US5905649A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
System and method for performing type checking and class propagation of attributes in a graphical data flow program
Assignee: National Instruments Corp
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Filing: 1996-09-23
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Granted: 1999-05-18
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Expires: 2016-09-23
Abstract
Abstract A system and method for creating a program for controlling an instrument independent of the interface type of the instrument, in a graphical programming environment. The system comprises a computer system including a display screen and input device, an instrument coupled to the computer system, and a graphical programming environment for creating and executing programs to control the instrument. The programming environment comprises a VISA session control, VISA function nodes and VISA attribute nodes, an object manager and block diagram and front panel editors used to create a VISA virtual instrument. The method for controlling the instrument comprises displaying on the screen VISA session icons, VISA function nodes, and VISA attributes nodes and wiring them together to create the VISA virtual instrument. Virtual instruments, or graphical programs, may be created which are portable across different possible VISA I/O interface types, such as GPIB, VXI, and asynchronous serial interfaces, for coupling the instrument to the computer system. The object manager parses a class definition file to determine possible VISA classes associated with the instrument and the attributes and functions which are valid for a each class. The environment performs type propagation checking to insure that program elements are not wired together in an invalid manner by the user in order to avoid program errors. In particular, the environment checks to see that attributes to be set on and functions to be performed with the instrument are valid for the class of the VISA session associated with the instrument. The environment further performs class propagation between objects in the program to avoid programming errors.
Inventors
- 👤 Omid Sojoodi
- 👤 Steven W. Rogers
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 16:08
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F8/00; G06F8/40; G06F8/41; G06F8/43; G06F8/436; G06F8/437; G05; G05B; G05B19/00; G05B19/02; G05B19/04; G05B19/042; G05B19/0426; G05B19/418; G05B19/41865; G05B2219/00; G05B2219/20; G05B2219/23; G05B2219/23255; G05B2219/23258; G05B2219/30; G05B2219/32; G05B2219/32162; G05B2219/36; G05B2219/36025; G05B2219/36035; G05B2219/36143; Y; Y02; Y02P; Y02P90/00; Y02P90/02; Y10; Y10S; Y10S715/00; Y10S715/961; Y10S715/965; Y10S715/966; Y10S715/967
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 67
Claim 1
Independent Claim
193 words
A method for performing type checking of objects in a graphical program in a computer system including a video screen, comprising: displaying on the screen a VISA session icon which represents a VISA session; selecting a first class for the VISA session in response to user input; displaying on the screen a VISA attribute node icon with one or more attributes of a VISA session control associated with said VISA session; displaying on the screen a wire connecting the VISA session icon and the VISA attribute node icon; changing said VISA session from said first class to a second class in response to user input; performing type propagation checking to insure that each of the one or more attributes displayed in the VISA attribute node icon is valid for said second class of the VISA session; displaying on the screen in a manner indicative of invalidity each of said one or more attributes which is invalid for said second class of the VISA session; and displaying on the screen in a manner indicative of validity each of said one or more attributes which is valid for said second class of the VISA session.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
193 words
A method for performing type checking of objects in a graphical program in a computer system including a video screen, comprising: displaying on the screen a VISA session icon which represents a VISA session; selecting a first class for the VISA session in response to user input; displaying on the screen a VISA attribute node icon with one or more attributes of a VISA session control associated with said VISA session; displaying on the screen a wire connecting the VISA session icon and the VISA attribute node icon; changing said VISA session from said first class to a second class in response to user input; performing type propagation checking to insure that each of the one or more attributes displayed in the VISA attribute node icon is valid for said second class of the VISA session; displaying on the screen in a manner indicative of invalidity each of said one or more attributes which is invalid for said second class of the VISA session; and displaying on the screen in a manner indicative of validity each of said one or more attributes which is valid for said second class of the VISA session.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said manner indicative of invalidity comprises displaying said attribute in a color indicative of invalidity and wherein said manner indicative of validity comprises displaying said attribute in a color indicative of validity.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said first and second classes comprise one of the group consisting of generic instrument, GPIB instrument, VXI instrument, serial instrument. Ethernet instrument, wireless instrument, and virtual instrument.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
68 words
The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said performing type propagation checking comprises: passing data identifying the VISA attribute and the class of the VISA session to an object manager; said object manager determining if the VISA attribute is valid for the class of the VISA session; said object manager returning a value indicating if the VISA attribute is valid for the class of the VISA session.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
83 words
The method as recited in claim 4, wherein said object manager maintains a data structure comprising a list of class data structures corresponding to possible VISA session classes, wherein each of said class data structures comprises a list of attributes which are valid for a given VISA session class, wherein said object manager determining comprises said object manager searching a list of valid attributes of a given VISA session class identified by the class of the VISA session passed to said object manager.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method as recited in claim 5, wherein said object manager returning comprises returning a true value if said attribute is found in said list of attributes and returning a false value if said attribute is not found in said list of attributes.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method as recited in claim 5, wherein said object manager constructs said data structure by parsing a class definition file containing information about said VISA session classes.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method as recited in claim 7, wherein said object manager constructs said data structure by parsing a class definition file in response to said selecting said class for the VISA session.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
65 words
The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising displaying on the screen a VISA session control icon in a front panel in response to user input, wherein said VISA session icon is a VISA session terminal icon, wherein said displaying on the screen the VISA session icon is in response to said displaying on the screen said VISA session control in the front panel.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
203 words
A method for performing type checking of objects in a graphical program in a computer system including a video screen, comprising: displaying on the screen a VISA session icon which represents a VISA session; selecting a first class for the VISA session in response to user input; displaying on the screen a VISA attribute node icon with one or more attributes of a VISA session control associated with said VISA session, wherein said VISA attribute node icon is of a second class; displaying on the screen a wire connecting the VISA session icon and the VISA attribute node icon; propagating said first class to said VISA attribute node in response to said displaying said wire; performing type propagation checking to insure that each of the one or more attributes displayed in the VISA attribute node icon is valid for said first class of the VISA session; displaying on the screen in a manner indicative of invalidity each of said one or more attributes which is invalid for said first class of the VISA session; and displaying on the screen in a manner indicative of validity each of said one or more attributes which is valid for said first class of the VISA session.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
203 words
A method for performing type checking of objects in a graphical program in a computer system including a video screen, comprising: displaying on the screen a VISA session icon which represents a VISA session; selecting a first class for the VISA session in response to user input; displaying on the screen a VISA attribute node icon with one or more attributes of a VISA session control associated with said VISA session, wherein said VISA attribute node icon is of a second class; displaying on the screen a wire connecting the VISA session icon and the VISA attribute node icon; propagating said first class to said VISA attribute node in response to said displaying said wire; performing type propagation checking to insure that each of the one or more attributes displayed in the VISA attribute node icon is valid for said first class of the VISA session; displaying on the screen in a manner indicative of invalidity each of said one or more attributes which is invalid for said first class of the VISA session; and displaying on the screen in a manner indicative of validity each of said one or more attributes which is valid for said first class of the VISA session.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
159 words
A method for performing type checking of objects in a graphical program in a computer system including a video screen, comprising: displaying on the screen a VISA attribute node icon with one or more attributes of a VISA session control, wherein said VISA attribute node icon is of a first VISA class; changing said VISA attribute node icon from said first class to a second class in response to user input; performing type propagation checking to insure that each of the one or more attributes displayed in the VISA attribute node icon is valid for said second class of the VISA session; displaying on the screen in a manner indicative of invalidity each of said one or more attributes which is invalid for said second class of the VISA session; and displaying on the screen in a manner indicative of validity each of said one or more attributes which is valid for said second class of the VISA session.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
159 words
A method for performing type checking of objects in a graphical program in a computer system including a video screen, comprising: displaying on the screen a VISA attribute node icon with one or more attributes of a VISA session control, wherein said VISA attribute node icon is of a first VISA class; changing said VISA attribute node icon from said first class to a second class in response to user input; performing type propagation checking to insure that each of the one or more attributes displayed in the VISA attribute node icon is valid for said second class of the VISA session; displaying on the screen in a manner indicative of invalidity each of said one or more attributes which is invalid for said second class of the VISA session; and displaying on the screen in a manner indicative of validity each of said one or more attributes which is valid for said second class of the VISA session.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
68 words
The method as recited in claim 11, wherein said performing type propagation checking comprises: passing data identifying the VISA attribute and the class of the VISA session to an object manager; said object manager determining if the VISA attribute is valid for the class of the VISA session; said object manager returning a value indicating if the VISA attribute is valid for the class of the VISA session.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
219 words
A system for performing type checking of objects in a graphical program, comprising: a computer system including a video screen and an input device; an instrument coupled to said computer system; means for displaying on the screen a VISA session icon which represents a VISA session; means for selecting a first class for the VISA session in response to user input; means for displaying on the screen a VISA attribute node icon with one or more attributes of a VISA session control associated with said VISA session; means for displaying on the screen a wire connecting the VISA session icon and the VISA attribute node icon; means for changing said VISA session from said first class to a second class in response to user input; means for performing type propagation checking to insure that each of the one or more attributes displayed in the VISA attribute node icon is valid for said second class of the VISA session; means for displaying on the screen in a manner indicative of invalidity each of said one or more attributes which is invalid for said second class of the VISA session; and means for displaying on the screen in a manner indicative of validity each of said one or more attributes which is valid for said second class of the VISA session.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
219 words
A system for performing type checking of objects in a graphical program, comprising: a computer system including a video screen and an input device; an instrument coupled to said computer system; means for displaying on the screen a VISA session icon which represents a VISA session; means for selecting a first class for the VISA session in response to user input; means for displaying on the screen a VISA attribute node icon with one or more attributes of a VISA session control associated with said VISA session; means for displaying on the screen a wire connecting the VISA session icon and the VISA attribute node icon; means for changing said VISA session from said first class to a second class in response to user input; means for performing type propagation checking to insure that each of the one or more attributes displayed in the VISA attribute node icon is valid for said second class of the VISA session; means for displaying on the screen in a manner indicative of invalidity each of said one or more attributes which is invalid for said second class of the VISA session; and means for displaying on the screen in a manner indicative of validity each of said one or more attributes which is valid for said second class of the VISA session.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
233 words
A computer-readable storage media for operating in a computer system, the computer system including a display screen, an input device, and a processor operably coupled to an instrument, wherein the storage media includes a substrate having a physical configuration representing data, the storage media comprising: instructions for displaying on the screen a VISA session icon which represents a VISA session; instructions for selecting a first class for the VISA session in response to user input; instructions for displaying on the screen a VISA attribute node icon with one or more attributes of a VISA session control associated with said VISA session; instructions for displaying on the screen a wire connecting the VISA session icon and the VISA attribute node icon; instructions for changing said VISA session from said first class to a second class in response to user input; instructions for performing type propagation checking to insure that each of the one or more attributes displayed in the VISA attribute node icon is valid for said second class of the VISA session; instructions for displaying on the screen in a manner indicative of invalidity each of said one or more attributes which is invalid for said second class of the VISA session; and instructions for displaying on the screen in a manner indicative of validity each of said one or more attributes which is valid for said second class of the VISA session.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
233 words
A computer-readable storage media for operating in a computer system, the computer system including a display screen, an input device, and a processor operably coupled to an instrument, wherein the storage media includes a substrate having a physical configuration representing data, the storage media comprising: instructions for displaying on the screen a VISA session icon which represents a VISA session; instructions for selecting a first class for the VISA session in response to user input; instructions for displaying on the screen a VISA attribute node icon with one or more attributes of a VISA session control associated with said VISA session; instructions for displaying on the screen a wire connecting the VISA session icon and the VISA attribute node icon; instructions for changing said VISA session from said first class to a second class in response to user input; instructions for performing type propagation checking to insure that each of the one or more attributes displayed in the VISA attribute node icon is valid for said second class of the VISA session; instructions for displaying on the screen in a manner indicative of invalidity each of said one or more attributes which is invalid for said second class of the VISA session; and instructions for displaying on the screen in a manner indicative of validity each of said one or more attributes which is valid for said second class of the VISA session.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
70 words
The media as recited in claim 14, wherein said instructions for performing type propagation checking comprises: instructions for passing data identifying the VISA attribute and the class of the VISA session to an object manager; instructions for determining if the VISA attribute is valid for the class of the VISA session; instructions for returning a value indicating if the VISA attribute is valid for the class of the VISA session.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
40 words
The media as recited in claim 14, further comprising instructions for displaying on the screen a VISA session control icon in a front panel in response to user input, wherein said VISA session icon is a VISA session terminal icon.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
171 words
A method for performing type checking of objects in a graphical program in a computer system including a video screen, comprising: displaying on the screen a VISA session icon which represents a VISA session; selecting a first class for the VISA session in response to user input; displaying on the screen a VISA attribute node icon with one or more attributes of a VISA session control associated with said VISA session; displaying on the screen a wire connecting the VISA session icon and the VISA attribute node icon; changing said VISA session from said first class to a second class in response to user input; performing type propagation checking to insure that each of the one or more attributes displayed in the VISA attribute node icon is valid for said second class of the VISA session; wherein said VISA session icon, said VISA attribute node icon and said wire comprise a virtual instrument; and preventing execution of said virtual instrument if one of said attributes is invalid for said second class.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
171 words
A method for performing type checking of objects in a graphical program in a computer system including a video screen, comprising: displaying on the screen a VISA session icon which represents a VISA session; selecting a first class for the VISA session in response to user input; displaying on the screen a VISA attribute node icon with one or more attributes of a VISA session control associated with said VISA session; displaying on the screen a wire connecting the VISA session icon and the VISA attribute node icon; changing said VISA session from said first class to a second class in response to user input; performing type propagation checking to insure that each of the one or more attributes displayed in the VISA attribute node icon is valid for said second class of the VISA session; wherein said VISA session icon, said VISA attribute node icon and said wire comprise a virtual instrument; and preventing execution of said virtual instrument if one of said attributes is invalid for said second class.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
182 words
A method for performing type checking of objects in a graphical program in a computer system including a video screen, comprising: displaying on the screen a VISA session icon which represents a VISA session; selecting a first class for the VISA session in response to user input; displaying on the screen a VISA attribute node icon with one or more attributes of a VISA session control associated with said VISA session, wherein said VISA attribute node icon is of a second class; displaying on the screen a wire connecting the VISA session icon and the VISA attribute node icon; propagating said first class to said VISA attribute node icon in response to said displaying said wire; performing type propagation checking to insure that each of the one or more attributes displayed in the VISA attribute node icon is valid for said first class of the VISA session; wherein said VISA session icon, said VISA attribute node icon and said wire comprise a virtual instrument; and preventing execution of said virtual instrument if one of said attributes is invalid for said second class.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
182 words
A method for performing type checking of objects in a graphical program in a computer system including a video screen, comprising: displaying on the screen a VISA session icon which represents a VISA session; selecting a first class for the VISA session in response to user input; displaying on the screen a VISA attribute node icon with one or more attributes of a VISA session control associated with said VISA session, wherein said VISA attribute node icon is of a second class; displaying on the screen a wire connecting the VISA session icon and the VISA attribute node icon; propagating said first class to said VISA attribute node icon in response to said displaying said wire; performing type propagation checking to insure that each of the one or more attributes displayed in the VISA attribute node icon is valid for said first class of the VISA session; wherein said VISA session icon, said VISA attribute node icon and said wire comprise a virtual instrument; and preventing execution of said virtual instrument if one of said attributes is invalid for said second class.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
195 words
A system for performing type checking of objects in a graphical program, comprising: a computer system including a video screen and an input device; an instrument coupled to said computer system; means for displaying on the screen a VISA session icon which represents a VISA session; means for selecting a first class for the VISA session in response to user input; means for displaying on the screen a VISA attribute node icon with one or more attributes of a VISA session control associated with said VISA session; means for displaying on the screen a wire connecting the VISA session icon and the VISA attribute node icon; means for changing said VISA session from said first class to a second class in response to user input; means for performing type propagation checking to insure that each of the one or more attributes displayed in the VISA attribute node icon is valid for said second class of the VISA session; wherein said VISA session icon, said VISA attribute node icon and said wire comprise a virtual instrument; and means for preventing execution of said virtual instrument if one of said attributes is invalid for said second class.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
195 words
A system for performing type checking of objects in a graphical program, comprising: a computer system including a video screen and an input device; an instrument coupled to said computer system; means for displaying on the screen a VISA session icon which represents a VISA session; means for selecting a first class for the VISA session in response to user input; means for displaying on the screen a VISA attribute node icon with one or more attributes of a VISA session control associated with said VISA session; means for displaying on the screen a wire connecting the VISA session icon and the VISA attribute node icon; means for changing said VISA session from said first class to a second class in response to user input; means for performing type propagation checking to insure that each of the one or more attributes displayed in the VISA attribute node icon is valid for said second class of the VISA session; wherein said VISA session icon, said VISA attribute node icon and said wire comprise a virtual instrument; and means for preventing execution of said virtual instrument if one of said attributes is invalid for said second class.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
209 words
A computer-readable storage media for operating in a computer system, the computer system including a display screen, an input device, and a processor operably coupled to an instrument, wherein the storage media includes a substrate having a physical configuration representing data, the storage media comprising: instructions for displaying on the screen a VISA session icon which represents a VISA session; instructions for selecting a first class for the VISA session in response to user input; instructions for displaying on the screen a VISA attribute node icon with one or more attributes of a VISA session control associated with said VISA session; instructions for displaying on the screen a wire connecting the VISA session icon and the VISA attribute node icon; instructions for changing said VISA session from said first class to a second class in response to user input; instructions for performing type propagation checking to insure that each of the one or more attributes displayed in the VISA attribute node icon is valid for said second class of the VISA session; wherein said VISA session icon, said VISA attribute node icon and said wire comprise a virtual instrument; and instructions for preventing execution of said virtual instrument if one of said attributes is invalid for said second class.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
209 words
A computer-readable storage media for operating in a computer system, the computer system including a display screen, an input device, and a processor operably coupled to an instrument, wherein the storage media includes a substrate having a physical configuration representing data, the storage media comprising: instructions for displaying on the screen a VISA session icon which represents a VISA session; instructions for selecting a first class for the VISA session in response to user input; instructions for displaying on the screen a VISA attribute node icon with one or more attributes of a VISA session control associated with said VISA session; instructions for displaying on the screen a wire connecting the VISA session icon and the VISA attribute node icon; instructions for changing said VISA session from said first class to a second class in response to user input; instructions for performing type propagation checking to insure that each of the one or more attributes displayed in the VISA attribute node icon is valid for said second class of the VISA session; wherein said VISA session icon, said VISA attribute node icon and said wire comprise a virtual instrument; and instructions for preventing execution of said virtual instrument if one of said attributes is invalid for said second class.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
125 words
A method for performing class propagation of objects in a graphical program in a computer system including a video screen, comprising: displaying on the screen a VISA session icon which represents a VISA session; selecting a first class for the VISA session in response to user input; displaying on the screen a VISA attribute node icon with one or more attributes of a VISA session control associated with said VISA session, wherein said VISA attribute node icon is of a second class; displaying on the screen a wire connecting the VISA session icon and the VISA attribute node icon; and changing said VISA attribute node to be of said first class of the VISA session in response to said displaying on the screen said wire.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
125 words
A method for performing class propagation of objects in a graphical program in a computer system including a video screen, comprising: displaying on the screen a VISA session icon which represents a VISA session; selecting a first class for the VISA session in response to user input; displaying on the screen a VISA attribute node icon with one or more attributes of a VISA session control associated with said VISA session, wherein said VISA attribute node icon is of a second class; displaying on the screen a wire connecting the VISA session icon and the VISA attribute node icon; and changing said VISA attribute node to be of said first class of the VISA session in response to said displaying on the screen said wire.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method as recited in claim 21, wherein said first and second classes comprise one of the group consisting of generic instrument, GPIB instrument, VXI instrument, serial instrument, Ethernet instrument, wireless instrument, and virtual instrument.
Claim 33
Independent Claim
145 words
A system for performing class propagation of objects in a graphical program, comprising: a computer system including a video screen and an input device; an instrument coupled to said computer system; means for displaying on the screen a VISA session icon which represents a VISA session; means for selecting a first class for the VISA session in response to user input; means for displaying on the screen a VISA attribute node icon with one or more attributes of a VISA session control associated with said VISA session, wherein said VISA attribute node icon is of a second class; means for displaying on the screen a wire connecting the VISA session icon and the VISA attribute node icon; and means for changing said VISA attribute node to be of said first class of the VISA session in response to said displaying on the screen said wire.
Claim 34
Independent Claim
145 words
A system for performing class propagation of objects in a graphical program, comprising: a computer system including a video screen and an input device; an instrument coupled to said computer system; means for displaying on the screen a VISA session icon which represents a VISA session; means for selecting a first class for the VISA session in response to user input; means for displaying on the screen a VISA attribute node icon with one or more attributes of a VISA session control associated with said VISA session, wherein said VISA attribute node icon is of a second class; means for displaying on the screen a wire connecting the VISA session icon and the VISA attribute node icon; and means for changing said VISA attribute node to be of said first class of the VISA session in response to said displaying on the screen said wire.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
159 words
A computer-readable storage media for operating in a computer system, the computer system including a display screen, an input device, and a processor operably coupled to an instrument, wherein the storage media includes a substrate having a physical configuration representing data, the storage media comprising: instructions for displaying on the screen a VISA session icon which represents a VISA session; instructions for selecting a first class for the VISA session in response to user input; instructions for displaying on the screen a VISA attribute node icon with one or more attributes of a VISA session control associated with said VISA session, wherein said VISA attribute node icon is of a second class; instructions for displaying on the screen a wire connecting the VISA session icon and the VISA attribute node icon; and instructions for changing said VISA attribute node to be of said first class of the VISA session in response to said displaying on the screen said wire.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
159 words
A computer-readable storage media for operating in a computer system, the computer system including a display screen, an input device, and a processor operably coupled to an instrument, wherein the storage media includes a substrate having a physical configuration representing data, the storage media comprising: instructions for displaying on the screen a VISA session icon which represents a VISA session; instructions for selecting a first class for the VISA session in response to user input; instructions for displaying on the screen a VISA attribute node icon with one or more attributes of a VISA session control associated with said VISA session, wherein said VISA attribute node icon is of a second class; instructions for displaying on the screen a wire connecting the VISA session icon and the VISA attribute node icon; and instructions for changing said VISA attribute node to be of said first class of the VISA session in response to said displaying on the screen said wire.
Claim 37
Independent Claim
82 words
A method for setting attributes of a VISA resource in a computer system including a video screen, comprising: displaying on the screen graphical program including a VISA attribute node icon for setting one or more attributes of said VISA resource in response to user input; constructing execution instructions in the computer system for setting said attributes of said VISA resource, wherein said constructing is in response to said graphical program; executing said execution instructions on said computer system to set said attributes.
Claim 38
Independent Claim
82 words
A method for setting attributes of a VISA resource in a computer system including a video screen, comprising: displaying on the screen graphical program including a VISA attribute node icon for setting one or more attributes of said VISA resource in response to user input; constructing execution instructions in the computer system for setting said attributes of said VISA resource, wherein said constructing is in response to said graphical program; executing said execution instructions on said computer system to set said attributes.
Claim 39
Independent Claim
99 words
A system for setting attributes of a VISA instrument, comprising: computer system including a video screen and an input device; said VISA instrument coupled to said computer system; means for displaying on the screen a graphical program including a VISA attribute node icon for setting one or more attributes of said VISA resource in response to user input; means for constructing execution instructions in the computer system for setting said attributes of said VISA resource, wherein said constructing is in response to said graphical program; means for executing said execution instructions on said computer system to set said attributes.
Claim 40
Independent Claim
99 words
A system for setting attributes of a VISA instrument, comprising: computer system including a video screen and an input device; said VISA instrument coupled to said computer system; means for displaying on the screen a graphical program including a VISA attribute node icon for setting one or more attributes of said VISA resource in response to user input; means for constructing execution instructions in the computer system for setting said attributes of said VISA resource, wherein said constructing is in response to said graphical program; means for executing said execution instructions on said computer system to set said attributes.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
117 words
A computer-readable storage media for operating in a computer system, the computer system including a display screen, an input device, and a processor operably coupled to a VISA instrument, wherein the storage media includes a substrate having a physical configuration representing data, the storage media comprising: instructions for displaying on the screen a graphical program including a VISA attribute node icon for setting one or more attributes of said VISA resource in response to user input; instructions for constructing execution instructions in the computer system for setting said attributes of said VISA resource, wherein said constructing is in response to said graphical program; instructions for executing said execution instructions on said computer system to set said attributes.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
117 words
A computer-readable storage media for operating in a computer system, the computer system including a display screen, an input device, and a processor operably coupled to a VISA instrument, wherein the storage media includes a substrate having a physical configuration representing data, the storage media comprising: instructions for displaying on the screen a graphical program including a VISA attribute node icon for setting one or more attributes of said VISA resource in response to user input; instructions for constructing execution instructions in the computer system for setting said attributes of said VISA resource, wherein said constructing is in response to said graphical program; instructions for executing said execution instructions on said computer system to set said attributes.
Claim 43
Independent Claim
133 words
A method for creating an instrumentation control program in a graphical programming environment comprising an object manager and a program editor, wherein the program controls an instrument having characteristic attributes, wherein the program is operable to control the instrument independent of an interface type of the instrument, the method comprising: said program editor displaying on a display screen an icon representing said instrument; said program editor querying said object manager for a list of attributes of said instrument in response to user input directed toward said icon; said object manager parsing a class definition file containing said list of attributes to determine said list of attributes; said object manager providing said list of attributes to said program editor; said program editor displaying on said display screen said list of attributes of said instrument.
Claim 44
Independent Claim
133 words
A method for creating an instrumentation control program in a graphical programming environment comprising an object manager and a program editor, wherein the program controls an instrument having characteristic attributes, wherein the program is operable to control the instrument independent of an interface type of the instrument, the method comprising: said program editor displaying on a display screen an icon representing said instrument; said program editor querying said object manager for a list of attributes of said instrument in response to user input directed toward said icon; said object manager parsing a class definition file containing said list of attributes to determine said list of attributes; said object manager providing said list of attributes to said program editor; said program editor displaying on said display screen said list of attributes of said instrument.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 28, further comprising displaying an attribute selected from said list of attributes in response to user input.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 28, wherein said list of attributes comprises VISA instrument attributes.
Claim 47
Independent Claim
139 words
A system for creating an instrumentation control program for controlling an instrument independent of an interface type, comprising: a computer system including a display screen and a user input device; an instrument having characteristic attributes coupled to the computer system; a program editor configured to display on said display screen an icon representing said instrument; a program editor configured to query said object manager for a list of attributes of said instrument in response to user input directed toward said icon; wherein said object manager is configured to parse a class definition file containing said list of attributes to determine said list of attributes; wherein said object manager is configured to provide said list of attributes to said program editor; wherein said program editor is configured to display on said display screen said list of attributes of said instrument.
Claim 48
Independent Claim
139 words
A system for creating an instrumentation control program for controlling an instrument independent of an interface type, comprising: a computer system including a display screen and a user input device; an instrument having characteristic attributes coupled to the computer system; a program editor configured to display on said display screen an icon representing said instrument; a program editor configured to query said object manager for a list of attributes of said instrument in response to user input directed toward said icon; wherein said object manager is configured to parse a class definition file containing said list of attributes to determine said list of attributes; wherein said object manager is configured to provide said list of attributes to said program editor; wherein said program editor is configured to display on said display screen said list of attributes of said instrument.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
120 words
A computer-readable storage media for operating in a computer system, the computer system including a display screen, an input device, and a processor operably coupled to a VISA instrument, wherein the storage media includes a substrate having a physical configuration representing data, the storage media comprising: instructions for displaying on said display screen an icon representing said instrument; instructions for querying an object manager for a list of attributes of said instrument in response to user input directed toward said icon; instructions for parsing a class definition file containing said list of attributes to determine said list of attributes; instructions for providing said list of attributes; instructions for displaying on said display screen said list of attributes of said instrument.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
120 words
A computer-readable storage media for operating in a computer system, the computer system including a display screen, an input device, and a processor operably coupled to a VISA instrument, wherein the storage media includes a substrate having a physical configuration representing data, the storage media comprising: instructions for displaying on said display screen an icon representing said instrument; instructions for querying an object manager for a list of attributes of said instrument in response to user input directed toward said icon; instructions for parsing a class definition file containing said list of attributes to determine said list of attributes; instructions for providing said list of attributes; instructions for displaying on said display screen said list of attributes of said instrument.
Claim 51
Independent Claim
176 words
A method for performing type checking of objects in a graphical program in a computer system including a video screen displaying a VISA session icon which represents a VISA session of a first class, a VISA attribute node icon with one or more attributes of a VISA session control associated with said VISA session, and a wire connecting the VISA session icon and the VISA attribute node icon, the method comprising: changing said VISA session from said first class to a second class in response to user input; performing type propagation checking to insure that each of the one or more attributes displayed in the VISA attribute node icon is valid for said second class of the VISA session; displaying on the screen in a manner indicative of invalidity each of said one or more attributes which is invalid for said second class of the VISA session; and displaying on the screen in a manner indicative of validity each of said one or more attributes which is valid for said second class of the VISA session.
Claim 52
Independent Claim
176 words
A method for performing type checking of objects in a graphical program in a computer system including a video screen displaying a VISA session icon which represents a VISA session of a first class, a VISA attribute node icon with one or more attributes of a VISA session control associated with said VISA session, and a wire connecting the VISA session icon and the VISA attribute node icon, the method comprising: changing said VISA session from said first class to a second class in response to user input; performing type propagation checking to insure that each of the one or more attributes displayed in the VISA attribute node icon is valid for said second class of the VISA session; displaying on the screen in a manner indicative of invalidity each of said one or more attributes which is invalid for said second class of the VISA session; and displaying on the screen in a manner indicative of validity each of said one or more attributes which is valid for said second class of the VISA session.
Claim 53
Independent Claim
134 words
A method for performing type checking in a graphical program in a computer system including a video screen, wherein a device is connected to the computer system, comprising: displaying on the screen a session icon which represents a session to the device; selecting a first class for the session in response to user input; displaying on the screen an attribute node icon with one or more attributes associated with said session; connecting the session icon and the attribute node icon; performing type propagation checking in response to said connecting to insure that each of the one or more attributes displayed in the attribute node icon is valid for said first class of the session; and indicating invalidity each of said one or more attributes which is invalid for said first class of the session.
Claim 54
Independent Claim
134 words
A method for performing type checking in a graphical program in a computer system including a video screen, wherein a device is connected to the computer system, comprising: displaying on the screen a session icon which represents a session to the device; selecting a first class for the session in response to user input; displaying on the screen an attribute node icon with one or more attributes associated with said session; connecting the session icon and the attribute node icon; performing type propagation checking in response to said connecting to insure that each of the one or more attributes displayed in the attribute node icon is valid for said first class of the session; and indicating invalidity each of said one or more attributes which is invalid for said first class of the session.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
65 words
The method of claim 34, wherein said indicating invalidity comprises: displaying on the screen in a manner indicative of invalidity each of said one or more attributes which is invalid for said first class of the session; and displaying on the screen in a manner indicative of validity each of said one or more attributes which is valid for said first class of the session.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method as recited in claim 35, wherein said manner indicative of invalidity comprises displaying said attribute in a color indicative of invalidity and wherein said manner indicative of validity comprises displaying said attribute in a color indicative of validity.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method as recited in claim 34, wherein the device is connected to the computer system through a device interface; wherein said first class is determined by said device interface.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method as recited in claim 34, wherein the device is an instrument, wherein the instrument is connected to the computer system through an instrumentation interface; wherein said first class is determined by said instrumentation interface.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method as recited in claim 34, wherein said first class comprises one of the group consisting of generic instrument, GPIB instrument, VXI instrument, serial instrument. Ethernet instrument, wireless instrument, and virtual instrument.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
62 words
The method as recited in claim 34, wherein said performing type propagation checking comprises: passing data identifying the attribute and the class of the session to an object manager; said object manager determining if the attribute is valid for the class of the session; said object manager returning a value indicating if the attribute is valid for the class of the session.
Claim 61
Dependent Claim
79 words
The method as recited in claim 40, wherein said object manager maintains a data structure comprising a list of class data structures corresponding to possible session classes, wherein each of said class data structures comprises a list of attributes which are valid for a given session class, wherein said object manager determining comprises said object manager searching a list of valid attributes of a given session class identified by the class of the session passed to said object manager.
Claim 62
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method as recited in claim 40, wherein said object manager constructs said data structure by parsing a class definition file containing information about said session classes.
Claim 63
Dependent Claim
60 words
The method as recited in claim 34, further comprising displaying on the screen a session control icon in a front panel in response to user input, wherein said session icon is a session terminal icon, wherein said displaying on the screen the session icon is in response to said displaying on the screen said session control in the front panel.
Claim 64
Independent Claim
114 words
A method for performing class propagation in a graphical program, wherein the graphical program executes in a computer system including a video screen, wherein a device is connected to the computer system, comprising: displaying on the screen a session icon which represents a session to the device; selecting a first class for the session in response to user input; displaying on the screen an attribute node icon with one or more attributes associated with said session, wherein said attribute node icon is of a second class; connecting the session icon and the attribute node icon; and changing said attribute node to be of said first class of the session in response to said connecting.
Claim 65
Independent Claim
114 words
A method for performing class propagation in a graphical program, wherein the graphical program executes in a computer system including a video screen, wherein a device is connected to the computer system, comprising: displaying on the screen a session icon which represents a session to the device; selecting a first class for the session in response to user input; displaying on the screen an attribute node icon with one or more attributes associated with said session, wherein said attribute node icon is of a second class; connecting the session icon and the attribute node icon; and changing said attribute node to be of said first class of the session in response to said connecting.
Claim 66
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method as recited in claim 44, wherein the device is connected to the computer system through a device interface; wherein said first and said second class are associated with said device interface.
Claim 67
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method as recited in claim 44, wherein the device is an instrument, wherein the instrument is connected to the computer system through an instrumentation interface; wherein said first class and said second class are associated with said instrumentation interface.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-05-17 | 2002-11-16 | 2003-05-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-05-17 | 2006-11-16 | 2007-05-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-05-17 | 2010-11-16 | 2011-05-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |