Abstract: A data acquisition system having a plurality of remote data gathering devices each of which communicates according to a respective defined communications protocol. An object database memory containing data for all of the data gathering devices is provided. Protocol drivers stored in the memory may be retrieved and stacked to form a layered protocol driver in accordance with established ISO/OSI standards. A common messaging interface is interposed between adjacent protocol drivers in the stack and a common database interface is interposed between the protocol drivers and the database memory.

Abstract: A fluid density compensator for flow volume measurements utilizes a plurality of look-up calibration tables, each for a different density gas. The measurement device provides an output signal having a frequency corresponding to the flow rate therethrough. Each of the tables is indexed by frequency and includes, for each frequency, an expected differential pressure reading across the measurement device and a volume factor. The tables are constructed during the manufacture of the meter measuring device, and are stored in a non-volatile memory of a computer associated with the measuring device. Also associated with the measuring device is a differential pressure sensor across the measuring device. During operation, the output frequency of the measuring device is utilized to index into all of the tables and compare the differential pressure stored in the tables with the actual measured differential pressure.