Monitoring peripheral transactions

A method for monitoring a communications link between a computing device and an external device, the method comprising:

• executing a driver for the communications link on the computing device, wherein the driver is configured to monitor data traffic over the communications link;
• receiving, from the driver, data indicative of the monitored data traffic;
• sending the data indicative of the monitored data traffic to an analysis function configured to identify a condition of the communications link based at least in part on accumulated data indicative of the data traffic;
• receiving, from the analysis function, data indicative of an identified condition of the communications link;
• and
• rendering, on a display device of the computing device, an indication of the identified condition.

A computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon computer readable instructions for a driver for a USB link on a computing device, the computer-readable instructions comprising instructions that upon execution on a computing device, at least cause:

• monitoring USB data traffic over the communications link;
• accumulating data indicative of the monitored USB data traffic;
• receiving, via a programming interface, first electronic messages that encode identifiers indicative of requests for the accumulated data indicative of the monitored USB data traffic;
• and
• in response to receiving one of the first electronic messages, sending, via the programming interface, second electronic messages indicative of the accumulated data indicative of the monitored USB data traffic.