National Instruments Corporation

Greg Richardson

Steve Rogers

Darshan K Shah

Robert E Dye

Dean A Luick

System and method for executing a graphical program on a first computer and providing a user interface of the graphical program on a second computer, where the graphical program includes a plurality of interconnected function icons representing graphical data flow of a function. Information indicating a plurality of graphical programs on the first computer, e.g., a list, may be displayed on the second computer, and user input specifying the graphical program on the first computer received to the second computer, e.g., selecting the graphical program from the list of graphical programs. The graphical program is executed on the first computer, and information describing the user interface of the graphical program is provided to the second computer during execution. The user interface of the graphical program is displayed on the second computer, facilitating interaction between a user of the second computer and the graphical program executing on the first computer.

Graphical programming system with block diagram execution and distributed user interface display

Graphical program execution with distributed block diagram display

System and method for enabling a program to call into graphical program code via a shared library. A graphical programming system may export a graphical program to a shared library, such as a Windows Dynamic Link Library (DLL), Unix Shared Library, etc. A program, e.g. a text-based program, may then use the shared library to call into the graphical program. Graphical programs or subprograms may have associated inputs or outputs of various data types. When creating a shared library, a functional interface specifying parameterized versions of these inputs and outputs may be specified, either automatically or interactively. A program may then utilize this functional interface to construct an appropriate call into the shared library. A user interface enabling users to specify the mapping of graphical program inputs and outputs onto parameters of the functional interface is described. Multiple graphical programs or subprograms may be exported to a shared library. The shared library may include an entry point function associated with each graphical program or subprogram. When a program calls into the entry point associated with a particular graphical program, the entry point function may manipulate or copy the parameters passed by the calling program into a representation expected by the graphical program.

System and method for exporting a graphical program to a shared library

System and method enabling client computer(s) to connect to a server computer and receive a graphical program user interface panel(s) for providing input to and/or displaying output from the graphical program, thereby comprising a distributed virtual instrumentation system, wherein a block diagram executes on a server computer to perform a measurement or automation function, and the panel(s) is/are displayed on the client computer(s), enabling users to remotely view and/or control the function. The user may specify the server, i.e., by entering a URL into a web browser and may also specify the graphical program desired. The user interface panel may be dynamically updated during execution of the program. The user may interact with the panel on the client computer to provide input to the graphical program executing on the server, and may also request and receive a block diagram for the remote graphical program, e.g., to view and/or remotely edit the program.

Growing community of inventors

Round Rock, TX, United States of America

Greg Richardson