Method, system, and computer program product for electronic messaging

Abstract

A browser-based simulator may be used to create and send test messages to one or more transaction processing facilities (TPFs) to determine the response of the TPF system. It allows a user or plurality of users to create ISO 8583 messages, send the messages to the TPF systems, receive a response, and display the results to the users. Messages created by the simulator are stored within an ANSI queryable SQL database to make test selection simple. The TPF test messages and results are thus available worldwide. Further, the simulator is server-based, so desktop licenses are not required. The simulator allows a user to either select a preformatted message or derive a new message by selecting the data of interest.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method, comprising:
 creating, by a processing device configured to create a test message, the test message from a message shell in a database using a simulator, wherein the message shell comprises information corresponding to a message type, and wherein a selection of the message type is based on the purpose of the message;   sending, by the processing device, the test message to a transaction processing facility using the simulator to test the transaction processing facility response to the message type;   storing, by the processing device, a response from the transaction processing facility in the database; and   auditing, by the processing device, the stored response, wherein attributes of responses are filtered by message type.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the message type includes a variety of fields. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the message type is selectable. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising storing, by the processing device, a record of the test message in a test message table. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the test message table comprises a hyperlink to a detailed view of the test message, a link for updating the test message and a link for deleting the test message. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the database is a server-based ANSI queryable database. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the test message is an ISO 8583 message. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising viewing the response through the simulator. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the test messages and the responses are accessible by a user from multiple locations regardless of a seat license for the user. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining, by the processing device, whether a response to the test message has been received within a specified timeframe;   in response to the test message being received within the specified timeframe, storing, by the processing device, the response; and   displaying, by the processing device, the response.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the message type is at least one of point-of-sale messages and ATM transaction messages. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising using the test message created from the message shell to test connectivity of the server associated with the database to the transaction processing facility. 
     
     
         13 . A system comprising:
 a database configured to store message shells in a server, wherein the message shells comprise information corresponding to a message type, wherein a selection of the message type is based on the purpose of the message, wherein the received responses are audited;   a test message creation interface to the database; and   a communications link between the server and a transaction processing facility, wherein a test message is created via the test message creation interface from the message shells, and wherein the test message is transmitted via the communications link to the transaction processing facility, wherein attributes of responses filtered by message type test the transaction processing facility.   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the test messages and responses are accessible by a user from multiple locations regardless of a seat license for the user. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the created message is an ISO 8583 message. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the database is accessible from a variety of user interfaces. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the communications link is coupled directly to the transaction processing facility. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the communications link passes through a global area network. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 13 , further comprising storing, by the processing device, a record of the test message in a test message table, wherein the test message table comprises a hyperlink to a detailed view of the test message, a link for updating the test message and a link for deleting the test message. 
     
     
         20 . A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having instructions stored thereon that, if executed by a computing device configured to create a test message, cause the computing device to perform operations comprising:
 creating, by the computing device, the test message from a message shell in a database using a simulator, wherein the message shell comprises information corresponding to a message type, and wherein a selection of the message type is based on the purpose of the message;   sending, by the computing device, the test message to a transaction processing facility using the simulator to test the transaction processing facility response to the message type;   storing, by the computing device, a response from the transaction processing facility in the database; and   auditing, by the computing device, the stored response, wherein attributes of responses are filtered by message type.