Network-based system for configuring a programmable hardware element in a system using hardware configuration programs generated based on a user specification

A system for configuring a device to perform a task, the system comprising:

• a client computer system, wherein the client computer system is coupled to or comprised in a first system, wherein the first system comprises one or more devices, wherein the client computer system includes:
• a display, wherein the display displays a graphical user interface for receiving user input indicating information for the task, wherein the graphical user interface iconically illustrates the first system;
• a user input device, wherein the user input device is useable for providing input to the graphical user interface, including:
• user input specifying one or more target devices of the one or more devices to receive one or more hardware configuration programs;
• and
• user input indicating information specifying the task;
• and
• a first network interface device for coupling to a network;
• wherein the client computer system is operable to provide the information specifying the task over the network;
• at least one device coupled to the client computer system, wherein the at least one device is comprised in the one or more specified target devices, and wherein the at least one device includes a programmable hardware element;
• and
• a server computer system, comprising:
• a second network interface device for coupling to the network;
• a processor;
• a memory medium coupled to the processor and storing program instructions executable by the processor to:
• receive the information specifying the task, wherein the information is received over the network;
• automatically generate a hardware configuration program based on the information;
• and
• provide the hardware configuration program to the at least one device over the network, wherein the hardware configuration program is usable to configure the programmable hardware element to perform the specified task.

A system for configuring a device to perform a task, the system comprising:

• means for a server receiving information specifying the task, wherein the information is received over a network, wherein the information specifying the task is provided to the server via:
• a client computer system displaying a graphical user interface (GUI) on a display of the client computer system, wherein the client computer system is coupled to or comprised in a first system that includes one or more devices, and wherein the GUI iconically illustrates the first system;
• the client computer system receiving user input to the GUI specifying one or more target devices of the one or more devices to receive one or more hardware configuration programs, wherein the one or more target devices comprise the device;
• the client computer system receiving user input indicating information specifying the task;
• the client computer system providing the information specifying the task to the server over a network;
• means for automatically generating a hardware configuration program based on the information;
• and
• means for providing the hardware configuration program to the device over the network, wherein the device includes a programmable hardware element, wherein the hardware configuration program is usable to configure the programmable hardware element to perform the specified task.

A computer-accessible memory medium comprised on a server, wherein the memory medium stores program instructions for configuring a device to perform a task, wherein the program instructions are executable by a processor of the server to perform:

• receiving information specifying the task, wherein the information is received over a network, wherein the information specifying the task is provided to the server via:
• a client computer system displaying a graphical user interface (GUI) on a display of the client computer system, wherein the client computer system is coupled to or comprised in a first system that includes one or more devices, and wherein the GUI iconically illustrates the first system;
• the client computer system receiving user input to the GUI specifying one or more target devices of the one or more devices to receive one or more hardware configuration programs, wherein the one or more target devices comprise the device;
• the client computer system receiving user input indicating information specifying the task;
• and
• the client computer system providing the information specifying the task to the server over a network;
• automatically generating a hardware configuration program based on the information;
• and
• providing the hardware configuration program to the device over the network, wherein the device includes a programmable hardware element, wherein the hardware configuration program is usable to configure the programmable hardware element to perform the specified task.

A computer-accessible memory medium comprised on a server that stores program instructions for configuring a plurality of devices in a system to perform a task, wherein each of the devices includes a programmable hardware element, wherein the program instructions are executable to:

• receive information specifying the task, wherein the information is received over a network;
• automatically generate a hardware configuration program for each of the programmable hardware elements based on the information, wherein each of the hardware configuration programs is useable for configuring a respective one of the programmable hardware elements to perform at least a portion of the task;
• and
• provide the generated hardware configuration programs to the system over the network, wherein the hardware configuration programs are usable to configure the programmable hardware elements to perform the specified task, and wherein each of the programmable hardware elements is configurable with a respective hardware configuration program to perform the at least a portion of the task;
• wherein respective ones of the plurality of hardware configuration programs are operable to be deployed on respective ones of the plurality of devices after said providing, wherein after deployment a first device is operable to execute according to a first hardware configuration program to perform a first portion of the task, and a second device is operable to execute according to a second hardware configuration program to perform a second portion of the task;
• and
• wherein the programmable hardware elements are configured to operate according to the respective hardware configuration programs to perform the at least a portion of the task.

A computer-implemented method for configuring a plurality of devices in a system to perform a task, wherein each of the devices includes a programmable hardware element, the method comprising:

• a server receiving information specifying the task, wherein the information is received over a network;
• the server automatically generating a hardware configuration program for each of the programmable hardware elements based on the information, wherein each of the hardware configuration programs is useable for configuring a respective one of the programmable hardware elements to perform at least a portion of the task;
• and
• the server providing the generated hardware configuration programs to the system over the network, wherein the hardware configuration programs are usable to configure the programmable hardware elements to perform the specified task, and wherein each of the programmable hardware elements is configurable with a respective hardware configuration program to perform the at least a portion of the task;
• wherein respective ones of the plurality of hardware configuration programs are operable to be deployed on respective ones of the plurality of devices after said providing, wherein after deployment a first device is operable to execute according to a first hardware configuration program to perform a first portion of the task, and a second device is operable to execute according to a second hardware configuration program to perform a second portion of the task;
• and
• wherein the programmable hardware elements are configured to operate according to the respective hardware configuration programs to perform the at least a portion of the task.

A computer-accessible memory medium comprised on a server that stores program instructions for configuring a user specified device in a client system to perform a task, wherein the program instructions are executable by a processor to:

• receive information specifying the task, wherein the information is received over a network, wherein the information specifying the task is provided to the server via user input received to a graphical user interface (GUI) presented on a display of the client computer system, wherein the GUI iconically illustrates the client system;
• automatically generate a hardware configuration program based on the information;
• and
• provide the hardware configuration program to the device over the network, wherein the device includes a programmable hardware element, wherein the hardware configuration program is usable to configure the programmable hardware element to perform the specified task.

A computer-implemented method for configuring a user specified device in a client system to perform a task, comprising:

• a server receiving information specifying the task, wherein the information is received over a network, wherein the information specifying the task is provided to the server via user input received to a graphical user interface (GUI) presented on a display of the client computer system, wherein the GUI iconically illustrates the client system;
• the server automatically generating a hardware configuration program based on the information;
• and
• the server providing the hardware configuration program to the device over the network, wherein the device includes a programmable hardware element, wherein the hardware configuration program is usable to configure the programmable hardware element to perform the specified task.

A computer-accessible memory medium comprised on a server, wherein the memory medium stores program instructions for configuring a user specified device in a client system to perform a task, wherein the program instructions are executable by a processor to:

• provide a graphical user interface (GUI) for display on the client system which iconically illustrates the client system, wherein the GUI is operable to receive user input specifying one or more target devices in the client system to receive one or more hardware configuration programs, wherein the one or more target devices include the device, and wherein the GUI is further operable to receive user input indicating information specifying the task;
• receive the information specifying the task from the client system over the network, wherein the information was provided via user input to the GUI;
• automatically generate a hardware configuration program based on the information;
• and
• provide the hardware configuration program to the device over the network, wherein the device includes a programmable hardware element, wherein the hardware configuration program is usable to configure the programmable hardware element to perform the specified task.

A computer-implemented method for configuring a user specified device in a client system to perform a task, comprising:

• a server providing a graphical user interface (GUI) for display on the client system which iconically illustrates the client system, wherein the GUI is operable to receive user input specifying one or more target devices in the client system to receive one or more hardware configuration programs, wherein the one or more target devices include the device, and wherein the GUI is further operable to receive user input indicating information specifying the task;
• the server receiving the information specifying the task from the client system over the network, wherein the information was provided via user input to the GUI;
• the server automatically generating a hardware configuration program based on the information;
• and
• the server providing the hardware configuration program to the device over the network, wherein the device includes a programmable hardware element, wherein the hardware configuration program is usable to configure the programmable hardware element to perform the specified task.

A computer-accessible memory medium comprised on a client system that stores program instructions for configuring a user specified device in the client system to perform a task, wherein the program instructions are executable by a processor to:

• display a graphical user interface (GUI) on the client system which iconically illustrates the system;
• receive user input to the GUI specifying one or more target devices of the one or more devices to receive one or more hardware configuration programs, wherein the one or more target devices comprise the device;
• receive user input to the GUI indicating information specifying the task;
• provide the information specifying the task to a server over a network;
• and
• receive a hardware configuration program from the server over the network, wherein the hardware configuration program is automatically generated at the server based on the information;
• wherein the hardware configuration program is usable to configure a programmable hardware element on the device to perform the specified task.

A computer-implemented method for configuring a user specified device in the client system to perform a task, comprising:

• displaying a graphical user interface (GUI) on the client system which iconically illustrates the system;
• receiving user input to the GUI specifying one or more target devices of the one or more devices to receive one or more hardware configuration programs, wherein the one or more target devices comprise the device;
• receiving user input to the GUI indicating information specifying the task;
• providing the information specifying the task to a server over a network;
• and
• receiving a hardware configuration program from the server over the network, wherein the hardware configuration program is automatically generated at the server based on the information;
• and
• wherein the hardware configuration program is usable to configure a programmable hardware element on the device to perform the specified task.