Abstract: A method and system for creating a protocol dependent control path for instrument applications. In a representative embodiment, identifications of a client, of an instrument application, of a client specific protocol, and of an application specific protocol are obtained. The client is configured to invoke the application and to communicate using the client specific protocol. The application is configured to communicate using the application specific protocol. Then a control path between the client and the application is automatically created. In another representative embodiment, a system for creating the protocol dependent control path for instrument applications includes a management logic module configured to obtain identification of the client, to obtain identification of the instrument application, to obtain identification of the client specific protocol, to obtain identification of the application specific protocol, and to automatically create the control path between the client and the application.

Abstract: Alteration of a Standard Commands for Programmable Instrumentation (SCPI) command set for instrument control. In representative embodiments, each command of the command set includes a different combination of SCPI grammatical elements; the SCPI grammatical elements are organized hierarchically in a tree data structure; and the tree has nodes with each node comprising one of the SCPI grammatical elements. A node to alter is selected, and an alteration to the selected node is specified. Access to the selected node, as well as to any descendant nodes of the selected node is restricted; the selected node is altered in accordance with the specified alteration, wherein the alteration of the selected node is performed at runtime; and the access restriction to the selected node and to any descendant nodes of the selected node is removed, wherein the access restriction, node alteration, and access removal are performed while the instrument is operational.

Abstract: A method and system for creating a protocol dependent control path for instrument applications. In a representative embodiment, identifications of a client, of an instrument application, of a client specific protocol, and of an application specific protocol are obtained. The client is configured to invoke the application and to communicate using the client specific protocol. The application is configured to communicate using the application specific protocol. Then a control path between the client and the application is automatically created. In another representative embodiment, a system for creating the protocol dependent control path for instrument applications includes a management logic module configured to obtain identification of the client, to obtain identification of the instrument application, to obtain identification of the client specific protocol, to obtain identification of the application specific protocol, and to automatically create the control path between the client and the application.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for remotely controlling an instrument. In representative embodiments, at least one communication is received from each of at least two clients, wherein each received communication conforms to a client specific protocol. It is determined from which client each received communication was received. An application resident on the instrument for which each received communication is intended is determined, wherein at least one application is resident on the instrument. And each received communication is transferred to the intended application.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for obtaining a client program grammar communication from an Application Programming Interface (API) call. The API call is first obtained. When metadata is associated with the API call, the associated metadata is obtained and a best estimation of the client program grammar communication is obtained from the associated metadata and from the API call. Otherwise, a best estimation of the client program grammar communication is automatically obtained from the API call.

Abstract: Alteration of a Standard Commands for Programmable Instrumentation (SCPI) command set for instrument control. In representative embodiments, each command of the command set includes a different combination of SCPI grammatical elements; the SCPI grammatical elements are organized hierarchically in a tree data structure; and the tree has nodes with each node comprising one of the SCPI grammatical elements. A node to alter is selected, and an alteration to the selected node is specified. Access to the selected node, as well as to any descendant nodes of the selected node is restricted; the selected node is altered in accordance with the specified alteration, wherein the alteration of the selected node is performed at runtime; and the access restriction to the selected node and to any descendant nodes of the selected node is removed, wherein the access restriction, node alteration, and access removal are performed while the instrument is operational.

Abstract: A method for translating between Standard Commands for Programmable Instrumentation (SCPI) protocol and .NET protocol communications. When the communication from the client is a SCPI protocol command, it is converted to a .NET protocol command. The .NET protocol command is evaluated to determine the validity of the parameters sent from the client with the SCPI protocol command. Otherwise, when the communication is a SCPI protocol query from the client, the SCPI protocol query is converted to a .NET protocol query, and the .NET protocol query is evaluated to determine the validity of the parameters sent from the client with the SCPI protocol query. When the communication is intended for an instrument application, an appropriate Application Program Interface (API) responsive to method calls in the .NET protocol is then called.