Patent ID: 8046720

Claim:
A method for creating and editing an encoded data packet comprising a plurality of protocol fields, each protocol field having a protocol value corresponding to a protocol layer, said method comprising: generating simulated network traffic to test network equipment, wherein generating simulated network traffic includes: displaying on a first pane of a computer window a hierarchical order of said protocol layers and values of said protocol fields of said encoded data packet, each protocol layer comprising a header describing said protocol layer, said header being displayed with said protocol value corresponding to that header, wherein said protocol values of said protocol fields of a plurality of different protocol layers are editable within said first pane while said protocol values of said protocol fields of said different protocol layers are displayed within said first pane; displaying on a second pane of said window said entire encoded data packet for transmission as simulated traffic; editing the encoded data packet; and transmitting the edited encoded data packet over a communications network.