초록 ▼

An inter-computer communication method and apparatus permits inter-computer communication of computer messages having a format easily defined by user in an ASCII configuration file. Instead of rewriting code to accommodate a differently formatted message, the invention utilizes an ASCII configuratio

An inter-computer communication method and apparatus permits inter-computer communication of computer messages having a format easily defined by user in an ASCII configuration file. Instead of rewriting code to accommodate a differently formatted message, the invention utilizes an ASCII configuration file that can be easily created and changed to define various message formats. Message encodation involves inserting a unique header in the message identifying the message format and building a message according to the defined format. Message decodation parses this header to access the configuration file and determine message format. A message processing apparatus processes inter-computer messages in one of three configurations including a first configuration for processing input messages from a communications port by controlling a message decoder to decode input messages and send the decoded input messages to a processor for manipulation by an application program; a second configuration for playing back an input message from the message log and sending the read input message to the processor for manipulation by the application program; and a third configuration for logging inputs by routing input messages from the communications port to the message log.

대표청구항 ▼

[ I claim:] [1.] 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

[ I claim:] [1.] 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.