System for Discovering the Capabilities of Instruments Connected to a Data Processing System

Abstract

A method for operating a data processing system to discover the attributes of instruments in a set of instruments connected thereto is disclosed. The method causes the data processing system to determine all instruments in the set of instruments connected thereto by sending a first query on each communication link connected to the data processing system. The data processing system receives a response that identifies one of the instruments and a model identification code for that instrument. The data processing system retrieves model configuration information from an instrument catalog database attached to the data processing system based on the manufacturer's catalog information. The model configuration information includes an option that is available on the one of the instruments having the manufacturer's catalog information and a query that will cause that instrument to provide information on whether that option is installed on the one of the instruments.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for operating a data processing system to discover the attributes of instruments in a set of instruments connected thereto, said method causing said data processing system to:
 determine all instruments in said set of instruments connected thereto by sending a first query on each communication link connected to said data processing system;   receive a response that identifies one of said instruments, said response comprising a model identification code; and   retrieve model configuration information from an instrument catalog database attached to said data processing system, said model configuration information comprising an option that is available on said one of said instruments and a query that will cause that instrument to provide information on whether that option is installed on said one of said instruments.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said instrument catalog database comprises all options that are available on each instrument in said instrument catalog database. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein each of said instruments in said set of instruments respond to said first query with said model identification code in a predetermined format, said model identification code uniquely identifying that instrument in said instrument catalog database. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein a bench top instrument database is connected to said data processing system and wherein said method further comprises causing said data processing system to generate a bench top instrument database entry for said one of said instruments, said bench top instrument database entry specifying all options that are installed on said one of said instruments. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  wherein said bench top instrument database comprises all options that are installed on all instruments in said set of instruments that are connected to said data processing system. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4  wherein said bench top instrument database comprises information specifying a type of measurement that can be made by one of said instruments. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising causing said data processing system to retrieve bench top instrument database entries for all instruments in said bench top instrument database satisfying a user defined criterion. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein said retrieved bench top instrument database entries are ordered by a user supplied criterion. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7  further comprising retrieving bench top instrument database entries for all instruments in said bench top instrument database that would satisfy said user defined criterion if said instrument was equipped with an option that is available for said instrument, but not currently installed on that instrument. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  further comprising retrieving instrument catalog database entries for all instruments in said instrument catalog database that would satisfy said user defined criterion. 
     
     
         11 . A computer readable medium comprising instructions that cause a data processing system to execute a method for operating said data processing system to discover the attributes of instruments in a set of instruments connected thereto, said method causing said data processing system to:
 determine all instruments in said set of instruments connected thereto by sending a first query on each communication link connected to said data processing system;   receive a response that identifies one of said instruments, said response comprising a model identification code; and   retrieve model configuration information from an instrument catalog database attached to said data processing system, said model configuration information comprising an option that is available on said one of said instruments and a query that will cause that instrument to provide information on whether that option is installed on said one of said instruments.   
     
     
         12 . The computer readable medium of  claim 11  wherein said instrument catalog database comprises all options that are available on each instrument included in said instrument catalog database. 
     
     
         13 . The computer readable medium of  claim 11  wherein each of said instruments in said set of instruments respond to said first query with said model identification code in a predetermined format, said model identification code uniquely identifying that instrument in said instrument catalog database. 
     
     
         14 . The computer readable medium of  claim 11  wherein a bench top instrument database is connected to said data processing system and wherein said method further comprises causing said data processing system to generate a bench top instrument database entry for said one of said instruments, said bench top instrument database entry specifying all options that are installed on said one of said instruments. 
     
     
         15 . The computer readable medium of  claim 14  wherein said bench top instrument database comprises all options that are installed on all instruments in said set of instruments that are connected to said data processing system. 
     
     
         16 . The computer readable medium of  claim 14  wherein said bench top instrument database comprises information specifying a type of measurement that can be made by one of said instruments. 
     
     
         17 . The computer readable medium of  claim 11  further comprising causing said data processing system to retrieve bench top instrument database entries for all instruments in said bench top instrument database satisfying a user defined criterion. 
     
     
         18 . The computer readable medium of  claim 17  wherein said retrieved bench top instrument database entries are ordered by user supplied criterion. 
     
     
         19 . The computer readable medium of  claim 17  further comprising retrieving bench top instrument database entries for all instruments in said bench top instrument database that would satisfy said user defined criterion if said instrument was equipped with an option that is available for said instrument, but not currently installed on that instrument. 
     
     
         20 . The computer readable medium of  claim 19  further comprising retrieving instrument catalog database entries for all instruments in said instrument catalog database that would satisfy said user defined criterion.