# US 8,571,032 B2 · Testing packet fragmentation > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,571,032 B2 - Document ID: US8571032B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/948,567 - Filed: 2010-11-17 - Published: 2012-05-17 - Granted: 2013-10-29 - Earliest claimed: 2010-11-17 - Assignees: Ixia - Applicants: Alon Regev - Inventors: Alon Regev - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8571032B2 ## CPC - H04L 43/04: Processing captured monitoring data, e.g. for logfile generation - H04L 43/06: Generation of reports - H04L 43/50: Testing arrangements - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) ## Abstract Methods and apparatus for testing a network that converts datagrams into fragments. A traffic generator may generate a datagram containing plural instrumentation blocks and transmit the test traffic over the network. A traffic receiver may determine if a plurality of fragments received via the network constitutes a complete datagram based, at least in part, on data within respective instrumentation blocks extracted from each received fragment. The traffic receiver may report test statistics indicative of a number of complete datagrams received and a number of incomplete datagrams received. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for testing a network that converts datagrams into fragments, wherein a minimum fragment payload length is known, the method comprising: a traffic generator generating a datagram, a payload of the datagram containing plural instrumentation blocks, each of the plural instrumentation blocks containing information identifying the datagram and information identifying the location of each instrumentation block within the datagram, the plural instrumentation blocks disposed within the payload of the datagram at intervals less than or equal to one-half of the minimum fragment payload length; and the traffic generator transmitting the datagram over the network. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the information identifying the datagram includes a packet group identifier and a packet sequence number. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the information identifying the location of the instrumentation block within the datagram includes at least one of an instrumentation block sequence number and an instrumentation block offset. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein each of the plural instrumentation blocks contains information indicating at least one of a total number of instrumentation blocks within the datagram and a payload length of the datagram. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: a packet receiver receiving a plurality of fragments derived from the datagram; the packet receiver determining if the received fragments constitute the complete datagram based, at least in part, on data within respective instrumentation blocks extracted from each received fragment; and the packet receiver accumulating and reporting test statistics indicative of a number of complete datagrams received and a number of incomplete datagrams received. ### Claim 6 An apparatus for testing a network that converts datagrams into fragments, wherein a minimum fragment payload length is known, the apparatus comprising: a traffic generator configured to generate a datagram and to transmit the datagram over the network, wherein a payload of the datagram contains plural instrumentation blocks, each of the plural instrumentation blocks containing information identifying the datagram and information identifying the location of each instrumentation block within the datagram, the plural instrumentation blocks disposed within the payload of the datagram at intervals less than or equal to one-half of the minimum fragment payload length. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the information identifying the datagram includes a packet group identifier and a packet sequence number. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the information identifying the location of the instrumentation block within the datagram includes at least one of an instrumentation block sequence number and an instrumentation block offset. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The apparatus of claim 6, wherein each of the plural instrumentation blocks contains information indicating at least one of the total number of instrumentation blocks within the datagram and the payload length of the datagram. ### Claim 10 (depends on 6) The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising: a packet receiver configured to: receive a plurality fragments derived from the datagram, determine if the received fragments constitute the complete datagram based, at least in part, on data within respective instrumentation blocks extracted from each received fragment, and accumulate and report test statistics indicative of a number of complete datagrams received and a number of incomplete datagrams received. ### Claim 11 A non-transitory machine readable storage media containing configuration data which, when used to configure a programmable hardware device, causes the programmable hardware device to be configured to include: a traffic generator configured to generate a datagram and to transmit the datagram over the network, wherein a payload of the datagram contains plural instrumentation blocks, each of the plural instrumentation blocks containing information identifying the datagram and information identifying the location of each instrumentation block within the datagram, the plural instrumentation blocks disposed within the payload of the datagram at intervals less than or equal to one-half of a predetermined minimum fragment payload length. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The non-transitory machine readable storage media of claim 11, wherein the information identifying the datagram includes a packet group identifier and a packet sequence number. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The non-transitory machine readable storage media of claim 11, wherein the information identifying the location of the instrumentation block within the datagram includes at least one of an instrumentation block sequence number and an instrumentation block offset. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The non-transitory machine readable storage media of claim 11, wherein each of the plural instrumentation blocks contains information indicating at least one of the total number of instrumentation blocks within the datagram and the payload length of the datagram. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The non-transitory machine readable storage media of claim 11, the programmable hardware device further including: a packet receiver configured to; receive a plurality fragments derived from the datagram, determine if the received fragments constitute the complete datagram based, at least in part, on data within respective instrumentation blocks extracted from each received fragment, and accumulate and report test statistics indicative of a number of complete datagrams received and a number of incomplete datagrams received.