National Instruments Corporation

Mohammed Kamran Shah

David W Fuller, Iii

Jeffrey N Correll

Brian Sierer

Yixin Guo

Jeffrey L Kodosky

Paul F Austin

Ray Hsu

Jonathan P Fournie

Duncan Hudson

Jacob Kornerup

Christopher G Cifra

Timothy J Hayles

Duncan G Hudson, Iii

Ramprasad Kudukoli

David L Potter

Charles E Crain, Ii

Adam K Gabbert

Jenifer M Loy

Malcolm I Smith

Brock J Reeve

Scott D Postma

Richard M Ashby

David W Iii Fuller

Providing zooming within a system diagram. Initially, a diagram of a system may be displayed. The diagram may include a plurality of icons representing physical components of the system. These plurality of icons may be initially displayed at a first level of magnification. User input to zoom on a first physical component in the diagram may be received. Accordingly, the first physical component may be displayed at a second level of magnification and other ones of the physical components may be displayed at a third level of magnification. The second level of magnification may be greater than the first level of magnification and the third level of magnification may be less than the first level of magnification. Alternatively, or additionally, different representations for various components of the system may be displayed in the diagram during or after the zoom.

Semantic zoom within a diagram of a system

System and method for performing program-related operations over a network via a web browser. A network connection is established between a server computer and a client computer over a network. A universal resource identifier (URI) is sent from the client computer to the server computer over the network, where the URI indicates a program, e.g., a graphical program (GP), or at least a portion of a graphical program interactive development environment (GPIDE), e.g., a graphical program editor, an execution engine, a static or dynamic analyzer, and/or compiler. The at least a portion of the GPIDE is received from the server computer over the network in response to the URI, and executed in a web browser of the client computer to perform some specified functionality with respect to the GP.

Providing online graphical data flow web application tools or services for charge

Licensing and management of shared graphical data flow web applications

System and method for configuring a client system, e.g., a measurement system. First input is received from a client system over a network requesting access to a plurality of configuration diagrams comprising respective solutions to respective tasks. At least a subset of the plurality of configuration diagrams is displayed on a display device of the client system for viewing by a user. Second input is received from the client system selecting one of the displayed configuration diagrams indicating a solution for a task to be performed by the client system. The solution is provided to the client system over the network, and may include the selected configuration diagram and/or pricing information for proposed products. The configuration diagrams are stored in a configuration diagram database. The stored configuration diagrams may be pre-defined solutions for pre-defined tasks, generated in response to received user requirements, and/or received from client systems and/or vendors.

Network based system which provides a database of simulation solutions

System and method for merging differences between graphical programs. Information is received regarding matches and differences, e.g., in hardware, software, configuration, and/or connectivity, between first and second graphical programs, each comprising respective pluralities of interconnected nodes. The information is analyzed to merge differences between the first and second graphical programs, e.g., for each difference: removing all non-common nodes and connections thereto in the second sub-graph from the second graphical program, adding all common nodes and connections thereto in the first sub-graph to the second graphical program, determining all edges in the first sub-graph that connect common nodes to non-common nodes; and for each determined edge, adding to the second graphical program an edge that connects a corresponding common node in the second sub-graph with a corresponding non-common node added from the first sub-graph. A merged graphical program is displayed on a display, e.g., graphically indicating the merged matches and/or differences.

Automatically merging graphical programs

System and method for merging graphical programs. Information is received regarding first, second, and third graphical programs, where the third graphical program is an ancestor graphical program of the first and second. The information is analyzed to determine differences among the graphical programs. The first and second graphical programs are merged based on the determined differences, generating a merged graphical program, which is displayed. The analyzing may include determining first differences between the first and third graphical programs, and determining second differences between the second and third graphical programs, where the merging includes: for each of at least a subset of the differences: if the difference does not conflict with any other differences, incorporating the difference into the merged graphical program; and if the difference conflicts with another difference, prompting the user to resolve the conflict, receiving user input resolving the conflict, and modifying the merged graphical program accordingly.

Merging graphical programs based on an ancestor graphical program

System and method for generating a configuration diagram based on user specification of a task. A server computer communicates with a client system, e.g., a measurement system, including a client computer system, over a network. The server receives requirements, e.g., a task specification, for a task, e.g., a measurement task, where the requirements are provided in response to user input. A plurality of products operable to perform the task are determined in response to the requirements, e.g., by programmatically analyzing the requirements. A diagram is displayed on the client computer system iconically representing the plurality of products, including icons representing at least a subset of the products to the user as proposed hardware and/or software products for the client system. Pricing information for the proposed products may be displayed. User input indicating purchase of at least one of the products is received and the purchased products provided to the user.

Automatically generating a configuration diagram based on task requirements

System and method for determining and/or merging differences between configuration diagrams. First information is received regarding a first configuration diagram comprising a first plurality of nodes and graphically representing a first system, and second information is received regarding a second configuration diagram comprising a first plurality of nodes and graphically representing a second system. At least a portion of the nodes may correspond to hardware devices, programs, and/or configuration data of the respective systems, and may be interconnected. The first and second information is analyzed to determine and/or merge differences between the first configuration diagram and the second configuration diagram, e.g., differences between hardware, software, configuration, and/or connectivity, e.g., by traversing the configuration diagrams or data structures representing the diagrams. An indication of the differences and/or a merged configuration diagram may be displayed on a display device, e.g., where the differences are indicated graphically, e.g., via highlighting.

Determining differences between configuration diagrams

System and method for determining differences and/or matches between a configuration diagram and an actual system. First information is received regarding a configuration diagram comprising a first plurality of nodes and graphically representing a first system, and second information is received regarding an actual system comprising a plurality components. At least a portion of the nodes may correspond to hardware devices, programs, and/or configuration data of the first system, and may be interconnected. The first and second information is analyzed to determine differences and/or matches between the configuration diagram and the actual system, e.g., between hardware, software, configuration, and/or connectivity, e.g., by traversing the configuration diagram or a data structure representing the diagram, and/or traversing the actual system or a data structure representing the actual system. An indication of the differences and/or matches is displayed on a display device, e.g., textually, or graphically, e.g., via a merged configuration diagram.

Comparing a configuration diagram to an actual system

Determining and merging differences between configuration diagrams

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

Specifying products over a network

Pricing products over a network

A system and method for selecting a connectable element of a hardware device in a measurement system. A diagram of the measurement system may be displayed. The diagram may include a first icon representing a hardware device component of the measurement system. The hardware device may include one or more connectable elements. A graphical indication of the one or more connectable elements of the hardware device may be displayed in response to user input. For example, the user may hover a pointer, e.g., a mouse cursor, over the first icon or may hover the pointer in a vicinity of the first icon to cause the graphical indication to be displayed. A first connectable element of the hardware device may be selected in response to user input received to the displayed graphical indication of the one or more connectable elements. For example, the first connectable element may be selected in order to connect the first connectable element to another component in the measurement system.

Selecting a connectable element of a hardware device in a measurement system

Network-based system for selecting or purchasing software products

One embodiment of the present invention comprises a method for displaying a diagram of a measurement system, in which various components in the diagram may be expanded or collapsed as desired. It may be desirable to allow the user to view various aspects of a measurement system at various levels of granularity. For example, the user may desire to view details regarding one or more components in the measurement system but may not want to see details for other components. Providing the ability to expand or collapse components in a measurement system diagram may allow the user to view a compact diagram illustrating the measurement system from a high level, or to expand various components in the diagram to 'drill down' into particular sub-systems or components to view details regarding those sub-systems or components.

Growing community of inventors

Austin, TX, United States of America

Mohammed Kamran Shah