Generating a configuration diagram based on user specification of a task

• US 20030101025A1
• 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: Correll, Jeffrey N., Shah, Mohammed Kamran, Sierer, Brian H., Fuller, David W. III
• Granted Patent: US 7,568,017 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/188
• 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 generating a configuration diagram based on user specification of a task. A server computer communicates with a client system, e.g., a measurement system, including a client computer system, over a network. The server receives requirements, e.g., a task specification, for a task, e.g., a measurement task, where the requirements are provided in response to user input. A plurality of products operable to perform the task are determined in response to the requirements, e.g., by programmatically analyzing the requirements. A diagram is displayed on the client computer system iconically representing the plurality of products, including icons representing at least a subset of the products to the user as proposed hardware and/or software products for the client system. Pricing information for the proposed products may be displayed. User input indicating purchase of at least one of the products is received and the purchased products provided to the user.

Claims

1. A method for configuring a client system, wherein the client system comprises a client computer system, the method comprising:

receiving one or more requirements for a task to be performed by a client system, wherein the one or more requirements are provided in response to input from a user;

determining a plurality of products in response to said one or more requirements, wherein the plurality of products are operable to perform the task; and

displaying a diagram on a display of the client computer system which iconically represents the plurality of products, wherein at least a subset of the plurality of products are proposed products, wherein the diagram comprises a proposed configuration of the client system.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said determining plurality of products in response to said one or more requirements comprises:

programmatically analyzing the one or more requirements to determine said plurality of products.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the proposed products comprise at least one device product and/or at least one software product.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the proposed products comprise at least one device product and at least one software product.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said determining the plurality of products in response to said one or more requirements comprises:

determining a task specification based on said one or more requirements; and

programmatically analyzing the task specification to determine said plurality of products.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

programmatically generating the diagram based on the determined plurality of products.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

programmatically retrieving the diagram from a database, wherein said programmatically retrieving is performed based on the determined plurality of products.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said displaying the diagram on a display of the client computer system which iconically represents the plurality of products comprises:

displaying icons for each of the plurality of products.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein icons for the proposed products are displayed differently from icons for others of the plurality of products.

10. The method of claim 1,

wherein the diagram comprises a plurality of device icons representing a plurality of devices of the plurality of products, wherein the diagram also includes link icons indicating coupling relationships between the plurality of devices.

11. The method of claim 1,

wherein the diagram comprises a tree diagram which visually represents a hierarchical view of the plurality of products.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein said displaying the diagram on a display of the client computer system which iconically represents the plurality of products comprises:

displaying a configuration diagram, wherein the configuration diagram comprises a plurality of device icons representing a plurality of devices of the plurality of products, wherein the diagram also includes link icons indicating coupling relationships between the plurality of devices; and

displaying a tree diagram which visually represents a hierarchical view of the plurality of products.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying pricing information for the proposed products on the diagram.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said displaying pricing information of the proposed products on the diagram comprises:

displaying pricing information for each of the proposed products on the diagram.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein said displaying pricing information of the proposed products on the diagram comprises:

displaying an unpaid balance for the cost of the proposed products on the diagram.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein said displaying pricing information of the proposed products on the diagram comprises:

displaying a total cost for the proposed products on the diagram.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein said displaying pricing information of the proposed products on the diagram further comprises:

displaying a total cost for the plurality of products on the diagram.

18. The method of claim 1,

wherein said determining plurality of products in response to said one or more requirements further comprises:

determining a current configuration of the client system; and

wherein said programmatically analyzing the one or more requirements to determine said plurality of products comprises;

programmatically analyzing the one or more requirements and the current configuration of the client system to determine said plurality of products.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

displaying a first diagram representing the current configuration of the client system.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

generating a first diagram representing the current configuration of the client system; and

modifying the first diagram to include said at least a subset of the plurality of products as proposed hardware and/or software products for the client system;

wherein said displaying the diagram comprises displaying the modified first diagram.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein said modifying the diagram comprises:

adding product icons to the diagram representing the proposed products for use in the client system.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein said modifying the diagram further comprises:

modifying the first diagram to include estimated delivery times for the proposed products.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein said modifying the diagram further comprises:

modifying the first diagram to include pricing information for the proposed products.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein said modifying the diagram to include the pricing information comprises:

displaying pricing information proximate to respective product icons in the diagram.

25. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

receiving user input indicating purchase of at least one of the proposed products; and

providing the at least one of the proposed products to the user in response to said receiving user input.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein said providing the at least one of the proposed products to the user in response to said receiving user input further comprises:

displaying order-tracking information for the purchased products.

27. The method of claim 1, wherein said plurality of products comprises one or more devices and one or more software products.

28. The method of claim 27, further comprising:

providing information indicating at least one device of said one or more devices and at least one software product of said one or more software products to a manufacturer in response to said determining;

the manufacturer configuring the at least one device with the at least one software product to produce at least one configured device, wherein the at least one configured device is operable to perform at least a portion of the task; and

the manufacturer sending the configured at least one device to the user.

29. The method of claim 1,

wherein the client system comprises a measurement system;

wherein the plurality of products comprise;

one or more measurement devices which are operable to perform respective measurement functions; and

one or more measurement programs.

30. The method of claim 1,

wherein the client system comprises a simulation system;

wherein the plurality of products comprise;

one or more simulation devices which are operable to perform respective simulation functions; and

one or more one or more simulation programs.

31. The method of claim 1,

wherein the client system comprises an automation system;

wherein the plurality of products comprise;

one or more automation devices which are operable to perform respective automation functions; and

one or more automation programs.

32. The method of claim 1,

wherein the client system comprises a network system;

wherein the plurality of products comprise;

one or more network devices which are operable to perform respective network functions; and

one or more network programs.

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

receiving one or more requirements for a task to be performed by a client system, wherein the one or more requirements are provided in response to input from a user;

determining a plurality of products in response to said one or more requirements, wherein the plurality of products are operable to perform the task; and

displaying a diagram on a display of the client computer system which iconically represents the plurality of products, wherein at least a subset of the plurality of products are proposed products, wherein the diagram comprises a proposed configuration of the client system.

34. A system for configuring a client system, wherein the client system comprises a client computer system, the system comprising:

a processor; and

a memory medium coupled to the processor;

wherein the memory medium stores program instructions which are executable to;

receive one or more requirements for a task to be performed by a client system, wherein the one or more requirements are provided in response to input from a user;

determine a plurality of products in response to said one or more requirements, wherein the plurality of products are operable to perform the task; and

display a diagram on a display of the client computer system which iconically represents the plurality of products, wherein at least a subset of the plurality of products are proposed products, wherein the diagram comprises a proposed configuration of the client system.

35. A system for configuring a client system, wherein the client system comprises a client computer system, the system comprising:

means for receiving one or more requirements for a task to be performed by a client system, wherein the one or more requirements are provided in response to input from a user;

means for determining a plurality of products in response to said one or more requirements, wherein the plurality of products are operable to perform the task; and

means for displaying a diagram on a display of the client computer system which iconically represents the plurality of products, wherein at least a subset of the plurality of products are proposed products, wherein the diagram comprises a proposed configuration of the client system.

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

providing one or more requirements for a task to be performed by a client system to a server over a network, wherein said providing one or more requirements is performed in response to user input;

the server determining a plurality of products in response to said one or more requirements, wherein the a plurality of products are operable to perform the task;

the server providing a diagram for display on a display device of the client system which iconically represents the plurality of products, wherein at least a subset of the plurality of products are proposed products, wherein the diagram comprises a proposed configuration of the client system; and

displaying the diagram on the display device of the client system.

37. The method of claim 36, further comprising:

receiving user input indicating purchase of at least one of the proposed products; and

providing purchase information related to the at least one of the proposed products to the server based on said user input.

38. The method of claim 37, further comprising:

receiving the at least one of the proposed products in response to said providing purchase information.

39. The method of claim 37,

wherein said receiving user input indicating purchase of at least one of the proposed products comprises receiving user input modifying the diagram to indicate purchase of the at least one of the proposed products;

and

wherein said providing purchase information related to the at least one of the proposed products to the server based on said user input comprises providing the modified diagram indicating purchase of the at least one of the proposed products to the server over the network.

40. A method for configuring a client system, wherein the client system comprises a client computer system, the method comprising:

receiving one or more requirements for a task to be performed by a client system, wherein the one or more requirements are provided in response to input from a user;

programmatically generating a diagram on a display of the client computer system which iconically represents a proposed system, where the proposed system is capable of performing the task indicated by the one or more requirements;

wherein the diagram comprises information representing one or more products as proposed hardware and/or software products for the client system.

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

receiving one or more requirements for a task to be performed by a client system, wherein the one or more requirements are provided in response to input from a user;

retrieving a diagram from a database, wherein said retrieving is performed based on the one or more requirements, wherein the diagram iconically represents a system that is operable to perform the task; and

displaying the diagram on a display of the client computer system.

42. The method of claim 41,

wherein the diagram iconically represents a plurality of products which are operable to perform the task, and wherein the plurality of products includes at least one device and at least one software product.