Abstract: A method for allowing communication between a remote analytical instrument and a client component is provided. The method includes communicating a first software message in a first message format from a client component to a first connectivity driver, translating the first software message from the first message format to the second message format using the first connectivity driver, and communicating the software messages in the second message format directly to the first remote analytical instrument from the first connectivity driver. The first software message relates to the operation of a first remote analytical instrument. The first software message is selected from a standardized command set. The first remote analytical instrument is configured to receive messages in a second message format different than the first message format which are capable of inducing operation of the first remote analytical instrument.

Abstract: A computer readable memory medium comprising program instructions for developing and testing a connectivity driver for an instrument is provided. The program instructions are executable by a processor to record transmissions to or from the instrument, place raw data from each recorded transmission into a primary field, and generate a secondary field associated with the primary field. The secondary field includes at least one of: a time that the transmission was transmitted at, a direction the transmission was transmitted in, a content of the transmission, and a state of the connectivity driver during the transmission. The program instructions are also executable by a processor to modify the content of the first or secondary fields, and play the modified transmission from computer readable memory medium in order to debug the communications software.

Abstract: A method for graphically developing a connectivity driver is provided. The method includes inputting a hardware message and a first delimiter into computer readable memory medium and generating a first graphical diagram in response. The graphical diagram includes a first branch having a primary parsing node. The first branch represents the discrete record field within the hardware message. The primary parsing node represents the discrete record field within the hardware message and contains information on how to separate the discrete record field from the hardware message. The method also includes graphically assembling a second graphical diagram in response to user input. The second graphical diagram includes a first state node and a second state node. The first state node is connected with the second state node via a transition. The method also includes converting the first and second graphical diagrams into program code from which the connectivity driver is executed.

Abstract: A computer readable memory medium comprising program instructions for developing and testing a connectivity driver for an instrument is provided. The program instructions are executable by a processor to record transmissions to or from the instrument, place raw data from each recorded transmission into a primary field, and generate a secondary field associated with the primary field. The secondary field includes at least one of: a time that the transmission was transmitted at, a direction the transmission was transmitted in, a content of the transmission, and a state of the connectivity driver during the transmission. The program instructions are also executable by a processor to modify the content of the first or secondary fields, and play the modified transmission from computer readable memory medium in order to debug the communications software.

Abstract: A method for graphically developing a connectivity driver is provided. The method includes inputting a hardware message and a first delimiter into computer readable memory medium and generating a first graphical diagram in response. The graphical diagram includes a first branch having a primary parsing node. The first branch represents the discrete record field within the hardware message. The primary parsing node represents the discrete record field within the hardware message and contains information on how to separate the discrete record field from the hardware message. The method also includes graphically assembling a second graphical diagram in response to user input. The second graphical diagram includes a first state node and a second state node. The first state node is connected with the second state node via a transition. The method also includes converting the first and second graphical diagrams into program code from which the connectivity driver is executed.

Abstract: A method for graphically developing a connectivity driver is provided. The method includes inputting a hardware message and a first delimiter into computer readable memory medium and generating a first graphical diagram in response. The graphical diagram includes a first branch having a primary parsing node. The first branch represents the discrete record field within the hardware message. The primary parsing node represents the discrete record field within the hardware message and contains information on how to separate the discrete record field from the hardware message. The method also includes graphically assembling a second graphical diagram in response to user input. The second graphical diagram includes a first state node and a second state node. The first state node is connected with the second state node via a transition. The method also includes converting the first and second graphical diagrams into program code from which the connectivity driver is executed.

Abstract: A method for allowing communication between a remote analytical instrument and a client component is provided. The method includes communicating a first software message in a first message format from a client component to a first connectivity driver, translating the first software message from the first message format to the second message format using the first connectivity driver, and communicating the software messages in the second message format directly to the first remote analytical instrument from the first connectivity driver. The first software message relates to the operation of a first remote analytical instrument. The first software message is selected from a standardized command set. The first remote analytical instrument is configured to receive messages in a second message format different than the first message format which are capable of inducing operation of the first remote analytical instrument.

Abstract: A method for graphically developing a connectivity driver is provided. The method includes inputting a hardware message and a first delimiter into computer readable memory medium and generating a first graphical diagram in response. The graphical diagram includes a first branch having a primary parsing node. The first branch represents the discrete record field within the hardware message. The primary parsing node represents the discrete record field within the hardware message and contains information on how to separate the discrete record field from the hardware message. The method also includes graphically assembling a second graphical diagram in response to user input. The second graphical diagram includes a first state node and a second state node. The first state node is connected with the second state node via a transition. The method also includes converting the first and second graphical diagrams into program code from which the connectivity driver is executed.