Network-based system for selecting or purchasing hardware products

• US 7,725,356 B2
• Filed: 09/12/2005
• Issued: 05/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/15/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: National Instruments Corporation (Emerson Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: National Instruments Corporation (Emerson Electric Company)
• Inventors: Correll, Jeffrey N., Fuller, David W III, Shah, Mohammed Kamran, Sierer, Brian H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Airapetian; Mila
• Application Number:
  US11/224,185
• Publication Number:
  US 20060009944A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,716 Days
• Field of Search: 705/26, 705/27
• US Class Current: 705/27.1
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 19/28 adapted for measuring in circuits having distributed constants
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2111/02 CAD in a network environment, e.g. collaborative CAD or distributed simulation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 30/34 for reconfigurable circuits, e.g. field programmable gate arrays [FPGA] or programmable logic devices [PLD]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/44505 Configuring for program initiating, e.g. using registry, configuration files
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/00 Commerce
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0633 Lists, e.g. purchase orders, compilation or processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/04 Trading; Exchange, e.g. stocks, commodities, derivatives or currency exchange
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416

Abstract

System and method for receiving purchase information for a client system, e.g., a measurement system. A configuration diagram visually representing a current configuration of the client system is displayed. Multiple product icons are displayed representing products (hardware and/or programs) available for use in the client system. User input is received graphically associating at least one first product icon with the configuration diagram, where the first product icon represents a first product, and the user input indicates a desire to purchase the first product. An updated configuration diagram is displayed representing the configuration of the client system after receiving the user input, including the first product icon. Pricing information for the first product is displayed in response to receiving the user input. User input initiating purchase of the first product may be received in response to displaying the pricing information, and the product may be provided to the user.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for configuring a measurement system, the method comprising:

utilizing a computer to perform;

sending information to a client computer system over a wide area network (WAN) regarding a configuration diagram that iconically represents a measurement system, wherein the information is useable for displaying the configuration diagram on a display of the client computer system;

receiving information from the client computer system over the WAN based on user input to the client computer system selecting at least one device icon for inclusion in the configuration diagram, wherein the device icon corresponds to a measurement device; and

providing information over the WAN to a vendor based on the user input selecting the at least one device icon, wherein the information specifies the measurement device;

wherein the provided information is useable by the vendor for providing the measurement device to the user.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

utilizing the computer to perform;

in response to said receiving information based on the user input, modifying the configuration diagram to include the at least one device icon; and

sending information regarding the modified configuration diagram to the client computer system over the WAN, wherein the information regarding the modified configuration diagram is useable by the client computer system for displaying the modified configuration diagram on the display of the client computer system.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

utilizing the computer to perform;

receiving payment information from the user for purchase of the measurement device.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein said providing information over the WAN to a vendor is performed in response to:

determining that the user does not have the measurement device by;

determining installed measurement devices in the measurement system over the wide area network; and

comparing the determined installed measurement devices to the measurement device to determine that the measurement device is not installed in the measurement system.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the configuration diagram comprises:

one or more device icons corresponding respectively to one or more measurement devices in the measurement system; and

connections between the one or more device icons, wherein the displayed connections correspond to couplings between the one or more measurement devices in the measurement system.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the configuration diagram is displayable in a graphical user interface (GUI) of the client computer system, the method further comprising:

utilizing the computer to perform;

receiving an indication of purchase from the GUI based on user input to the GUI specifying purchase of the measurement device;

modifying the configuration diagram to reflect the purchase; and

sending information regarding the modified configuration diagram reflecting the purchase to the client computer system over the WAN, wherein the information regarding the modified configuration diagram is useable by the GUI to display the modified configuration diagram.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 6, wherein the modified configuration diagram reflecting the purchase comprises a virtual device icon representing the purchased measurement device, the method further comprising:

utilizing the computer to perform;

in response to receiving an indication of deployment of the at least one measurement device to the measurement system, modifying the configuration diagram representing the at least one measurement device to reflect said deploying, and sending information regarding the modified configuration diagram reflecting deployment to the client computer system over the WAN, wherein the information regarding the modified configuration diagram reflecting deployment is useable by the GUI to display the modified configuration diagram reflecting deployment.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 7, wherein said modifying the display of the configuration diagram comprises replacing the virtual device icon with the device icon.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 7, wherein the information regarding the modified configuration diagram reflecting deployment is useable by the GUI to animate the configuration diagram to visually illustrate to the user the deployment of the at least one measurement device to the measurement system.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 1,

wherein the measurement system includes the client computer system, the method further comprising:

utilizing the computer to perform;

providing a simulation program to the client system over the WAN, wherein the software program simulates operation of the at least one measurement device;

wherein the simulation program is executable by the client computer system to perform at least a portion of the functionality of the at least one measurement device; and

wherein use of the simulation program is discontinued when the at least one measurement device is deployed in the measurement system.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 10, wherein the configuration diagram further comprises:

a device icon representing said simulation program, wherein the device icon is modified to indicate that functions of the at least one measurement device are performed by the simulation program, wherein after said at least one measurement device is deployed in the measurement system, the modified device icon is replaced with a device icon representing the at least one measurement device.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

utilizing the computer to perform;

initiating provision by the vendor of the measurement device in response to the information received from the client computer system over the WAN based on the user input.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

utilizing the computer to perform;

automatically determining the at least one measurement device based on the received information.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the at least one measurement device comprises a programmable hardware element, the method further comprising:

utilizing the computer to perform;

providing one or more hardware configuration programs to the client computer system which are usable to configure the programmable hardware element to perform a measurement function.

15. The computer-implemented method of claim 14, wherein said providing one or more hardware configuration programs comprises:

providing the one or more hardware configuration programs to the vendor, wherein at least one of the one or more hardware configuration programs are useable by the vendor to configure the programmable hardware element of the at least one hardware device

for provision of the configured at least one hardware device to the user.

16. The computer-implemented method of claim 14,

wherein the measurement system includes the client computer system, the method further comprising:

utilizing the computer to perform;

prior to said providing the one or more hardware configuration programs to the client computer system, providing a simulation program to the client computer system which simulates operation of the hardware configuration program;

wherein the simulation program is executable by the client computer system to perform the function of the hardware configuration program in the measurement system; and

wherein use of the simulation program is discontinued when the hardware configuration program is deployed in the measurement system.

17. The computer-implemented method of claim 14, wherein the at least one measurement device comprises a CPU and a memory, the method further comprising:

utilizing the computer to perform;

providing at least one program file which is executable by the at least one measurement device to perform a measurement function.

18. A memory medium that stores program instructions for configuring a measurement system, wherein the program instructions are executable by a processor to:

send information to a client computer system over a wide area network (WAN) regarding a configuration diagram that conically represents a measurement system, wherein the information is useable for displaying the configuration diagram on a display of the client computer system;

receive information from the client computer system over the WAN based on user input to the client computer system selecting at least one device icon for inclusion in the configuration diagram, wherein the device icon corresponds to a measurement device; and

initiate provision of the at least one measurement device to the user based on the received information.

19. A computer-accessible memory medium for configuring a measurement system, wherein the program instructions are executable by a processor to:

display a configuration diagram on a display that iconically represents a measurement system;

receive user input selecting at least one device icon for inclusion in the configuration diagram, wherein each device icon corresponds to a measurement device;

providing information over a wide area network (WAN) based on the user input selecting the at least one device icon, wherein the information specifies the at least one measurement device; and

wherein the at least one measurement device is provided to the user in response to said information.

20. The computer-accessible memory medium of claim 19, wherein the program instructions are further executable to:

modify the configuration diagram on the display to include the at least one device icon in response to said receiving user input.

21. The computer-accessible memory medium of claim 19, wherein the program instructions are further executable to:

receive payment information from the user for purchase of the at least one measurement device.

22. The computer-accessible memory medium of claim 19, wherein the program instructions are further executable to:

determine if the user does not have the at least one measurement device by;

determining installed measurement devices in the measurement system over the wide area network; and

comparing the determined installed measurement devices to the at least one measurement device to determine if the at least one measurement device is not installed in the measurement system;

wherein said determining if the user does not have the at least one measurement device is used to provide the at least one measurement device to the user if the user does not have the at least one measurement device.

23. The computer-accessible memory medium of claim 19, wherein to display the configuration diagram on the display, the program instructions are executable to:

display one or more device icons corresponding respectively to one or more measurement devices in the measurement system; and

display connections between the one or more device icons, wherein the displayed connections correspond to couplings between the one or more measurement devices in the measurement system.

24. The computer-accessible memory medium of claim 19, wherein the configuration diagram is comprised in a graphical user interface (GUI), wherein the program instructions are further executable to:

receive user input to the GUI specifying purchase of the at least one measurement device; and

modify the configuration diagram to reflect the purchase.

25. The computer-accessible memory medium of claim 24, wherein the modified configuration diagram reflecting the purchase comprises at least one virtual device icon representing the purchased at least one measurement device, wherein the program instructions are further executable to:

in response to deploying the at least one measurement device to the measurement system, modify the display of the configuration diagram representing the at least one measurement device to reflect said deploying.

26. The computer-accessible memory medium of claim 25, wherein said modifying the display of the configuration diagram comprises replacing the at least one virtual device icon with the at least one device icon.

27. The computer-accessible memory medium of claim 19, wherein the measurement system includes a client computer system, wherein the program instructions are further executable to:

prior to a vendor sending the at least one measurement device to the user, receive a simulation program to the client computer system, wherein the software program simulates operation of the at least one measurement device;

wherein the simulation program is executable by the client computer system to perform at least a portion of the functionality of the at least one measurement device; and

wherein use of the simulation program is discontinued when the at least one measurement device is deployed in the measurement system.

28. The computer-accessible memory medium of claim 27, wherein to display the configuration diagram, the program instructions are further executable to:

display a device icon representing said simulation program, wherein the device icon is modified to indicate that functions of the at least one measurement device are performed by the simulation program, wherein after said at least one measurement device is deployed in the measurement system, the modified device icon is replaced with a device icon representing the at least one measurement device.

29. The computer-accessible memory medium of claim 28, wherein the measurement device is provided to the user in response to the server computer initiating said providing the measurement device in response to the information.

30. The computer-accessible memory medium of claim 19, wherein the at least one measurement device is automatically determined based on the information.

31. The computer-accessible memory medium of claim 19, wherein to receive user input selecting at least one device icon specifying inclusion of the at least one measurement device in the measurement system, the program instructions are executable to:

receive user input to the configuration diagram.

32. The computer-accessible memory medium of claim 19, wherein the at least one measurement device comprises a programmable hardware element, and wherein one or more hardware configuration programs are provided to the user to configure the programmable hardware element to perform a measurement function.

33. The computer-accessible memory medium of claim 32,

wherein the measurement system includes a client computer system;

wherein the program instructions are further executable to;

prior to said providing the one or more hardware configuration programs, receive a simulation program to the client system which simulates operation of the one or more hardware configuration programs;

wherein the simulation program is executable by the client computer system to perform the function of the one or more hardware configuration programs in the measurement system; and

wherein use of the simulation program is discontinued when the hardware configuration program is deployed in the measurement system.

34. The computer-accessible memory medium of claim 32, wherein the at least one measurement device comprises a CPU and a memory, the program instructions are further executable to:

receive at least one program file over the WAN which is executable by the at least one measurement device to perform a measurement function.

35. The computer-accessible memory medium of claim 19, wherein the program instructions are further executable to:

configure the at least one measurement device with the at least one program file.

36. The computer-accessible memory medium of claim 19, wherein the program instructions are further executable to:

receive information from a server computer system over a wide area network (WAN) regarding a configuration diagram that iconically represents a measurement system.

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

utilizing a computer to perform;

sending information to a client computer system over a wide area network (WAN) regarding a configuration diagram that iconically represents a measurement system, wherein the information is configured for displaying the configuration diagram on a display of the client computer system;

wherein the configuration diagram comprises one or more device icons corresponding respectively to one or more measurement devices in the measurement system, and connections between the one or more device icons, wherein the displayed connections correspond to physical couplings between the one or more measurement devices in the measurement system;

receiving information from the client computer system over the WAN based on user input to the client computer system selecting at least one device icon for inclusion in the configuration diagram, wherein the device icon corresponds to a measurement device; and

providing information over the WAN to a vendor based on the user input selecting the at least one device icon, wherein the information specifies the measurement device;

wherein the provided information is used by the vendor for providing the measurement device to the user.

38. The computer-implemented method of claim 37, further comprising:

utilizing the computer to perform;

in response to said receiving information based on the user input, modifying the configuration diagram to include the at least one device icon; and

sending information regarding the modified configuration diagram to the client computer system over the WAN, wherein the information regarding the modified configuration diagram is used by the client computer system for displaying the modified configuration diagram on the display of the client computer system.

39. The computer-implemented method of claim 37, further comprising:

utilizing the computer to perform;

receiving payment information from the user for purchase of the measurement device.

40. The computer-implemented method of claim 37, wherein said providing information over the WAN to a vendor is performed in response to:

determining that the user does not have the measurement device by;

determining installed measurement devices in the measurement system over the wide area network; and

comparing the determined installed measurement devices to the measurement device to determine that the measurement device is not installed in the measurement system.

41. The computer-implemented method of claim 37, wherein the configuration diagram comprises:

one or more device icons corresponding respectively to one or more measurement devices in the measurement system; and

connections between the one or more device icons, wherein the displayed connections correspond to couplings between the one or more measurement devices in the measurement system.

42. The computer-implemented method of claim 37, wherein the configuration diagram is configured for display in a graphical user interface (GUI) of the client computer system, the method further comprising:

utilizing the computer to perform;

receiving an indication of purchase from the GUI based on user input to the GUI specifying purchase of the measurement device;

modifying the configuration diagram to reflect the purchase; and

sending information regarding the modified configuration diagram reflecting the purchase to the client computer system over the WAN, wherein the information regarding the modified configuration diagram is used by the GUI to display the modified configuration diagram.

43. The computer-implemented method of claim 42, wherein the modified configuration diagram reflecting the purchase comprises a virtual device icon representing the purchased measurement device, the method further comprising:

utilizing the computer to perform;

in response to receiving an indication of deployment of the at least one measurement device to the measurement system, modifying the configuration diagram representing the at least one measurement device to reflect said deploying, and sending information regarding the modified configuration diagram reflecting deployment to the client computer system over the WAN, wherein the information regarding the modified configuration diagram reflecting deployment is used by the GUI to display the modified configuration diagram reflecting deployment.

44. The computer-implemented method of claim 43, wherein said modifying the display of the configuration diagram comprises replacing the virtual device icon with the device icon.

45. The computer-implemented method of claim 43, wherein the information regarding the modified configuration diagram reflecting deployment is used by the GUI to animate the configuration diagram to visually illustrate to the user the deployment of the at least one measurement device to the measurement system.

46. The computer-implemented method of claim 37,

wherein the measurement system includes the client computer system, the method further comprising:

utilizing the computer to perform;

providing a simulation program to the client system over the WAN, wherein the software program simulates operation of the at least one measurement device;

wherein the simulation program is executable by the client computer system to perform at least a portion of the functionality of the at least one measurement device; and

wherein use of the simulation program is discontinued when the at least one measurement device is deployed in the measurement system.

47. The computer-implemented method of claim 46, wherein the configuration diagram further comprises:

a device icon representing said simulation program, wherein the device icon is modified to indicate that functions of the at least one measurement device are performed by the simulation program, wherein after said at least one measurement device is deployed in the measurement system, the modified device icon is replaced with a device icon representing the at least one measurement device.

48. The computer-implemented method of claim 37, further comprising:

utilizing the computer to perform;

initiating provision by the vendor of the measurement device in response to the information received from the client computer system over the WAN based on the user input.

49. The computer-implemented method of claim 37, further comprising:

utilizing the computer to perform;

automatically determining the at least one measurement device based on the received information.

50. The computer-implemented method of claim 37, wherein the at least one measurement device comprises a programmable hardware element, the method further comprising:

utilizing the computer to perform;

providing one or more hardware configuration programs to the client computer system which are usable to configure the programmable hardware element to perform a measurement function.

51. The computer-implemented method of claim 50, wherein said providing one or more hardware configuration programs comprises:

providing the one or more hardware configuration programs to the vendor, wherein at least one of the one or more hardware configuration programs are used by the vendor to configure the programmable hardware element of the at least one hardware device for provision of the configured at least one hardware device to the user.

52. The computer-implemented method of claim 50,

wherein the measurement system includes the client computer system

the method further comprising:

utilizing the computer to perform;

prior to said providing the one or more hardware configuration programs to the client computer system, providing a simulation program to the client computer system which simulates operation of the hardware configuration program;

wherein the simulation program is executable by the client computer system to perform the function of the hardware configuration program in the measurement system; and

wherein use of the simulation program is discontinued when the hardware configuration program is deployed in the measurement system.

53. The computer-implemented method of claim 50, wherein the at least one measurement device comprises a CPU and a memory, the method further comprising:

utilizing the computer to perform;

providing at least one program file which is executable by the at least one measurement device to perform a measurement function.

56. The computer-implemented method of claim 37, further comprising:

utilizing the computer to perform;

displaying a modified configuration diagram on the display, wherein the modified configuration diagram includes the selected at least one device icon.

57. The computer-implemented method of claim 56,

wherein said displaying the configuration diagram is performed in response to receiving information from a server computer system over the WAN regarding the configuration diagram.

58. The computer-implemented method of claim 57, further comprising:

utilizing the computer to perform;

in response to said sending information regarding the selected at least one device icon, receiving information from the server computer system over the WAN regarding a modified configuration diagram, wherein the modified configuration diagram iconically represents the measurement system and also includes the at least one device icon; and

displaying the modified configuration diagram on the display.

54. A memory medium that stores program instructions for configuring a measurement system, wherein the program instructions are executable by a processor to:

send information to a client computer system over a wide area network (WAN) regarding a configuration diagram that iconically represents a measurement system, wherein the information is used for displaying the configuration diagram on a display of the client computer system;

wherein the configuration diagram comprises one or more device icons and connections between the one or more device icons, the one or more device icons corresponding respectively to one or more measurement devices in the measurement system, and the displayed connections corresponding to physical couplings between the one or more measurement devices in the measurement system;

receive information from the client computer system over the WAN based on user input to the client computer system selecting at least one device icon for inclusion in the configuration diagram, wherein the device icon corresponds to a measurement device; and

initiate provision of the at least one measurement device to the user based on the received information.

55. A computer-implemented method for configuring a measurement system, the method comprising:

utilizing a computer to perform;

receiving information from a server computer system over a wide area network (WAN) regarding a configuration diagram that iconically represents a measurement system;

displaying the configuration diagram on a display;

receiving user input selecting at least one device icon for inclusion in the configuration diagram, wherein the device icon corresponds to a measurement device; and

sending information regarding the selected at least one device icon to the server computer system over the WAN;

wherein the information regarding the selected at least one device is used to provide the measurement device to the user.

59. The computer-implemented method of claim 55, further comprising:

utilizing the computer to perform;

sending payment information over the WAN for purchase of the measurement device.

60. The computer-implemented method of claim 55, wherein said displaying the configuration diagram comprises displaying the configuration diagram in a graphical user interface (GUI), the method further comprising:

utilizing the computer to perform;

receiving user input to the GUI specifying purchase of the measurement device;

sending an indication of the specified purchase of the measurement device to the server computer system over the WAN;

receiving information from the server computer system over the WAN regarding a modified configuration diagram reflecting the purchase; and

displaying the modified configuration diagram based on the received information.

61. The computer-implemented method of claim 55, the method further comprising:

utilizing the computer to perform;

after deploying the measurement device, sending an indication of deployment of the measurement device in the measurement system to the server computer system over the WAN;

receiving information from the server computer system over the WAN regarding a modified configuration diagram reflecting the deployment to the server computer system over the WAN; and

displaying the modified configuration diagram reflecting deployment on the display based on the received information.

62. The computer-implemented method of claim 55, wherein said receiving user input selecting at least one device icon for inclusion in the configuration diagram comprises receiving user input to the configuration diagram.

63. The computer-implemented method of claim 55, wherein said receiving user input selecting at least one device icon for inclusion in the configuration diagram comprises receiving user input dragging and dropping the user-selected at least one device icon onto the configuration diagram.

64. The computer-implemented method of claim 55, wherein the computer is comprised in the measurement system, the method further comprising:

utilizing the computer to perform;

receiving a simulation program from the server computer system over the WAN, wherein the software program simulates operation of the at least one measurement device; and

executing the simulation program to perform at least a portion of the functionality of the at least one measurement device;

wherein use of the simulation program is discontinued when the at least one measurement device is deployed in the measurement system.

65. A memory medium that stores program instructions for configuring a measurement system, wherein the program instructions are executable to:

display the configuration diagram on a display;

receive user input selecting at least one device icon for inclusion in the configuration diagram, wherein the device icon corresponds to a measurement device; and

send information regarding the selected at least one device icon to the server computer system over the WAN;

wherein the information regarding the selected at least one device is used to provide the measurement device to the user.