Attribute-based system and method for configuring and controlling a data acquisition task
First Claim
1. An attribute-based method for performing data acquisition in a data acquisition system comprising a data acquisition device having characteristic attributes, the method comprising:
- creating a task for controlling the data acquisition device, wherein said creating comprises allocating an attribute database comprising a plurality of attribute objects corresponding to the attributes of the data acquisition device, wherein each of said attribute objects comprises environment data including values of said attributes and a function for setting said values of said attributes, wherein said attribute database further comprises an attribute table referencing said plurality of attribute objects;
setting said values of said attributes to configure the data acquisition device or the task according to a desired configuration;
controlling said task to perform a data acquisition function, wherein said task operates according to said values of said attributes.
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Abstract
A data acquisition system comprising a computer system, coupled to a data acquisition device, a data acquisition application executing on the computer system, and device interface software with an attribute-based API executing on the computer system. The attribute-based API enables the data acquisition application to perform steps to control the data acquisition device. The steps comprise creating a task for controlling the data acquisition device, setting values of the attributes of the task and device, starting the task acquiring data, and destroying said task. Creating the task comprises allocating an attribute database comprising a plurality of attribute objects corresponding to the attributes of the data acquisition device and an attribute table referencing the plurality of attribute objects. The attribute objects comprise environment data containing values of the attributes and a function for setting the values of the attributes. The attribute table comprises attribute table entries. Each of the attribute table entries references a respective attribute object. The attribute table is indexed by a portion of a unique attribute number associated with each of the attributes. The lookup time associated with invoking the attribute setting function is constant regardless of a number of the attributes. Each attribute has an associated unique number portions of which specifies the datatype and I/O type of the attribute, when the attribute may be set, and the index of the attribute into the appropriate attribute table. A new attribute may be added to the API and existing applications may link to or invoke functions of the new API without modification.
74 Citations
37 Claims
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1. An attribute-based method for performing data acquisition in a data acquisition system comprising a data acquisition device having characteristic attributes, the method comprising:
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creating a task for controlling the data acquisition device, wherein said creating comprises allocating an attribute database comprising a plurality of attribute objects corresponding to the attributes of the data acquisition device, wherein each of said attribute objects comprises environment data including values of said attributes and a function for setting said values of said attributes, wherein said attribute database further comprises an attribute table referencing said plurality of attribute objects; setting said values of said attributes to configure the data acquisition device or the task according to a desired configuration; controlling said task to perform a data acquisition function, wherein said task operates according to said values of said attributes. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A data acquisition system, comprising:
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a data acquisition device having characteristic attributes; a system memory configured to store a task for controlling the data acquisition device, wherein said system memory stores an attribute database comprising a plurality of attribute objects corresponding to the attributes of the data acquisition device, wherein each of said attribute objects comprises environment data including values of said attributes and a function for setting said values of said attributes, wherein said attribute database her comprises an attribute table referencing said plurality of attribute objects; and a processor operably coupled to said data acquisition device and said system memory and configured to set said values of said attributes to configure the data acquisition device or the task according to a desired configuration, and control said task to perform a data acquisition function, wherein said task operates according to said values of said attributes. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A data acquisition system, comprising:
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a data acquisition device having characteristic attributes; a system memory configured to store instructions; and a processor operably coupled to said data acquisition device and said system memory and configured to execute said instructions stored in said system memory; wherein said instructions stored in said memory are operable to execute on said processor to; create a task for controlling said data acquisition device, wherein said task comprises allocating an attribute database comprising, a plurality of attribute objects corresponding to said attributes of said data acquisition device, wherein each of said attribute objects comprises environment data including values of said attributes and a function for setting said values of said attributes; and an attribute table referencing said plurality of attribute objects; set said values of said attributes; control said task; and destroy said task.
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26. A data acquisition system, comprising:
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a data acquisition device having characteristic attributes; a system memory configured to store instructions; means for creating a task for controlling the data acquisition device, wherein said means for creating is operable to allocate an attribute database comprising a plurality of attribute objects corresponding to the attributes of the data acquisition device, wherein each of said attribute objects comprises environment data including values of said attributes and a function for setting said values of said attributes, wherein said attribute database further comprises an attribute table referencing said plurality of attribute objects; means for setting said values of said attributes to configure the data acquisition device or the task according to a desired configuration; and means for controlling said task to perform a data acquisition function, wherein said task operates according to said values of said attributes.
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27. A computer-readable storage media for operating in a computer system, the computer system including a data acquisition device having characteristic attributes and a processor operably coupled to said data acquisition device, wherein the storage media includes a substrate having a physical configuration representing data, the storage media comprising:
instructions for creating a task for controlling said data acquisition device comprising allocating an attribute database comprising; a plurality of attribute objects corresponding to said attributes of said data acquisition device, wherein each of said attribute objects comprises environment data containing values of said attributes and a function for setting said values of said attributes; and an attribute table referencing said plurality of attribute objects; instructions for setting said values of said attributes; instructions for controlling said task; and instructions for destroying said task. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
Specification