Abstract: A method for testing GPS receivers may read GPS files with data for a plurality of GPS satellites, and two or more GPS satellites may be selected from that data. The method may receive parameters for a GPS receiver to be tested. The method may generate two or more GPS signals for the two or more selected GPS satellites. The method may operate on the two or more GPS signals using the received parameters for the GPS receiver to generate two or more calculated GPS signals. These two or more calculated GPS signals may be re-sampled to a common rate. The two or more re-sampled GPS signals may be added together to create a composite GPS signal. The composite GPS signal may be generated using a hardware signal generator, where the composite GPS signal used to test the GPS receiver.

Abstract: One embodiment of the invention comprises a system and method for increasing a user's ease and efficiency of viewing help text related to a function or method call. An application development environment (ADE) may display a prototype tip for a function in a source code window when the user is currently creating or editing a function call to that function. The prototype tip may include a button or other GUI element which the user may click or operate to cause help text for the function and/or help text for one or more parameters of the function to be displayed. The help text that is displayed in response to the user's request may appear in or appear overlayed on the source code window. The help text may be displayed in a convenient location near the current function call.

Abstract: System and method for error handling in a graphical program. An error handling structure is displayed in a graphical program. The error handling structure includes a first frame configured to contain graphical program code for which error handling is to be provided. At least a portion of the graphical program is included in the first frame in response to user input specifying the at least a portion of the graphical program. During execution of the graphical program, the error handling structure aborts execution of the at least a portion of the graphical program in the first frame in response to detection of an unhandled error in the at least a portion of the graphical program in the first frame and continues execution of the graphical program.

Abstract: Configuring wires/icons in a diagram. The diagram may be an executable diagram such as a graphical program or a system diagram. The diagram may include a plurality of icons that are connected by wires, and the icons may visually represent functionality of the diagram. The diagram may be executable to perform the functionality. Displaying the diagram may include displaying a first wire in the diagram, where the first wire connects a first icon and a second icon. Data transfer functionality may be specified for the first wire and/or the first or second icon in the diagram. The data transfer functionality may be visually indicated in the diagram, e.g., by appearances of the first icon, the second icon, the first wire, and/or icons displayed proximate to these components of the diagram.

Abstract: Configuring wires/icons in a diagram. The diagram may be an executable diagram such as a graphical program or a system diagram. The diagram may include a plurality of icons that are connected by wires, and the icons may visually represent functionality of the diagram. The diagram may be executable to perform the functionality. Displaying the diagram may include displaying a first wire in the diagram, where the first wire connects a first icon and a second icon. Data transfer functionality may be specified for the first wire and/or the first or second icon in the diagram. The data transfer functionality may be visually indicated in the diagram, e.g., by appearances of the first icon, the second icon, the first wire, and/or icons displayed proximate to these components of the diagram.

Abstract: A method for developing an automation client program in a graphical programming environment is disclosed. The graphical programming environment provides a set of automation nodes and controls which may be dropped and wired together to create a graphical program. The nodes include an automation refnum which references a user-selected automation class from an automation type library; an automation open node which instantiates an object from the selected automation class; an automation invoke node which invokes a user-selected method of the automation class; and an automation property node which invokes, i.e., reads or writes, user-selected properties of the automation class. The nodes enable the displaying, manipulating, cataloging, editing or performance other operations, such as may be performed by an automation server, on data acquired or generated by a virtual instrument. A method for performing class propagation and type propagation checking of automation objects in a graphical program is also disclosed.

Abstract: Configuring wires/icons in a diagram. The diagram may be an executable diagram such as a graphical program or a system diagram. The diagram may include a plurality of icons that are connected by wires, and the icons may visually represent functionality of the diagram. The diagram may be executable to perform the functionality. Displaying the diagram may include displaying a first wire in the diagram, where the first wire connects a first icon and a second icon. Data transfer functionality may be specified for the first wire and/or the first or second icon in the diagram. The data transfer functionality may be visually indicated in the diagram, e.g., by appearances of the first icon, the second icon, the first wire, and/or icons displayed proximate to these components of the diagram.

Abstract: A user may utilize a prototyping environment to create a sequence of motion control, machine vision, and/or data acquisition (DAQ) operations, e.g., without needing to write or construct code in any programming language. For example, the environment may provide a graphical user interface (GUI) enabling the user to develop/prototype the sequence at a high level, by selecting from and configuring a sequence of operations using the GUI. The prototyping environment application may then be operable to automatically, i.e., programmatically, generate graphical program code implementing the sequence. For example, the environment may generate a standalone graphical program operable to perform the sequence of operations.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A system and method for programmatically generating a graphical program in response to state diagram information. The state diagram information may specify a plurality of states and state transitions, wherein each state transition specifies a transition from a first state to a second state. A graphical program generation program (GPG program), may receive the state diagram information and automatically, i.e., programmatically, generate a graphical program (or graphical program portion) based on the state diagram information.

Abstract: A system and method for creating and using configuration diagrams for configuring distributed systems. The methods described herein may be used for various types of operations in configuring distributed systems, including creating programs, managing programs in the distributed system, deploying programs to various distributed devices, configuring remote execution or inter-operation of distributed programs, and executing distributed applications. Embodiments of the invention utilize graphical iconic-based techniques for performing the above operations. The configuration diagram may include device icons which represent devices and program icons which represent programs. Device icons and program icons may be associated with each other to accomplish various program creation and deployment operations. Device icons and program icons may also interact with graphical program nodes or icons. Context sensitive device connections and/or program connections are displayed.

Abstract: A system and method for programmatically generating a graphical program in response to state diagram information. The state diagram information may specify a plurality of states and state transitions, wherein each state transition specifies a transition from a first state to a second state. A graphical program generation program (GPG program), may receive the state diagram information and automatically, i.e., programmatically, generate a graphical program (or graphical program portion) based on the state diagram information.

Abstract: A system and method for programmatically determining interface information for a graphical program. Interface information for a graphical program may include information necessary to invoke execution of the graphical program. A first program may receive a request for information regarding an interface of a graphical program. In response to the request, the first program may programmatically determine the information regarding the interface of the graphical program. The interface information may include such information as parameters of the graphical program, their respective data types, whether each parameter is an input parameter, an output parameter, or both, and default values for input parameters. The programmatically determined information regarding the interface of the graphical program may then be returned to a second program. The second program may invoke execution of the graphical program according to the received information.

Abstract: A first graphical program executing on a first device may execute a first graphical code portion for a plurality of iteration. Various systems and methods for synchronizing the execution of the iterations of the first graphical code portion with graphical code portions executing iteratively in graphical programs on other devices are described. Various systems and methods for synchronizing the execution of the iterations of the first graphical code portion with operation of measurement devices or other devices are also described.

Abstract: Automatic conversion of textual program code to graphical program code is performed. The method automatically translates the given functionality of a textual program code into executable graphical program code, corresponding to the same functionality. The method includes a parsing routine that generates a syntax tree and code generation routines, which create graphical program code from the syntax tree.

Abstract: A system and method for performing a measurement task. A node is displayed in a graphical program, and configured to receive a measurement task specification (MTS). The node may be coupled to an MTS node, or to a configuration node which constructs the MTS at run time. When the program executes, the node receives the MTS, invokes an expert system to analyze the MTS, optionally validate the MTS, generates a run-time specification for the task. The node them invokes a run-time builder to analyze the run-time specification and generate a run-time based on the run-time specification, where the run-time is executable to perform the measurement task. The node may be a read node, a write node, or a start node connected to a read or write node. Additional operations may be performed prior to or during the first iteration, and/or during or after the last iteration, of the task.

Abstract: A quadrature modulator (QM) may be calibrated by determining total equivalent offsets in the I- and Q-channels, a total equivalent gain imbalance between the I- and Q-channels, and a total equivalent phase skew between the I- and Q-channels. These values may be obtained by taking various scalar measurements of the image to signal ratio (ISR) and carrier to signal ratio (CSR) of the QM, while alternatively altering the system gain imbalance, system phase skew, I-channel offset and Q-channel offset using a respective gain parameter, phase parameter, I-channel offset parameter, and Q-channel parameter. The gain and phase parameters may be defined in terms of the ISR, and the channel offset parameters may be defined in terms of the CSR. The system gain imbalance, system phase skew, and total offset in the channels may then be calculated based on the various ISR and CSR measurements.

Abstract: System and method for developing a measurement program that performs a measurement function. A measurement program is created in a development environment in response to first user input, possibly including configuring a physical unit under test (UUT) with one or more parameter values. The measurement program includes icons that visually indicate the measurement function, and is executable to receive signals from the physical (UUT). Second user input is received specifying that the measurement program is to receive simulated data instead of signals from the physical UUT. In response, the development environment is configured to provide the simulated data to the measurement program, possibly including configuring the simulated data according to the parameter value(s). The configuring does not change the measurement program.

Abstract: A system for programming a computer provides a set of software-based virtual machines each for instructing a computer to carry out a selected operation. Each virtual machine is represented by a virtual front panel displayed on a screen and each virtual front panel graphically displays operator controllable values of input and output parameters utilized by the virtual machine it represents. The system is adapted to synthesize a new virtual machine for instructing the computer to perform a sequence of operations wherein each operation is carried out by the computer according to the instructions of an operator selected one of the existing virtual machines. The system also creates a new virtual front panel for displaying input and output parameters associated with the new virtual machine. The system permits the operator to program the computer by directing synthesis of a hierarchy of virtual machines.