Decoding and detailed analysis of captured frames in an IEEE 802.11 wireless LAN

A method for decoding information contained in an IEEE 802.11 header of data packets or frames transmitted between stations in a wireless Local Area Network (LAN), said method comprising:

• establishing a direct wireless logical connection with the wireless communications network;
• receiving wirelessly, in real-time, data packets or frames transmitted in the wireless communication network;
• storing in a memory storage device, the data packets or frames captured;
• and
• decoding and displaying the information contained in the respective IEEE 802.11 headers of the data packets or frames;
• wherein said decoding and displaying includes:
• displaying a menu to a user to permit the user to select a captured file containing frames or data packets;
• and
• analyzing in detail each bit of the IEEE 802.11 header of each frame of the captured file in the order they are stored in a capture buffer memory;
• wherein said analyzing further includes:
• determining parameters necessary to decode the associated IEEE 802.11 header of a current frame being analyzed;
• determining if the current frame is a portion of a larger fragmented frame;
• reassembling the current frame if it is determined it is a portion of a larger fragmented frame;
• determining the source and destination addresses of the current frame;
• displaying the source and destination addresses of the current frame;
• executing a summary routine for determining short concise summary information relative to the current frame;
• displaying said summary information about the contents of the current frame;
• decoding individually for each layer the information contained in the current frame;
• and
• displaying the decoded information.