System and method for performing interface independent virtual instrumentation functions in a graphical data flow program

An instrumentation control system, comprising:

• a computer system including memory, a data processor, a user input device, and a video screen;
• at least one instrument coupled to said computer system, wherein the instrument couples to the computer system through one or more of a plurality of possible input/output (I/O) interface types;
• wherein the memory in the computer system stores code and data for creating a graphical program for controlling the instrument coupled to said computer system, wherein the memory in the computer system further stores a plurality of resources for controlling the instrument coupled to said computer system;
• wherein the data processor is operable to execute code and data from the memory in the computer system to display on the screen a graphical program, the graphical program including a plurality of node icons corresponding to respective ones of the plurality of resources, wherein the data processor displays said graphical program in response to user input received from said user input device, wherein said graphical program is operable to control the instrument independent of two or more of said plurality of possible input/output (I/O) interface types for coupling said instrument to said computer system.

A computer-readable storage media for operating in a computer system, the computer system including a display screen, an input device, memory, and a data processor, wherein at least one instrument is coupled to the computer system, wherein the instrument couples to the computer system through one or more of a plurality of possible input/output (I/O) interface types,

• wherein the media stores a plurality of resources, wherein said resources are operable to control capabilities of the instrument which are independent of one or more of said plurality of possible I/O interface types for coupling said instrument to said computer system;
• wherein the storage media includes program instructions for creating a program for controlling the at least one instrument coupled to the computer system, wherein the program instructions implement:
• displaying on the screen a palette comprising node icons, wherein the node icons correspond to respective ones of the plurality of resources;
• displaying on the screen a graphical program in response to user input, the graphical program including a plurality of node icons from said palette comprising node icons, wherein said graphical program is operable to control the instrument independent of two or more of said plurality of possible input/output (I/O) interface types for coupling said instrument to said computer system.