Method and apparatus for constructing an iconic sequence to operate external devices

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A method for causing a computer to operate an external device, said computer having a display device, the method comprising the steps of:

causing said computer to display on said display device a device icon, said device icon representing said external device;

causing said computer to display on said display device an operation icon, said operation icon representing an operation performable by said external device;

constructing an icon sequence, said icon sequence including said device icon and said operation icon; and

causing said computer to generate control signals responsive to said icon sequence, said control signals including a control signal for causing said external device to perform said operation;

wherein said external device is a first external device of a plurality of external devices and said device icon is a first device icon of a plurality of device icons, each device icon of said plurality of device icons representing a corresponding external device of said plurality of external devices, wherein said step of constructing said icon sequence includes inserting said plurality of device icons into said icon sequence;

and wherein said step of constructing said icon sequence includes inserting a plurality of operation icons into said icon sequence, wherein said plurality of operation icons represent a plurality of operations, wherein said step of causing said computer to generate control signals includes causing said computer to generate control signals to cause said plurality of operations to be performed by said plurality of external devices, wherein the one or more devices of said plurality of external devices which performs a given operation of said plurality of operations is determined based upon a plurality of relative positions of said plurality of device icons and said plurality of operation icons in said icon sequence.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of causing said device icon to represent said external device by performing the steps of:

specifying a specific device type for said device icon, wherein said specific device type is the device type of said external device;

causing said computer to display on said display device a plurality of indications of external devices of said specific device type, said plurality of indications including an indication of said external device; and

selecting said indication of said external device from said plurality of indications.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of causing said computer to display on said display device a sequence control icon, said step of constructing said icon sequence including the step of inserting said sequence control icon into said icon sequence, said step of causing said computer to generate control signals including the step of causing said computer to generate control signals in a sequence responsive to said sequence control icon.

4. The method of claim 3 further including the steps of:

specifying a plurality of target icons in said icon sequence, said plurality of target icons including at least one operation icon, and

specifying a number of repetitions associated with said sequence control icon;

said step of causing said computer to generate control signals including the step of causing said computer to generate control signals cause an external device associated with said at least one operation icon to perform the operation represented by said at least one operation icon for said number of repetitions.

5. The method of claim 3 further including the steps of:

causing said computer to display on said display device one or more controls associated with said sequence control icon, wherein said one or more controls are controls for specifying a terminating condition; and specifying said terminating condition using said one or more controls.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein said step of specifying said terminating condition includes specifying a number of iterations of said operation.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

causing said computer to display on said display device an experiment design region;

causing said computer to display on said display device a scheduler icon;

copying said device icon into said experiment design region;

copying said scheduler icon into said experiment design region;

associating said device icon with said scheduler icon; and

causing said computer to display on said display device a scheduler window associated with said scheduler icon;

wherein said step of constructing said icon sequence includes constructing said icon sequence in said scheduler window.

8. The method of claim 7 further including the step of causing said computer to display on said display device an association indication that visually depicts an association between said device icon and said scheduler icon.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein said device icon and said operation icon are a single composite icon representing both said external device and said operation performable by said external device.

10. The method of claim 1 further including the steps of:

causing said computer to display on said display device one or more controls

associated with said device icon, wherein said one or more controls are controls for specifying operational parameters for said external device; and

specifying operational parameters for said external device using said one or more controls.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein said external device has a plurality of operational modes, wherein said step of specifying operational parameters includes selecting a mode of said plurality of operational modes.

12. The method of claim 1 further including the steps of:

causing said computer to display on said display device one or more controls associated with said operation icon, wherein said one or more controls are controls for specifying operational parameters for said operation; and

specifying operational parameters for said operation using said one or more controls.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein said step of specifying operational parameters for said operation includes specifying a duration of said operation.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein said external device is a photometer.

15. A method for causing a computer to operate an external device, said computer having a display device, wherein said external device generates data responsive to performing an operation, the method comprising the steps of:

causing said computer to display on said display device a device icon, said device icon representing said external device;

causing said computer to display on said display device an operation icon, said operation icon representing an operation performable by said external device;

constructing an icon sequence, said icon sequence including said device icon and said operation icon:

causing said computer to generate control signals responsive to said icon sequence, said control signals including a control signal for causing said external device to perform said operation;

causing said computer to display on said display device an experiment design region;

causing said computer to display on said display device a scheduler icon;

copying said device icon into said experiment design region:

copying said scheduler icon into said experiment design region;

associating said device icon with said scheduler icon;

causing said computer to display on said display device a scheduler window associated with said scheduler icon;

wherein said step of constructing said icon sequence includes constructing said icon sequence in said scheduler window:

causing said computer to display on said display device a database icon;

copying said database icon into said experiment design region;

specifying a database format associated with said database icon;

associating said scheduler icon with said database icon; and

storing said data generated during said operation in said database format.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising the steps of:

causing said computer to display on said display device a report icon;

copying said report icon into said experiment design region;

specifying a particular report format associated with said report icon;

associating said database icon with said report icon; and

generating a report of said data in said particular report format.

17. A method for causing a computer to operate an external device, said computer having a display device, wherein said external device generates a first set of data responsive to performing an operation, the method comprising the steps of:

causing said computer to display on said display device a device icon, said device icon representing said external device;

causing said computer to display on said display device an operation icon, said operation icon representing an operation performable by said external device;

constructing an icon sequence, said icon sequence including said device icon and said operation icon;

causing said computer to generate control signals responsive icon sequence, said control signals including a control signal for causing said external device to perform said operation;

causing said computer to display on said display device an experiment design region;

causing said computer to display on said display device as scheduler icon;

copying said device icon into said experiment design region;

copying said scheduler icon into said experiment design region;

associating said device icon with said scheduler icon;

causing said computer to display on said display device a scheduler window associated with said scheduler icon;

wherein said step of constructing said sequence includes constructing said icon sequence in said scheduler window;

causing said computer to display on said display device a data correlation icon;

copying said data correlation icon into said experiment design region;

specifying a correlation between said first set of data and a first plurality of labels with controls associated with said data correlation icon;

associating said scheduler icon with said data correlation icon; and

causing said computer to generate correlation data representing said correlation responsive to said data correlation icon.

18. A method for causing a computer to operate an external device, said computer having a display device, the method comprising the steps of:

causing said computer to display on said display device a device icon, said device icon representing said external device;

causing said computer to display on said display device an operation icon, said operation icon representing an operation performable by said external device;

constructing an icon sequence, said icon sequence including said device icon and said operation icon;

causing said computer to generate control signals responsive to said icon sequence, said control signals including a control signal for causing said external device to perform said operation;

causing said computer to display on said display device a stopwatch icon, said icon sequence including said stopwatch icon; and

causing said computer to begin tracking elapsed time upon completion of an operation represented by an icon directly preceding said stopwatch icon in said icon sequence.

19. A method for causing a computer to operate an external device, the computer having a display device, the method comprising the steps of:

causing said computer to display on said display device an operation icon, said operation icon representing an operation performable by said external device;

causing said computer to display on said display device a sequence control icon, said sequence control icon being associated with a terminating condition;

constructing an icon sequence including said sequence control icon and said operation icon; and

causing said computer to generate control signals to said external device, said control signals causing said external device to repeatedly perform said operation until said terminating condition is satisfied wherein a linear insertion position of said sequence control icon determines which icons in the icon sequence are affected by said sequence control icon.

20. The method of claim 19 further comprising the steps of:

causing said computer to display controls associated with said sequence control icon, wherein said controls are controls for specifying said terminating condition; and

specifying said terminating condition with said controls.

21. The method of claim 19 further comprising the steps of causing said computer to display controls associated with said operation icon, wherein said controls are controls for specifying operational parameters of said operation; and

specifying said operational parameters with said controls.

22. A method for graphically programming a computer to automate an analysis, said computer having a display device, the method comprising the steps of:

constructing a sequence of icons on said display device, said sequence of icons including at least one icon specifying an operation and at least one icon specifying an external device; and

causing said computer to generate control signals to said at least one external device, said control signals causing said at least one external device to perform said operation wherein said step of constructing said sequence of icons includes the step of inserting into said sequence of icons a plurality of operation icons, each operation icon of said plurality of operation icons specifying an operation of a plurality of operations, wherein said step of causing said computer to generate control signals includes causing said computer to generate control signals to cause said plurality of operations to be performed in a sequence corresponding to a plurality of relative positions of said plurality of operation icons in said sequence of icons.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein said step of constructing said sequence of icons includes the step of inserting into said sequence of icons at least one sequence control icon, said computer generating said control signals to cause said sequence in which said plurality of operations are performed to be modified responsive to said at least one sequence control icon.

24. A system for automatically performing a series of operations, comprising:

a computer having a display device and an input device;

at least one external device operatively coupled to said computer;

said computer executing a series of instructions to cause said at least one external device to perform said series of operations, said series of instructions including instructions for:

constructing and displaying a sequence of icons on said display device responsive to input from said input device, said sequence of icons including at least one operation icon, said at least one operation icon specifying said series of operations; and generating control signals to said at least one external device, said control signals causing said at least one external device to perform said series of operations;

wherein said series of instructions includes instructions for:

inserting into said sequence of icons a plurality of operation icons responsive to input from said input device, each operation icon of said plurality of operation icons specifying an operation; and

causing said computer to generate control signals to cause said series of independent operations to be performed in a sequence corresponding to a plurality of relative positions of said plurality of operation icons in said sequence of icons.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for programming a computer and, more specifically, to a method for programming a computer to operate an external device according to a schedule.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Various methods have been developed for programming a computer. One common method involves writing source code which designates a series of operations. The source code is then compiled into machine-executable code. The computer then loads and executes the machine-executable code to perform the designated series of operations. The source code programming method has a significant disadvantage in that it generally requires a high degree of programming skill and many hours of software design, coding, testing and debugging. Thus, this method is impractical for the average computer user.

Another method for programming a computer involves writing a script file which designates a series of operations. According to this method, the script file is interpreted by a script execution routine. In response to reading the script file, the script execution routine causes the computer to perform the operations designated in the script file. The script programming method is similar to the source programming code method with the exception that script languages are usually tailored to particular applications. For example, a communications program may be designed to execute script files with commands for setting protocols, setting the operational parameters of a modem, and logging on to remote systems.

Because they only cover a specific application, a script language typically has fewer commands than standard programming languages. Because fewer and more specialized commands are available to the user, less skill and time are required to create script files than are required to create source code files. However, the creation of meaningful script files is still beyond the skill level of many computer users.

Further, for complex tasks such as automating an experiment, a limited command set may not suffice. For example, a single experiment may involve operations on numerous instruments. Each of the instruments may be capable of operating in a variety of modes. Each mode may support numerous types of operations. In addition, each operation may be performed on numerous combinations of specimens. A script language designed to support more than a trivial amount of instrument/mode/operation/specimen combinations would likely be as complex as a source code language, and therefore require a programming expertise not normally possessed by technicians who perform experiments.

A disadvantage common to both source code and script programming is that they are based on textual commands. Because the commands are textual, the commands tend to favor a particular natural language. For example, a programming language which contains the commands "begin" and "end" would be better understood by English-speaking users, and less comprehensible to users that do not speak English.

A second disadvantage common to both source code and script programming is that typical textual programming environments do not inherently assist the programmer. For example, most textual programming environments present the programmer with a blank screen or window in which to type the text of a program or script. The blank window does not communicate the available commands. Therefore, a programmer must either have the commands memorized, or frequently revert to a help screen or a user's manual.

A third disadvantage common to both source code and script programming is that they are both textual. As textual descriptions, source code and scripts are subject to numerous types of errors. For example, textual descriptions ,are subject to lexical errors, syntactic errors, and logic errors. Because textual descriptions are subject to numerous types of errors, the process of designing and debugging error-free programs is arduous and time-intensive.

A fourth disadvantage is that source code and script programming require many lines of code to accomplish a single assignment or command. Therefore, the programmer must retype lines of text or use text editors to move text from one source to another. For example, the user will have to configure the external device before initiating an execution command. All or parts of the configuration will change depending on the demands of the technician who performs the experiment. A technician often shortens complex configurations to a simple word or phrase which is used in conversation and in documentation to represent the complex configuration or settings. Source code and script programming do not use shortened technician language as an alternative to the many lines of code.

In light of the foregoing, it is clearly desirable to provide a method for automating experiments which does not require a high degree of programming expertise. Further, it is clearly desirable to provide a method for programming which contains a high degree of natural language independence. In addition, it is desirable to provide a method for programming a computer which supports a relatively extensive number of operations, but which presents the user with a relatively small subset of relevant operations at any given time. Further, it is desirable to provide a method for programming which is not subject to all of the types of errors inherent in textual programming.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one embodiment of the invention, a system for automatically performing a series of operations is provided. The system generally includes a computer and at least one external device. The computer has a display device and an input device. The external device is operatively coupled to the computer. The computer executes a series of instructions to cause the at least one external device to perform the series of operations.

The instructions include instructions for constructing and displaying a sequence of icons on the display device responsive to input from the input device. The sequence of icons includes at least one operation icon. The operation icon specifies the series of operations. The instructions also include instructions for generating control signals to the external device. The control signals cause the external device to perform the series of operations.

The series of instructions may also include instructions for inserting into the sequence of icons a plurality of operation icons responsive to input from the input device. Each operation icon specifies an operation. The instructions may also include instructions which cause the computer to generate control signals to cause the series of operations to be performed in a sequence corresponding to the relative positions of the operation icons in the sequence of icons.

According to another embodiment of the invention, a method is provided for causing a computer, which has a display device, to operate an external device. According to the method, the computer is caused to display on the display device a device icon. The device icon represents the external device. The computer is caused to display on the display device an operation icon. The operation icon represents an operation performable by the external device. An icon sequence is constructed. The icon sequence includes the device icon and the operation icon. The computer is caused to generate control signals responsive to the icon sequence. The control signals include a control signal which causes the external device to perform the operation.

According to an aspect of the invention, the device icon is caused to represent the external device by specifying a specific device type for the device icon. The specific device type is the device type of the external device. The computer is caused to display on the display device a plurality of indications of external devices of the specific device type. The indications include an indication of the external device. The indication of the external device is selected from the indications.

According to another aspect of the invention, the external device is a first external device of a plurality of external devices and the device icon is a first device icon of a plurality of device icons. Each device icon of the device icons represents a corresponding external device of the external devices. The step of constructing the icon sequence includes inserting the device icons into the icon sequence.

According to another aspect of the invention, constructing the icon sequence involves inserting a plurality of operation icons into the icon sequence. The operation icons represent a plurality of operations. The computer is caused to generate control signals to cause the operations to be performed by the external devices. The particular device of the external devices which performs a given operation of the operations is determined based upon the relative positions of the device icons and the operation icons in the icon sequence.

According to another aspect of the invention, the computer is caused to display on the display device a sequence control icon. The step of constructing the icon sequence involves inserting the sequence control icon into the icon sequence. The computer is caused to generate control signals in a sequence responsive to the sequence control icon. A plurality of target icons in the icon sequence are specified. The target icons include at least one operation icon. A number of repetitions associated with the sequence control icon is specified. The computer is caused to generate control signals to cause an external device associated with the operation icon to perform the operation represented by the operation icon for the specified number of repetitions.

According to yet another aspect of the invention, the computer is caused to display on the display device an experiment design region. The computer is caused to display on the display device a scheduler icon. The device icon is copied into the experiment design region. A scheduler icon is copied into the experiment design region. The device icon is associated with the scheduler icon. The computer is caused to display on the display device a scheduler window associated with the scheduler icon. The icon sequence is constructed in the scheduler window.

The computer is caused to display on the display device an association indication that visually depicts an association between device icon and the scheduler icon. The computer is caused to display on the display device a database icon. The database icon is copied into the experiment design region. A database format associated with the database icon is specified. The scheduler icon is associated with the database icon. The data generated during the operation is stored in the specified database format.

The computer displays on the display device a report icon. The report icon is copied into the experiment design region. A particular report format associated with the report icon is specified. The database icon is associated with the report icon. A report of the data is generated in the particular report format.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention is illustrated by way of example, and not by way of limitation, in the figures of the accompanying drawings and in which like reference numerals refer to similar elements and in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a system for performing automated experiments according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates an experiment design window for organizing an experiment according to one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3a illustrates the window that appears when a device icon in an experiment design window is invoked according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3b illustrates the window that appears when a wavelength selection icon within the window illustrated in FIG. 3a is invoked;

FIG. 3c illustrates the window that appears when a sample selection icon within the window illustrated in FIG. 3a is invoked;

FIG. 4 illustrates the window that appears when a database icon in an experiment window is invoked according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5 illustrates the window that appears when a data correlation icon in an experiment window is invoked according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 6a illustrates a data table in the window that appears when the data view icon in an experiment window is invoked according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 6b illustrates a graph table in the window that appears when a data view icon in an experiment window is invoked according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 7 illustrates the window that appears when an analysis icon in an experiment window is invoked according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 8 illustrates a scheduler window according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 9a illustrates a menu displayed when an a user selects the device icon from an icon bar of a scheduler window according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 9b illustrates a device icon/cursor according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 9c illustrates a device icon inserted on a time line according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 9d illustrates a kinetic icon inserted on a time line according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 9e illustrates a stop icon inserted on a time line according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 9f illustrates a stop dialog box for specifying post-data acquisition operations according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 9g illustrates a stop icon with an alarm indication according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 9h illustrates a menu displayed when a stopwatch icon is selected form an icon bar of a scheduler window according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 9i illustrates a stopwatch cursor/icon and various stopwatch icons according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 9j illustrates a menu displayed when a sample icon is selected from an icon bar of a scheduler window according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 9k illustrates a stacker icon on a time line according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 9l illustrates a stacker dialog box displayed when a stacker icon on a time line is selected according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 9m illustrates a shake menu displayed when a shake icon on an icon bar is selected according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 9n illustrates a shake dialog box according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 9o illustrates a drawer menu displayed when a drawer icon is selected from an icon bar according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 9p illustrates a drawer cursor/icon and a plurality of drawer icons according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 10 illustrates a dialog box for establishing the duration of a kinetic