Patent ID: 7337361

Claim:
A system for testing message flow in an enterprise application integration (EAI) message bus environment comprising: a test controller; a message collector, comprising: a first configuration interface coupled to receive first message selection criteria from the test controller; a first receiver coupled to receive messages transmitted among enterprise applications on the message bus; and first means for comparing data elements in the messages received through the first receiver against the first message selection criteria whereby received messages which meet the message selection criteria are identified; and a message validator, comprising: a second configuration interface coupled to receive message validation criteria from the test controller; means for comparing the messages identified by the message collector against the message validation criteria; and a first transmitter for transmitting results of the comparison to the test controller; and a message responder to simulate a predetermined enterprise application, comprising: a fourth configuration interface coupled to receive second message selection criteria and response rules from the test controller; a second receiver coupled to receive messages transmitted among enterprise applications on the message bus; second means for comparing data elements in the messages received though the second receiver against the second message selection criteria; and a second message transmitter, responsive to the second means for comparing data elements, coupled to transmit the test messages onto the message bus in response to messages which meet the second message selection criteria; wherein the message responder appears to enterprise applications on the message bus as the predetermined enterprise application.