Network based system which provides a database of measurement solutions

• US 20030101023A1
• Filed: 01/08/2003
• Published: 05/29/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/15/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: National Instruments Corporation (Emerson Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: National Instruments Corporation (Emerson Electric Company)
• Inventors: Shah, Mohammed Kamrah, Correll, Jeffrey N., Sierer, Brian H., Fuller, David W. III
• Granted Patent: US 7,620,897 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/186
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 19/28 adapted for measuring in circuits having distributed constants
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2111/02 CAD in a network environment, e.g. collaborative CAD or distributed simulation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 30/34 for reconfigurable circuits, e.g. field programmable gate arrays [FPGA] or programmable logic devices [PLD]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/44505 Configuring for program initiating, e.g. using registry, configuration files
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/00 Commerce
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0633 Lists, e.g. purchase orders, compilation or processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/04 Trading; Exchange, e.g. stocks, commodities, derivatives or currency exchange
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416

Abstract

System and method for configuring a client system, e.g., a measurement system. First input is received from a client system over a network requesting access to a plurality of configuration diagrams comprising respective solutions to respective tasks. At least a subset of the plurality of configuration diagrams is displayed on a display device of the client system for viewing by a user. Second input is received from the client system selecting one of the displayed configuration diagrams indicating a solution for a task to be performed by the client system. The solution is provided to the client system over the network, and may include the selected configuration diagram and/or pricing information for proposed products. The configuration diagrams are stored in a configuration diagram database. The stored configuration diagrams may be pre-defined solutions for pre-defined tasks, generated in response to received user requirements, and/or received from client systems and/or vendors.

Claims

1. A method for configuring a client system, comprising:

receiving first input from a client system over a network requesting access to a plurality of configuration diagrams in a configuration diagram database, wherein each configuration diagram comprises a solution to a respective task, and wherein said first input is provided in response to user input;

receiving user input to browse the configuration diagram database; and

displaying one or more of the plurality of configuration diagrams on a display device of the client system for viewing by a user of the client system in response to said user input to browse the configuration diagram database.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving second input from the client system selecting one of said one or more of the plurality of configuration diagrams, wherein the selected configuration diagram indicates a first solution for a first task to be performed by the client system.

3. The method of claim 2,

wherein the selected configuration diagram is usable to configure the client system, thereby enabling the client system to perform the first task.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the selected configuration diagram includes vendor information indicating one or more vendors able to configure a solution in accordance with the selected configuration diagram.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said vendor information comprises one or more of:

an email address;

a website address;

a telephone number;

a postal address; and

vendor identification.

6. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

receiving third input from the client system indicating a desire to correspond with a first vendor of the one or more vendors; and

programmatically corresponding with the first vendor in response to said third input.

7. The method of claim 2, wherein the selected configuration diagram includes a plurality of icons representing respective products from a plurality of vendors.

8. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

providing the first solution to the client system over the network after receiving the second input.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

receiving payment information prior to said providing the solution.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein said providing the first solution to the client system over the network comprises:

providing information related to one or more products to the user as proposed hardware and/or software products for the client system.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said providing information related to one or more products to the user as proposed hardware and/or software products for the client system comprises:

providing the selected configuration diagram to the client system, wherein the selected configuration diagram comprises information representing said proposed hardware and/or software products for the client system.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the provided configuration diagram comprises a proposed configuration of the client system, the method further comprising:

receiving a modified version of the provided solution from the client system over the network, wherein the modified version of the provided solution comprises one or more changes to the proposed configuration.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

receiving user input indicating purchase of at least one of the proposed hardware and/or software products; and

providing the at least one of the proposed hardware and/or software products to the user in response to said receiving user input.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

determining a current configuration of the client system;

analyzing the current configuration of the client system and the selected configuration diagram; and

determining said one or more products based on said analyzing.

15. The method of claim 1,

wherein said displaying comprises retrieving said one or more of the plurality of configuration diagrams from the configuration diagram database in response to said receiving first input.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing information to the user related to each of said one or more of the plurality of configuration diagrams, wherein said browsing is based on the provided information.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein said information related to each configuration diagram comprises one or more of:

identification information for the configuration diagram;

version information for the configuration diagram;

a functional description of the configuration diagram;

platform information for the configuration diagram;

searchable information for the configuration diagram;

a list of devices and/or programs represented in the configuration diagram; and

one or more tasks for which the configuration diagram comprises a solution.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein one or more of the plurality of configuration diagrams graphically represents:

one or more devices in a proposed system; and

one or more programs stored on the one or more devices in the proposed system.

19. The method of claim 18,

wherein said one or more of the plurality of configuration diagrams further graphically represents configuration information for at least one of the one or more devices and the one or more programs in the proposed system.

20. The method of claim 18,

wherein the one or more devices comprise a plurality of devices;

wherein said one or more of the plurality of configuration diagrams comprises a plurality of device icons representing the plurality of devices in the proposed system.

21. The method of claim 20,

wherein the plurality of device icons are connected by link icons indicating couplings between the plurality of devices in the proposed system.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein said one or more of said plurality of configuration diagrams comprises a tree diagram which visually represents the proposed system, wherein the tree diagram displays a hierarchical view of the plurality of devices and the one or more programs in the proposed system.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein said one or more of said plurality of configuration diagrams comprises:

a plurality of device icons representing the plurality of devices in the proposed system connected by link icons indicating couplings between the plurality of devices in the proposed system; and

a tree diagram which visually represents the proposed system, wherein the tree diagram displays a hierarchical view of the plurality of devices and the one or more programs in the proposed system.

24. The method of claim 18,

wherein the configuration diagram further comprises pricing information for the one or more devices in a proposed system and the one or more programs stored on the one or more devices in the proposed system.

25. The method of claim 18,

wherein the client system comprises a measurement system;

wherein the one or more devices in the proposed system comprise one or more measurement devices which are operable to perform respective measurement functions; and

wherein the one or more programs stored on the one or more devices comprise one or more measurement programs.

26. The method of claim 18,

wherein the client system comprises a simulation system;

wherein the one or more devices in the proposed system comprise one or more simulation devices which are operable to perform respective simulation functions; and

wherein the one or more programs stored on the one or more devices comprise one or more simulation programs.

27. The method of claim 18,

wherein the client system comprises an automation system;

wherein the one or more devices in the proposed system comprise one or more automation devices which are operable to perform respective automation functions; and

wherein the one or more programs stored on the one or more devices comprise one or more automation programs.

28. The method of claim 18,

wherein the client system comprises a network system;

wherein the one or more devices in the proposed system comprise one or more network devices which are operable to perform respective network functions; and

wherein the one or more programs stored on the one or more devices comprise one or more network programs.

29. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving one or more configuration diagrams from a vendor representing systems the vendor can install; and

storing the provided one or more configuration diagrams in the configuration diagram database.

30. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

analyzing a first client system;

generating a first configuration diagram based on said analyzing, wherein the first configuration diagram represents a configuration of the first client system; and

storing the configuration diagram in the configuration diagram database.

31. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

a user drawing at least a portion of a first configuration diagram; and

storing the first configuration diagram in the configuration diagram database.

32. A system for configuring a client system to perform a desired task, the system comprising:

a server computer system, comprising;

a network interface for coupling to a network, wherein the server computer system is operable to communicate with a client computer over the network;

a processor; and

a memory medium coupled to the processor, wherein the memory medium stores a configuration diagram database, and wherein the memory medium further stores program instructions for;

wherein the program instructions are executable by the processor to;

receive first input from the client system over a network requesting access to a plurality of configuration diagrams, wherein each configuration diagram comprises a solution to a respective task, and wherein said first input is provided in response to user input;

display at least a subset of the plurality of configuration diagrams on a display device of the client system for viewing by a user of the client system;

receive second input from the client system selecting one of the at least a subset of the plurality of configuration diagrams, wherein the selected configuration diagram indicates a solution for a task to be performed by the client system; and

provide the solution to the client system over the network.

33. A carrier medium which stores program instructions for configuring a client system to perform a desired task, wherein the program instructions are executable to perform:

receiving first input from a client system over a network requesting access to a plurality of configuration diagrams, wherein each configuration diagram comprises a solution to a respective task, and wherein said first input is provided in response to user input; and

displaying at least a subset of the plurality of configuration diagrams on a display device of the client system for viewing by a user of the client system;

receiving second input from the client system selecting one of the at least a subset of the plurality of configuration diagrams, wherein the selected configuration diagram indicates a solution for a task to be performed by the client system; and

providing the solution to the client system over the network.

34. A carrier medium, comprising:

a configuration diagram database; and

program instructions for configuring a client system to perform a desired task, wherein the program instructions are executable to perform;

receiving first input from the client system over a network requesting access to a plurality of configuration diagrams, wherein each configuration diagram comprises a solution to a respective task, and wherein said first input is provided in response to user input; and

displaying at least a subset of the plurality of configuration diagrams on a display device of the client system for viewing by a user of the client system.

35. The carrier medium of claim 34, wherein the program instructions are further executable to perform:

receiving second input from the client system selecting one of the at least a subset of the plurality of configuration diagrams, wherein the selected configuration diagram indicates a solution for a task to be performed by the client system; and

providing the solution to the client system over the network.

36. A method for configuring a client system to perform a desired task, the method comprising:

accessing a configuration diagram server computer system over a network, wherein the configuration diagram server computer system comprises a configuration diagram database;

browsing one or more configuration diagrams from the configuration diagram database, wherein each of the one or more configuration diagrams comprises a solution for a respective task;

providing input selecting one of the one or more configuration diagrams from the configuration diagram database, wherein the selected configuration diagram iconically represents one or more products as proposed hardware and/or software products for the client system to perform the desired task, and wherein said input is provided in response to user input; and

receiving information related to the one or more products over the network.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein said receiving information related to the one or more products comprises:

downloading the selected configuration diagram.

38. The method of claim 36, wherein said information related to the one or more products comprises:

pricing information for the one or more products.

39. The method of claim 38, further comprising:

receiving user input indicating purchase of at least one of the one or more measurement products; and

providing purchase information related to the at least one of the one or more products to the server computer system based on said user input.

40. The method of claim 39, further comprising:

receiving the at least one of the one or more products in response to said providing purchase information; and

configuring the client system in accordance with the configuration diagram;

wherein after said configuring, the client system is operable to perform the task.

41. A method for configuring a client system, the method comprising:

receiving requirements over a network for a task to be performed by a client system;

programmatically analyzing the received requirements;

determining a configuration diagram from a configuration diagram database in response to said analyzing, wherein the configuration diagram represents a proposed system configuration for the client system for performing the task, wherein the configuration diagram specifies one or more devices and/or one or more programs for the client system to perform the task; and

providing the determined configuration diagram to the client system over the network for display to a user of the client system;

wherein the determined configuration diagram is usable to configure the client system, thereby enabling the client system to perform the task.

42. The method of claim 41,

wherein the configuration diagram graphically represents:

one or more devices present in a proposed system; and

one or more programs stored on the one or more devices in the proposed system.

43. A system for configuring a client system to perform a task, the system comprising:

a server computer system, comprising;

a network interface for coupling to a network, wherein the server computer system is operable to communicate with a client computer over the network;

a processor; and

a memory medium coupled to the processor, wherein the memory medium stores a configuration diagram database, and wherein the memory medium further stores program instructions for;

wherein the program instructions are executable by the processor to;

receive requirements over a network for a task to be performed by a client system;

programmatically analyze the received requirements;

determine a configuration diagram from a configuration diagram database in response to said analyzing, wherein the configuration diagram represents a system configuration for the client system for performing the task, wherein the system configuration specifies one or more devices and/or one or more programs for the client system to perform the task; and

provide the determined configuration diagram to the client system over the network for display to a user of the client system;

wherein the selected configuration diagram is usable to configure the client system, thereby enabling the client system to perform the task.

44. A carrier medium which stores program instructions for configuring a client system to perform a desired task, wherein the program instructions are executable to perform:

receiving requirements over a network for a task to be performed by a client system;

programmatically analyzing the received requirements;

determining a configuration diagram from a configuration diagram database in response to said analyzing, wherein the configuration diagram represents a system configuration for the client system for performing the task, wherein the system configuration specifies one or more devices and/or one or more programs for the client system to perform the task; and

providing the determined configuration diagram to the client system over the network for display to a user of the client system;

wherein the selected configuration diagram is usable to configure the client system, thereby enabling the client system to perform the task.

45. A method for configuring a client system, comprising:

receiving first input from a client system over a network requesting access to a plurality of configuration diagrams, wherein each configuration diagram comprises a solution to a respective task, and wherein said first input is provided in response to user input;

displaying at least a subset of the plurality of configuration diagrams on a display device of the client system for viewing by a user of the client system;

receiving second input from the client system selecting one of the at least a subset of the plurality of configuration diagrams, wherein the selected configuration diagram indicates a solution for a task to be performed by the client system; and

providing the solution to the client system over the network.

46. A method for populating a configuration diagram database, the method comprising:

generating a configuration diagram representing a system, wherein the configuration diagram graphically represents a system configuration for the system; and

providing the generated configuration diagram for storage in a configuration diagram database;

wherein a plurality of stored configuration diagrams, including the generated configuration diagram, are browsable by a plurality of users over a network.

47. The method of claim 46, wherein said generating comprises:

a user drawing at least a portion of the configuration diagram.

48. The method of claim 46, wherein said generating comprises:

a vendor generating the configuration diagram, wherein the configuration diagram represents a proposed system that the vendor can install.

49. A method for populating a configuration diagram database, the method comprising:

receiving requirements over a network for a task to be performed by a client system;

determining a system configuration in response to said requirements, wherein the system configuration specifies one or more devices and/or one or more programs for the client system to perform the task;

generating a configuration diagram in response to said determining, wherein the configuration diagram graphically represents the determined system configuration for the client system; and

storing the generated configuration diagram in a configuration diagram database;

wherein a plurality of stored configuration diagrams, including the generated configuration diagram, are retrievable from the configuration diagram database for provision to a plurality of users over the network.

50. The method of claim 49,

wherein the configuration diagram database is browsable by a plurality of users to view stored configuration diagrams, including the generated configuration diagram,

wherein one or more configuration diagrams are user selectable and retrievable from the configuration diagram database.

51. The method of claim 49, further comprising:

generating a plurality of pre-defined configuration diagrams representing a corresponding plurality of pre-defined system configurations, wherein each pre-defined system configuration comprises a respective solution for performing a task; and

storing the plurality of pre-defined configuration diagrams representing the corresponding plurality of pre-defined system configurations in the configuration diagram database;

wherein the plurality of stored configuration diagrams, including the generated pre-defined configuration diagrams, are retrievable from the configuration diagram database for provision to a plurality of users over the network.

52. The method of claim 49, further comprising:

receiving one or more configuration diagrams from a second client system over the network, wherein the one or more configuration diagrams each comprise a solution to a respective task;

storing the received one or more configuration diagrams in the configuration diagram database;

wherein the plurality of stored configuration diagrams, including the received configuration diagrams, are retrievable from the configuration diagram database for provision to a plurality of users over the network.

53. The method of claim 52,

wherein each of the configuration diagrams includes associated information describing the respective configuration diagrams;

the method further comprising storing at least a portion of the received information in the configuration diagram database;

54. The method of claim 49, further comprising:

storing information related to each of the plurality of stored configuration diagrams, wherein said stored information is usable to retrieve the stored configuration diagrams.

55. The method of claim 54, wherein said information related to each configuration diagram comprises one or more of:

identification information for the configuration diagram;

version information for the configuration diagram;

a functional description of the configuration diagram;

platform information for the configuration diagram;

searchable information for the configuration diagram;

a list of devices and/or programs represented in the configuration diagram; and

one or more tasks for which the configuration diagram comprises a solution.

56. The method of claim 49, wherein the task comprises one or more of:

a measurement task;

a control task;

an automation task;

a modeling and/or simulation task; and

a rapid control prototyping task.

57. The method of claim 49,

wherein the requirements for the task comprise a task specification.

58. The method of claim 49, further comprising:

receiving one or more system configurations from a second client system over the network, wherein the one or more system configurations each comprise a solution to a respective task;

generating one or more corresponding configuration diagrams in response to said determining, wherein the generated configuration diagrams graphically represent the received system configurations; and

storing the generated configuration diagrams in the configuration diagram database;

wherein the plurality of stored configuration diagrams, including the generated configuration diagrams, are retrievable from the configuration diagram database for provision to a plurality of users over the network.

59. A system for populating a configuration diagram database, the system comprising:

a server computer system, comprising;

a network interface for coupling to a network, wherein the server computer system is operable to communicate with a client computer over the network;

a processor; and

a memory medium coupled to the processor, wherein the memory medium stores a configuration diagram database, and wherein the memory medium further stores program instructions for;

wherein the program instructions are executable by the processor to;

receive requirements over a network for a task to be performed by a client system;

determine a system configuration in response to said requirements, wherein the system configuration specifies one or more devices and/or one or more programs for the client system to perform the task;

generate a configuration diagram in response to said determining, wherein the configuration diagram graphically represents the determined system configuration for the client system; and

store the generated configuration diagram in a configuration diagram database;

wherein a plurality of stored configuration diagrams, including the generated configuration diagram, are retrievable from the configuration diagram database for provision to a plurality of users over the network.

60. A carrier medium which stores program instructions for populating a configuration diagram database, wherein the program instructions are executable to perform:

receiving requirements over a network for a task to be performed by a client system;

determining a system configuration in response to said requirements, wherein the system configuration specifies one or more devices and/or one or more programs for the client system to perform the task;

generating a configuration diagram in response to said determining, wherein the configuration diagram graphically represents the determined system configuration for the client system; and

storing the generated configuration diagram in a configuration diagram database;

wherein a plurality of stored configuration diagrams, including the generated configuration diagram, are retrievable from the configuration diagram database for provision to a plurality of users over the network.

61. A method for populating a configuration diagram database, the method comprising:

receiving requirements over a network for a plurality of tasks to be performed by respective client systems;

determining a corresponding plurality of system configurations in response to said requirements, wherein each of the plurality of system configurations specifies one or more devices and/or one or more programs for the respective client system to perform the tasks;

generating a corresponding plurality of configuration diagrams in response to said determining, wherein each of the plurality of configuration diagrams represents a respective one of the determined plurality of system configurations; and

storing the plurality of generated configuration diagrams in a configuration diagram database;

wherein the plurality of stored configuration diagrams are retrievable from the configuration diagram database for provision to a plurality of users over the network.

62. A carrier medium which stores a configuration diagram database, the carrier medium comprising:

a plurality of configuration diagrams, wherein each configuration diagram comprises a proposed solution to a respective task,

wherein each of the configuration diagrams graphically represents;

one or more devices present in the proposed solution;

one or more programs stored on the one or more devices in the proposed solution;

database software for enabling browsing, search and retrieval of one or more of configuration diagrams by users.

63. A method for populating a configuration diagram database, the method comprising:

receiving a configuration diagram representing a system, wherein the configuration diagram graphically represents a system configuration for the system; and

storing the configuration diagram in a configuration diagram database;

wherein a plurality of stored configuration diagrams, including the generated configuration diagram, are browsable by a plurality of users over a network.

64. The method of claim 63, wherein each of said plurality of stored configuration diagrams, including the received configuration diagram, are retrievable from the configuration diagram database for provision to a client system, wherein the configuration diagrams are usable to configure the client system.

65. The method of claim 63, further comprising:

a vendor providing said configuration diagram for storage in the configuration diagram database, wherein the configuration diagram represents a system the vendor can install.

66. The method of claim 63, further comprising:

analyzing a client system;

generating the configuration diagram based on said analyzing, wherein the configuration diagram represents a configuration of the client system.

67. The method of claim 63, further comprising:

a user drawing at least a portion of the configuration diagram; and

providing the configuration diagram for storage in the configuration diagram database.

68. The method of claim 63, wherein one or more of the plurality of configuration diagrams graphically represents:

one or more devices in a proposed system; and

one or more programs stored on the one or more devices in the proposed system.

69. The method of claim 68,

wherein said one or more of the plurality of configuration diagrams further graphically represents configuration information for at least one of the one or more devices and the one or more programs in the proposed system.

70. The method of claim 68,

wherein the one or more devices comprise a plurality of devices;

wherein said one or more of the plurality of configuration diagrams comprises a plurality of device icons representing the plurality of devices in the proposed system.

71. The method of claim 70,

wherein the plurality of device icons are connected by link icons indicating couplings between the plurality of devices in the proposed system.

72. The method of claim 70, wherein said one or more of said plurality of configuration diagrams comprises a tree diagram which visually represents the proposed system, wherein the tree diagram displays a hierarchical view of the plurality of devices and the one or more programs in the proposed system.

73. The method of claim 70, wherein said one or more of said plurality of configuration diagrams comprises:

a plurality of device icons representing the plurality of devices in the proposed system connected by link icons indicating couplings between the plurality of devices in the proposed system; and

a tree diagram which visually represents the proposed system, wherein the tree diagram displays a hierarchical view of the plurality of devices and the one or more programs in the proposed system.

74. A method for populating a configuration diagram database, the method comprising:

receiving one or more configuration diagrams from a vendor representing systems that can be configured by the vendor, wherein each configuration diagram graphically represents a system configuration for the system; and

storing the one or more configuration diagrams in a configuration diagram database;

wherein a plurality of stored configuration diagrams, including the received configuration diagrams, are browsable by a plurality of users over a network.