Methods, systems and computer readable media for network tapping and packet brokering in wireless networks

A system for network tapping and packet brokering in wireless networks, the system comprising:

• a wireless network tap for tapping a signal transmitted between devices separate from the wireless network tap in a wireless network, the wireless network tap including:
• at least one processor;
• a valid signal determining module implemented by the at least one processor for determining that the signal is a valid signal according to a wireless network protocol;
• a demodulator for, responsive to a determination that the signal is a valid signal according to the wireless network protocol, demodulating the signal into a sequence of bits arranged according to the wireless network protocol;
• and
• a network tapping and packet brokering system interface for, in response to a determination that the signal is not a valid signal according to the wireless network protocol, generating an indication that the signal is not a valid signal according to the wireless network protocol;
• generating a frame in a format compatible with a network tapping and packet brokering system, inserting, in the frame, at least some of the bits, wherein inserting, in the frame, at least some of the bits includes inserting a payload of a wireless network protocol packet in an Ethernet frame;
• and
• the network tapping and packet brokering system interface transmitting the frame to the network tapping and packet brokering system.

A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon executable instructions that when executed by the processor of a computer control the computer to perform steps comprising:

• using a wireless network tap to tap a signal transmitted between devices separate from the wireless network tap in a wireless network;
• determining that the signal is a valid signal according to a wireless network protocol;
• in response to determining that the signal is a valid signal according to the wireless network protocol, demodulating the signal into a sequence of bits arranged according to the wireless network protocol;
• in response to determining that the signal is not a valid signal according to the wireless network protocol, generating an indication that the signal is not a valid signal according to the wireless network protocol;
• generating a frame in a format compatible with a network tapping and packet brokering system;
• inserting, in the frame, at least some of the bits wherein inserting, in the frame, at least some of the bits includes inserting a payload of a wireless network protocol packet in an Ethernet frame;
• and
• transmitting the frame from a network tapping and packet brokering system interface of the wireless network tap to the network tapping and packet brokering system.