# US 8,788,652 B2 · Real world network testing combining lower layer network tests, application layer tests and interdependent interactions > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,788,652 B2 - Document ID: US8788652B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/510,163 - Filed: 2009-07-27 - Published: 2011-01-27 - Granted: 2014-07-22 - Earliest claimed: 2009-07-27 - Assignees: Ixia - Applicants: Avinash Ramanath; Yossi Maish - Inventors: Avinash Ramanath; Yossi Maish - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8788652B2 ## CPC - H04L 43/50: Testing arrangements - G06F 3/0481: based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance - G06F 2203/04803: Split screen, i.e. subdividing the display area or the window area into separate subareas - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) ## Abstract Combining lower layer network tests and upper layer network tests is disclosed. A method includes receiving a user selection to create an upper layer test and a lower layer test, receiving upper layer test information and lower layer test information, displaying a first timeline showing the activity of the upper layer test in a first pane and a second timeline showing the activity of the lower layer test in a second pane. Synchronization between the lower layer tests and upper layer tests may be defined. The method allows for observing and ascertaining the impact of the lower layer tests on the upper layer tests. The method may be implemented in software, stored on a storage medium and performed on a network testing system that includes one or more network cards and in one or more network testing systems. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of creating network tests on a network testing system including multiple network cards, each network card having at least one processor and at least one network communications unit, the method comprising: the network testing system providing a graphical user interface to a user, the graphical user interface including a first pane and a second pane the network testing system receiving a user selection to create an upper layer test involving at least one of layers 4-7 of the Open Systems Interconnection model the network testing system receiving upper layer test information from the user the network testing system executing the upper layer test according to the upper layer test information the network testing system displaying in the first pane a first graph including at least one first timeline showing upper layer test activity the network testing system receiving a user selection to create a lower layer test involving at least one of layers 2-3 of the Open Systems Interconnection model the network testing system receiving lower layer test information from the user, the lower layer test information including synchronization information specifying a correspondence with the upper layer test the network testing system executing the lower layer test according to the lower layer test information the network testing system displaying in the second pane a second graph including a second timeline showing lower layer test activity, wherein the first time line and the second time line are displayed having the same time scale the network testing system graphically showing the impact of the lower layer test on the upper layer test. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 further comprising: the network testing system providing test results to the user, the test results including data and/or graphical information showing the impact of the lower layer test on the functioning of the upper layer test. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 further comprising: the network testing system providing the user a selection of a plurality of lower layer network tests. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3 wherein the plurality of lower layer network tests includes at least one of or a combination of an impairment segment, a blackout segment, an interface flap segment, a steady segment, and a custom segment. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the first graph and the second graph are displayed horizontally adjacent to one another. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the first graph includes a first Y axis that represents one of a number of users, a number of concurrent connections, a number of concurrent sessions, a number of transactions per second, a number of connections per second, a number of kilobytes throughput per second, and a number of megabytes throughput per second and wherein the second graph includes a second Y axis that represents a number of network interfaces in the lower layer network test. ### Claim 7 A network testing system comprising: a processor coupled to a bus a plurality of network cards coupled to the bus a display a storage medium having instructions stored thereon which when executed by the network testing system cause the network testing system to perform actions comprising: providing a graphical user interface to a user via the display, the graphical user interface including a first pane and a second pane receiving a user selection to create an upper layer test involving at least one of layers 4-7 of the Open Systems Interconnection model receiving upper layer test information from the user executing the upper layer test according to the upper layer test information displaying in the first pane a first graph including at least one first timeline showing upper layer test activity receiving a user selection to create a lower layer test involving at least one of layers 2-3 of the Open Systems Interconnection model receiving lower layer test information from the user, the lower layer test information including synchronization information specifying a correspondence with the upper layer test executing the lower layer test according to the lower layer test information displaying in the second pane a second graph including a second timeline showing lower layer test activity, wherein the first time line and the second time line are displayed having the same time scale graphically showing the impact of the lower layer test on the upper layer test. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The network testing system of claim 7 wherein the storage medium has further instructions stored thereon which when executed by the network testing system cause the network testing system to perform further actions comprising: providing test results to the user, the test results including data and/or graphical information showing the impact of the lower layer test on the functioning of the upper layer test. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The network testing system of claim 7 wherein the storage medium has further instructions stored thereon which when executed by the network testing system cause the network testing system to perform further actions comprising: providing the user a selection of a plurality of lower layer tests. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The network testing system of claim 9 wherein the plurality of lower layer tests includes at least one of or a combination of an impairment segment, a blackout segment, an interface flap segment, a steady segment, and a custom segment. ### Claim 11 (depends on 7) The network testing system of claim 7 wherein the first graph and the second graph are displayed horizontally adjacent to one another. ### Claim 12 (depends on 7) The network testing system of claim 7 wherein the first graph includes a first Y axis that represents one of a number of users, a number of concurrent connections, a number of concurrent sessions, a number of transactions per second, a number of connections per second, a number of kilobytes throughput per second, and a number of megabytes throughput per second and wherein the second graph includes a second Y axis that represents a number of network interfaces in the lower layer network test. ### Claim 13 A storage medium having instructions stored thereon which when executed by a network testing system cause the network testing system to perform operations comprising: providing a graphical user interface to a user via a display, the graphical user interface including a first pane and a second pane receiving a user selection to create an upper layer test involving at least one of layers 4-7 of the Open Systems Interconnection model receiving upper layer test information from the user executing the upper layer test according to the upper layer test information displaying in the first pane a first graph including at least one first timeline showing upper layer test activity receiving a user selection to create a lower layer test involving at least one of layers 2-3 of the Open Systems Interconnection model receiving lower layer test information from the user, the lower layer test information including synchronization information specifying a correspondence with the upper layer test executing the lower layer test according to the lower layer test information displaying in the second pane a second graph including a second timeline showing lower layer test activity, wherein the first time line and the second time line are displayed having the same time scale graphically showing the impact of the lower layer test on the upper layer test. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The storage medium of claim 13 having further instructions stored thereon which when executed by the network testing system cause the network testing system to perform further actions comprising: providing test results to the user, the test results including data and/or graphical information showing the impact of the lower layer test on the functioning of the upper layer test. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The storage medium of claim 13 having further instructions stored thereon which when executed by the network testing system cause the network testing system to perform further actions comprising: providing the user a selection of a plurality of lower layer tests. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The storage medium of claim 15 wherein the plurality of lower layer network tests includes at least one of or a combination of an impairment segment, a blackout segment, an interface flap segment, a steady segment, and a custom segment. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The storage medium of claim 13 wherein the first graph and the second graph are displayed horizontally adjacent to one another. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) The storage medium of claim 13 wherein the first graph includes a first Y axis that represents one of a number of users, a number of concurrent connections, a number of concurrent sessions, a number of transactions per second, a number of connections per second, a number of kilobytes throughput per second, and a number of megabytes throughput per second and wherein the second graph includes a second Y axis that represents a number of network interfaces in the lower layer network test.