System and method for configuring a reconfigurable system

A method for configuring a reconfigurable measurement system, the method comprising:

• displaying a graphical user interface on a display which is useable for configuring the reconfigurable measurement system, wherein the reconfigurable measurement system comprises a programmable hardware element and one or more fixed hardware resources coupled to the programmable hardware element, and wherein the graphical user interface displays icons corresponding to each of at least a subset of the fixed hardware resources;
• wherein the programmable hardware element comprises a programmable gate array;
• receiving user input specifying a measurement function;
• generating a hardware configuration program, wherein the hardware configuration program is deployable on the reconfigurable measurement system;
• and
• deploying the hardware configuration program on the programmable hardware element, wherein the hardware configuration program specifies use of one or more of the fixed hardware resources;
• wherein, after said deploying, the reconfigurable measurement system is operable to perform the measurement function.

A method for configuring a reconfigurable system, comprising:

• receiving user input specifying resources required by an application to perform a function, wherein the specified resources comprise one or more fixed hardware resources;
• receiving user input specifying timing and triggering requirements of the application with respect to the specified resources;
• and
• generating a hardware configuration program, wherein the hardware configuration program is deployable on the reconfigurable system, wherein the reconfigurable system comprises a programmable gate array, wherein, after said deployment, the reconfigurable system is operable to perform the function.

A system for configuring a reconfigurable device, comprising:

• a computer system comprising a processor and a memory;
• wherein the memory stores a graphical user interface program which is executable to receive user input specifying a function;
• wherein the memory also stores a configuration generation program which is executable to generate a hardware configuration program based on the user input;
• and
• a device coupled to the computer system, wherein the device includes:
• a programmable hardware element, wherein the programmable hardware element comprises a programmable gate array and wherein the hardware configuration program is operable to be deployed onto the programmable hardware element;
• and
• one or more fixed hardware resources coupled to the programmable hardware element;
• wherein the graphical user interface program is further executable to display icons on a display corresponding to each of at least a subset of the fixed hardware resources;
• wherein the hardware configuration program specifies a configuration for the programmable hardware element that implements the function;
• wherein the hardware configuration program further specifies usage of the one or more fixed hardware resources by the programmable hardware element in performing the function;
• and
• wherein, after the hardware configuration program is deployed onto the programmable hardware element, the device is operable to perform the function.

A system for configuring a reconfigurable measurement device, comprising:

• a computer system comprising a processor and a memory;
• wherein the memory stores a graphical user interface program which is executable to receive user input specifying a measurement function;
• wherein the memory also stores a configuration generation program which is executable to generate a hardware configuration program based on the user input;
• and
• a device coupled to the computer system, wherein the device includes:
• a programmable hardware element, wherein the programmable hardware element comprises a programmable gate array and wherein the hardware configuration program is operable to be deployed onto the programmable hardware element;
• and
• one or more fixed hardware resources coupled to the programmable hardware element;
• wherein the graphical user interface program is further executable to display icons on a display of the computer system corresponding to each of at least a subset of the fixed hardware resources;
• wherein the hardware configuration program specifies a configuration for the programmable hardware element that implements the measurement function;
• wherein the hardware configuration program further specifies usage of the one or more fixed hardware resources by the programmable hardware element in performing the measurement function;
• and
• wherein, after the hardware configuration program is deployed onto the programmable hardware element, the measurement device is operable to perform the measurement function.

A system for configuring a reconfigurable device, comprising:

• a computer system comprising a processor and a memory, wherein the memory stores a graphical user interface program which is executable to:
• receive user input specifying resources required by an application to perform a function, wherein the resources comprises one or more fixed hardware resources;
• and
• receive user input specifying timing and triggering requirements of the application with respect to the specified resources;
• wherein the memory also stores a configuration generation program which is executable to:
• generate a hardware configuration program, wherein the hardware configuration program is deployable on the reconfigurable system, and wherein, after said deployment, the reconfigurable device is operable to perform the function;
• and
• a reconfigurable device coupled to the computer system, wherein the device includes:
• a programmable hardware element, wherein the programmable hardware element comprises a programmable gate array and wherein the hardware configuration program is operable to be deployed onto the programmable hardware element;
• and
• one or more resources, comprising the one or more fixed hardware resources, coupled to the programmable hardware element;
• wherein the graphical user interface program is further executable to display icons on a display of the computer system corresponding to each of at least a subset of the resources;
• wherein the hardware configuration program specifies a configuration for the programmable hardware element that implements the function;
• wherein the hardware configuration program further specifies usage of the one or more resources by the programmable hardware element in performing the function;
• and
• wherein, after the hardware configuration program is deployed onto the programmable hardware element, the device is operable to perform the function.

A memory medium comprised on a computer system, comprising:

• a graphical user interface program which is executable to receive user input specifying a function;
• a configuration generation program which is executable to generate a hardware configuration program based on the user input;
• wherein said hardware configuration program is usable to configure a device coupled to the computer system, wherein the device includes:
• a programmable hardware element, wherein the programmable hardware element comprises a programmable gate array and wherein the hardware configuration program is operable to be deployed onto the programmable hardware element;
• and
• one or more fixed hardware resources coupled to the programmable hardware element;
• wherein the graphical user interface program is further executable to display icons on a display corresponding to each of at least a subset of the fixed hardware resources;
• wherein the hardware configuration program specifies a configuration for the programmable hardware element that implements the function;
• wherein the hardware configuration program further specifies usage of the one or more fixed hardware resources by the programmable hardware element in performing the function;
• and
• wherein, after the hardware configuration program is deployed onto the programmable hardware element, the device is operable to perform the function.