Methods and apparatus for dynamic data acquisition configuration parameters

A data acquisition system comprising:

• an interface element configured to receive first configuration parameter information via a bus of the data acquisition system from at least one of a user at said interface element and a software generated rule, said interface element further configured to generate a self-describing control packet including the received first configuration parameter information;
• a first element configured to receive the self-describing control packet and to control acquisition of first data by the first element using the first configuration parameter information;
• a second element configured to interpret the acquired first data using the first configuration parameter information;
• and
• a display element configured to display the acquired first data.

A computer program embodied on a computer readable storage medium for controlling data acquisition on a machine, said program comprising a code segment that controls a data acquisition system to:

• receive, at a first element via a bus of the data acquisition system, a self-describing control packet including a first configuration parameter, the first configuration parameter controls first data acquisition by the first element;
• acquire first data by the first element in accordance with the first configuration parameter;
• generate a self-describing data packet including an identifier for the first configuration parameter and the acquired first data;
• interpret the acquired first data using the identifier;
• and
• display the acquired first data.