Wireless deployment / distributed execution of graphical programs to smart sensors

• US 20040005859A1
• Filed: 10/30/2002
• Published: 01/08/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/03/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: National Instruments Corporation (Emerson Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: National Instruments Corporation (Emerson Electric Company)
• Inventors: Kodosky, Jeffrey L., Ceteras, Ciprian, Monoses, Ioan, Crisan, Gratian I., Ghercioiu, Marius
• Granted Patent: US 7,340,737 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/3.01
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/60 Software deployment
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/44 Star or tree networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/245 from a network towards a terminal
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 715/964 CAD or CAM, e.g. interactive design tools

Abstract

System and method for deploying or executing a graphical program to a device in a wireless manner. A graphical program (GP) is created that implements a measurement function. Some or all of the GP is transmitted to a hub over a network. The hub executes the transmitted GP and sends corresponding commands to a measurement device via wireless means in accordance with a wireless communication protocol. The measurement device executes the commands to perform the measurement function, thereby generating resultant data, which is received from the measurement device via wireless means. The GP may include a block diagram that executes on the measurement device, and a user interface portion that is displayed by a first computer system. Transmitting the GP to the hub may include generating a machine-executable program based on the GP and transmitting the machine-executable program to the hub for execution.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for performing a measurement function, the method comprising:

transmitting at least a portion of a graphical program to a hub device over a network;

the hub device executing the at least a portion of the graphical program;

the hub device sending one or more commands to a measurement device via wireless means in accordance with a wireless communication protocol in response to said executing;

the measurement device performing the measurement function in response to said one or more commands, thereby generating resultant data; and

receiving the resultant data from the measurement device via wireless means.

2. The method of claim 1,

wherein the graphical program comprises a plurality of interconnected nodes that visually indicate functionality of the graphical program.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

creating the graphical program, wherein the graphical program implements the measurement function.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said creating the graphical program comprises:

arranging a plurality of nodes on a display; and

interconnecting the plurality of nodes in response to user input.

5. The method of claim 1,

wherein the graphical program comprises a graphical data flow program.

6. The method of claim 1,

wherein the graphical program is operable to perform one or more of:

an industrial automation function;

a process control function; and

a test and measurement function.

7. The method of claim 1,

wherein said performing the measurement function includes the measurement device measuring a physical phenomenon to acquire data.

8. The method of claim 1,

wherein the graphical program comprises a block diagram portion and a user interface portion.

9. The method of claim 8,

wherein, during execution of the graphical program, the user interface is displayed on a display of a first computer system and the block diagram executes on the hub device.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said receiving the resultant data from the measurement device via wireless means comprises:

the measurement device sending the resultant data to the hub device via wireless means; and

receiving the resultant data from the hub device.

11. The method of claim 1,

wherein said transmitting at least a portion of a graphical program to a hub device over a network comprises:

generating a machine-executable program based on the at least a portion of a graphical program; and

transmitting the machine-executable program to the hub device; and

wherein said hub device executing the at least a portion of the graphical program comprises;

the hub device executing the machine-executable program.

12. A computer-implemented method performing a measurement function, the method comprising:

creating a graphical program, wherein the graphical program implements the measurement function;

transmitting the graphical program to a hub device over a network;

the hub device executing the graphical program, thereby sending one or more commands to a wireless data acquisition (DAQ) device via wireless means;

the wireless DAQ device performing the measurement function in response to the one or more commands, thereby generating resultant data; and

receiving the resultant data from the wireless DAQ device.

13. A computer-implemented method for executing a graphical program, the method comprising:

creating the graphical program;

accessing a hub device over a network;

downloading the graphical program to the hub device over the network;

the hub device executing the graphical program, wherein said executing the graphical program comprises;

sending one or more commands to a wireless data acquisition (DAQ) device via wireless means;

the wireless DAQ device executing the one or more commands to generate data; and

the wireless DAQ device sending the data to the hub device; and

receiving the data from the hub device.

14. A system for executing graphical programs, the system comprising:

a computer system which stores a graphical program;

an external hub device coupled to the computer system; and

at least one sensor device;

wherein the external hub device is operable to communicate with the at least one sensor device in a wireless fashion;

wherein the computer system is operable to provide the graphical program to the external hub device;

wherein the external hub device is operable to;

execute the graphical program; and

send commands to the at least one sensor device in a wireless fashion in accordance with said executing;

wherein the at least one sensor device is operable to execute the commands to perform a function.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the external hub device is coupled to the computer system over a network.

16. The system of claim 14,

wherein the first sensor device is operable receive and execute the commands to acquire data from an external phenomenon;

and

wherein the first sensor device is operable to provide the acquired data to the external hub device in a wireless fashion;

17. The system of claim 16,

wherein the external hub devices is operable to analyze the acquired data.

18. The system of claim 16,

wherein the external hub is operable to provide the acquired data to the computer system;

and

wherein the computer system is operable to analyze the acquired data.

19. The system of claim 14, wherein, in executing the graphical program the external hub device is operable to execute a graphical program execution engine.

20. The system of claim 14,

wherein, in providing the graphical program to the external hub device, the computer system is operable to:

generate a machine-executable program based on the graphical program; and

communicate the machine-executable program to the hub device; and

wherein, in executing the graphical program, the external hub device is operable to;

execute the machine-executable program.

21. A system for executing graphical programs, the system comprising:

a computer system which stores a graphical program;

a hub device coupled to the computer system; and

one or more sensor devices;

wherein the hub device is operable to communicate with each of the one or more sensor devices in a wireless fashion;

wherein the computer system is operable to provide the graphical program to the hub device;

wherein the hub device is operable to execute the graphical program using a first sensor device of the one or more sensor devices in a wireless fashion.

22. A computer-implemented method for performing a measurement function, the method comprising:

creating a graphical program, wherein the graphical program implements the measurement function;

generating a machine-executable program based on the graphical program;

transmitting the machine-executable program to a hub device over a network;

the hub device executing the machine-executable program;

the hub device sending one or more commands to a measurement device via wireless means in accordance with a wireless communication protocol in response to said executing;

the measurement device performing the measurement function in response to said one or more commands, thereby generating resultant data; and

receiving the resultant data from the measurement device via wireless means.