Graphical system and method for annotating measurements and measurement results in a signal measurement system

• US 20010000964A1
• Filed: 12/19/2000
• Published: 05/10/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/1997
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Alexander, Jay A.
• Granted Patent: US 6,326,987 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/440
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 13/345 for displaying sampled signals by using digital processors by intermediate A.D. and D.A. convertors (control circuits for CRT indicators)
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 715/97 Instrumentation and component modelling, e.g. interactive control panel

Abstract

A system and methodology for use in a signal measurement system having a graphical user interface. The measurement invocation system is configured to provide graphical control elements on the graphical user interface such that the selection of a control element invokes a measurement operation on a selected displayed waveform. The measurement invocation system automatically performs a waveform measurement function when graphically associated by a user with a waveform displayed in a waveform display region of a graphical user interface is disclosed. The measurement invocation system includes a measurement toolbar manager configured to display on the graphical user interface one or more measurement icons. Each of the icons corresponds to a waveform measurement function. The toolbar manager identifies which of the one or more measurement icons has been selected by the user. A waveform identifier enables the user to graphically associate the selected measurement icon with a source waveform and determines a point of measurement invocation on the source waveform. The invocation system also includes a measurement controller that invokes the selected measurement function on a measurement extent of the source waveform when the association of the selected measurement and the source waveform is a valid association. Preferably, the measurement icons are arranged within a measurement toolbar region proximate to the waveform display region of the graphical user interface.

Claims

1. A waveform measurement invocation system for use in a signal measurement system having a graphical user interface, said waveform measurement invocation system configured to provide graphical control elements on the graphical user interface, the selection of which invokes a measurement operation on a selected displayed waveform.

2. A graphical system for signal measurement invocation wherein a descriptive icon representing a measurement function is displayed on a graphical user interface of a signal measurement system proximate to a displayed waveform, wherein said measurement function is invoked through a user selection, dragging of said icon across said graphical user interface, and subsequent release of said icon at a position proximate to a displayed waveform.

3. A system for invoking an automated measurement in a signal measurement system through a graphical user interface, comprising:

a measurement toolbar manager for displaying a plurality of measurement icons each associated with a measurement, and for identifying a selected measurement icon and associated measurement function;

a waveform identifier for enabling the a user to associate said selected measurement icon with a source waveform displayed on a waveform display region of the graphical user interface; and

a measurement controller for validating said association of said selected measurement and said source waveform and for invoking said measurement on a measurement extent of said source waveform.

4. A measurement invocation system for automatically performing a waveform measurement function when graphlically issociated tby a user with a waveform displayed in a waveform display region of a graphical user interface, the invocation system comprising:

a measurement toolbar manager configured to display on the graphical user interface one or more measurement icons each corresponding to a waveform measurement function, and for identifying which of said one or more measurement icons has been selected by the user;

a waveform identifier configured to enable the user to graphically associate said selected measurement icon with a source waveform and for determining a point of measurement invocation on the source waveform; and

a measurement controller configured to invoke said selected measurement function on a measurement extent of said source waveform when said association of said selected measurement and said source waveform is a valid association.

5. The system of

claim 4

, wherein said measurement toolbar manager comprises:

means for determining which of one or more measurement functions corresponds to each said one or more measurement icons; and

means for determining which of said one or more measurement icons the cursor is dwelling over on the graphical user interface.

6. The system of

claim 4

, wherein said one or more measurement icons are arranged within a measurement toolbar region proximate to the waveform display region of the graphical user interface.

7. The system of

claim 5

, wherein said measurement toolbar manager further comprises:

means for displaying a textual message on the graphical user interface identifying said corresponding measurement function associated with said measurement icon over which said cursor dwells.

8. The system of

claim 7

, wherein said measurement toolbar manager further comprises:

means for enabling said selected measurement icon to be performed on said selected waveform, wherein said selected waveform is identified through a graphical means.

9. The system of

claim 4

, wherein each said measurement icon is a bitmap that provides a pictorial description of said corresponding waveform measurement function.

10. The system of

claim 4

, wherein said waveform identifier comprises:

means for enabling the user to drag said selected measurement across the waveform display region to a position proximate to the source waveform.

11. The system of

claim 10

, wherein said waveform identifier comprises:

means for determining a nearest display element to said selected measurement icon while said selected measurement icon is dragged across the waveform display region.

12. The system of

claim 11

, wherein said waveform identifier further comprises:

means for displaying graphical indications of whether said nearest display element is a waveform on which a measurement can be performed.

13. The system of

claim 12

wherein said graphical indications include altering said selected measurement icon.

14. The system of

claim 12

, wherein said graphical indications include displaying textual information on the graphical user interface.

15. The system of

claim 4

, wherein said measurement controller comprises:

means for determining whether said association of said selected measurement function and said source waveform is a valid association.

16. The system of

claim 4

, wherein said measurement controller comprises:

means for determining waveform characteristics defining said measurement extent relative to said point of measurement invocation on said selected waveform.

17. The system of

claim 16

, wherein said measurement extent comprises:

an entire displayed source waveform; and

a period of said displayed waveform.

18. The system of

claim 16

, wherein said measurement controller further comprises:

means for determining whether additional information is required to perform said selected measurement, and for graphically requesting such information.

19. The system of

claim 4

, wherein measurement results are displayed in a predetermined region of the graphical user interface.

20. The system of

claim 19

, wherein said predetermined region is a transparent region of the waveform display region.

21. The system of

claim 19

, wherein said point of measurement invocation and said measurement results are symbolically annotated to graphically associate said selected measurement, said point of measurement invocation and said measurement results.

22. A method for invoking waveform measurements in a signal measurement system having a graphical user interface, comprising the steps of:

(a) determining when a cursor dwells at a pixel location in a measurement toolbar region of the graphical user interface;

(b) determining which of one or more measurements is selected by the user, said measurement being associated with a measurement icon in said measurement toolbar region;

(c) determining a validity of an association of said selected measurement and a selected source waveform displayed on a waveform display region of the graphical user interface;

(d) obtaining additional information for said selected measurement;

(e) performing said selected measurement on a measurement extent of said selected source waveform; and

(f) displaying results of said measurement on said graphical user interface.

23. A method for invoking waveform measurements in a graphical user interface of a signal measurement system, comprising the steps of:

(a) displaying a measurement toolbar consisting of a series of graphical buttons on the graphical user interface, each said graphical button including a bitmap pictorially representing a corresponding measurement;

(b) positioning the cursor over an appropriate graphical button;

(c) depressing said mouse button;

(d) dragging the measurement icon proximate to a specific region of a source waveform;

(e) releasing said mouse button to drop said measurement on said selected source waveform;

(f) performing said measurement on said selected source waveform; and

(g) displaying results of said measurement on the graphical user interfacc.

24. A system for annotation measurement results in a signal measurement system presented on a graphical user interface, comprising:

measurement means for performing a measurement function on a measuremnt extent of a selected source waveform displayed in a waveform display region of the graphical user interface, said measurement means prsenting measurement results in a results display region of said graphical user interface; and

annotation means for annotating with a common symbol said measurement extent of said selected source waveform and said measureemnt results is said results display region.

25. The system of

claim 24

, wherein said annotations are geometric symbols.

26. The system of

claim 24

, wherein said annotations are of a color orther than a color of said source waveform.