Patents by Inventor Stephen C. Thorne

Stephen C. Thorne has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 8429552
    Abstract: System and method for accessing properties of a pre-defined object in a graphical program (GP) operable to perform first functionality. A node icon is displayed in the GP and coupled to the pre-defined object in response to user input, and is associated with program instructions executable to only provide access to a plurality of properties corresponding to the object, and specifying configuration of the object, where the object is associated with a subset of the first functionality. Available properties of the object are displayed, and user input indicating the plurality of properties received. The GP is executed, including executing the property node to: receive input specifying modification of a property, and modify the property to configure the object to perform the subset of the first functionality; and/or to read the property from the pre-defined object, and provide the property to a graphical program element of the GP, e.g., for display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: National Instruments Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas A. Makowski, Rajesh Vaidya, Deborah E. Bryant, Brian M. Johnson, Stephen C. Thorne
  • Publication number: 20100031181
    Abstract: System and method for accessing properties of a pre-defined object in a graphical program (GP) operable to perform first functionality. A node icon is displayed in the GP and coupled to the pre-defined object in response to user input, and is associated with program instructions executable to only provide access to a plurality of properties corresponding to the object, and specifying configuration of the object, where the object is associated with a subset of the first functionality. Available properties of the object are displayed, and user input indicating the plurality of properties received. The GP is executed, including executing the property node to: receive input specifying modification of a property, and modify the property to configure the object to perform the subset of the first functionality; and/or to read the property from the pre-defined object, and provide the property to a graphical program element of the GP, e.g., for display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2009
    Publication date: February 4, 2010
    Inventors: Thomas A. Makowski, Rajesh Vaidya, Deborah E. Bryant, Brian M. Johnson, Stephen C. Thorne
  • Patent number: 7647578
    Abstract: System and method for programmatic creation of a task specification in a graphical program. A graphical program is programmatically analyzed. The graphical program implements a task, and includes a plurality of interconnected nodes that visually indicate functionality of the graphical program, including a function node that requires a task specification as input. The task specification includes hardware and/or software specifications for performing the task. The task specification is programmatically generated in response to the analyzing, and programmatically provided to the function node as input, where the function node operates to execute in accordance with the generated task specification to perform at least a portion of the task. The analyzing, generating, and providing are performed at run-time of the graphical program, e.g., during execution of the graphical program, and may be invoked or performed by a graphical program execution system, by a node in the graphical program, or both.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: National Instruments Corporation
    Inventors: Louis R. Murphy, Stephen C. Thorne, Deborah E. Bryant
  • Patent number: 7631295
    Abstract: System and method for accessing properties of a pre-defined object in a graphical program (GP) operable to perform first functionality. A node icon is displayed in the GP and coupled to the pre-defined object in response to user input, and is associated with program instructions executable to only provide access to a plurality of properties corresponding to the object, and specifying configuration of the object, where the object is associated with a subset of the first functionality. Available properties of the object are displayed, and user input indicating the plurality of properties received. The GP is executed, including executing the property node to: receive input specifying modification of a property, and modify the property to configure the object to perform the subset of the first functionality; and/or to read the property from the pre-defined object, and provide the property to a graphical program element of the GP, e.g., for display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2009
    Assignee: National Instruments Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas A. Makowski, Rajesh Vaidya, Deborah E. Bryant, Brian M. Johnson, Stephen C. Thorne
  • Publication number: 20040230944
    Abstract: System and method for programmatic creation of a task specification in a graphical program. A graphical program is programmatically analyzed. The graphical program implements a task, and includes a plurality of interconnected nodes that visually indicate functionality of the graphical program, including a function node that requires a task specification as input. The task specification includes hardware and/or software specifications for performing the task. The task specification is programmatically generated in response to the analyzing, and programmatically provided to the function node as input, where the function node operates to execute in accordance with the generated task specification to perform at least a portion of the task. The analyzing, generating, and providing are performed at run-time of the graphical program, e.g., during execution of the graphical program, and may be invoked or performed by a graphical program execution system, by a node in the graphical program, or both.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2003
    Publication date: November 18, 2004
    Inventors: Louis R. Murphy, Stephen C. Thorne, Deborah E. Bryant
  • Publication number: 20040230553
    Abstract: System and method for accessing properties of a pre-defined object in a graphical program (GP) operable to perform first functionality. A node icon is displayed in the GP and coupled to the pre-defined object in response to user input, and is associated with program instructions executable to only provide access to a plurality of properties corresponding to the object, and specifying configuration of the object, where the object is associated with a subset of the first functionality. Available properties of the object are displayed, and user input indicating the plurality of properties received. The GP is executed, including executing the property node to: receive input specifying modification of a property, and modify the property to configure the object to perform the subset of the first functionality; and/or to read the property from the pre-defined object, and provide the property to a graphical program element of the GP, e.g., for display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2003
    Publication date: November 18, 2004
    Inventors: Thomas A. Makowski, Rajesh Vaidya, Deborah E. Bryant, Brian M. Johnson, Stephen C. Thorne