Measurement system software architecture for easily creating high-performance measurement applications

• US 6,879,926 B2
• Filed: 11/13/2001
• Issued: 04/12/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: National Instruments Corporation (Emerson Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: National Instruments Corporation (Emerson Electric Company)
• Inventors: Makowski, Thomas A., Schmit, Geoffrey, Brumley, Jonathan, Schwan, Brent, Bartz, Christopher T.
• Primary Examiner(s): WACHSMAN, HAL D
• Application Number:
  US10/008,792
• Publication Number:
  US 20030004670A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,246 Days
• Field of Search: 702/123, 702/127, 702/119, 702176-178, 702/181, 702182-187, 702/120, 702/FOR.103, 702/FOR.104, 702/FOR.134, 702/FOR.135, 702/FOR.159, 702/FOR.170, 702/FOR.171, 702/FOR.145, 706/46, 706/920, 706/48, 706/60, 706/59, 706/61, 706903-908, 706911-916, 706/919, 706/922, 717/115, 717/121, 717/120, 717124-126, 717/168, 700/85, 700/86, 700/87, 700/17, 703 22- 24, 345/522, 345/440, 345965-967, 345/970, 345/771, 714/25, 714/37, 714/38, 714/7, 710/10, 710/8, 710/15, 709/328, 709/324, 709/325, 709/322, 709/327, 709/100
• US Class Current: 702/123
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23258 GUI graphical user interface, icon, function bloc editor, labview
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23291 Process, graphic programming of a process, text and images
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2656 Instrumentation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/71 Version control security arrangements therefor G06F21/57; Configuration management

Abstract

System and method for creating measurement applications. The system includes a measurement task specifier for generating a measurement task specification (MTS) for a measurement task in response to user input; an expert system for analyzing and validating the generated MTS, and generating a run-time specification (RTS) for the measurement task; a run-time builder for analyzing the RTS, configuring one or more measurement devices according to the RTS, and generating a run-time which is executable to perform the measurement task. The system includes a storage system for storing the generated MTS, the generated RTS, and configuration information for one or more measurement devices. The expert system includes one or more measurement experts which analyze all or part of the MTS and populate complete or partial RTSs. The partial RTSs are iteratively populated by other experts to form complete RTSs. Competing RTSs may be assessed and a final RTS selected based upon user preferences.

Claims

1. A memory medium comprising program instructions for creating a measurement run-time, wherein the program instructions are executable by a processor to implement:

a measurement task specifier, operable to generate a measurement task specification for a measurement task in response to user input;

an expert system, operable to analyze the generated measurement task specification and generate a run-time specification for the measurement task;

wherein the run-time specification is useable to;

configure one or more measurement devices according to the run-time specification; and

generate a run-time, wherein said run-time is executable to perform the measurement task.

2. The memory medium of claim 1, wherein the program instructions are further executable to implement:

a run-time builder, operable to;

analyze the run-time specification;

configure the one or more measurement devices according to the run-time specification; and

generate a said run-time, wherein said run-time is executable to perform the measurement task.

3. The memory medium of claim 2, wherein said run-time builder is further operable to:

reserve one or more resources according to the run-time specification in response to said analyzing the run-time specification.

4. The memory medium of claim 2, wherein said run-time builder is further operable to:

analyze changes made to the run-time specification; and

change configuration of said one or more measurement devices in response to said analyzing changes, wherein the configuration changes correspond to said changes made to the run-time specification.

5. The memory medium of claim 2, wherein the expert system is further operable to:

analyze incremental changes made to the measurement task specification; and

populate one or more run-time specification change lists with measurement primitive settings;

wherein the run-time builder is further operable to;

modify the run-time based on said one or more run-time specification change lists.

6. The memory medium of claim 1, wherein the memory medium stores one or more of:

the generated measurement task specification;

the generated run-time specification; and

configuration information for the one or more measurement devices.

7. The memory medium of claim 1,

wherein the memory medium further stores one or more measurement primitives;

and

wherein said generated run-time specification comprises a specification of the parameters of one or more of the measurement primitives.

8. The memory medium of claim 7, wherein each measurement primitive comprises a software object and corresponding configuration settings, and wherein each measurement primitive is operable to implement at least a portion of the measurement task.

9. The memory medium of claim 1, wherein the measurement task specifier comprises an Application Programming Interface (API).

10. The memory medium of claim 1, wherein the measurement task specifier is operable to be invoked from an application development environment.

11. The memory medium of claim 10, wherein the application development environment comprises one of a text-based or graphical programming-based application development environment.

12. The memory medium of claim 1, wherein the measurement task specifier is operable to be launched from one or more of:

an application development environment toolbar or an application development environment menu.

13. The memory medium of claim 1, wherein the measurement task specifier is operable to be presented as a properties page of an Active X control.

14. The memory medium of claim 1, wherein the measurement task specifier is operable to be invoked by receiving user input to an icon.

15. The memory medium of claim 1, wherein the measurement task specifier is operable to be invoked by receiving user input to a node in a graphical program.

16. The memory medium of claim 1,

wherein the memory medium is comprised in a computer-based measurement system;

and

wherein the computer-based measurement system includes the one or more measurement devices, wherein the one or more measurement devices are operable to respectively perform portions of the measurement task.

17. The memory medium of claim 1,

wherein the memory medium is comprised in a computer system that includes a display;

wherein the measurement task specifier is operable to present one or more panels on the display for receiving the user input.

18. The memory medium of claim 1,

wherein the measurement task specification comprises a data structure comprising the user input received by the measurement task specifier or a measurement application programming interface (API).

19. The memory medium of claim 1,

wherein the measurement task specifier comprises a measurement task configuration tool which is operable to generate measurement task code in response to said user input, wherein said measurement task code comprises one or more of a text-based program, a graphic-based program, and a prototype-based program.

20. The memory medium of claim 19, wherein said measurement task code comprises one or more of:

C code;

C++ code;

Java;

Visual Basic; and

.NET code.

21. The memory medium of claim 19, wherein said measurement task code comprises a measurement task diagram.

22. The memory medium of claim 21, wherein said measurement task diagram comprises a graphical program.

23. The memory medium of claim 22, wherein said graphical program comprises a Lab VIEW graphical program.

24. The memory medium of claim 1,

wherein said expert system comprises a plurality of experts;

wherein said expert system is further operable to;

analyze the generated measurement task specification;

select and invoke one or more of the plurality of experts to analyze the generated measurement task specification and populate one or more candidate run-time specifications;

calculate one or more metrics for each of the populated candidate run-time specifications; and

select one of the populated candidate run-time specifications based on the calculated one or more metrics;

wherein the selected populated candidate run-time specification comprises at least a portion of said generated run-time specification of the measurement task.

25. The memory medium of claim 1, further comprising:

a device and resource configuration tool, wherein the device and resource configuration tool is operable to receive second user input, and to set system configuration parameters for the one or more measurement devices in response to said second user input.

26. The memory medium of claim 1, wherein the expert system is further operable to validate the measurement task specification.

27. The memory medium of claim 1, wherein the measurement task comprises a plurality of measurement sub-tasks.

28. The memory medium of claim 1, wherein the measurement task comprises a complex measurement operation using a plurality of measurement devices.

29. The memory medium of claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more measurement devices comprises a hardware measurement device.

30. The memory medium of claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more measurement devices comprises a virtual measurement device.

31. A memory medium comprising program instructions for creating a measurement run-time, wherein the program instructions are executable by a computer, wherein the program instructions implement:

a measurement task specifier, operable to generate a measurement task specification for a measurement task in response to user input;

an expert system, operable to;

analyze the generated measurement task specification;

validate the measurement task specification; and

generate a run-time specification for the measurement task; and

a run-time builder, operable to;

analyze the run-time specification;

reserve one or more resources according to the run-time specification after said analyzing the run-time specification;

configure one or more measurement devices according to the run-time specification; and

generate a run-time, wherein said run-time is executable to perform the measurement task.

32. A method for performing a measurement task, the method comprising:

receiving user input specifying the measurement task;

generating a measurement task specification in response to said user input;

analyzing the measurement task specification, and generating one or more candidate run-time specifications for the measurement task in response to said analyzing;

calculating one or more metrics for each of the one or more candidate run-time specifications and selecting one of the one or more candidate run-time specifications based on the calculated one or more metrics;

analyzing the selected candidate run-time specification;

configuring one or more measurement devices according to the selected candidate run-time specification; and

generating a run-time based on the selected candidate run-time specification, wherein said run-time is executable to perform the measurement task.

33. The method of claim 32, further comprising:

reserving one or more resources according to the selected candidate run-time specification after said analyzing the selected candidate run-time specification.

34. The method of claim 32, further comprising:

validating the generated measurement task specification in response to said analyzing the measurement task specification.

35. The method of claim 32, further comprising:

storing one or more of the generated measurement task specification, the generated candidate run-time specification, and configuration information for the one or more measurement devices.

36. The method of claim 32, further comprising:

analyzing changes made to the one or more candidate run-time specification; and

changing configuration of said one or more measurement devices in response to said analyzing changes, wherein the configuration changes correspond to said changes made to the one or more candidate run-time specification.

37. The method of claim 32, further comprising:

analyzing incremental changes made to the measurement task specification; and

populating one or more run-time specification change lists with measurement primitive settings; and

modifying the run-time based on said one or more run-time specification change lists.

38. The method of claim 32, further comprising:

executing said run-time to perform the measurement task.

39. The method of claim 32,

wherein said one or more candidate run-time specification comprises a specification of the parameters of one or more measurement primitives, wherein each measurement primitive comprises a software object and corresponding configuration settings, and wherein each measurement primitive is operable to implement at least a portion of the measurement task.

40. The method of claim 32, further comprising:

generating measurement task code in response to said user input.

41. The method of claim 40,

wherein said measurement task code comprises one or more of C code, C++ code, Java code, Visual Basic, and .NET code.

42. The method of claim 32, further comprising:

generating a measurement task diagram in response to said user input.

43. The method of claim 42,

wherein said measurement task diagram comprises a graphical program.

44. The method of claim 43,

wherein said graphical program comprises a LabVIEW graphical program.

45. The method of claim 32, further comprising:

receiving second user input; and

setting system configuration parameters for the one or more measurement devices in response to said receiving second user input.

46. The method of claim 32, wherein the measurement task comprises a plurality of measurement sub-tasks.

47. The method of claim 32, wherein the measurement task comprises a complex measurement operation using a plurality of measurement devices.

48. The method of claim 32, wherein at least one of the one or more measurement devices comprises a measurement hardware device.

49. The method of claim 32, wherein at least one of the one or more measurement devices comprises a virtual measurement device.

50. A method for performing a measurement task, the method comprising:

receiving user input specifying the measurement task;

generating a measurement task specification in response to said user input;

analyzing the measurement task specification, and generating a run-time specification for the measurement task in response to said analyzing;

analyzing the run-time specification;

configuring one or more measurement devices according to the run-time specification; and

generating a run-time based on the run-time specification, wherein said run-time is executable to perform the measurement task;

receiving second user input; and

setting system configuration parameters for the one or more measurement devices in response to said receiving second user input.

51. The method of claim 50, wherein the measurement task comprises a plurality of measurement sub-tasks.

52. The method of claim 50, wherein the measurement task comprises a complex measurement operation using a plurality of measurement devices.

53. The method of claim 50, wherein at least one of the one or more measurement devices comprises a measurement hardware device.

54. The method of claim 50, wherein at least one of the one or more measurement devices comprises a virtual measurement device.

55. A system, comprising:

a measurement task specifier, operable to generate a measurement task specification for a measurement task in response to user input;

an expert system, operable to;

analyze the generated measurement task specification;

validate the generated measurement task specification; and

generate a run-time specification for the measurement task;

a run-time builder, operable to;

analyze the run-time specification;

configure one or more measurement devices according to the run-time specification; and

generate a run-time, wherein said run-time is executable to perform the measurement task.

56. The system of claim 55, wherein the run-time builder is further operable to:

reserve one or more resources according to the run-time specification in response to said analyzing the run-time specification.

57. The system of claim 55, wherein said run-time builder is further operable to:

analyze changes made to the run-time specification; and

change configuration of the one or more measurement devices in response to said analyzing changes, wherein the configuration changes correspond to said changes made to the run-time specification.

58. The system of claim 55, wherein the expert system is further operable to:

analyze incremental changes made to the measurement task specification; and

populate one or more run-time specification change lists with measurement primitive settings;

wherein the run-time builder is further operable to;

modify the run-time based on said one or more run-time specification change lists.

59. The system of claim 55, wherein the measurement task specifier comprises an Application Programming Interface (API).

60. The system of claim 55, further comprising:

a storage system which is operable to store one or more of;

the generated measurement task specification;

the generated run-time specification; and

configuration information for the one or more measurement devices.

61. The system of claim 55, wherein said generated run-time specification comprises a specification of the parameters of one or more measurement primitives, wherein each measurement primitive comprises a software object and corresponding configuration settings, and wherein each measurement primitive is operable to implement at least a portion of the measurement task.

62. The system of claim 55, wherein the measurement task specifier is operable to be invoked from a text-based application development environment.

63. The system of claim 55, wherein the measurement task specifier is operable to be launched from an application development environment toolbar.

64. The system of claim 55, wherein the measurement task specifier is operable to be invoked from an application development environment menu.

65. The system of claim 55, wherein the measurement task specifier is operable to be presented as a properties page of an Active X control.

66. The system of claim 55, wherein the measurement task specifier is operable to be invoked by receiving user input to an icon.

67. The system of claim 55, further comprising:

the one or more measurement devices which are operable to respectively perform portions of the measurement task.

68. The system of claim 55, wherein said measurement task specifier is operable to generate measurement task code in response to said user input.

69. The system of claim 68, wherein said measurement task code comprises C code.

70. The system of claim 68, wherein said measurement task code comprises C++ code.

71. The system of claim 68, wherein said measurement task code comprises Visual Basic code.

72. The system of claim 68, wherein said measurement task code comprises Java code.

73. The system of claim 68, wherein said measurement task code comprises .NET code.

74. The system of claim 55, wherein said measurement task specifier is operable to generate a measurement task diagram in response to said user input.

75. The system of claim 74, wherein said measurement task diagram comprises a graphical program.

76. The system of claim 75, wherein said graphical program comprises a LabVIEW graphical program.

77. A computer-implemented method for creating a measurement run-time, comprising:

receiving user input specifying a measurement task;

generating a measurement task specification for the measurement task in response to the user input;

analyzing the generated measurement task specification, wherein the generated measurement task specification is analyzed by an expert system;

generating a run-time specification for the measurement task, wherein the expert system generates the run-time specification for the measurement task;

configuring one or more measurement devices according to the run-time specification; and

generating a run-time, wherein the run-time is executable to perform the measurement task, and wherein the run-time is generated using the run-time specification.

78. The method of claim 77, wherein a run-time builder is operable to analyze the run-time specification, configure the one or more measurement devices according to the run-time specification, and generate the run-time, wherein the run-time is executable to perform the measurement task.

79. The method of claim 78, further comprising:

reserving one or more resources according to the run-time specification in response to said analyzing the run-time specification.

80. The method of claim 78, further comprising:

analyzing changes made to the run-time specification; and

changing configuration of said one or more measurement devices in response to said analyzing changes, wherein the configuration changes correspond to said changes made to the run-time specification.

81. The method of claim 78, further comprising:

analyzing incremental changes made to the measurement task specification; and

populating one or more run-time specification change lists with measurement primitive settings; and

modifying the run-time based on said one or more run-time specification change lists.

82. The method of claim 77, further comprising storing one or more of:

the generated measurement task specification;

the generated run-time specification; and

configuration information for the one or more measurement devices.

83. The method of claim 77, further comprising:

storing one or more measurement primitives;

wherein said generated run-time specification comprises a specification of the parameters of one or more of the measurement primitives.

84. The method of claim 83, wherein each measurement primitive comprises a software object and corresponding configuration settings, and wherein each measurement primitive is operable to implement at least a portion of the measurement task.

86. The method of claim 77, wherein a measurement task specifier generates the measurement task specification, and wherein the measurement task specifier is operable to be invoked from an application development environment.

87. The method of claim 86, wherein the application development environment comprises one of a text-based or graphical programming-based application development environment.

88. The method of claim 77, wherein a measurement task specifier generates the measurement task specification, and wherein the measurement task specifier is operable to be launched from one or more of:

an application development environment toolbar or an application development environment menu.

89. The method of claim 77, wherein a measurement task specifier generates the measurement task specification, and wherein the measurement task specifier is operable to be presented as a properties page of a software object.

90. The method of claim 77, wherein a measurement task specifier generates the measurement task specification, and wherein the measurement task specifier is operable to be invoked by receiving user input to an icon.

91. The method of claim 77, wherein a measurement task specifier generates the measurement task specification, and wherein the measurement task specifier is operable to be invoked by receiving user input to a node in a graphical program.

92. The method of claim 77,

wherein the method is implemented in a computer-based measurement system;

and

wherein the computer-based measurement system includes the one or more measurement devices, wherein the one or more measurement devices are operable to respectively perform portions of the measurement task.

93. The method of claim 77,

wherein the method is implemented in a computer system that includes a display;

and

wherein a measurement task specifier is operable to present one or more panels on the display for receiving the user input.

94. The method of claim 77,

wherein the measurement task specification comprises a data structure comprising the user input received by a measurement task specifier or a measurement application programming interface (API).

95. The method of claim 77,

wherein a measurement task specifier generates the measurement task specification, and wherein the measurement task specifier comprises a measurement task configuration tool which is operable to generate measurement task code in response to said user input, wherein said measurement task code comprises one or more of a text-based program, a graphic-based program, and a prototype-based program.

96. The method of claim 95, wherein said measurement task code comprises one or more of:

C code;

C++ code;

Java;

Visual Basic; and

.NET code.

97. The method of claim 95, wherein said measurement task code comprises a measurement task diagram.

98. The method of claim 97, wherein said measurement task diagram comprises a graphical program.

99. The method of claim 98, wherein said graphical program comprises a LabVIEW graphical program.

100. The method of claim 77,

wherein said expert system comprises a plurality of experts;

wherein said expert system is further operable to;

analyze the generated measurement task specification;

select and invoke one or more of the plurality of experts to analyze the generated measurement task specification and populate one or more candidate run-time specifications;

calculate one or more metrics for each of the populated candidate run-time specifications; and

select one of the populated candidate run-time specifications based on the calculated one or more metrics;

wherein the selected populated candidate run-time specification comprises at least a portion of said generated run-time specification of the measurement task.

101. The method of claim 77, further comprising:

receiving a second user input; and

setting system configuration parameters for the one or more measurement devices in response to said second user input;

wherein a device and resource configuration tool receive the second user input and set the system configuration parameters.

102. The method of claim 77, wherein the expert system is further operable to validate the measurement task specification.

103. The method of claim 77, wherein the measurement task comprises a plurality of measurement sub-tasks.

104. The method of claim 77, wherein the measurement task comprises a complex measurement operation using a plurality of measurement devices.

105. The method of claim 77, wherein at least one of the one or more measurement devices comprises a hardware measurement device.

106. The method of claim 77, wherein at least one of the one or more measurement devices comprises a virtual measurement device.

85. The method of clam 77, wherein a measurement task specifier generates the measurement task specification, and wherein the measurement task specifier comprises an Application Programming Interface (API).

107. A carrier medium comprising program instructions for creating a measurement run-time, wherein the program instructions are executable by a computer to:

receive user input specifying a measurement task;

generate a measurement task specification for the measurement task in response to the user input;

analyze the generated measurement task specification, wherein the generated measurement task specification is analyzed by an expert system;

generate a run-time specification for the measurement task, wherein the expert system generates the run-time specification for the measurement task;

configure one or more measurement devices according to the run-time specification; and

generate a run-time, wherein the run-time is executable to perform the measurement task, and wherein the run-time is generated using the run-time specification.