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

Claim 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.

Claim 2

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.