Distributed test system architecture

Abstract

The present invention is related to a method of connecting a first device comprising a processor and an application and a second device comprising a processor and an application, a distributed architecture system for facilitating modular communication between a plurality of applications, a plurality of devices, and a plurality of applications and devices, and a computer readable medium storing a program for causing a processor to connect a plurality of applications, a plurality of devices, and a plurality of applications and devices.

1 - 9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . A method of connecting a first device comprising a processor and a first application and a second device comprising a processor and a second application, the method comprising:
 registering at least one of the first device or the first application within the first device with a configuration manager;   requesting, by at least one of the second device or the second application within the second device, the configuration manager for connection information of a device comprising a processor and an application;   providing the connection information of at least one of the first device or the first application to at least one of the second device or the second application wherein at least one of the second device or the second application directly communicates with at least one of the first device or the first application based upon the connection information; and   wherein one of the first device, first application, second device, or second application controls another of the first device or second device to cause the another of the first device or second device to obtain a reading from the other of the first device or second device.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the configuration manager comprises an application manager that maps connectivity between defined devices and applications. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the connection manager defines all devices and all applications in the system and the defined devices and the defined applications communicate directly with each other when the defined devices and applications are configured and mapped. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the configuration manager defines all devices and applications in a virtual system spread across multiple physical machines and the devices and the applications communicate directly once configured and mapped. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the first device and second device each comprise a plurality of applications. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the one of the first device, first application, second device, or second application controls the another of the first device or second device to cause the other of the first device or second device to perform a measurement. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the first device and second device each comprises one of an Optical-based Physical Instrument, a Copper-based Physical Instrument, an Optical-based Virtual Instrument, or a Copper-based Virtual Instrument. 
     
     
         17 . A method of connecting devices, the method comprising:
 receiving, by an application manager in a distributed architecture system, a request by a first device comprising a processor to a remote connection configuration in the distributed architecture system;   requesting, by the application manager, a service manager to find a second device corresponding to the request to the remote connection configuration;   receiving, by the application manager, information on the location of the second device; and   sending, by the application manager, the information on the location of the second device to the first device through the remote connection configuration; and   connecting the first device with the second device based upon the location information provided by the application manager, wherein one of the first device or second device controls the other of the first device or second device to cause the other of the first device or second device to obtain a reading from the other of the first device or second device.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the first device and the second device directly communicate based on the location information. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 communicating, by the service manager, with the second device and identifying the location of the second device; and   sending, by the service manager, information on the location of the second device to the application manager.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the first device and second device each comprise a plurality of applications. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the one of the first device or second device controls the other of the first device or second device to cause the other of the first device or second device to perform a measurement. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the first device and second device each comprises one of an Optical-based Physical Instrument, a Copper-based Physical Instrument, an Optical-based Virtual Instrument, or a Copper-based Virtual Instrument.