Method and system for visualizing and analyzing a field area network

A computer system for visualizing and analyzing a field area network, the computer system comprising:

• a memory;
• and
• one or more processors in communications with the memory, wherein the computer system is configured to perform a method, said method comprising:
• backhauling by a packet intercept system on a field area network, to at least one additional network, a traffic data stream intercepted by the packet intercept system from the field area network,
• wherein the field area network comprises an adhoc self-forming network comprised of a plurality of network nodes,
• wherein the packet intercept system is comprised of a plurality of probes in the field area network,
• wherein the at least one additional network is distinct from the field area network, and
• wherein the traffic data stream comprises at least one of:
• individual packets, packet detail or metadata generated by at least one probe of the plurality of probes, based on processing at least one intercepted packet from the field area network;
• extracting, by a processor communicatively coupled to the at least one additional network, connectivity and routing information from the traffic data, wherein the connectivity and routing information comprises packet information and node information;
• determining, by the processor, network characteristics based on the extracted connectivity and routing information;
• retaining, by the processor, the network characteristics in a data structure;
• importing, by the processor, the data structure into a non-transitory computer readable storage medium accessible to the processor;
• obtaining, by the processor, a portion of the data structure from the non-transitory computer readable storage medium and generating, by the processor, a visual representation of the field area network viewable on a client communicatively coupled to the processor, wherein the visual representation comprises historical views of data routing through the field area network and predictive views of future routing of the data through the field area network, and wherein generating the visual representation comprises:
• constructing, by the processor, a predictive access point routing map, based on continuously examining packets in the intercepted traffic data stream comprising source routing information and next hop information, wherein the predictive access point routing map automatically depicts future routes from one or more network node to an access point on the adhoc self-forming network, the constructing further comprising:
• identifying, by the processor, a change in a next hop information sequence for a given network node of the plurality of network nodes in the field area network, wherein the change in the next hop information sequence in based on a new source route;
• determining, by the processor, which additional nodes of the plurality of network nodes of the field area network are affected by the change in the next hop information sequence, wherein the affected nodes are behind the given network node in the field area network;
• estimating, by the processor, the future routes for each of the affected nodes to the access point, based on the change in next hop information at the given network node;
• and
• depicting, by the processor, the predictive access routing map, wherein the predictive access routing map reflects the future routes.

A computer program product for visualizing and analyzing a field area network, the computer program product comprising:

• a non-transitory computer readable storage medium readable by a processing circuit and storing instructions for execution by the processing circuit for performing a method comprising:
• backhauling by a packet intercept system on a field area network, to at least one additional network, a traffic data stream intercepted by the packet intercept system from the field area network,
• wherein the field area network comprises an adhoc self-forming network comprised of a plurality of network nodes,
• wherein the packet intercept system is comprised of a plurality of probes in the field area network,
• wherein the at least one additional network is distinct from the field area network, and
• wherein the traffic data stream comprises at least one of:
• individual packets, packet detail or metadata generated by at least one probe of the plurality of probes, based on processing at least one intercepted packet from the field area network;
• extracting, by a processor communicatively coupled to the at least one additional network, connectivity and routing information from the traffic data, wherein the connectivity and routing information comprises packet information and node information;
• determining, by the processor, network characteristics based on the extracted connectivity and routing information;
• retaining, by the processor, the network characteristics in a data structure;
• importing, by the processor, the data structure into the non-transitory computer readable storage medium accessible to the processor;
• obtaining, by the processor, a portion of the data structure from the non-transitory computer readable storage medium and generating, by the processor, a visual representation of the field area network viewable on a client communicatively coupled to the processor, wherein the visual representation comprises historical views of data routing through the field area network and predictive views of future routing of the data through the field area network, and wherein generating the visual representation comprises:
• constructing, by the processor, a predictive access point routing map, based on continuously examining packets in the intercepted traffic data stream comprising source routing information and next hop information, wherein the predictive access point routing map automatically depicts future routes from one or more network node to an access point on the adhoc self-forming network, the constructing further comprising:
• identifying, by the processor, a change in a next hop information sequence for a given network node of the plurality of network nodes in the field area network, wherein the change in the next hop information sequence in based on a new source route;
• determining, by the processor, which additional nodes of the plurality of network nodes of the field area network are affected by the change in the next hop information sequence, wherein the affected nodes are behind the given network node in the field area network;
• estimating, by the processor, the future routes for each of the affected nodes to the access point, based on the change in next hop information at the given network node, and
• depicting, by the processor, the predictive access routing map, wherein the predictive access routing map reflects the future routes.