Using and verifying the operation of today’s communicating systems is a difficult task and the introduction of ASN.1 based protocols has made this challenge even bigger.

The ability to use these systems is dependent on the creation of the appropriate message. In order to use and test these systems, many messages need to be created. Messages from several different ASN.1 syntaxes may also be involved. For the immature system where the ASN.1 syntax is changing frequently, messages will need to be recreated whenever new syntax definitions are released. Received messages also need to be examined and checked for correctness.

The development team also needs to be able to monitor messages moving through the system in order to determine if the system is operating as expected.

At the same time, project timeframes have shrunk and quality standards have been raised.

The current approach to resolving this challenge is far from ideal. It involves the purchase of an ASN.1 compiler and the subsequent generation of 'C' source and header files. These files are then included into a user-created program to build messages and view message flows. This process is time consuming, complex, prone to error, and requires proficient software-engineering skills. It is a task not to be undertaken lightly. Ultimately these activities defocus the user from the primary task of using or validating the system.

If the value of a specific field is required, the application under test will need to be modified. Alternatively, a complete decode of all messages can be produced. For anything but the most trivial syntax this will produce a huge amount of data. Manipulating, examining, and storing this data then becomes a problem in itself.

This approach is clumsy, error prone and time consuming.

For a simpler, easier, and lower cost solution, Red Packet Technologies has created OneViewer. This tool allows you to quickly, and easily, start building messages and viewing message flows using any ASN.1 syntax.

While eliminating the need to write programs, OneViewer does not prevent you from using your own ASN.1 syntax. This is vital given the dynamic nature of some evolving ASN.1 syntaxes. OneViewer provides an environment that can seamlessly cope with the changes.

In today’s time-to-market driven world every month or week saved in product development can mean the difference between success and failure.