Abstract: A remote device access (RDA) feature for enabling access and control of remote devices in a data acquisition (DAQ) system. The data acquisition system comprises at least one client computer system executing a client DAQ application. The data acquisition system also comprises one or more server computer systems coupled to the client computer system through a network, wherein each server computer includes a data acquisition device which is controllable by the client DAQ application. The RDA method comprises the client DAQ application making a call to access the remote DAQ device in the server computer. In response to a determination that the call is intended for a remote DAQ device (the identical call could be intended for a local DAQ device), the call is then packaged into one or more packets and transferred to the server computer. The packets are preferably transferred using a remote procedure call (RPC).

Abstract: A data acquisition system comprising a computer system, coupled to a data acquisition device, a data acquisition application executing on the computer system, and device interface software with an attribute-based API executing on the computer system. The attribute-based API enables the data acquisition application to perform steps to control the data acquisition device. The steps comprise creating a task for controlling the data acquisition device, setting values of the attributes of the task and device, starting the task acquiring data, and destroying said task. Creating the task comprises allocating an attribute database comprising a plurality of attribute objects corresponding to the attributes of the data acquisition device and an attribute table referencing the plurality of attribute objects. The attribute objects comprise environment data containing values of the attributes and a function for setting the values of the attributes. The attribute table comprises attribute table entries.