Computer channel analyzer with monitoring and selective display of predetermining events and related data

• US 4,949,252 A
• Filed: 06/10/1988
• Issued: 08/14/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/1985
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Technology 80, Inc. (ACS Motion Control Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Technology 80, Inc. (ACS Motion Control Ltd.)
• Inventors: Hauge, Trygve A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Williams, Jr., Archie E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chan, Emily Y.
• Application Number:
  US07/205,362
• Time in Patent Office: 795 Days
• Field of Search: 364/200, 364/900, 364/178, 364/481, 364/483, 371/15, 371/22
• US Class Current: 714/46
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/348 Circuit details, i.e. tracer hardware
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3485 for I/O devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/349 for interfaces, buses

Abstract

A method of monitoring signal lines on a computer data channel, and copying the respective data transmissions which occur in time sequence into a memory in space sequence corresponding to the time sequence, includes recognizing particular data channel signals, and includes displaying selected portions of the recorded tabulations of data transmissions, which portions include the data transmissions bounded about the recognized particular data transmission.

Claims

1. A method of monitoring a plurality of digital communications lines having simultaneous and sequential signal transitions representative of data transmissions in random time sequence by circuits in a computer channel analyzer, for recognizing a predetermined data transmission sample and presenting the predetermined data transmission sample and a preselected number of data transmissions in the time sequence immediately preceding the predetermined sample on a visual display screen for viewing by an operator, comprising the steps of:

(a) preselecting a particular data transmission sample of interest;

(b) monitoring the signals transmitted over a plurality of digital communications lines, which signals are representative of data transmissions in random time sequence;

(c) storing the signals in sequential memory locations of a high speed memory, wherein the sequential memory locations correspond to the time sequence of the signals;

(d) transferring the contents of the high speed memory sequential memory locations sequentially into a first memory location in a first-in, first-out memory and then sequentially through a plurality of further memory locations, to a last location in said first-in, first-out memory;

(e) monitoring said first memory location and comparing the contents with said preselected data transmission sample of interest to determine if the contents of said first memory location include the predetermined data transmission sample of interest;

(f) when it is determined that the contents of said first memory location include the predetermined data transmission sample of interest in step (e), activating a large store memory and sequentially transferring the contents of said last location in first-in, first-out memory to said large store memory; and

(g) displaying for operator viewing a portion of the contents of said large store memory bounded about said particular data transmission sample of interest by a preselected number of sequential data transmissions which occurred both before and after said particular data transmission sample of interest.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of displaying further comprises displaying a tabulated sequence to exhibit the data transmission signals in a sequence corresponding to said random time sequence

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said tabulated sequence further comprises a tabulation of the data transmission signal changes which occurred during said random time sequence.