Instrument based distributed computing systems

Abstract

An instrument may include a technical computing worker to execute a created task. The instrument may further include an instrumentation functionality unit that may provide functionalities for performing testing or measuring in relation to the technical computing worker, and a network interface that may allow the technical computing worker to communicate with another device.

1 . In an instrument-based distributed computing environment, a method comprising: 
 receiving, via an instrument that includes a technical computing worker, a test step created by a client;    performing, via the technical computing worker, a technical computing function as defined by the received test step;    pausing the performing the technical computing function to make a measurement;    making the measurement;    resuming the performing the technical computing function to obtain a result; and    returning the result to the client.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the test step includes a test step for testing a textual program or a test step for testing a graphical program.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the test step includes a test step for testing software or hardware.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the test step includes a statistics step to obtain statistical analysis for data.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the client is implemented within a second instrument  
     
     
         6 . An instrument comprising: 
 a technical computing client to create a first task to be executed;    an instrumentation functionality unit to provide functionalities for performing testing or measuring in relation to the technical computing client; and    a network interface to allow the technical computing client to communicate with another device.    
     
     
         7 . The instrument of  claim 6  wherein the technical computing client is further configured to: 
 transmit the created first task to a server, via the network interface, for distribution to a remote technical computing worker.    
     
     
         8 . The instrument of  claim 6  wherein the technical computing client is further configured to: 
 transmit the created first task to a technical computer worker implemented in another instrument, via the network interface.    
     
     
         9 . The instrument of  claim 6  wherein the network interface includes a local area network extension for instrumentation (LXI) interface.  
     
     
         10 . The instrument of  claim 6  wherein the instrument further includes: 
 a technical computing worker to execute a created second task.    
     
     
         11 . The instrument of  claim 6  further comprising: 
 an operating system to allow a user to install one or more applications on the instrument.    
     
     
         12 . The instrument of  claim 6  wherein the instrumentation functionality unit verifies at least one characteristic in relation to the technical computing client.  
     
     
         13 . An instrument comprising: 
 a technical computing worker to execute a created task;    an instrumentation functionality unit to provide functionalities for performing testing or measuring in relation to the technical computing worker; and    a network interface to allow the technical computing worker to communicate with another device.    
     
     
         14 . The instrument of  claim 13  wherein the technical computing worker is further configured to: 
 receive the created task via the network interface,    execute the task to obtain a result, and    send the result to a remote technical computing client via the network interface.    
     
     
         15 . The instrument of  claim 13  wherein the instrument further comprises: 
 one or more hardware components for accelerating the execution of the created task, the one or more hardware components including at least one of a field programmable gate array (FPGA), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or a digital signal processor (DSP).    
     
     
         16 . A computer-readable medium, implemented within an instrument, that stores instructions executable by at least one processor to perform a method, the computer-readable medium comprising: 
 one or more instructions for providing a technical computing worker within the instrument;    one or more instructions for receiving, via the technical computing worker, a test step created by a remote client in a distributed computing environment;    one or more instructions for performing, via the technical computing worker, a technical computing function, as defined by the received test step, to obtain a result;    one or more instructions for making a measurement in relation to performing the technical computing function; and    one or more instructions for returning the result to the remote client.    
     
     
         17 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 16  wherein the test step includes a test step for testing a textual program or a test step for testing a graphical program.  
     
     
         18 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 16  wherein the test step includes a test step for testing at least one of software or hardware within the instrument.  
     
     
         19 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 16  wherein the test step includes a statistics step to obtain statistical analysis for data.  
     
     
         20 . An instrument comprising: 
 means for defining a test step to be performed by a remote technical computing worker to obtain a result, the test step includes a test step for testing at least one of a textual program, a graphical program, software within the instrument, or hardware within the instrument;    means for submitting the test step to a network; and    means for receiving the result from the remote technical computing client.    
     
     
         21 . The instrument of  claim 20  further comprising: 
 means for receiving a second test step defined by a remote technical computing client;    means for performing a technical computing function, as defined by the received second test step, to obtain a second result;    means for making a measurement in relation to performing the technical computing function; and    means for returning the second result to the remote technical computing client.    
     
     
         22 . The instrument of  claim 20  further comprising: 
 means for defining at least one other test step to be performed by a different remote technical computing worker to obtain a second result;    means for submitting the at least one other test step to the network; and    means for receiving the second result from the different remote technical computing worker.