Meta-routing tool for a measurement system

Abstract

Computer-implemented system and method for presenting routing information in a measurement system. A meta-routing tool receives user input specifying a device, then retrieves a topography description for the device indicating connectivity between a plurality of components in the device, e.g., from memory or from a server coupled to the computer via a network. The tool then determines routability information for the device based on the topography description, e.g., by walking the topography, and displays the routability information, which is then useable to determine routing for the measurement system. The routability information includes possible routes through the device, and may also indicate potential side effects for one or more of the routes, e.g., sub-systems used by the routes. The tool may receive user input indicating one of the possible routes, and display a component-wise path used by the indicated route, as well as any sub-systems used by the indicated route.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A computer-implemented method for presenting routing information in a measurement system, the method comprising: 
 receiving user input specifying a device;    retrieving a topography description for the device, wherein the topography description indicates connectivity between a plurality of components in the device;    determining routability information for the device based on the topography description; and    displaying the routability information, wherein the routability information is useable to determine routing for the measurement system.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , 
 wherein the routability information comprises possible routes through the device; and    wherein said displaying the routability information comprises displaying the possible routes through the device.    
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising: 
 receiving user input indicating one of the possible routes;    wherein said displaying the routability information further comprises: 
 displaying a component-wise path used by the indicated route.  
   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the routability information further comprises potential side effects for one or more of the possible routes through the device.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein said displaying the routability information further comprises: 
 indicating one or more of the possible routes which use respective sub-systems in the device, wherein the use of the sub-systems indicates potential side effects for the respective routes.    
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising: 
 receiving user input indicating one of the possible routes which uses a respective sub-system in the device;    wherein said displaying the routability information further comprises: 
 displaying the sub-system used by the indicated route.  
   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the routability information comprises all possible routes from public sources in the device to public destinations in the device.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the topography description comprises a text file indicating connectivity between two or more routing components in the device.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the topography description comprises a graphical diagram indicating connectivity between two or more routing components in the device.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the topography description comprises a graph indicating connectivity between two or more routing components in the device.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said determining routability information for the device based on the topography description comprises: 
 walking the topography of the device to determine possible routes from public sources to public destinations in the device.    
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said retrieving a topography description for the device comprises: 
 retrieving the topography description for the device from a database, wherein the database stores topography descriptions for a plurality of devices.    
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said database is stored on a server computer system, and wherein said retrieving comprises: 
 accessing the server computer system over a network;    providing a device ID to the server computer system; and    downloading the topography description for the device from the server computer system in response to said providing.    
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , the method further comprising: 
 providing payment information to the server computer prior to said downloading the topography description, wherein the payment information is used to make payment for the topography description.    
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising: 
 the server computer system receiving an updated topography description for the device;    receiving user input specifying the device;    retrieving the updated topography description for the device;    determining updated routability information for the device based on the updated topography description; and    displaying the updated routability information, wherein the updated routability information is useable to determine routing for the measurement system.    
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising: 
 the server computer system receiving registration information for the device prior to said receiving user input specifying the device.    
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the registration information for the device comprises: 
 the device ID; and    the topographical description for the device.    
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said displaying the routability information comprises displaying the routability information on one or more of: 
 a computer display; and    a printer.    
     
     
         19 . A computer-implemented method for presenting routing information in a measurement system, the method comprising: 
 receiving user input specifying a plurality of devices in the measurement system;    retrieving a plurality of topography descriptions corresponding to the plurality of devices;    determining routability information for the plurality of devices based on the plurality of topography descriptions; and    displaying the routability information, wherein the routability information is useable to determine routing for the measurement system.    
     
     
         20 . A computer-implemented method for presenting routing information in a measurement system, the method comprising: 
 receiving user input specifying a plurality of devices in the measurement system;    retrieving a system topography description indicating connectivity among the plurality of devices;    determining routability information for the plurality of devices based on the system topography description, wherein the routability information comprises possible multi-device routes through the plurality of devices; and    displaying the routability information, wherein the routability information is useable to determine routing for the measurement system.    
     
     
         21 . A carrier medium which stores program instructions for presenting routing information in a measurement system, wherein the program instructions are executable to perform: 
 receiving user input specifying one or more devices;    retrieving one or more topography descriptions corresponding to the one or more devices, wherein each topography description indicates connectivity between a plurality of components in a respective device of the one or more devices;    determining routability information for the one or more devices based on the one or more topography descriptions; and    displaying the routability information, wherein the routability information is useable to determine routing for the measurement system.    
     
     
         22 . A carrier medium which stores program instructions for presenting routing information in a measurement system, wherein the program instructions are executable to perform: 
 receiving user input specifying a plurality of devices in the measurement system;    retrieving a system topography description indicating connectivity among the plurality of devices;    determining routability information for the plurality of devices based on the system topography description, wherein the routability information comprises possible multi-device routes through the plurality of devices; and    displaying the routability information, wherein the routability information is useable to determine routing for the measurement system.    
     
     
         23 . A system for presenting routing information in a measurement system, comprising: 
 means for receiving user input specifying one or more devices;    means for retrieving one or more topography descriptions corresponding to the one or more devices, wherein each topography description indicates connectivity between a plurality of components in a respective device of the one or more devices;    means for determining routability information for the one or more devices based on the one or more topography descriptions; and    means for displaying the routability information, wherein the routability information is useable to determine routing for the measurement system.    
     
     
         24 . A system for presenting routing information in a measurement system, comprising: 
 means for receiving user input specifying a plurality of devices in the measurement system;    means for retrieving a system topography description indicating connectivity among the plurality of devices;    means for determining routability information for the plurality of devices based on the system topography description, wherein the routability information comprises possible multi-device routes through the plurality of devices; and    means for displaying the routability information, wherein the routability information is useable to determine routing for the measurement system.    
     
     
         25 . A system for presenting routing information in a measurement system, comprising: 
 a processor; and    a memory coupled to the processor; and    a display, coupled to the processor and the memory;    wherein the memory stores program instructions which are executable by the processor to perform: 
 receiving user input specifying one or more devices;  
 retrieving one or more topography descriptions corresponding to the one or more devices, wherein each topography description indicates connectivity between a plurality of components in a respective device of the one or more devices;  
 determining routability information for the one or more devices based on the one or more topography descriptions; and  
 displaying the routability information on the display, wherein the routability information is useable to determine routing for the measurement system.  
   
     
     
         26 . A system for presenting routing information in a measurement system, comprising: 
 a processor;    a memory coupled to the processor; and    a display coupled to the processor and memory;    wherein the memory stores program instructions which are executable by the processor to perform: 
 receiving user input specifying a plurality of devices in the measurement system;  
 retrieving a system topography description indicating connectivity among the plurality of devices;  
 determining routability information for the plurality of devices based on the system topography description, wherein the routability information comprises possible multi-device routes through the plurality of devices; and  
 displaying the routability information on the display, wherein the routability information is useable to determine routing for the measurement system.