Measurement system graphical user interface for easily configuring measurement applications

• US 20030001896A1
• Filed: 04/24/2002
• Published: 01/02/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: National Instruments Corporation (Emerson Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: National Instruments Corporation (Emerson Electric Company)
• Inventors: Johnson, Brian, Breyer, John, Savage, Joseph Albert
• Granted Patent: US 7,162,387 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/771
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23258 GUI graphical user interface, icon, function bloc editor, labview
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23291 Process, graphic programming of a process, text and images
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2656 Instrumentation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/71 Version control security arrangements therefor G06F21/57; Configuration management
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/44505 Configuring for program initiating, e.g. using registry, configuration files
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/50 Testing arrangements

Abstract

System and method for using a graphical user interface (GUI) to generate a measurement task specification (MTS) for performing a measurement task. The measurement task includes measurement and/or signal generation. A measurement task specifier presents a GUI which guides a user in specifying the measurement task. The GUI presents a plurality of GUI elements, e.g., panels, for specifying a plurality of parameters for the measurement task, including measurement type, devices, channels, timing, and/or triggering. The GUI receives user input indicating values for the parameters, and may provide default values for at least some of the parameters. The GUI stores the parameter values in a memory, analyzes the parameter values, and generates the MTS in response to the analyzing. The MTS is then useable to produce a program which implements the measurement task. The specifier may programmatically generate the program, e.g., a graphical program, which is executable to perform the task.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for generating a measurement task specification for performing a measurement task, the method comprising:

displaying a graphical user interface (GUI) which presents information for guiding the user in specifying a measurement task;

receiving user input to the graphical user interface characterizing the measurement task, wherein the user input indicates parameter values for a plurality of parameters of the measurement task;

storing the parameter values in a memory;

analyzing the parameter values; and

generating a measurement task specification in response to said analyzing;

wherein said measurement task specification is useable to produce a program which implements the measurement task.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of parameters of the measurement task comprise five or more of measurement type, device type, channel parameters, sampling parameters, trigger parameters, clock parameters, scaling parameters, synchronization parameters, routing parameters, and data publishing parameters.

3. The method of claim 1,

wherein said displaying the graphical user interface comprises displaying a plurality of panels which guide the user in specifying the measurement task.

4. The method of claim 3,

wherein said displaying a plurality of panels comprises:

displaying a first panel, wherein the first panel presents options for specifying values of a first parameter of the measurement task;

wherein said receiving user input to the graphical user interface comprises;

receiving first user input to the first panel, wherein said first user input indicates a value of the first parameter; and

wherein said displaying a plurality of panels further comprises;

displaying a second panel, wherein the second panel presents information based on said indicated value of the first parameter.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said options comprise a default value for the first parameter of the measurement task, and wherein said receiving first user input to the first panel comprises one of:

receiving first user input overriding said default value with said value; and

receiving first user input indicating acceptance of said default parameter value as said value.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein said information indicates a second parameter of the measurement task;

and wherein said receiving user input to the graphical user interface further comprises;

receiving second user input to the second panel indicating a value of said second parameter of the measurement task.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said information comprises a default value for the second parameter of the measurement task, and wherein said receiving second user input to the second panel comprises one of:

receiving second user input overriding said default value of said second parameter with said value of said second parameter; and

receiving second user input indicating acceptance of said default parameter value of said second parameter as said value of said second parameter.

8. The method of claim 3,

wherein said displaying a plurality of panels comprises:

displaying a first panel, wherein the first panel presents a list of measurement types for the measurement task; and

wherein said receiving user input to said graphical user interface comprises;

receiving first user input to the first panel, wherein said first user input indicates a measurement type for the measurement task.

9. The method of claim 8,

wherein displaying a plurality of panels further comprises:

displaying a second panel in response to said first user input, wherein the second panel presents a list of available devices and corresponding channels, and wherein said available devices correspond to said indicated measurement type; and

wherein said receiving user input to the graphical user interface further comprises;

receiving second user input to the second panel, wherein said second user input indicates one or more channels for a device from said list of available devices and corresponding channels, and wherein each of the one or more channels corresponds to a terminal of said device.

10. The method of claim 9,

wherein displaying a plurality of panels further comprises:

displaying a third panel in response to said second user input, wherein the third panel presents options for specifying values of one or more parameters for said indicated one or more channels; and

wherein said receiving user input to the graphical user interface further comprises;

receiving third user input to the third panel, wherein said third user input indicates values of said one or more parameters for said indicated one or more channels.

11. The method of claim 9,

wherein displaying a plurality of panels further comprises:

displaying two or more panel selection controls, wherein each of the two or more panel selection controls corresponds to a respective panel for specifying values of one or more parameters for said indicated one or more channels;

wherein said receiving user input to the graphical user interface further comprises;

receiving user selection input to one of said two or more panel selection controls;

wherein displaying a plurality of panels further comprises;

displaying the respective panel corresponding to said selected panel selection control, wherein said respective panel presents options for specifying values of said one or more parameters for said indicated one or more channels; and

wherein said receiving user input to the graphical user interface further comprises;

receiving third user input to the respective panel, wherein said third user input indicates values of said one or more parameters for said indicated one or more channels.

12. The method of claim 9,

wherein said displaying a plurality of panels further comprises:

displaying a device settings panel, wherein the device settings panel presents one or more device settings parameters for the measurement task, and wherein said device settings parameters correspond to said device; and

wherein said receiving user input to said graphical user interface comprises;

receiving user input to the device settings panel, wherein said user input to the device settings panel indicates values for said one or more device settings parameters for the measurement task.

13. The method of claim 3,

wherein said displaying a plurality of panels comprises:

displaying a timing panel, wherein the timing panel presents one or more timing parameters for the measurement task; and

wherein said receiving user input to said graphical user interface comprises;

receiving user input to the timing panel, wherein said user input to the timing panel indicates values for said one or more timing parameters for the measurement task.

14. The method of claim 3,

wherein said displaying a plurality of panels comprises:

displaying a triggering panel, wherein the triggering panel presents one or more triggering parameters for the measurement task; and

wherein said receiving user input to said graphical user interface comprises;

receiving first user input to the triggering panel, wherein said user input to the triggering panel indicates values for said one or more triggering parameters for the measurement task.

15. The method of claim 3,

wherein said displaying a plurality of panels comprises:

displaying a help panel, wherein the help panel presents context sensitive information related to other panels of the plurality of panels, and wherein said presented information is based on which of the other panels are currently displayed.

16. The method of claim 3,

wherein said displaying the graphical user interface further comprises presenting an option to programmatically generate a program implementing the specified measurement task.

17. The method of claim 16,

wherein said programmatically generated program comprises a graphical program;

and

wherein said displaying a plurality of panels comprises displaying a program panel comprising a block diagram of the graphical program.

18. The method of claim 1,

wherein said displaying a graphical user interface comprises:

displaying a plurality of GUI elements, wherein each of at least a subset of the plurality of GUI elements presents one or more parameters for the measurement task; and

wherein said receiving user input to the graphical user interface comprises;

at least one of said plurality of GUI elements receiving user input specifying respective values for said one or more parameters.

19. The method of claim 18,

wherein at least one of said subset of the plurality of GUI elements includes respective default values for said one or more parameters;

and

wherein said receiving user input specifying respective values for said one or more parameters comprises one of;

receiving user input overriding one or more of said respective default values with one or more of said specified values; and

receiving user input indicating acceptance of one or more of said respective default values as one or more of said specified values.

20. The method of claim 19,

wherein said displaying a graphical user interface comprises:

displaying context sensitive help information, wherein the context sensitive help information displayed is based on which of the plurality of GUI elements are currently displayed.

21. The method of claim 18,

wherein said displaying a plurality of GUI elements comprises:

displaying a first GUI element indicating first one or more parameters for the measurement task;

wherein said receiving user input to the graphical user interface comprises;

receiving first user input to the first GUI element indicating values for said first one or more parameters for the measurement task;

wherein said displaying a plurality of GUI elements further comprises;

displaying a second GUI element in response to said first user input, wherein said second GUI element indicates second one or more other parameters for the measurement task; and

wherein said receiving user input to the graphical user interface further comprises;

receiving second user input to the second GUI element indicating values for said second one or more other parameters for the measurement task.

22. The method of claim 18,

wherein said displaying a plurality of GUI elements comprises:

displaying a list of measurement types for the measurement task; and

wherein said receiving user input to the graphical user interface comprises;

receiving first user input indicating a measurement type from said list of measurement types.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the list of measurement types comprises one or more of:

acceleration, current, frequency, resistance, strain, voltage, and temperature.

24. The method of claim 22,

wherein said displaying a graphical user interface further comprises:

displaying a list of available devices and corresponding channels in response to said first user input, wherein said available devices correspond to said indicated measurement type; and

wherein said receiving user input to the graphical user interface further comprises;

receiving second user input indicating one or more channels for a device from said list of available devices and corresponding channels, wherein each of the one or more channels corresponds to a terminal of said device.

25. The method of claim 24,

wherein said displaying a graphical user interface further comprises:

displaying one or more GUI elements for specifying values of one or more parameters for said indicated one or more channels; and

wherein said receiving user input to the graphical user interface further comprises;

receiving third user input to said one or more GUI elements indicating values of said one or more parameters for said indicated one or more channels.

26. The method of claim 24,

wherein said displaying a graphical user interface further comprises:

displaying two or more selection GUI elements, wherein each of the two or more selection GUI elements corresponds to a respective set of one or more GUI elements for specifying values of one or more parameters for said indicated one or more channels;

wherein said receiving user input to the graphical user interface further comprises;

receiving user selection input to one of said two or more selection GUI elements;

wherein said displaying a graphical user interface further comprises;

displaying the respective set of GUI elements corresponding to said selected selection GUI element, wherein said respective set of GUI elements is useable for specifying values of said one or more parameters for said indicated one or more channels; and

wherein said receiving user input to the graphical user interface further comprises;

receiving third user input to the respective set of GUI elements, wherein said third user input indicates values of said one or more parameters for said indicated one or more channels.

27. The method of claim 24,

wherein said displaying a graphical user interface further comprises:

displaying one or more device settings GUI elements for specifying one or more device settings parameters for the measurement task, and wherein said device settings parameters correspond to said device; and

wherein said receiving user input to said graphical user interface comprises;

receiving third user input to the one or more device settings GUI elements, wherein said third user input indicates values for said one or more device settings parameters for the measurement task.

28. The method of claim 21,

wherein said displaying a graphical user interface further comprises:

displaying one or more timing GUI elements, wherein the one or more timing GUI elements present one or more timing parameters for the measurement task; and

wherein said receiving user input to said graphical user interface comprises;

receiving user input to the one or more timing GUI elements indicating values for said one or more timing parameters for the measurement task.

29. The method of claim 21,

wherein said displaying a graphical user interface further comprises:

displaying one or more triggering GUI elements, wherein the one or more triggering GUI elements present one or more triggering parameters for the measurement task; and

wherein said receiving user input to said graphical user interface comprises;

receiving user input to the one or more triggering GUI elements indicating values for said one or more triggering parameters for the measurement task.

30. The method of claim 1,

wherein said displaying the graphical user interface further comprises:

presenting an option to programmatically generate a program implementing the specified measurement task;

wherein the method further comprises;

receiving user input selecting said option; and

programmatically generating the program in response to said selecting, wherein said program is executable to perform the specified measurement task.

31. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

programmatically generating the program based on the parameter values, wherein the program is executable to perform the measurement task.

32. The method of claim 31,

wherein said programmatically generated program comprises a graphical program;

and

wherein said displaying the graphical user interface further comprises displaying a block diagram of the graphical program.

33. The method of claim 32,

wherein said graphical program comprises a LabVIEW graphical program.

34. The method of claim 31, wherein said programmatically generating the program based on the parameter values comprises:

an expert system analyzing the measurement task specification, and generating a run-time specification for the measurement task in response to said analyzing; and

a run-time builder analyzing the run-time specification, and generating a run-time based on the run-time specification, wherein said run-time is executable to perform the measurement task.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein said expert system analyzing the measurement task specification, and generating a run-time specification further comprises:

the expert system validating the measurement task specification prior to said generating the run-time specification.

36. The method of claim 34, wherein said run-time builder analyzing the run-time specification, and generating a run-time programmatically further comprises:

the run-time builder configuring one or more measurement devices according to the run-time specification, wherein said run-time is executable to perform the measurement task using the configured one or more measurement devices.

37. The method of claim 1, wherein the measurement task comprises one or more of:

one or more measurements; and

one or more signal generations.

38. The method of claim 1, wherein the measurement task comprises a complex measurement operation using a plurality of measurement devices, wherein at least one of the plurality of measurement devices comprises a measurement hardware device.

39. The method of claim 1, wherein the measurement task comprises a complex measurement operation using a plurality of measurement devices, wherein at least one of the plurality of measurement devices comprises a virtual measurement device.

40. The method of claim 1,

wherein said measurement task specification comprises configuration information for one or more measurement devices;

and

wherein, after being configured with said configuration information, the one or more measurement devices are operable to perform the measurement task.

41. A system for generating a measurement task specification for performing a measurement task, the system comprising:

a processor; and

a memory medium coupled to the processor, wherein the memory medium stores one or more programs which are executable to perform;

displaying a graphical user interface (GUI) which presents information for guiding the user in specifying a measurement task;

receiving user input to the graphical user interface characterizing the measurement task, wherein the user input indicates parameter values for the measurement task;

storing the parameter values in a memory;

analyzing the parameter values; and

generating a measurement task specification in response to said analyzing;

wherein said measurement task specification is useable to produce a program which implements the measurement task.

42. The system of claim 41, wherein the parameter values of the measurement task comprise five or more of measurement type, device type, channel parameters, sampling parameters, trigger parameters, clock parameters, scaling parameters, synchronization parameters, routing parameters, and data publishing parameters.

43. The system of claim 41,

wherein said displaying a graphical user interface comprises:

displaying a plurality of GUI elements, wherein each of the plurality of GUI elements presents one or more parameters for the measurement task; and

wherein said receiving user input to the graphical user interface comprises;

receiving user input to at least one of said one or more GUI elements specifying a value for at least one of said one or more parameters.

44. The system of claim 43,

wherein said displaying a plurality of GUI elements comprises:

displaying a first GUI element indicating first one or more parameters for the measurement task;

wherein said receiving user input to the graphical user interface comprises;

receiving first user input indicating values for said first one or more parameters for the measurement task;

wherein said displaying a plurality of GUI elements further comprises;

displaying a second GUI element in response to said first user input, wherein said second GUI element indicates second one or more other parameters for the measurement task; and

wherein said receiving user input to the graphical user interface further comprises;

receiving second user input indicating values for said second one or more other parameters for the measurement task.

45. The system of claim 41,

wherein said displaying a plurality of GUI elements comprises:

displaying a plurality of panels which guide the user in specifying the measurement task.

46. The system of claim 41, wherein said one or more programs are further executable to perform:

programmatically generating the program based on the parameter values, wherein the program is executable to perform the measurement task.

48. The carrier medium of claim 47, wherein the parameter values of the measurement task comprise five or more of measurement type, device type, channel parameters, sampling parameters, trigger parameters, clock parameters, scaling parameters, synchronization parameters, routing parameters, and data publishing parameters.

49. The carrier medium of claim 47,

wherein said displaying a graphical user interface comprises:

displaying a plurality of GUI elements, wherein each of the plurality of GUI elements presents one or more parameters for the measurement task; and

wherein said receiving user input to the graphical user interface comprises;

receiving user input to at least one of said one or more GUI elements specifying a value for at least one of said one or more parameters.

50. The carrier medium of claim 49,

wherein said displaying a plurality of GUI elements comprises:

displaying a first GUI element indicating first one or more parameters for the measurement task;

wherein said receiving user input to the graphical user interface comprises;

receiving first user input indicating values for said first one or more parameters for the measurement task;

wherein said displaying a plurality of GUI elements further comprises;

displaying a second GUI element in response to said first user input, wherein said second GUI element indicates second one or more other parameters for the measurement task; and

wherein said receiving user input to the graphical user interface further comprises;

receiving second user input indicating values for said second one or more other parameters for the measurement task.

51. The carrier medium of claim 47,

wherein said displaying a plurality of GUI elements comprises:

displaying a plurality of panels which guide the user in specifying the measurement task.

52. The carrier medium of claim 47, wherein said program instructions are further executable to perform:

programmatically generating the program based on the parameter values, wherein the program is executable to perform the measurement task.

47. A carrier medium which stores program instructions, wherein said program instructions are executable to perform:

displaying a graphical user interface (GUI) which presents information for guiding the user in specifying a measurement task;

receiving user input to the graphical user interface characterizing the measurement task, wherein the user input indicates parameter values for the measurement task;

storing the parameter values in a memory;

analyzing the parameter values; and

generating a measurement task specification in response to said analyzing;

wherein said measurement task specification is useable to produce a program which implements the measurement task.

53. A system for generating a measurement task specification for performing a measurement task, the system comprising:

means for displaying a graphical user interface (GUI) which presents information for guiding the user in specifying a measurement task;

means for receiving user input to the graphical user interface characterizing the measurement task, wherein the user input indicates parameter values for the measurement task;

means for storing the parameter values in a memory;

means for analyzing the parameter values; and

means for generating a measurement task specification in response to said analyzing;

wherein said measurement task specification is useable to produce a program which implements the measurement task.

54. The system of claim 53, wherein the parameter values of the measurement task comprise five or more of measurement type, device type, channel parameters, sampling parameters, trigger parameters, clock parameters, scaling parameters, synchronization parameters, routing parameters, and data publishing parameters.

55. The system of claim 53,

wherein said displaying a graphical user interface comprises:

displaying a plurality of GUI elements, wherein each of the plurality of GUI elements presents one or more parameters for the measurement task; and

wherein said receiving user input to the graphical user interface comprises;

receiving user input to at least one of said one or more GUI elements specifying a value for at least one of said one or more parameters.

56. The system of claim 55,

wherein said displaying a plurality of GUI elements comprises:

displaying a first GUI element indicating first one or more parameters for the measurement task;

wherein said receiving user input to the graphical user interface comprises;

receiving first user input indicating values for said first one or more parameters for the measurement task;

wherein said displaying a plurality of GUI elements further comprises;

displaying a second GUI element in response to said first user input, wherein said second GUI element indicates second one or more other parameters for the measurement task; and

wherein said receiving user input to the graphical user interface further comprises;

receiving second user input indicating values for said second one or more other parameters for the measurement task.

57. The system of claim 53,

wherein said displaying a plurality of GUI elements comprises:

displaying a plurality of panels which guide the user in specifying the measurement task.

58. The system of claim 53, further comprising:

means for programmatically generating the program based on the parameter values, wherein the program is executable to perform the measurement task.

59. A method for specifying a program for performing a measurement task, the method comprising:

displaying a graphical user interface which presents information for guiding the user in specifying a measurement task;

receiving user input to a graphical user interface characterizing the measurement task, wherein the user input comprises parameter values for the measurement task; and

storing the parameter values in a memory;

wherein the parameter values are useable to produce the program, wherein the program is executable to perform the measurement task.

60. A method for generating information specifying a measurement task, the method comprising:

displaying a plurality of panels which guide the user in providing the information specifying the measurement task

receiving user input to a graphical user interface characterizing a measurement task, wherein said user input overrides one or more default configuration parameter values for said measurement task;

analyzing said user input; and

generating a measurement task specification in response to said analyzing;

wherein said measurement task specification is useable to produce a measurement task run-time program which is executable to perform the measurement task.

61. The method of claim 60, wherein said displaying the plurality of panels comprises displaying a first panel which lists available measurement types;

and

wherein said receiving user input to a graphical user interface comprises receiving first user input indicating a measurement type from said available measurement types.