System and method for remote demonstration and control of test and measurement devices

• US 6,560,557 B1
• Filed: 09/15/1999
• Issued: 05/06/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Viavi Solutions, Inc. (Lumentum Holdings Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Geoffroy, Marc Raymond, Littlefield, Eric Dodge, Wardin, Charles Lewis, Carnahan, Lyle
• Primary Examiner(s): Bui, Bryan
• Application Number:
  US09/396,638
• Time in Patent Office: 1,329 Days
• Field of Search: 702/120, 702/121, 702/122, 702/123, 709/201-203, 709/217-219, 709/223, 709/227, 709/230, 709/249-250, 379/26.01, 379/26.02, 379/27.04, 379/29.01, 370/229-230, 370/235, 370/252, 370/270
• US Class Current: 702/122
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2294 by remote test

Abstract

A system and method are described for providing remote demonstration and control of a test and measurement device. The system provides for user to request active instrument panel pages for a test and measurement device from a server. The server includes logic that emulates a test and measurement device instrument panel and provides constant update of the instrument panel page data regarding the remote control of the test and measurement device. The server in the correct message format provides the request for updated status data from a remote controlled instrument, for the selected remotely controlled test and measurement device. The server issues the received remote control requests to the remote controlled instrument. The remote controlled instrument provides data and reacts to commands received. The instrument, upon receiving a command or request for instrument state data, transmits said instrument state data to the server for further transmission to the client user interface for further display to a user.

Claims

1. A method for remote demonstration of a testing device, the method comprising the steps of:

connecting a communication link to a remote controlling device;

establishing a connection between said remote controlling device and a control server connected to said communication link, said control server being connected to said testing device;

establishing a model information corresponding to the testing device;

transmitting said model information to said remote controlling device for analysis;

controlling said testing device remotely using input from an interactive instrument panel on said remote controlling device that is transmitted to said control server, and said control server formats and forwards the input to said testing device, said interactive instrument panel representative of said testing device; and

displaying updated status data received from said testing device on said interactive instrument panel.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

initializing said remote controlling device to control said testing device using said model information.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of controlling said testing device remotely further comprises the steps of:

submitting instructions to said interactive instrument panel on said remote controlling device; and

forwarding said instructions to said testing device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of controlling said testing device remotely further comprises the step of:

using a control library by said control server to convert said input into control data recognized by said testing device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of displaying updated status data from said testing device on said interactive instrument panel further comprises the step of:

receiving updated status data continuously from said testing device.

6. A remote controlling system for remote demonstration of a testing device, said remote controlling system comprising:

a control server connectable to said testing device, said control server capable of formatting and forwarding control data to said testing device;

a remote controlling device with a connection interface for establishing a connection between said remote controlling device and said control server on a communication link;

a second programmable logic to establish model information of said testing device;

an interactive instrument panel on said remote controlling device, said interactive instrument panel representative of said testing device;

a first programmable logic for controlling said testing device remotely using input from said interactive instrument panel that is transmitted to said control server; and

a display for displaying updated status data from said testing device on said interactive instrument panel.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein said second programmable logic further initializes said remote controlling device to control said testing device using said model information.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein said interactive instrument panel further receives remote control instructions.

9. The system of claim 8, further comprising:

a third programmable logic for forwarding said remote control instructions to said testing device.

10. The system of claim 6, wherein said display further receives updated status data continuously from said testing device, and wherein said display further updates said status data display continuously.

11. The system of claim 6, further comprising:

a control library used by said control server to convert said input into said control data recognized by said testing device.

12. A remote controlling system for remote demonstration of a testing device, said remote controlling system comprising:

means for connecting a communication link to a remote controlling device;

means for establishing a connection between said remote controlling device and a control server connected to said communication link, wherein said control server is connected to said testing device;

means for establishing model information of said testing device;

means for remotely controlling said testing device remotely using input from an interactive instrument panel means on said remote controlling device, wherein said input is transmitted to said control server, said interactive instrument panel means representative of said testing device;

means for formatting said input for transmission to said testing device; and

means for displaying updated status data received from said testing device on said interactive instrument panel means.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein said means for establishing the model of the testing device further comprises:

means for initializing said remote controlling device to control said testing device using said model information.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein said interactive instrument panel means further comprises:

means for accepting remote control instructions.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein said remotely controlling means further comprises:

means for transmitting remote control instructions to said formatting means for delivery to said testing device.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein said displaying means further comprises:

means for continuously receiving updated status data from said testing device; and

means for continuously displaying said updated status data.

17. system of claim 12, wherein said means for formatting further comprises:

means for converting said input into control data recognized by said testing device.