Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
153 words
A method of dynamic memory allocation between synchronous and asynchronous data acquired by a test instrument for digital data acquisition and analysis, the method comprising the steps of: acquiring synchronous data from a first input signal source at times determined by a clock source external to the test instrument; acquiring asynchronous data from a second input signal source at times determined by a clock source internal to the test instrument; generating timestamp values; determining by reference to the clock source external to the test instrument when the synchronous data is valid; determining when the asynchronous data is valid; and packing valid synchronous data, valid asynchronous data, and timestamp values into a memory according to a sequence in which the synchronous data and asynchronous data was acquired, with each data and timestamp value being identified with status bits to indicate which was synchronous data, which was asynchronous data, and which was a timestamp value.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
153 words
A method of dynamic memory allocation between synchronous and asynchronous data acquired by a test instrument for digital data acquisition and analysis, the method comprising the steps of: acquiring synchronous data from a first input signal source at times determined by a clock source external to the test instrument; acquiring asynchronous data from a second input signal source at times determined by a clock source internal to the test instrument; generating timestamp values; determining by reference to the clock source external to the test instrument when the synchronous data is valid; determining when the asynchronous data is valid; and packing valid synchronous data, valid asynchronous data, and timestamp values into a memory according to a sequence in which the synchronous data and asynchronous data was acquired, with each data and timestamp value being identified with status bits to indicate which was synchronous data, which was asynchronous data, and which was a timestamp value.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
174 words
An apparatus for dynamically allocating memory space between synchronous and asynchronous data acquired by a test instrument for digital data acquisition and analysis comprising: means for acquiring synchronous data from a first input signal source at times determined by a clock source external to the test instrument; means for acquiring asynchronous data from a second input signal source at times determined by a clock source internal to the test instrument; means for generating timestamp values; mean for determining by reference to the clock source external to the test instrument when the synchronous data is valid to produce valid synchronous data; mean for determining when the asynchronous data is valid to produce valid asynchronous data; and means for packing the valid synchronous data, the valid asynchronous data, and the timestamp values into a memory according to a sequence in which the synchronous data and asynchronous data was acquired, with each data and timestamp value being identified with status bits to indicate which was synchronous data, which was asynchronous data, and which was a timestamp value.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
174 words
An apparatus for dynamically allocating memory space between synchronous and asynchronous data acquired by a test instrument for digital data acquisition and analysis comprising: means for acquiring synchronous data from a first input signal source at times determined by a clock source external to the test instrument; means for acquiring asynchronous data from a second input signal source at times determined by a clock source internal to the test instrument; means for generating timestamp values; mean for determining by reference to the clock source external to the test instrument when the synchronous data is valid to produce valid synchronous data; mean for determining when the asynchronous data is valid to produce valid asynchronous data; and means for packing the valid synchronous data, the valid asynchronous data, and the timestamp values into a memory according to a sequence in which the synchronous data and asynchronous data was acquired, with each data and timestamp value being identified with status bits to indicate which was synchronous data, which was asynchronous data, and which was a timestamp value.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the second input signal source is the same as the first input signal source.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
An apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the second input signal source is the same as the second input signal source.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
46 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the packing step comprises the steps of: associating timestamp values with stored data when a data acquisition rate permits; and storing data without timestamp values when the data acquisition rate causes data acquisition to occur at a maximum rate.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
37 words
An apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the means for packing associates timestamp values with stored data when a data acquisition rate permits and stores the data without timestamp values when the data acquisition rate is maximum.