US20030101022A1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Network based system for analyzing a client system and generating a configuration diagram which describes the client system
Assignee: National Instruments Corp
•
Filing: 2003-01-08
•
Granted: —
•
Expires: 2023-01-08
Abstract
Abstract System and method for characterizing a system. Electronic communication is established between a server computer and a client system over a network. The client system includes a plurality of devices coupled together, where at least one of the devices includes one or more programs, e.g., graphical, text-based, and/or hardware configuration programs. The server programmatically determines presence of the devices and programs of the client system, and programmatically generates a diagram which visually represents the client system. The diagram includes device icons representing the devices, link icons indicating coupling between the devices, and program icons representing the programs. The program icons are displayed proximate to the device icons representing the devices which store and/or execute the respective programs. The server transmits the diagram to the client system. The diagram is displayed on a display of the client system. The diagram is used to document, modify, and/or debug the client system configuration.
Inventors
- 👤 Mohammed Shah
- 👤 David Fuller
- 👤 Jeffrey Correll
- 👤 Brian Sierer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 11:32
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F9/00; G06F9/06; G06F9/44; G06F9/445; G06F9/44505; G06F30/00; G06F30/30; G06F30/34; G06Q; G06Q30/00; G06Q30/06; G06Q30/0601; G06Q30/0633; G06Q30/0641; G06Q40/00; G06Q40/04; H; H04; H04L; H04L67/00; H04L67/34; G01; G01R; G01R19/00; G01R19/28; G06F2111/00; G06F2111/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 52
Claim 1
Independent Claim
119 words
1 . A method for characterizing a system, wherein the system comprises a plurality of devices coupled together, wherein at least one of the devices includes one or more programs, the method comprising: programmatically determining information regarding the plurality of devices and the one or more programs; programmatically generating a diagram which visually represents the 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 devices, wherein the diagram also includes link icons indicating coupling relationships between the plurality of devices, and wherein the diagram also includes program icons representing each of the one or more programs; and displaying the diagram on a display.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
119 words
1 . A method for characterizing a system, wherein the system comprises a plurality of devices coupled together, wherein at least one of the devices includes one or more programs, the method comprising: programmatically determining information regarding the plurality of devices and the one or more programs; programmatically generating a diagram which visually represents the 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 devices, wherein the diagram also includes link icons indicating coupling relationships between the plurality of devices, and wherein the diagram also includes program icons representing each of the one or more programs; and displaying the diagram on a display.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said displaying comprises displaying the diagram on a display of the system for viewing by a user of the system.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
3 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising: storing the diagram on a memory medium of the system.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the diagram is a configuration diagram.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the program icons are visually displayed to indicate associations with respective device icons representing respective devices in which the programs are stored and/or executed.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the one or more programs is a hardware configuration program.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
39 words
7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of devices comprises a field programmable gate array (FPGA); and wherein said hardware configuration program is deployable on the FPGA to perform a function.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
35 words
8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said programmatically determining comprises programmatically analyzing the system to determine presence of one or more of the plurality of devices and the one or more programs.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
31 words
9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said programmatically determining comprises accessing at least a portion of said information from at least one of the devices in the system.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
34 words
10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said programmatically determining comprises accessing plug and play information to determine presence of the plurality of devices and presence of the one or more programs.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
42 words
11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said programmatically determining comprises querying a configuration program resident on one of the devices in the system to determine presence of the plurality of devices and presence of the one or more programs.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
50 words
12 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising: receiving user 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 device corresponding to the first device icon.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
13 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising: animating said deploying the first program onto the device.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
29 words
14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein said animating comprises moving the first program icon to a location in the diagram proximate to the first device icon.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
41 words
15 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising: deploying a first program on the system after said displaying the diagram; and displaying a first program icon in the diagram, wherein the first program icon corresponds to the first program.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
25 words
16 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the device icons each have an appearance to visually indicate a type of the respective device.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
25 words
17 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the program icons each have an appearance to visually indicate a type of the respective program.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
27 words
18 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the link icons each have an appearance to visually indicate a type of the respective link between devices.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
92 words
19 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the system comprises a measurement system; wherein the plurality of devices comprise one or more measurement devices which are each operable 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 programmatically determining information regarding the plurality of devices and the one or more programs comprises programmatically determining a configuration of the one or more measurement devices and the one or more measurement programs in the measurement system.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
92 words
20 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the system comprises a simulation system; wherein the plurality of devices comprise one or more devices which are each operable 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 programmatically determining information regarding the plurality of devices and the one or more programs comprises programmatically determining a configuration of the one or more devices and the one or more programs in the simulation system.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
94 words
21 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the system comprises an automation system; wherein the plurality of devices comprise one or more devices which are each operable 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 programmatically determining information regarding the plurality of devices and the one or more programs comprises programmatically determining a configuration of the one or more automation devices and the one or more automation programs in the automation system.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
90 words
22 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the system comprises a network system; wherein the plurality of devices comprise one or more devices which are each operable to perform a respective network function; wherein the one or more programs comprise one or more network programs for managing a network; and wherein said programmatically determining information regarding the plurality of devices and the one or more programs comprises programmatically determining a configuration of the one or more automation devices and the one or more programs in the network system.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
50 words
23 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising: receiving user input specifying a modification to the diagram after said displaying, wherein said modification indicates hardware and/or software to be added to or removed from the system; and modifying the configuration diagram in response to said receiving user input.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
56 words
24 . The method of claim 1 , wherein a server computer is coupled to the system over a network; the method further comprising: establishing electronic communication between the server computer and the system over a network; wherein the server computer performs at least one of said programmatically determining information and said programmatically generating the diagram.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
52 words
25 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the system includes a first computer system; wherein a server computer is coupled to the 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.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
36 words
26 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the 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.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
71 words
27 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the system includes a first computer system; wherein a server computer is coupled to the 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 system over a network; wherein the server computer performs said programmatically generating the diagram based on the programmatically determined information.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
72 words
28 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the system includes a first computer system; wherein a server computer is coupled to the system over a network; the method further comprising: establishing electronic communication between the server computer and the 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.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
62 words
29 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising: programmatically generating a tree diagram which visually represents the system, wherein said programmatically generating the tree diagram is performed based on the programmatically determined information, wherein the tree diagram displays a hierarchical view of the plurality of devices and the one or more programs; and displaying the tree diagram on the display.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
130 words
30 . A method for characterizing a client system, the method comprising: establishing electronic communication between a server computer and the client system over a network, wherein the client system comprises a plurality of devices coupled together, wherein at least one of the devices includes one or more programs; the server computer programmatically determining information regarding the plurality of devices and the one or more programs; the server computer programmatically generating a diagram which visually represents the client system, wherein the diagram includes device icons representing each of the plurality of devices, wherein the diagram also includes link icons indicating coupling relationships between the plurality of devices, and wherein the diagram also includes program icons representing each of the one or more programs; and displaying the diagram on a display.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
130 words
30 . A method for characterizing a client system, the method comprising: establishing electronic communication between a server computer and the client system over a network, wherein the client system comprises a plurality of devices coupled together, wherein at least one of the devices includes one or more programs; the server computer programmatically determining information regarding the plurality of devices and the one or more programs; the server computer programmatically generating a diagram which visually represents the client system, wherein the diagram includes device icons representing each of the plurality of devices, wherein the diagram also includes link icons indicating coupling relationships between the plurality of devices, and wherein the diagram also includes program icons representing each of the one or more programs; and displaying the diagram on a display.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
153 words
31 . A method for characterizing a client system, wherein the client system comprises a plurality of devices coupled together, and wherein at least one of the devices includes one or more programs, the method comprising: the server establishing electronic communication with the client system over a network; the server programmatically analyzing the client system to determine presence of the plurality of devices and presence of the one or more programs; the server programmatically generating a configuration diagram which visually represents the client system, wherein the configuration diagram includes device icons representing each of the plurality of devices, wherein the configuration diagram also includes link icons indicating coupling relationships between the plurality of devices, and wherein the configuration diagram also includes program icons representing each of the one or more programs; providing the configuration diagram from the server over the network; and displaying the configuration diagram on a display of the client system.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
153 words
31 . A method for characterizing a client system, wherein the client system comprises a plurality of devices coupled together, and wherein at least one of the devices includes one or more programs, the method comprising: the server establishing electronic communication with the client system over a network; the server programmatically analyzing the client system to determine presence of the plurality of devices and presence of the one or more programs; the server programmatically generating a configuration diagram which visually represents the client system, wherein the configuration diagram includes device icons representing each of the plurality of devices, wherein the configuration diagram also includes link icons indicating coupling relationships between the plurality of devices, and wherein the configuration diagram also includes program icons representing each of the one or more programs; providing the configuration diagram from the server over the network; and displaying the configuration diagram on a display of the client system.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
56 words
32 . The method of claim 31 , further comprising: storing the configuration diagram in a memory medium of the client system, wherein the configuration diagram is usable for one or more of: documenting the client system configuration, modifying the client system configuration, and adding or removing programs or devices to or from the client system.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
31 words
33 . The method of claim 31 , wherein the program icons are visually displayed proximate to respective device icons representing respective devices in which the programs are stored and/or executed.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
129 words
34 . A carrier medium which stores program instructions for characterizing a system, wherein the system comprises a plurality of devices coupled together, wherein at least one of the devices includes one or more programs, wherein the program instructions are executable to perform: programmatically determining information regarding the plurality of devices and the one or more programs; programmatically generating a diagram which visually represents the 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 devices, wherein the diagram also includes link icons indicating coupling relationships between the plurality of devices, and wherein the diagram also includes program icons representing each of the one or more programs; and displaying the diagram on a display.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
129 words
34 . A carrier medium which stores program instructions for characterizing a system, wherein the system comprises a plurality of devices coupled together, wherein at least one of the devices includes one or more programs, wherein the program instructions are executable to perform: programmatically determining information regarding the plurality of devices and the one or more programs; programmatically generating a diagram which visually represents the 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 devices, wherein the diagram also includes link icons indicating coupling relationships between the plurality of devices, and wherein the diagram also includes program icons representing each of the one or more programs; and displaying the diagram on a display.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
140 words
35 . A carrier medium which stores program instructions for characterizing a client system, wherein the program instructions are executable to perform: establishing electronic communication between a server computer and the client system over a network, wherein the client system comprises a plurality of devices coupled together, wherein at least one of the devices includes one or more programs; the server computer programmatically determining information regarding the plurality of devices and the one or more programs; the server computer programmatically generating a diagram which visually represents the client system, wherein the diagram includes device icons representing each of the plurality of devices, wherein the diagram also includes link icons indicating coupling relationships between the plurality of devices, and wherein the diagram also includes program icons representing each of the one or more programs; and displaying the diagram on a display.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
140 words
35 . A carrier medium which stores program instructions for characterizing a client system, wherein the program instructions are executable to perform: establishing electronic communication between a server computer and the client system over a network, wherein the client system comprises a plurality of devices coupled together, wherein at least one of the devices includes one or more programs; the server computer programmatically determining information regarding the plurality of devices and the one or more programs; the server computer programmatically generating a diagram which visually represents the client system, wherein the diagram includes device icons representing each of the plurality of devices, wherein the diagram also includes link icons indicating coupling relationships between the plurality of devices, and wherein the diagram also includes program icons representing each of the one or more programs; and displaying the diagram on a display.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
153 words
36 . A system for characterizing a client system, wherein the client system comprises a plurality of devices coupled together, and wherein at least one of the devices includes one or more programs, the system comprising: a processor; and a memory medium coupled to the processor; and a display coupled to the memory medium and the processor; wherein the memory medium stores program instructions which are executable to perform: electronically connecting to the client system over a network; programmatically determining information regarding the plurality of devices and the one or more programs; programmatically generating a diagram which visually represents the client system, wherein the diagram includes device icons representing each of the plurality of devices, wherein the diagram also includes link icons indicating coupling relationships between the plurality of devices, and wherein the diagram also includes program icons representing each of the one or more programs; and displaying the diagram on the display.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
153 words
36 . A system for characterizing a client system, wherein the client system comprises a plurality of devices coupled together, and wherein at least one of the devices includes one or more programs, the system comprising: a processor; and a memory medium coupled to the processor; and a display coupled to the memory medium and the processor; wherein the memory medium stores program instructions which are executable to perform: electronically connecting to the client system over a network; programmatically determining information regarding the plurality of devices and the one or more programs; programmatically generating a diagram which visually represents the client system, wherein the diagram includes device icons representing each of the plurality of devices, wherein the diagram also includes link icons indicating coupling relationships between the plurality of devices, and wherein the diagram also includes program icons representing each of the one or more programs; and displaying the diagram on the display.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
207 words
37 . A system, comprising: a server computer system, wherein the server system is coupled to a network; a client system, comprising a plurality of devices coupled together, wherein at least one of the devices includes one or more programs, and wherein the client system further comprises a display; wherein the client system is operable to access the server system over the network; wherein the server computer system is operable to: programmatically determine information regarding the plurality of devices and the one or more programs; programmatically generate a diagram which visually represents the client system, wherein the diagram includes device icons representing each of the plurality of devices, wherein the diagram also includes link icons indicating coupling relationships between the plurality of devices, and wherein the diagram also includes program icons representing each of the one or more programs; and transmit the diagram to the client system over the network; wherein the client system is further operable to: receive the diagram from the server computer system; and display the diagram on the display of the client system; wherein the diagram is usable for one or more of: documenting the client system configuration; modifying the configuration of the client system; and debugging the configuration of the client system.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
207 words
37 . A system, comprising: a server computer system, wherein the server system is coupled to a network; a client system, comprising a plurality of devices coupled together, wherein at least one of the devices includes one or more programs, and wherein the client system further comprises a display; wherein the client system is operable to access the server system over the network; wherein the server computer system is operable to: programmatically determine information regarding the plurality of devices and the one or more programs; programmatically generate a diagram which visually represents the client system, wherein the diagram includes device icons representing each of the plurality of devices, wherein the diagram also includes link icons indicating coupling relationships between the plurality of devices, and wherein the diagram also includes program icons representing each of the one or more programs; and transmit the diagram to the client system over the network; wherein the client system is further operable to: receive the diagram from the server computer system; and display the diagram on the display of the client system; wherein the diagram is usable for one or more of: documenting the client system configuration; modifying the configuration of the client system; and debugging the configuration of the client system.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
136 words
38 . A method for characterizing a system, the method comprising: electronically connecting to a system over a network, wherein the system comprises a plurality of devices coupled together, wherein at least one of the devices includes one or more programs; programmatically determining information regarding the plurality of devices and the one or more programs in the system, wherein said programmatically determining includes accessing at least one of the devices in the system over the network; programmatically generating a diagram which visually represents the system, wherein the diagram includes device icons representing each of the plurality of devices, wherein the diagram also includes link icons indicating coupling relationships between the plurality of devices, and wherein the diagram also includes program icons representing each of the one or more programs; and displaying the diagram on a display.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
136 words
38 . A method for characterizing a system, the method comprising: electronically connecting to a system over a network, wherein the system comprises a plurality of devices coupled together, wherein at least one of the devices includes one or more programs; programmatically determining information regarding the plurality of devices and the one or more programs in the system, wherein said programmatically determining includes accessing at least one of the devices in the system over the network; programmatically generating a diagram which visually represents the system, wherein the diagram includes device icons representing each of the plurality of devices, wherein the diagram also includes link icons indicating coupling relationships between the plurality of devices, and wherein the diagram also includes program icons representing each of the one or more programs; and displaying the diagram on a display.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
169 words
39 . A method for characterizing a client system, the method comprising: establishing electronic communication between a server computer and the client system over a network, wherein the client system comprises a plurality of devices coupled together, wherein at least one of the devices includes one or more programs; the server computer providing a first software program to the client system over the network; executing the first software program on the client system, wherein said executing comprises: the first software program programmatically determining information regarding the plurality of devices and the one or more programs in the client system; the first software program programmatically generating a diagram which visually represents the client system, wherein the diagram includes device icons representing each of the plurality of devices, wherein the diagram also includes link icons indicating coupling relationships between the plurality of devices, and wherein the diagram also includes program icons representing each of the one or more programs; and displaying the diagram on a display device of the client system.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
169 words
39 . A method for characterizing a client system, the method comprising: establishing electronic communication between a server computer and the client system over a network, wherein the client system comprises a plurality of devices coupled together, wherein at least one of the devices includes one or more programs; the server computer providing a first software program to the client system over the network; executing the first software program on the client system, wherein said executing comprises: the first software program programmatically determining information regarding the plurality of devices and the one or more programs in the client system; the first software program programmatically generating a diagram which visually represents the client system, wherein the diagram includes device icons representing each of the plurality of devices, wherein the diagram also includes link icons indicating coupling relationships between the plurality of devices, and wherein the diagram also includes program icons representing each of the one or more programs; and displaying the diagram on a display device of the client system.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
181 words
40 . A method for characterizing a client system, the method comprising: establishing electronic communication between a server computer and the client system over a network, wherein the client system comprises a plurality of devices coupled together, wherein at least one of the devices includes one or more programs; the server computer providing a first software program to the client system over the network; executing the first software program on the client system, wherein said executing comprises: the first software program programmatically determining information regarding the plurality of devices and the one or more programs in the client system; and the first software program providing the determined information to the server computer; the server computer programmatically generating a diagram which visually represents the client system, wherein the diagram includes device icons representing each of the plurality of devices, wherein the diagram also includes link icons indicating coupling relationships between the plurality of devices, and wherein the diagram also includes program icons representing each of the one or more programs; and displaying the diagram on a display device of the client system.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
181 words
40 . A method for characterizing a client system, the method comprising: establishing electronic communication between a server computer and the client system over a network, wherein the client system comprises a plurality of devices coupled together, wherein at least one of the devices includes one or more programs; the server computer providing a first software program to the client system over the network; executing the first software program on the client system, wherein said executing comprises: the first software program programmatically determining information regarding the plurality of devices and the one or more programs in the client system; and the first software program providing the determined information to the server computer; the server computer programmatically generating a diagram which visually represents the client system, wherein the diagram includes device icons representing each of the plurality of devices, wherein the diagram also includes link icons indicating coupling relationships between the plurality of devices, and wherein the diagram also includes program icons representing each of the one or more programs; and displaying the diagram on a display device of the client system.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
105 words
41 . A carrier medium for transmission of a first software program, wherein the first software program comprises program instructions executable to: programmatically determine information regarding a plurality of devices and one or more programs in a client system; programmatically generate a diagram which visually represents the client system, wherein the diagram includes device icons representing each of the plurality of devices, wherein the diagram also includes link icons indicating coupling relationships between the plurality of devices, and wherein the diagram also includes program icons representing each of the one or more programs; and display the diagram on a display device of the client system.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
105 words
41 . A carrier medium for transmission of a first software program, wherein the first software program comprises program instructions executable to: programmatically determine information regarding a plurality of devices and one or more programs in a client system; programmatically generate a diagram which visually represents the client system, wherein the diagram includes device icons representing each of the plurality of devices, wherein the diagram also includes link icons indicating coupling relationships between the plurality of devices, and wherein the diagram also includes program icons representing each of the one or more programs; and display the diagram on a display device of the client system.
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