Message analysis device and method for displaying messages

A message analysis device is described including a storage device, display device, and a selection device. The storage device can be used to store messages in a file in chronological order, and the a display device can be used to display at least one first and one second window. One part of the messages, which are chronologically stored in the file, can be displayed in the first window. The selection device can be used to select at least one message to be displayed in the second window, corresponding to a parent and/or child generation of a specific message. Accordingly, information can be evaluated from a message header to determine and represent those parent-generation messages that causally triggered a specific message and/or those child-generation messages that are causally determined by the specific message.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a message analysis device and a method for displaying causally related messages.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In the development of new appliances or software generations for existing appliances, it is necessary to check the results of the development by means of the message flow. From the consequently obtained findings, conclusions can be drawn with respect to defective developments or possible improvements can be proposed. In order to enable an analysis of the message flow, it is normal to store the messages occurring for example in an end system of a communications system, such as mobile radio, in a file. In the case of an end system constructed for example according to the OSI reference model, messages are generated thereby between various layers of the reference model on the basis of the provided services. These messages are written either directly from the layers into the file or by means of a so-called “framework” which is provided separately for this purpose.

With respect to the OSI reference model, reference may be made for example to Jürgen Göbel, “Communications Technology”, ISBN 3-7785-3904-3, 1999, part I, pages 713-753.

On the basis of the described mode of operation, the messages are arranged in the file in chronological sequence. By means of an analyzer, it is possible to view a thus generated file. The messages stored in the file are displayed in tabulated form and can be analyzed by a developer.

It is disadvantageous in the described system that the tabulated display of the individual messages offers no insight into the causal connections of the messages. Hence, it is extremely difficult for a developer to analyze the message flow since it itself must look for messages which are related with respect to content. With the multiplicity of messages, which are stored in such a file, this leads to a considerable time and hence also cost outlay.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A need therefore exists to produce a message analysis device and a method for displaying messages, with which the message flow of causally related messages can be analyzed simply, and also to indicate a corresponding computer program and computer program product.

In the case of the message analysis device according to the invention and also in the case of the method for displaying related messages, it is advantageous that, in conjunction with the message, information stored in the file is used for the purpose of selecting a plurality of messages which are connected to each other causally. In this manner, it is possible to detect with a glance which further messages are connected to a specific message because they were generated for example as a consequence of the specific message. With respect to the time scale, such a mode of operation is possible in both directions so that not only succeeding messages, generated on the basis of a specific message, can be displayed but likewise messages preceding the specific message are displayed.

It is particularly advantageous according to a development of the invention that, in addition to the messages, directly preceding and succeeding the specific message, which are designated as messages of the parent generation or respectively of the child generation, the in turn preceding or respectively succeeding messages can be displayed. Due to the feedback of the thus displayed generations of messages, it is advantageous in addition that, in the case of a selection of a specific further message for the display of the chronological listing of messages, that sequence is selected which contains the specific further message. Hence, a detailed analysis can be undertaken not only with respect to the sequence of messages which have a causal connection but also with respect to the individual, causally connected messages.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Before an example of the message analysis device according to the invention is explained by means ofFIG. 3 to 6, firstly the structure of messages with a modular structure is intended to be explained by means ofFIG. 1for better comprehension.

A message1, as is generated for example in the case of service provision by one of the layers according to the OSI reference model, comprises a plurality of segments which are designated inFIG. 1with1.1,1.2,1.3,1.4and1.5. For the first segment1.1, a further division into blocks1.1.1,1.1.2,1.1.3,1.1.4and1.1.5is illustrated. The remaining segments of the complete message1can likewise be divided into such blocks. The individual blocks of the segment1.1of the message1can likewise in turn be sub-divided into smaller units1.1.4.1,1.1.4.2and1.1.4.3. Due to the illustrated sub-division into ever smaller information units, a hierarchical system of a message1is produced, which system reflects their modular structure. The messages I to be analyzed by the present invention have such a modular structure, the combination of individual modules into superordinate structures on the basis of a logical relationship of modules being undertaken. The messages1represent for example elements of a data stream which is exchanged between a base station and a mobile radio station in a cellular mobile radio network.

InFIG. 2, starting from a specific message1, a message flow over a plurality of generations is illustrated. A message2of a parent generation preceded the message1. The specific message1itself has been triggered on the basis of the content of the message2of the parent generation. As illustrated by the connection lines, the message1is in turn the cause of the triggering of further messages3.1,3.2,3.3and3.4which belong to a child generation. The messages3.1to3.4of the child generation can for their part be responsible in turn causally for triggering further messages4.1,4.2and4.3as is illustrated by way of example for the message3.3of the child generation.

Due to the grouping of the individual messages, which are connected causally with respect to the generation sequence, a temporal sequence of the messages is produced which is indicated by means of a time axis5. The messages3.1,3.2,3.3and3.4of the child generation or respectively the succeeding messages4.1,4.2and4.3, which are arranged simultaneously in the illustration, are listed however in the file in succession. Correspondingly, the entries are also displayed in succession in a tabulated overview. Between the individual messages of the various generations, which are illustrated inFIG. 2, a multiplicity of other messages is stored in the file. The temporal conjunction of such messages is extensively random so that, on the basis of the multiplicity of messages generated within the shortest time, the causal connection between individual messages is not detectable in the chronological listing.

InFIG. 3, a representation of a screen view of the message analysis device is shown. A first window6is detectable in the screen display in which window a multiplicity of messages corresponding to their chronological sequence, which corresponds to the sequence of entries in the files, are listed. By selecting a message by means of a suitable selection medium, e.g. a computer mouse, a specific message24is highlighted in the tabulated listing. The message24highlighted in bold corresponds to the message1fromFIG. 2. If a message precedes the specific message24, on the basis of which the specific message24has been produced, then this preceding message, which is designated as a message25of the parent generation, is displayed in a second window . The second window is thereby sub-divided into a first region7.1and a second region7.2. The display of the message25of the parent generation is thereby effected in the first region7.1.

If succeeding messages have been triggered on the basis of the specific message24, then these are displayed in the second region7.2. In the illustrated case example, the message25preceded the specific message24. On the basis of the specific message24, three further messages26were generated which are displayed in the second region7.2of the second window7. As can be detected inFIG. 3by means of the time entries26.1of the messages26of the child generation, the three messages26, which are associated with the child generation, do not occur simultaneously so that there is a high probability that, in the listing of the three messages26of the child generation in the file, a multiplicity of further messages is listed between the messages26.

The columns of the table displayed in the first window6can be adjusted via a non-shown selection menu. In the illustrated example, the current number of the respective message in the file is displayed in a first column13. In a second column14, a real time is displayed at which the corresponding message was stored in the file. In two further columns15.1and15.2, the time is stored as internal time, for instance as system time. A fifth column16characterizes the side from which the message was sent, i.e. for example the base station or mobile telephone. Since the message analysis device is not connected to a specific protocol system, the respectively underlying protocol is mentioned in a sixth column17. The columns with the reference numbers18to21contain information which is produced by the layer-wise structure of the end system according to the OSI reference model. In a further column22, an ASP number is noted, by means of which the messages can be categorized, which therefore permits a non-unequivocal identification of an individual message. In a final displayed column23, an entry is provided under the title “references”, with which it can be determined whether a message triggering the message preceded the message.

The sequence view of messages displayed in the first window6contains the information of the message head, the so-called header, as already indicated, the displayed information being able to be adjusted via a non-shown selection window. A structure display is displayed in a third window8for the message24highlighted respectively in the first window6. The individual hierarchical levels, which were mentioned already with respect toFIG. 1, are made obvious in the structure display by indentations. If the hierarchically subordinate levels for a specific element are intended to be on or off screen, then this can be carried out by clicking on the corresponding element in the display. InFIG. 3, such an element, with the reference number35, is displayed without displaying the subordinate hierarchical levels and also an identically constructed element35′ with a display of all subordinate hierarchical levels.

In a fourth window9, a detailed view of the highlighted message24is displayed. If the information to be displayed goes beyond the visible range of the fourth window9, then the displayed visible portion can be varied in the known manner by means of a scroll bar10. This applies analogously for the remaining windows6,7and8.

InFIG. 4an alternative display form of the chronological listing of the messages in the first window6is shown. The messages are in turn listed line-wise but, in contrast to the tabulated display ofFIG. 3, origin and destination of the individual messages is displayed graphically. In addition to the two first columns13′ and14′, which correspond to the previously mentioned columns13and14inFIG. 3, further columns are illustrated which are designated with “RRC”, “RLC”, “MAC”, “PHY” and “Auxiliary”. Due to the corresponding arrangement of the information of a message in the corresponding column, for the highlighted message24, i.e. the column “MAC”, that layer in which the message is generated is immediately made clear graphically. Together with the direction arrow36, which is disposed thereunder, the destination of the respective message is also detectable. In the column “Auxiliary”, additional information is however contained. The information displayed in the third window relating to the structure of the message24differs fromFIG. 3by means of the region of the display which is displaced by means of the scroll bar10.

FIG. 5shows a further display in the case where the highlighted message24′, in addition to a plurality of messages30of the child generation which are indicated in the second region7.2of the second window7, contains yet further messages of a succeeding generation which were triggered on the basis of a message30.1of the child generation. This is made clear optically by the indented display in the second region7.2.

InFIG. 6, the analogous case for a plurality of generations of preceding messages is illustrated so that a message32of the parent generation preceding the highlighted message24″ was in turn triggered by a message33of the generation preceding the parent generation.

In order to select messages which, in the described manner, have a causal connection with a specific message24,24′ or24″ which is highlighted in the first window6, the header information is evaluated. In the header, entries are undertaken in the file during storage of the respective message, by means of which entries of the causal connection and hence the history of the individual messages can be reconstructed. By means of a selection device, the messages of parent or child generations, which are identified on the basis of the information of the header, are selected and displayed in the second window7in the first or second region7.1or7.2, dependent upon whether the respective message concerns a message of a preceding or succeeding generation.

If in the second window7a message of the parent or of the child generation or other information displayed there is selected by means of a selection medium, then in the first window6, that part of the chronological listing of messages is automatically displayed which contains the newly selected message. The newly selected message is thereupon highlighted in the first window6. Corresponding to the newly highlighted message of the first window, the displays are updated in the remaining windows7,8and9.

FIG. 7shows the total structure of the message analysis device according to the invention. The message analysis device comprises a storage device36in which a file37is stored, in which in turn the messages38are stored in chronological sequence. The messages38are stored in the file37via a non-displayed interface of the end system39which comprises for example the seven layers40of the OSI reference model. Furthermore, the message analysis device35has a selection device41which is connected to the storage device36so that the selection device41can access the file37of the storage device36. Corresponding to the above-described selection criterion, a selection of messages to be displayed from the file37is implemented by the selection device41, which messages preceded or succeeded a specific message which is highlighted in the first window6of the display device42, and is issued to the display device42. Corresponding to the information transmitted from the selection device41to the display device42, a display is effected in the second window7, as already explained in the description ofFIG. 3 to 6.

While the present invention has been described in connection with a number of embodiments and implementations, the present invention is not so limited but covers various obvious modifications and equivalent arrangements, which fall within the purview of the appended claims.