Simulated play of interactive multimedia applications for error detection

Abstract

An interactive multimedia application executes in a debug mode in which previously recorded user events are retrieved from memory and emulated in sequence. Each user event is represented by a record which specifies a particular classification of user event. Accordingly, a user event satisfying the particular classification is emulated. The debug manager emulates a user event of the particular category by retrieving the classification criteria from the interactive module, forming an event message representing an event satisfying the criteria for the particular classification, and sending the event message to the interactive module. Accordingly, the interactive module receives an event message which could have come from either the debug manager or the user interface module. As such, the particular computer instructions executed by the interactive module in response to the event are the same regardless of whether the event is emulated. In the debug mode, the user can start and stop recording of user events and can start playback of previously recorded user events. Such is particularly useful in testing interactive multimedia applications. For example, very long streams of user events can be generated and allowed to control execution of an interactive multimedia application for extended periods of time.