Communications monitor for data processing system

Claim 1

An arrangement for enabling communication between a data processing system and remote users thereof wherein each of said users is coupled to said system in an associated channel comprising: system observing means for enabling respective observations of information sent from said system to said users through said channels, said system observing means comprising means for generating a system observing control signal, and means responsive to the concurrence of said system observing control signal and the information from said system for making said last-named information available for examination; user observing means for enabling respective observations of information sent from said users to said systems through said channels, said user observing means comprising means for generating a user observing control signal and means responsive to the concurrence of said user observing control signal and the information from a user for making said last-named information available for examination; intercommunication means for alternately consecutively enabling said system information and said user information to be observed to effectively achieve bidirectional intercommunication between said system and said users, said intercommunication means comprising means for locking out said system, means for locking out a chosen user, and means responsive to said system and user observing means for respectively recording the system and user information depending upon whether said system or said user is locked out; and means for providing information concerning said system to said users, said information providing means including a recorder capable of having placed thereon both digital and audio information, a typewriter for producing digital information, and a paper tape reader for producing digital information from a punched paper tape read therein.