Monitoring a real-time continuous data stream filter for problems

A computer system for identifying high-value information in data streams, comprising:

• one or more processors;
• memory storing one or more programs for execution by the one or more processors;
• the one or more programs comprising instructions for:
• performing a continuous monitoring process for a data stream that includes a plurality of packets, the continuous monitoring process including:
• without user intervention, distributing the plurality of packets to an input of a filter, wherein the filter is configured to accept individual packets according to a filter graph definition;
• and
• identifying, using the filter, respective ones of the plurality of packets as accepted packets according to the filter graph definition;
• while performing the continuous monitoring process for the data stream, repeatedly inserting instances of a debugging packet into the data stream for distribution to the input of the filter, wherein the filter is configured to identify the debugging packet as an accepted packet;
• for each respective debugging packet that is inserted into the data stream, determining, at an output of the filter, whether the respective debugging packet was identified by the filter as an accepted packet by determining whether the respective debugging packet was received at the output of the filter;
• and
• in accordance with a determination that the respective debugging packet was not identified by the filter as an accepted packet, reporting a problem with performance of the continuous monitoring process for the data stream.

A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing one or more programs configured for execution by a computer system, the one or more programs comprising instructions for:

• performing a continuous monitoring process for a data stream that includes a plurality of packets, the continuous monitoring process including:
• without user intervention, distributing the plurality of packets to an input of a filter, wherein the filter is configured to accept individual packets according to a filter graph definition;
• and
• identifying, using the filter, respective ones of the plurality of packets as accepted packets according to the filter graph definition;
• while performing the continuous monitoring process for the data stream, repeatedly inserting instances of a debugging packet into the data stream for distribution to the input of the filter, wherein the filter is configured to identify the debugging packet as an accepted packet;
• for each respective debugging packet that is inserted into the data stream, determining, at an output of the filter, whether the respective debugging packet was identified by the filter as an accepted packet by determining whether the respective debugging packet was received at the output of the filter;
• and
• in accordance with a determination that the respective debugging packet was not identified by the filter as an accepted packet, reporting a problem with performance of the continuous monitoring process for the data stream.