software modules performing said action if said condition is present in said packet, wherein said test code is configured to be compiled and linked independently of said protocol code, wherein said entry code is configured to check for test code from said test application, to set a value of a pointer to a first table and to interpret said at least one PTML expression, said protocol code is configured to provide said associated protocol services, and said exit code is configured to check for test code from said test application, to set a value of a pointer to a second table and to interpret said at least one PTML expression after said protocol code provides said associated protocol services and if said test code applies to said at least one protocol software module, said exit code performing said operation specified by said test code, wherein said enabling operation comprises exporting at least one symbol from at least one of said plurality of protocol software modules to at least one of said first table and said second table, said test application utilizing said at least one symbol to access said internal state information using said at least one PTML expression.