Patent ID: 6092118
Filing Date: 2000-07-18
Classification: G06F,H04L

Abstract:
A message processing apparatus for processing inter-computer messages, comprising:a communications port transmitting messages between the message processing apparatus and another device or application program;a message log storing input messages from said communications port;message playback means for playing back stored messages from said message log;message decoding means for decoding messages;a user interface providing a user with interactive control of the apparatus by generating control signals in response to user interaction;a processor executing an application program and receiving control signals from said user interface permitting control of the application program; anda menu processor utilizing said user interface to present a user with a menu of apparatus configurations wherein each apparatus configuration configures the apparatus to perform a different function, said menu processor also permitting the user to select one of the apparatus configurations, wherein the apparatus configurations includea first configuration for processing input messages from said communications port by controlling said message decoding means to decode input messages from said communications port and send the decoded input messages to said processor for manipulation by the application program,a second configuration for playing back an input message from said message log by reading the input message from said message log and sending the read input message to said processor for manipulation by the application program, anda third configuration for logging communications port inputs by routing input messages from said communications port to said message log,said second configuration successively reading a clock to play back the message from said message log at a rate substantially matching a desired rate.