Automatically generating a configuration diagram for a measurement system

• US 8,418,071 B2
• Filed: 09/29/2009
• Issued: 04/09/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/14/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: National Instruments Corporation (Emerson Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: National Instruments Corporation (Emerson Electric Company)
• Inventors: Kodosky, Jeffrey L., Shah, Darshan, Rogers, Steven W.
• Primary Examiner(s): TAN, ALVIN H
• Application Number:
  US12/569,259
• Publication Number:
  US 20100011311A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,288 Days
• Field of Search: 715/763
• US Class Current: 715/763
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/0426 Programming the control sequence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23258 GUI graphical user interface, icon, function bloc editor, labview
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25067 Graphic configuration control system
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0486 Drag-and-drop
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/34 Graphical or visual programming
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/60 Software deployment
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/61 Installation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/025 for remote control or remote monitoring of applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/75 Indicating network or usage conditions on the user display
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 715/967 Visual or iconic programming
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 715/97 Instrumentation and component modelling, e.g. interactive control panel

Abstract

Creating and using configuration diagrams for configuring distributed systems. The methods described herein may be used for various types of operations in configuring distributed systems, including creating programs, managing programs in the distributed system, deploying programs to various distributed devices, configuring remote execution or inter-operation of distributed programs, and executing distributed applications. Embodiments of the invention utilize graphical iconic-based techniques for performing the above operations. The configuration diagram may include device icons which represent devices and program icons which represent programs. Device icons and program icons may be associated with each other to accomplish various program creation and deployment operations. Device icons and program icons may also interact with graphical program nodes or icons. Context sensitive device connections and/or program connections are displayed. An asynchronous data flow node may be used to facilitate asynchronous data flow between two graphical programs. The distributed system may also support distributed graphical debugging.

Claims

1. A computer-readable memory medium which stores program instructions for characterizing a measurement system, wherein the measurement system comprises a plurality of measurement devices coupled together, wherein at least one of the measurement devices includes one or more programs, wherein each measurement device is configured to measure, acquire, or process signals regarding an analog physical phenomenon, wherein the measurement system is configured to characterize the analog physical phenomenon utilizing the plurality of measurement devices, and wherein the program instructions are executable by a processor to perform:

automatically determining information regarding the plurality of measurement devices and the one or more programs;

automatically generating a diagram which visually represents the measurement system, wherein said automatically generating is performed based on the automatically determined information, wherein the diagram includes device icons representing each of the plurality of measurement devices, wherein the diagram also includes link icons indicating direct physical connectivity between the plurality of measurement devices, wherein the diagram also includes program icons representing each of the one or more programs, and wherein said automatically generating the diagram comprises storing information representing the diagram on a memory medium; and

providing the diagram for display.

2. The computer-readable memory medium of claim 1,

wherein said providing the diagram for display comprises providing the diagram to the measurement system for display on a display of the measurement system for viewing by a user of the measurement system.

3. The computer-readable memory medium of claim 1,

wherein said providing comprises storing information representing the diagram on a memory medium of the measurement system.

4. The computer-readable memory medium of claim 1,

wherein the diagram is a configuration diagram.

5. The computer-readable memory medium of claim 1,

wherein the program icons are visually displayed to indicate associations with respective device icons representing respective measurement devices in which the programs are stored or executed.

6. The computer-readable memory medium of claim 1,

wherein at least one of the one or more programs is a hardware configuration program.

7. The computer-readable memory medium of claim 6, wherein at least one of the plurality of measurement devices comprises a field programmable gate array (FPGA);

and

wherein said hardware configuration program is deployable on the FPGA to perform a function.

8. The computer-readable memory medium of claim 1,

wherein said automatically determining comprises automatically analyzing the system to determine presence of one or more of the plurality of measurement devices and the one or more programs.

9. The computer-readable memory medium of claim 1,

wherein said automatically determining comprises accessing at least a portion of said information from at least one of the measurement devices in the system.

10. The computer-readable memory medium of claim 1,

wherein said automatically determining comprises accessing plug and play information to determine presence of the plurality of measurement devices and presence of the one or more programs.

11. The computer-readable memory medium of claim 1,

wherein said automatically determining comprises querying a configuration program resident on one of the devices in the system to determine presence of the plurality of measurement devices and presence of the one or more programs.

12. The computer-readable memory medium of claim 1, wherein the program instructions are further executable to perform:

receiving input graphically associating a first program icon with a first device icon, wherein said graphically associating operates to deploy a first program corresponding to the first program icon with a first measurement device corresponding to the first device icon.

13. The computer-readable memory medium of claim 12, wherein the program instructions are further executable to perform:

animating said deploying the first program onto the first measurement device.

14. The computer-readable memory medium of claim 1, wherein the program instructions are further executable to perform:

deploying a first program on the measurement system after said providing the diagram; and

including a first program icon in the diagram, wherein the first program icon corresponds to the first program.

15. The computer-readable memory medium of claim 1, wherein the program instructions are further executable to perform:

displaying the diagram on a display of the measurement system.

16. The computer-readable memory medium of claim 1,

wherein the program icons are visually displayed proximate to respective device icons representing respective measurement devices in which the programs are stored or executed.

17. The computer-readable memory medium of claim 1,

wherein the device icons each have an appearance to visually indicate a type of the respective measurement device.

18. The computer-readable memory medium of claim 1,

wherein the program icons each have an appearance to visually indicate a type of the respective program.

19. The computer-readable memory medium of claim 1,

wherein the link icons each have an appearance to visually indicate a type of the respective link between devices.

20. The computer-readable memory medium of claim 1,

wherein one or more of the plurality of measurement devices are each configured to perform a respective measurement function;

wherein the one or more programs comprise one or more measurement programs for performing measurement functions; and

wherein said automatically determining information regarding the plurality of measurement devices and the one or more programs comprises automatically determining a configuration of the one or more measurement devices and the one or more measurement programs in the measurement system.

21. The computer-readable memory medium of claim 1,

wherein the measurement system comprises a simulation system;

wherein the plurality of measurement devices comprise one or more devices which are each configured to perform a respective simulation function;

wherein the one or more programs comprise one or more simulation programs for simulating a process, device, and/or system; and

wherein said automatically determining information regarding the plurality of measurement devices and the one or more programs comprises automatically determining a configuration of the one or more devices and the one or more programs in the simulation system.

22. The computer-readable memory medium of claim 1,

wherein the measurement system comprises an automation system;

wherein the plurality of measurement devices comprise one or more automation devices which are each configured to perform a respective automation function;

wherein the one or more programs comprise one or more automation programs for automating a process, device, and/or system; and

wherein said automatically determining information regarding the plurality of measurement devices and the one or more programs comprises automatically determining a configuration of the one or more automation devices and the one or more automation programs in the automation system.

23. The computer-readable memory medium of claim 1, wherein the system comprises a networked measurement system;

wherein the networked measurement system comprises one or more network devices which are each configured to perform a respective network function;

wherein the one or more programs comprise at least one measurement program and one or more network programs for managing a network; and

wherein said automatically determining information regarding the plurality of measurement devices and the one or more programs comprises automatically determining a configuration of the one or more network devices and the one or more programs in the networked measurement system.

24. The computer-readable memory medium of claim 1, wherein the program instructions are further executable to perform:

receiving input specifying a modification to the diagram after said providing, wherein said modification indicates hardware and/or software to be added to or removed from the measurement system; and

modifying the configuration diagram in response to said receiving input.

25. The computer-readable memory medium of claim 1,

wherein a server computer is coupled to the measurement system over a network;

wherein the program instructions are further executable to perform;

establishing electronic communication between the server computer and the measurement system over a network; and

wherein the server computer performs said automatically determining information, said automatically generating the diagram, and said providing.

26. The computer-readable memory medium of claim 1,

wherein the measurement system includes a first computer system;

wherein the first computer performs said automatically determining information, said automatically generating the diagram, and said providing, and wherein the program instructions are further executable to perform;

displaying the diagram on a display of the measurement system.

27. The computer-readable memory medium of claim 1, wherein the program instructions are further executable to perform:

automatically generating a tree diagram which visually represents the measurement system, wherein said automatically generating the tree diagram is performed based on the automatically determined information, wherein the tree diagram displays a hierarchical view of the plurality of devices and the one or more programs; and

providing the tree diagram for display.

28. A computer-implemented method for characterizing a measurement system, wherein the measurement system comprises a plurality of measurement devices coupled together, wherein at least one of the measurement devices includes one or more programs, wherein each measurement device is configured to measure, acquire, or process signals regarding an analog physical phenomenon, wherein the measurement system is configured to characterize the analog physical phenomenon utilizing the plurality of measurement devices, the method comprising:

utilizing at least one computer to perform;

programmatically determining information regarding the plurality of measurement devices and the one or more programs;

programmatically generating a diagram which visually represents the measurement system, wherein said programmatically generating is performed based on the programmatically determined information, wherein the diagram includes device icons representing each of the plurality of measurement devices, wherein the diagram also includes link icons indicating direct physical connectivity between the plurality of measurement devices, wherein the diagram also includes program icons representing each of the one or more programs, and wherein said programmatically generating the diagram comprises storing information representing the diagram on a memory medium; and

providing the diagram for display.

29. The computer-implemented method of claim 28, wherein the measurement system includes a first computer system;

wherein the first computer system performs said programmatically determining information, and said programmatically generating the diagram; and

wherein said providing the diagram for display comprises the first computer system providing the diagram for display on a display of the measurement system.

30. The computer-implemented method of claim 28, wherein a server computer is coupled to the measurement system over a network, the method further comprising:

establishing electronic communication between the server computer and the measurement system over a network;

wherein the server computer performs said programmatically determining information, said programmatically generating the diagram, and said providing the diagram for display.

31. The computer-implemented method of claim 28, wherein the measurement system includes a first computer system;

wherein a server computer is coupled to the measurement system over a network;

wherein the first computer system and the server computer system perform respective portions of said programmatically determining information and said programmatically generating the diagram.

32. The computer-implemented method of claim 28,

wherein the measurement system includes a first computer system;

wherein the first computer system performs at least one of said programmatically determining information and said programmatically generating the diagram.

33. The computer-implemented method of claim 28,

wherein the measurement system includes a first computer system;

wherein a server computer is coupled to the measurement system over a network;

wherein the first computer system performs said programmatically determining information;

the method further comprising;

establishing electronic communication between the server computer and the measurement system over a network;

wherein the server computer performs said automatically generating the diagram based on the programmatically determined information.

34. The computer-implemented method of claim 28,

wherein the measurement system includes a first computer system;

wherein a server computer is coupled to the measurement system over a network;

wherein the program instructions are further executable to perform;

establishing electronic communication between the server computer and the measurement system over a network;

wherein the server computer performs said programmatically determining information; and

wherein the first computer system performs said programmatically generating the diagram based on the programmatically determined information.

35. The computer-implemented method of claim 28, wherein the method further comprises:

receiving input specifying a modification to the diagram after said providing, wherein said modification indicates hardware and/or software to be added to or removed from the measurement system; and

modifying the configuration diagram in response to said receiving input.

36. A computer-readable memory medium which stores program instructions for characterizing a client measurement system, wherein the program instructions are executable by a processor to perform:

a server computer establishing electronic communication with the client measurement system over a network, wherein the client measurement system comprises a plurality of measurement devices coupled together, wherein at least one of the measurement devices includes one or more programs, wherein each measurement device is configured to measure, acquire, or process signals regarding an analog physical phenomenon, wherein the measurement system is configured to characterize the analog physical phenomenon utilizing the plurality of measurement devices;

the server computer automatically determining information regarding the plurality of measurement devices and the one or more programs;

the server computer automatically generating a diagram which visually represents the client measurement system, wherein the diagram includes device icons representing each of the plurality of measurement devices, wherein the diagram also includes link icons indicating direct physical connectivity between the plurality of measurement devices, wherein the diagram also includes program icons representing each of the one or more programs, and wherein said automatically generating the diagram comprises storing information representing the diagram on a memory medium; and

the server computer providing the diagram to the client measurement system for display.

37. A computer-implemented method for characterizing a client measurement system, the method comprising:

a server computer establishing electronic communication with the client measurement system over a network, wherein the client measurement system comprises a plurality of measurement devices coupled together, wherein at least one of the measurement devices includes one or more programs, wherein each measurement device is configured to measure, acquire, or process signals regarding an analog physical phenomenon, wherein the measurement system is configured to characterize the analog physical phenomenon utilizing the plurality of measurement devices;

the server computer automatically determining information regarding the plurality of devices and the one or more programs;

the server computer automatically generating a diagram which visually represents the client measurement system, wherein the diagram includes device icons representing each of the plurality of measurement devices, wherein the diagram also includes link icons indicating direct physical connectivity between the plurality of measurement devices, wherein the diagram also includes program icons representing each of the one or more programs, and wherein said automatically generating the diagram comprises storing information representing the diagram on a memory medium; and

the server computer providing the diagram to the client measurement system for display.

38. A computer-readable memory medium which stores program instructions for characterizing a client measurement system, wherein the program instructions are executable by a processor to perform:

the client measurement system establishing electronic communication between the client measurement system and a server computer over a network, wherein the client measurement system comprises a plurality of measurement devices coupled together, wherein at least one of the measurement devices includes one or more programs, wherein each measurement device is configured to measure, acquire, or process signals regarding an analog physical phenomenon, wherein the measurement system is configured to characterize the analog physical phenomenon utilizing the plurality of measurement devices;

the client measurement system receiving a first software program from the server computer over the network; and

the client measurement system executing the first software program to;

automatically determine information regarding the plurality of measurement devices and the one or more programs in the client measurement system;

automatically generate a diagram which visually represents the client measurement system, wherein the diagram includes device icons representing each of the plurality of measurement devices, wherein the diagram also includes link icons indicating direct physical connectivity between the plurality of measurement devices, wherein the diagram also includes program icons representing each of the one or more programs, and wherein said automatically generating the diagram comprises storing information representing the diagram on a memory medium of the client measurement system; and

display the diagram on a display device of the client measurement system.

39. A computer-implemented method for characterizing a client measurement system, the method comprising:

a server computer establishing electronic communication with the client measurement system over a network, wherein the client measurement system comprises a plurality of measurement devices coupled together, wherein at least one of the measurement devices includes one or more programs, wherein each measurement device is configured to measure, acquire, or process signals regarding an analog physical phenomenon, wherein the measurement system is configured to characterize the analog physical phenomenon utilizing the plurality of measurement devices;

the server computer providing a first software program to the client measurement system over the network, wherein the first software program is executable by the client measurement system to;

automatically determine information regarding the plurality of measurement devices and the one or more programs in the client measurement system;

automatically generate a diagram which visually represents the client measurement system, wherein the diagram includes device icons representing each of the plurality of measurement devices, wherein the diagram also includes link icons indicating direct physical connectivity between the plurality of measurement devices, wherein the diagram also includes program icons representing each of the one or more programs, and wherein said automatically generating the diagram comprises storing information representing the diagram on a memory medium of the client measurement system; and

display the diagram on a display device of the client measurement system.