System and method for connecting a logic circuit simulation to a network

Abstract

A system and method for connecting a running logic circuit simulation to a network running at a higher speed that includes a computer for receiving data packets from the network and storing the received data packets in a first buffer. The computer next transmits the received data packets to an electronic circuit in the logic circuit simulation at a slower speed. The computer also receives data packets from the electronic device under simulation, and stores the data packets received from the electronic device under simulation in a second buffer. The computer then transmits the data packets received from the electronic device under simulation to the network at a higher speed.

1 - 24 . (canceled)  
     
     
         25 . A method for simulating an electronic device that interacts with a network, the simulation being carried out by a program executing in a host computer, the simulation includes simulating the electronic device's interaction with the network, the method comprising executing instructions on the host computer for: 
 (a) receiving data packets designating the electronic device as recipient from the network through a network interface; and    (b) transmitting the data packets to the simulation through a software interface to provide data packets for simulating the electronic device's interaction with the network.    
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , the instructions further comprising instructions for storing the data packets received from the network in a buffer allocated in the memory of the host computer.  
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , the instructions further comprising instructions for changing the size of the buffer at run time.  
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 26 , the instructions further comprising instructions to cause to be discarded packets of data when the buffer is full.  
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 26 , the instructions further comprising instructions for keeping a record of the data packets received from the network.  
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , the instructions further comprising instructions for displaying the record.  
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 29 , the instructions further comprising instructions for storing the record in a file.  
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 25 , the instructions further comprising instructions for recording the throughput of the data packets.  
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 25 , the instructions further comprising instructions for modifying the packets to make the packets suitable for receipt by the simulation.  
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein modifying includes removing a preamble from a data packet.  
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the instructions for receiving data packets from the network, and the instructions for transmitting the data packets to the simulation are executed in a single thread.  
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the instructions for receiving data packets from the network is executed in a first thread, and the instructions for transmitting the data packets to the simulation is executed in a second thread.  
     
     
         37 . A method for simulating an electronic device that interacts with a network, the simulation of the electronic device being carried out by a program executing in a host computer, the simulation including simulating the electronic device's interaction with the network, the method comprising executing on the host computer instructions for: 
 (a) receiving data packets designating the electronic device as a source through a software interface from the simulation of the electronic device's interaction with the network; and    (b) transmitting the data packets to the network through a network interface.    
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 37 , the instructions further comprising instructions for storing the data packets received from the simulation in a buffer allocated in the memory of the host computer.  
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 38 , the instructions further comprising instructions for changing the size of the buffer at run time.  
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 38 , the instructions further comprising instructions to cause to be discarded packets of data when the buffer is full.  
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 37 , the instructions further comprising instruction for keeping a record of the data packets received from the simulation.  
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 41 , the instructions further comprising instructions for displaying the record.  
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 41 , the instructions further comprising instructions for storing the record in a file.  
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 37 , the instructions further comprising instructions for recording the throughput of the data packets.  
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 37 , the instructions further comprising instructions for modifying the data packets to make the packets suitable for receipt by the network.  
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein modifying includes inserting a preamble in a data packet.  
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the instructions for receiving data packets from the simulation and the instructions for transmitting the data packets received from the simulation to the network are executed in a single thread.  
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the receiving data packets from the simulation is executed in a first thread and the transmitting the data packets to the network is executed in a second thread.  
     
     
         49 . A computer-readable medium for use in a simulation of an electronic device, wherein the simulation is to be carried out by a program executing in a host computer, and wherein the simulation of the electronic device includes simulating the electronic device's interaction with the network; the computer-readable medium comprising computer-executable instructions to be executed on the host computer for: 
 (a) receiving data packets designating the electronic device as a recipient from the network through a network interface; and    (b) transmitting the data packets to the simulation through a software interface to provide data packets for simulating the electronic device's interaction with the network.    
     
     
         50 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 49 , further comprising computer instructions for storing the data packets received from the network in a buffer allocated in the memory of the host computer.  
     
     
         51 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 50 , further comprising computer-executable instructions for changing the size of the buffer at run time.  
     
     
         52 . The computer-readable of medium  claim 50 , further comprising computer-executable instructions for discarding packets of data when the buffer is full.  
     
     
         53 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 49 , further comprising computer instructions for keeping a record of the data packets.  
     
     
         54 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 53 , further comprising computer-executable instructions for displaying the record.  
     
     
         55 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 53 , further comprising computer-executable instructions for storing the record in the storage medium.  
     
     
         56 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 49 , further comprising computer-executable instructions for recording the throughput of the data packets.  
     
     
         57 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 49 , further comprising computer-executable instructions for modifying the data packets for receipt by the simulation.  
     
     
         58 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 57 , wherein the computer-executable instructions for modifying includes computer-executable instructions for removing a preamble from a data packet.  
     
     
         59 . A computer-readable medium for use in a simulation of an electronic device, wherein the simulation is to be carried out by a program executing in a host computer, and wherein the simulation of the electronic device includes simulating the electronic device's interaction with the network; the computer-readable medium comprising computer-executable instructions to be executed on the host computer for: 
 (a) receiving data packets designating the electronic device as a source through a software interface from the simulation of the electronic device's interaction with the network; and    (b) transmitting the data packets received from the simulation to the network through a network interface.    
     
     
         60 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 59 , further comprising computer-executable instructions for storing the data packets received from the simulation in a buffer allocated in the memory of the host computer.  
     
     
         61 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 60 , further comprising computer-executable instructions for changing the size of the buffer at run time.  
     
     
         62 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 60 , further comprising computer-executable instructions for discarding packets of data when the buffer is full.  
     
     
         63 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 59 , further comprising computer-executable instructions for keeping a record of the data packets.  
     
     
         64 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 63 , further comprising computer-executable instructions for displaying the record.  
     
     
         65 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 63 , further comprising computer-executable instructions for storing the record in the storage medium.  
     
     
         66 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 59 , further comprising computer-executable instructions for recording the throughput of the data packets.  
     
     
         67 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 59 , further comprising computer-executable instructions for modifying the data packets to make the packets suitable for receipt by the network.  
     
     
         68 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 67 , wherein computer-executable instructions for modifying includes computer-executable instructions for inserting a preamble in a data packet.