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Contents
1. L var VER E gmp COSYCmd Is cmd COSY 08UG CUS l emd COSY DBUG CLK emd OOSY DBUG OONT 3 cmd COSY DBUG FACT cmd COSY DBUG SYNC s cmd ODSY DBUG WAIT ig cmg OOSY MAP Name e a cme ne tae ues Create COSY Lists wth a COSY List var i r Y Description coseno This instruction create a new empty COSY List If the list a cmd COSY DEL sheady exist t wil be deletet before a new empty ona wil Lim var COSY DEL emg COSY DUMP E t_ var COSY DUMP S es t var OOSY NEW cmd COSY RSET L var COSY RSET cmd COSY SND var COSY SND cmd COSY STOP L var COSY STOP Patent Application Publication Nov 2 2006 Sheet 3 of 6 US 2006 0248540 A1 command properties default values docu Reply Codes Vendor Agilent Technologies Inc Name USY NEW q4 gi 5 0 4 Classification a 5 50 1 symbolic Tokenname TOK_COSY_NEW Category send to process for 3 501 direct Totab Handler Cancel Apply Fig 5 502 Fig 6 command properties description docu default values docu Reply Codes documentation This instruction cieate a new empty COSY List If the list akeady exist it will be deletet before a new empty one will be created Patent Application Publication Nov 2 2006 Sheet 4 of 6 US 2006 0248540 A1 700 L command properties content Documentation Symbolic name a rae Classification Cancel Apply Fig 7 702 A Agilon2. 0054 In the following exemplary embodiments of the apparatus for providing a functionality will be described However these embodiments also apply for the data pro cessing device for the method of processing data for the computer readable medium and for the program element 0055 Particularly the apparatus may comprise an inter face via which the formalized description of the function ality of the apparatus is providable to an entity connected to the interface Thus the formalized description for instance formulated in accordance with a particular industrial stan dard may be stored within the apparatus and may be downloaded via the interface This allows a user to get a fast overview of the entire functionality of an apparatus BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 0056 Objects and many of the attendant advantages of embodiments will be readily appreciated and become better understood by reference to the following more detailed description of embodiments in connection with the accom panied drawings Features that are substantially or function ally equal or similar will be referred to by the same reference signs 0057 FIG 1 shows a data processing device according to an exemplary embodiment 0058 FIG 2 shows a schematic flow diagram illustrating a method of processing data according to an exemplary embodiment 0059 FIG 3 shows an apparatus for providing a func tionality according to an exemplary embodiment 0060
3. The three items BP CY and D may be parameters for specifying the function in more detail The keyword COMP may define the functionality of a pump for treating four liquid components A B C D which shall be mixed according to preset percentages B C D wherein the percentage of component A results from the frame condition that the sum of A B C and D should be 100 Based on such generic data like COMP B C D corresponding source code may be generated automatically which can be executed by the apparatus to be developed Another example for a piece of functionality to be defined in a common speech is EV 0560 This may define that the apparatus to be designed provides as an output that a particular event has happened for instance Analysis Completed when an entire analysis procedure has been carried out successfully 0030 For instance by simply pressing a button the data structure input by the human user may be connected and processed automatically so that an XML file will be gener ated The translation into the XML file may be performed by a particular software element This software element con nects the different items of plaintext In other words the data related to the input fields in the user interface may be linked in such a manner that the XML file or any other formalized description is automatically generated 0031 The Extensible Markup Language XML may be
4. header xs ifndef _GEN_COSYCHD_H_ define _GEN_COSYCHD_H_ include Generator h OW DMIHR OH DWN m e o ifdef START_TOKEN define INT_START_TOKEN START_TOKEN else START_TOKEN define INT_START_TOKEN 33 1000 1 fendit START_TOKEN PREM ee AW bUNH itndet NO_LIST_DEFINITION enum GEN_COSYCHD_TYPE_LIST_LEN 1 static TypeGenDef gencOSYCmdTypeList N o o o owaqa Sync BASE_INT 0 65535 STEP 1 80000 90000 STEP 1 N res Ye endif NO_LIST DEFINITION NNN A WD define GEN _COSYCMD_REPLY_ CODES RPLY_RA REPLY_COSYCED_OK no error instruction has been accepted RPLY_RE RE_LIST_NOT_RUNNING no information yy RPLY_RE RE_NO_SUCH_LIST No such list RPLY_RE RE_MAX_LISTS_EXCEEDED Maximum number of lists exceeded RPLY RE RE_LIST_ALREADY RUNNING COSY List already running d RPLY_RE RE_UNKNOWN_IDENTIFIER Unknown identifier SN RPLY_ RE RE_INVALID_ COMMAND invalid cosy command RPLY_RE RE_UNKNOWN_ERR unknown error RPLY_RE RE_INTERNAL_ ERR internal error Fer N RPLY_RE RE_ELENENT MISSING the COS List can t started because a element is mi RPLY_RE RE_INVALID_LIST_NANE invalid COSY List name WwW UWWoOWWNNNNN Naneonr ovugdian enum TOK_COSY_RESET INT_START_TOKEN TOK_COSY_TOUT TOK_COSY_NEW TOK DBUG CLIS TOK_DBUG FACT TO ww ow ow define GEN_COSYCMD_INSTR_COUNT 17 mb D er Oo define GEN_COS
5. information is included which explains the command COSY NEW in clear text 0084 Each of the commands defined in the XML file shown in the first sub window 401 can be displayed in clear text in the sub windows 402 403 to enable a human user to understand a particular functionality of interest like COSY NEW 0085 Although the screenshot 400 relates to an already existent apparatus it is possible to change any of the data Nov 2 2006 included in the sub windows 402 403 or the structure of the XML file in the window 401 to update or modify an already generated device for instance to change a particular function of such a device 0086 For generating source code and a user manual in accordance with the modified apparatus to be designed after having input all modifications in the corresponding data fields see explanation below a menu list can be activated by clicking on selection field File 404 in the menu bar of FIG 4 In the menu list which then becomes visible in the window 400 it is possible to press a Generate button to cause the software to automatically generate the source code and the user manual When pressing this Generate button firmware that is to say source code defining the function ality of the modified apparatus see FIG 11 and a docu mentation see FIG 9 FIG 10 may be generated 0087 In the following referring to FIG 5 to FIG 8 computer windows 500 600 700 800 will be desc
6. 0003 It is an object of the invention to provide an improved data processing The object may be solved by the independent claims Exemplary embodiments are shown by the dependent claims 0004 According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention a data processing device is provided comprising a first generation unit for generating based on generic data defining a functional interface or a function ality of an apparatus in general terms a formalized descrip tion of the functional interface or the functionality of the apparatus and a second generation unit for generating based on the formalized description source code for real izing the functional interface or the functionality of the apparatus Optionally a third generation unit may be pro vided for generating interface documentation out of the formalized description 0005 According to another exemplary embodiment an apparatus for providing a functional interface or a func tionality is provided wherein the apparatus comprises a formalized description of the functional interface or the functionality and wherein the formalized description is generated based on generic data defining the functional interface or the functionality of the apparatus in general terms 0006 According to still another exemplary embodiment a method of processing data is provided the method com prising generating based on generic data defining a func tional interface or a func
7. 1 Such source code is shown in a window 1100 of FIG 11 The C code included in the window 1100 may be denoted as firmware code containing all information concerning the apparatus 901 in a machine readable form This firmware can be implemented in the apparatus for controlling the same 0098 It should be noted that the term comprising does not exclude other elements or steps and the a or an does not exclude a plurality Also elements described in associa tion with different embodiments may be combined It should also be noted that reference signs in the claims shall not be construed as limiting the scope of the claims 1 A data processing device comprising a first generation unit for generating based on generic data defining a functional interface of an apparatus in general terms a formalized description of the func tional interface of the apparatus a second generation unit for generating based on the formalized description source code for realizing the functional interface of the apparatus 2 The data processing device of claim 1 comprising at least one of the features the generic data defines the functional interface of the apparatus in a language which is understandable for a human being the formalized description defines the functional interface of the apparatus in a language which is interpretable compilable or understandable by a machine 3 The data processing device of claim 1 comprising a
8. FIG 4 to FIG 11 show screenshots in accordance with a data processing device according to an exemplary embodiment 0061 The illustration in the drawing is schematically 0062 In the following referring to FIG 1 a data pro cessing device 100 according to an exemplary embodiment will be described 0063 The data processing device 100 comprises a graphical user interface 101 including a monitor 102 a keypad 103 and a computer mouse 104 Via the graphical user interface 101 a human user may input generic data defining a functionality of a biochemical analysis device to be designed For instance a sequence of computer windows may be displayed on the monitor 102 which may include input fields allowing a user to input specification informa tion concerning the biochemical analysis device to be devel oped that is to say to input information relates to all commands which the biochemical analysis device shall understand all actions which the biochemical analysis device shall be capable of carrying out or the like 0064 The menu based structure of the window architec ture and the data input fields displayed on the monitor 102 allow a user to specify the functionality of the biochemical analysis device to be designed or realized in general terms and in a language of a human user Particularly the human user may be directed through a sequence of interconnected Nov 2 2006 or linked windows to allow to enter the input data in th
9. US 20060248540A1 as United States a2 Patent Application Publication co Pub No US 2006 0248540 A1 Stemer et al 43 Pub Date Nov 2 2006 54 76 21 22 30 AUTOMATIC SOURCE CODE GENERATION Inventors Peter Stemer Waldbronn DE Klaus Prasse Karlsruhe DE Herbert Anderer Waldbronn DE Correspondence Address PERMAN amp GREEN 425 POST ROAD FAIRFIELD CT 06824 US Appl No 11 384 974 Filed Mar 20 2006 Foreign Application Priority Data Apr 14 2005 EP won ceeeeeseseseeeenees EP05102938 7 Header Publication Classification 51 Int Cl G06F 9 46 2006 01 G06F 9 44 2006 01 59 1S CR E mamma 719 321 57 ABSTRACT A data processing device comprising a first generation unit for generating based on generic data defining a functional interface of an apparatus in general terms a formalized description of the functional interface of the apparatus and a second generation unit for generating based on the for malized description source code for realizing the functional interface of the apparatus 200 Patent Application Publication Nov 2 2006 Sheet 1 of 6 US 2006 0248540 A1 Patent Application Publication Nov 2 2006 Sheet 2 of 6 US 2006 0248540 A1 300 ogpocopapocoonp pod gggagoocanonna on ppocpoopooopoopy jjong pooten jjong 301 BR Agilent MI Too Mi xmi Group Filter Command Fiter Variant Fitter i VES pe 401 E emd VER
10. YCHD_INSTR COSY RSET TOK_COSY_RESET Cosy NULL COSY TOUT lt inout Fixed2_0 HAX gt TOK_COSY_TOUT Cosy NULL COSY NEY lt inout Int_ 32k_32k gt TOK_COSY_NEU Cosy NULL COSY DBUG CLIS lt inout Int_ 32k_32k gt TOK_DBUG_CLIS Cosy NULL COSY DBUG FACT TOK_DBUG_FACT Cosy NULL COS DBUG CLK TOK_CLHA_DHPCLK ClockManager NULL COSY DBUG UAIT TOK_SYHA_DUHPREG SyncHanager NULL COSY DBUG SYNC TOK_SYHA_DMPSYNC SyncManager NULL COSY DBUG CONT TOK_COHA_DHPCOUNT CounterManager NULL D bb DD Dr dD OA andb wn tne 1 column 1 INS CR LF O chars selected vA US 2006 0248540 Al AUTOMATIC SOURCE CODE GENERATION BACKGROUND ART 0001 The present invention relates to automatic source code generation 0002 When a new laboratory apparatus for instance a fluid separation system or a biochemical analysis device is being developed source code has to be developed by a human programmer After a compilation of the source code it can be executed in the developed apparatus for providing and controlling the functionality of the apparatus Apart from this a user manual is written describing the function ality and the instruction interface of the apparatus With the help of such a user manual a human user is enabled to operate the apparatus or to adjust the apparatus to her or his preferences DISCLOSURE
11. ality of the apparatus in a language interpretable compilable or understandable by a machine Thus the data processing device may abstract and or for malize the generic data to reformulate it in a machine readable manner 0038 The data processing device may comprise a third generation unit for generating based on the formalized description a user manual documenting the functionality of the apparatus Such a manual can be generated automatically US 2006 0248540 Al from the formalized description including all required infor mation so that it may be dispensible that a detailed user manual has to be written manually by a human in a cum bersome manner Furthermore consistence between docu mentation and actually implemented functionality reflected by the source code may be achieved 0039 The third generation unit of the data processing device may be adapted to generate the user manual in a manner to be displayable and or to be printable Thus the user manual may be displayed on a display device of a graphical user interface GUI for instance in the form of an HTML file comprising a plurality of linked pages A user may use an input tools like a computer mouse to click through the pages or may electronically search the docu mentation file to rapidly find a subject of interest The documentation may also be provided in a form that it can be printed as a hard copy using a printer device For this purpose it may be appropriate t
12. ce s instruction interface and its actual implemen tation differ The developer for good reasons often changes some instructions or parameters but forgets to consistently update the documentation This results in incompatibilities with controlling software and confusion for the user Such incompatibilities may be securely avoided by the described aspect 0023 Since it may be made possible according to embodiments from one and the same formalized description and in an automatic manner source code on the one hand and a documentation readable by a human user on the other hand it may be guaranteed that the documentation delivered to a customer coincides with the functionality actually provided by the apparatus In other words documentation and source code are conform with high reliability 0024 Further it may be dispensible that a developer has to manually write a documentation Instead of this the documentation may be generated automatically since all information required for this purpose is derivable from the generic data and thus also from the formalized description Therefore a perfect conformity between documentation and source code may be achieved 0025 According to an exemplary embodiment it may be possible to generate at least two different documentation files according to at least one predetermined parameter For instance a documentation generated for a customer may be different from a documentation generated for the e
13. considered as a simplified subset of SGML capable of Nov 2 2006 describing many different kinds of data A purpose is to facilitate the sharing of structured text and information Languages based on XML for example RDF RSS MathML XSIL and SVG are themselves described in a formal way allowing programs to modify and validate documents in these languages without prior knowledge of their form 0032 Such an XML file may be processed using a Stylesheet A Stylesheet may be used in order to separate the form of a description from the content of a structured document for instance XML Stylesheets may allow to interpret contents in dependence of an output device For this purpose the content does not have to be changed Examples for Stylesheet languages are CSS XSL and DSSSL Source code readable by a computer may be gen erated based on the XML file Such a source code may be for instance C code 0033 Furthermore a Stylesheet may be used in combi nation with the XML file to automatically generate the manual which may be directly readable by a human user Such a documentation may be a HTML file or a PDF file 0034 In this specification the term functionality may particularly denote one or more functional items which an apparatus to be defined may service or provide or an instruction repertoire It may also denote the entirety of all functions which the apparatus offers Functionality may include commands whic
14. e input data fields in an intuitive manner 0065 The data processing device 100 further comprises a central processing unit CPU 105 which receives the generic data entered via the graphical user interface 101 and which is capable for generating based on the input generic data defining the functionality of the biochemical analysis device in general terms a formalized description of the functionality of the biochemical analysis device in the form of an XML file In other words the data structure received by the GUI 101 is analyzed and processed by the CPU 105 to generate the XML file containing the formalized descrip tion of the entire functionality 0066 The plaintext data entered in the data input fields and the XML file can be stored in a storage unit 106 The storage unit can be any kind of storage unit for instance a RAM memory an EEPROM a flash memory an MRAM an FRAM an SRAM or the like 0067 The CPU 105 can access the XML file stored in the storage unit 106 The CPU 105 is capable of generating based on the XML file stored in the storage unit 106 source code for realizing the functionality of the biochemical analysis apparatus For this purpose the CPU 105 may also access program libraries which may also be stored on the storage device 106 and which may contain a collection of standard program routines 0068 The generated source code can be stored on a further storage device 107 which may be a harddisk or a remo
15. e is generated reflecting the entire defined functionality as a formalized description 0093 Such an XML file can be stored and may be for instance provided at an interface of the physical apparatus to be designed so that any user can access this XML code describing the whole functionality in formalized description 0094 However by pressing the Generate button as described above the software generates automatically a documentation as an HTML file as shown in FIG 9 and FIG 10 The information needed for generating this docu mentation originates from the XML file 0095 FIG 9 shows a communication window 900 docu menting the functionality of the apparatus which has been US 2006 0248540 Al designed Different communication sub windows 902 are shown including links to other pages which include further detailed information concerning the various aspects men tioned as headlines in the windows 902 0096 For instance by pressing a COSY NEW button 903 a window 1000 as shown in FIG 10 will pop up In this window 1000 a HTML user manual related to the command COSY NEW is shown in a sub window 1001 Another sub window 1002 allows to access information concerning other commands 0097 However by pressing the Generate button as described above not only the documentation shown in FIG 9 and FIG 10 is generated Furthermore C source code is automatically generated which may be used to control the apparatus 90
16. eet 0046 Furthermore the second generation unit may be adapted to generate the source code in any appropriate program language which may be object oriented or not Exemplary possible program languages are C C C Pascal Basic Fortran or Java 0047 The data processing device may be adapted in such a manner that the apparatus to be designed may be at least one of the group of a measurement device for performing a measurement in a coupled or connected measurement envi ronment a sensor device a test device for testing a device under test a device for chemical biological and or pharma ceutical analysis a fluid separation system adapted for separating components of a fluid and a liquid chromatog raphy device However these fields are only exemplary and the development of any other apparatus realizing a specified functionality is possible as well 0048 Thus the apparatus can be a measurement device which may perform any kind of measurement 0049 The apparatus can also be any kind of sensor sensing any physical chemical or other parameter like temperature humidity pressure 0050 Further the apparatus can be realized as a test device for testing a device under test DUT For testing electronic devices in particular integrated electronic circuits providing digital electronic output signals a test or stimulus signal may be fed to an input of the DUT and a response signal of the DUT may be evaluated by an automa
17. ent that a human being inputs generic data defining the functionality of the apparatus particularly defining a functional interface of the apparatus to be designed in general terms that is to say in a verbal but in some sense formalized manner according to a syntax understandable for a human being or close to a human language The data processing system according to an embodiment may then automatically gen erate a more or further formalized description of the functionality of this apparatus This formalized description may be a formulation of the desired functionality of the apparatus and may provide instructions in a symbolic logic to be readable by a machine to be a proper basis for generating source code for realizing the functionality of the apparatus Such automatically generated source code after being compiled may be executed in the apparatus to be developed and may then serve to control or provide the functionality of the apparatus 0011 According to one aspect of embodiments a tool for automated creation of source code and or corresponding documentation from a formalized lab device interface description may be provided 0012 According to an aspect of embodiments the the generated source code may define the interface of the apparatus to be developed that is to say all functions of the apparatus which may be accessed via the functional inter face 0013 In other words when developing a new apparatus it is made possib
18. ers COSY PorameterHandler are E Automation COSY ACT 903 MonitorC n COSYSND Diagnosis StalightTermp Parameter COSY STOP TimeTable COSY STRT COSY DUMP Leak Agilent XML Project Microsoft Internet Explroer provided by Agilent Technologies Inc Fle EGR yew Favortes Jods tep em OD AlAs groma Que GR address B c wudeus Core MT oof doc Fe Main hed oa Gwed suche O Grizediocier Fjoer P vil lalf COSY NEW COSY NEW StarlightMainInsernctions Starlight ampParameters Name ParameterHandler COSY NEW Automation Create COSY Lists with a COSY List Loads U MonitarCn Diagnosis Synopsis StorlightTempParameter COSY NEW inout tistJot_ 32k 32k gt TimeTable lst Range 32768 32767 The name of the cosy Est to create StortightSelfTest Dexeurphon paso This instruction create a new empty COSY List Ifthe lst already exist it will be deletet before a new empty one willbe COSKmd created SynchronizationElements CommandFlements InstructionElements Reply Codes RA 00000 no error instruction has been accepted common ReptyCodes Examples 1002 1001 Patent Application Publication Nov 2 2006 Sheet 6 of 6 US 2006 0248540 A1 1100 R genCOSYCmd h ScitE Ele dit Search Yiew ools Qptions Language Buffers Help Dasa x Slsaexloor Qa PILITLPLTTTTAPLTELAPLAPLELELED LA LEVTAD ETE LTE LTP E Vf file genCOSYCnd h file automatically generated by generate
19. from the input specification Thus an apparatus construction set may be provided according to an embodiment 0042 The receiving unit may be adapted to receive an entirety of all commands executable by the apparatus and or an entirety of all actions performable by the apparatus Such a command may allow a user of the apparatus to access or call a particular function which is intended to be carried out An event may denote an action which may be performed automatically by the apparatus in the presence of a particular scenario 0043 The first generation unit of the data processing device may be adapted to generate based on the generic data an Extensible Markup Language file as the formalized description of the functionality of the apparatus However using an XML file is only an example for an appropriate formalized description language any other suitable formal ized description or programming language may be used as well Nov 2 2006 0044 The second generation unit may be adapted to generate source code readable by a parser of the apparatus A parser may particularly denote a program or a physical entity which is capable to decide whether an input data set is compatible with the grammar of a particular language Parsing may include a syntactic check of the input data set Thus the source code may be read by the parser of the apparatus 0045 The second generation unit may be adapted to generate the source code using a Stylesh
20. h the apparatus understands and which the apparatus may carry out Functionality may include actions which the apparatus may perform by itself without external control or trigger for instance the indica tion of a particular operation state 0035 In the following further exemplary embodiments of the data processing device will be described However these embodiments also apply for the apparatus for provid ing a functionality for the method of processing data for the computer readable medium and for the program element 0036 The generic data may define the functionality of the apparatus in a language understandable by a human being In contrast to this such generic data may be incom prehensible for a machine like a computer The generic data may be input in plaintext or clear text in a manner which is close to a human articulation By structuring input fields of the receiving unit in order to enable a human user to input information in human language but already pre structured it is possible to communicate with a human developer and to simultaneously cause the human developer to enter the data according to a given order Thus the receiving unit may allow a communication in general terms with the human being but may set the course for a subsequent translation of the instructions into a machine language similar like a form or a questionnaire 0037 Furthermore the formalized description may define the function
21. le by the data processing scheme according to an embodiment that an engineer just defines an entire set of functions of the apparatus e g commands events parameters etc accessible via a functional interface in a language according to a unique syntax relatively close to a human language with which the engineer is familiar for instance via a GUI graphical user interface based template on a computer monitor The system according to an embodi ment is then capable to translate or transfer this code in a more formalized representation Such a more formalized representation can be for instance XML Extensible Markup Language This code may be independent from a special kind of language used by the human user 0014 Such a formalized description for instance in the form of an XML file may then be used according to an embodiment for generating computer readable program source code which is after compilation and when being executed by a processor capable of realizing the entire functional interface of the apparatus to then readily devel oped Thus source code may be generated in accordance with the generic data and may be generated automatically after having specified the desired functionality in general terms Consequently a programmer never has to touch the US 2006 0248540 Al automatically generated source code which in turn elimi nates the problem that implementation and documentation may differ The described scheme according
22. mployees of a company developing the apparatus For example a documentation accessible for the employees of the company developing the apparatus may contain confidential informa tion which may not be accessible in the documentation for the customers Thus any item of the input generic informa tion may be assigned with a flag or the like indicating that a particular piece of information may be confidential How ever distinguishing between confidential and non confiden tial data is not the only possible criteria for deciding which information should be included in which type of documen tation Another exemplary criteria for distinguishing which information should be included in which type of documen tation is the importance of a particular piece of information Thus it may be possible to generate a brief summary US 2006 0248540 Al documentation of the functionality including only informa tion classified as particularly important and to generate a detailed documentation of the entire functionality including all information regardless its importance 0026 Furthermore when extending or modifying the functionality of an apparatus to be designed it may be no more required to review and rewrite the entire documenta tion again but it may be sufficient that the generic data or the formalized description is only punctiformly modified Then a Generate button may be pressed for generating both modified documentation and modified sou
23. noted as a file xyz h This source code may be used in the biochemical analysis device for providing or controlling its functionality US 2006 0248540 Al 0075 Parallel to the generation of the source code 240 a Stylesheet may be used to generate a user documentation Document from the file Inst xml Particularly documenta tion files 250 may be generated as a user manual in the form of an HTML file xx html a PDF file xx pdf and or a Word file xx doc 0076 FIG 3 shows an exemplary embodiment of a system 300 including a computer or workstation 301 and a biochemical analysis apparatus 302 developed in accor dance with embodiments of the invention 0077 The apparatus 302 comprises an interface 303 via which the computer 301 may communicate with the appa ratus 302 Further a parser 304 is provided in the apparatus 302 which is capable of interpreting or analyzing source code The parser 304 may be coupled to a plurality of executing units 305 for particularly executing functions using compiled code The communication between the com puter 301 and the apparatus 302 may be realized via a network 310 which may be a LAN Local Area Network 0078 An XML file like Inst xml see FIG 2 defining the entire functionality of the apparatus 302 can be stored in the apparatus 302 This XML file can be downloaded to the computer 301 coupled to the apparatus 302 via the interface 303 Thus the computer 301 can get all required informa
24. o generate the documenta tion as a PDF file or as a Word file 0040 The data processing device may comprise a receiv ing unit for receiving the generic data defining the function ality of the apparatus The receiving unit may be a user interface via which a user may input the generic data Particularly such a receiving unit may include a Graphical User Interface GUI via which a human user may input data Such a graphical user interface may include a display device like a cathode ray tube a liquid crystal display a plasma display device or the like for displaying information to a human operator like masks in the form of Windows in which input fields may be provided Such a graphical user interface may further comprise an input device allowing a user to input specification data or to provide the system with control commands Such an input device may include a keypad a joystick a trackball or may even include a microphone of a voice recognition system The GUI may allow a human user to communicate with the system in a bidirectional manner 0041 Furthermore the receiving unit may be adapted to receive the generic data defining a complete functionality of the apparatus In other words an entire completingly defined functionality may be specified via the receiving unit so that a virtual development of a device is possible The realization of the software for controlling such an apparatus may be generated in a computer based manner
25. ption may be any program code encoding the functionality of the apparatus in a format that needs not to be understood by a human being 0019 According to an exemplary embodiment the for malized description of the functionality for instance in the form of an XML file can be stored in the produced appa ratus wherein it may be possible to be accessed from an Nov 2 2006 external device This XML file provides a formal descrip tion of all functions which may be realized with the apparatus 0020 A developer may simply specify which functions an apparatus to be designed shall provide This group of functions may then be transferred in a formalized descrip tion like an XML file particularly in an automatic manner From this formalized description a header for firmware that is to say compilable source code may be generated which may include all information necessary for the interface of the apparatus to be designed For generating the source code the system may optionally access a program library con taining particularly standard routines which may be used by the machine to generate source code in a short time 0021 Optionally the formalized description may not only be used as a basis for generating the source code but may also be used as a basis for generating a documentation or manual for a user for instance as an HTML file a Word file or an PDF file 0022 Thus it may be prevented that the documentation of a devi
26. rce code 0027 Thus the functionality of the apparatus to be designed may be extendable in a simple manner and it may be ensured that an automatically generated manual fits to the specification of the device according to the source code 0028 Thus according to one aspect of embodiments a set of commands for an apparatus to be developed e g functions parameters events may be defined by a devel oper and described in a colloquial language or common speech From this generic data formulated in general terms a formalized description of the desired set of commands may be generated for instance in XML using a data connection structure for processing and evaluating the different generic data items From this formalized description source code for firmware may be generated Simultaneously the formalized description can be used as a basis for generating a user manual in an automated manner Thus discrepancies between documentation and control code may be securely avoided The term common speech may particularly denote a language which is in some sense formal since it may be restricted by particular rules but which may still be understood by a skilled human user Further the term common speech may particularly denote an unambiguous syntax which is close to human speech 0029 An example for a command which may be input as generic data is COMP B C DT COMP may a keyword for a particular function
27. ribed allowing a user to input generic data for defining a func tionality of an apparatus to be designed 0088 Referring to FIG 5 in the computer window 500 a plurality of input fields 501 are provided allowing a user to define a detailed specification concerning the command COSY NEW After having modified the commands as desired by a user an OK button 502 may be pressed so that the corresponding data are accepted 0089 Furthermore via a sub window description docu shown in the window 600 of FIG 6 a documentation may be defined or modified via input fields 601 After having pressed an OK button 602 these documentation information will be included for subsequent processing 0090 Referring to FIG 7 a reply codes sub window of a window 700 is shown Via data fields 701 reply code information may be input and may be confirmed by pressing on an OK button 702 0091 FIG 8 shows a further dialog window 800 allow ing to modify command parameters in various data input fields 801 After confirmation by pressing an OK button 802 these parameters related to particular commands are accepted 0092 After having entered all data relevant for the func tionality of the apparatus to be designed in the data input fields shown in FIG 4 to FIG 8 a user may activate the above described Generate button in the menu 404 shown in FIG 4 Consequently the XML file shown in the sub window 401 is updated or a completely new XML fil
28. stance such generic data defining the functionality of an apparatus in general terms may be the device shall include a command which initiates the mixing of a first liquid having a first concentration with a second liquid having a second concentration This non formalized description may be input by a user via a given data input structure For instance this information may be input in a structured manner via a mask with data input fields in which the different pieces of information are insertable by a human user This can for instance be realized with a graphical user interface on which computer windows are visualized allowing a user to input the generic data In other words a system according to an embodiment may provide a user with a communication interface which may allow the user to enter the data without the necessity that the user cares about the question if the input data can be read by a machine 0017 The input fields of such a generic data inputting tool may then be coupled combined or linked according to a complex data connection structure which is usually invis ible for a human user which may process the data in a manner as to generate a code which is a formalized descrip tion 0018 The term formalized description may particu larly denote a description in a language which can be read or interpreted by a machine or an algorithm without the interference of human intelligence The formalized or logi cal descri
29. surement environment a sensor device a test device for testing a device under test a device for chemical biological and or pharmaceutical analysis a fluid separation system adapted for separating com pounds of a fluid and a liquid chromatography device US 2006 0248540 Al 10 A method of processing data the method comprising generating based on generic data defining a functional interface of an apparatus in general terms a formalized description of the functional interface of the apparatus generating based on the formalized description source code for realizing the functional interface of the appa ratus 11 A computer readable medium in which a computer program of processing data is stored or a program element of processing data which computer program or program Nov 2 2006 element when being executed by a processor is adapted to control or carry out the method of generating based on generic data defining a functional interface of an apparatus in general terms a formalized description of the functional interface of the apparatus generating based on the formalized description source code for realizing the functional interface of the appa ratus
30. t MI Too MI xmi COSY NEW La mout Gist Int_ 32k_32k cmd COSY DUMP document L var COSY DUMP he name of tho cosy Est to create COSY NEW L ver COSY NEW emd COSY ASET i ver COSY RSET cmd OOSY SND L var COSY SND cmd COSY STOP ver COSY STOP d rNSY SIR anjar 80 Patent Application Publication Nov 2 2006 Sheet 5 of 6 US 2006 0248540 A1 900 L 2 Agilent XML Project Microsoft Internet Expirosr provided by Agilent Technologios Inc Elo Edt yow Favorkes Tools bep ead gt BA Aseuch am Geo GD 4 BA Agilent Technologies common pat baseTypes pes events suaieess group COSYCmd StanlightD ataParameters See te Starlight ataInstmnctions curveut Classification 0 StartightTypes a StarlightShtInstructions FPGAInstructions DiagADCInsuuctions DingPWMInstructions group documentation AnalogOut k e a i lt StarlightAnalogOut COSY is a general mechanism implemented to realize module internal and module overlapping system contro and RawDnta synchronization The main components of COSY are lists and an interpreter to process the lists A COSY List is a sequence wDataScan of COSY Elements each of which is a functional unit COSY Elements can be classified into three categories Elements for StarlightHolmi hrHolminm synchronization for commands and to execute a instruction D2Lamp MisLamp StarlightMise consists of goups consists of commands consasts of vanants Stark amj ramet
31. t least one of the features a third generation unit for generating based on the formalized description a user manual documenting the functional interface of the apparatus A third generation unit for generating based on the formalized description a user manual documenting the functional interface of the apparatus wherein the third generation unit is adapted to generate the user manual in a manner to be displayable and or to be printable 4 The data processing device of claim 1 comprising a receiving unit for receiving the generic data defining the functional interface of the apparatus 5 The data processing device of claim 4 comprising at least one of the features the receiving unit is a user interface adapted to receive the generic data input by a user Nov 2 2006 the receiving unit is adapted to receive generic data defining a complete functional interface of the appara tus the receiving unit is adapted to receive an entirety of all commands executable by the apparatus and or an entirety of all actions performable by the apparatus 6 The data processing device of claim 1 comprising at least one of the features the first generation unit is adapted to generate based on the generic data the formalized description of the functional interface of the apparatus in Extensible Markup Language the second generation unit is adapted to generate the source code in a form which is readable by a parser of the apparat
32. tic test equipment for example by comparison with expected data 0051 In a realization of the apparatus as a device for chemical biological and or pharmaceutical analysis func tions like protein purification electrophoresis investiga tion of solutions or chromatography investigations may be realized by the analysis device 0052 According to another exemplary embodiment the apparatus to be designed may be a fluid separation system adapted for separating compounds of a fluid Such a fluid separation system may comprise a fluid delivering unit adapted for delivering fluid a separation unit adapted for separating compounds of the fluid and to provide at least one separated component 0053 According to another exemplary embodiment the data processing device may comprise a storage unit for storing the generic data for instance received by the receiv ing unit and may comprise a modification unit allowing to modify the generic data stored in the storage unit to modify the functionality of the apparatus In other words a set of generic data which has been input before for instance in the frame of the development of another apparatus can be reloaded in the user interface and a selective modification of individual functions may be carried out This may allow to US 2006 0248540 Al generate source code and or a user manual in a simple manner without the necessity to start developing the appa ratus from the very beginning
33. tion related to the functions realizable by the apparatus 302 0079 In the following referring to FIG 4 to FIG 11 screenshots of a Windows based application according to an exemplary embodiment are shown that is to say a user interface via which the functionality according to the embodiments of the invention may be carried out 0080 In the following referring to FIG 4 a screenshot 400 of a main window of a system according to an exem plary embodiment will be described 0081 The computer window 400 shows a user interface via which a human user may input a specification of a laboratory device to be developed including all commands answers and events which the laboratory device to be designed shall offer 0082 Inasub window 401 a previously generated XML file is displayed which has been loaded into the memory of a computer on which the described application runs This XML file includes all commands of an apparatus which has already been developed beforehand Since the code in the first sub window 401 is an XML code it is difficult to read for a human user 0083 As can be seen in FIG 4 a portion of the XML file denoted as COSY NEW has been highlighted by a user for instance using a computer mouse or the like in the first sub window 401 As a consequence of this action a second sub window 402 displays specification information concern ing the command COSY NEW In a third sub window 403 corresponding documentation
34. tionality of an apparatus in general terms a formalized description of the functional interface or the functionality of the apparatus and generating based on the formalized description source code for realizing the functional interface or the functionality of the apparatus 0007 According to yet another exemplary embodiment a computer readable medium is provided in which a com puter program of processing data is stored which computer program when being executed by a processor is adapted to control or carry out the above mentioned method 0008 According to still another exemplary embodiment a program element of processing data is provided which program element when being executed by a processor is adapted to control or carry out the above mentioned method Nov 2 2006 0009 Embodiments can be partly or entirely embodied or supported by one or more suitable software programs which can be stored on or otherwise provided by any kind of data carrier and which might be executed in or by any suitable data processing unit The data processing scheme can be realized by a computer program i e by software or by using one or more special electronic optimization circuits i e in hardware or in hybrid form i e using software components and hardware components 0010 One exemplary aspect of embodiment can be seen in the fact that for assisting in the development of an apparatus like a laboratory apparatus it is suffici
35. to an embodi ment may thus allow designing any apparatus for instance a laboratory apparatus in a significantly simplified manner faster and cheaper Generated source code may be imple mented in the apparatus without the necessity that a human programmer has to review the code 0015 Ina scenario in which only one or some particular functions of an already developed apparatus shall be modi fied for developing a similar but functionally modified apparatus it is easily possible to just reload the interface description in the formalized language to the data processing device according to an embodiment so that it is not neces sary to program everything again from the very beginning It may be sufficient to selectively modify one or more parameters related to a function to be modified Then it may be sufficient to just press some kind of Generate Code button on a screen or a keypad to instruct the system to generate the updated or modified source code Moreover retrofitting of particular functions to an already existing apparatus can be performed easily 0016 The term generic data defining a functionality of an apparatus in general terms may particularly denote the opportunity to provide the system with data in a language in which the desired functionality may be articulated by a human being Thus the information defining the desired functionality can be verbalized in a manner with which a human user is familiar For in
36. us the second generation unit is adapted to generate the source code using a Stylesheet the second generation unit is adapted to generate the source code in C C C Pascal Basic Fortran or Java the data processing device is adapted to design the appa ratus as at least one of a measurement device for performing a measurement in a coupled measurement environment a sensor device a test device for testing a device under test a device for chemical biological and or pharmaceutical analysis a fluid separation sys tem adapted for separating compounds of a fluid and a liquid chromatography device 7 The data processing device of claim 1 comprising a storage unit for storing the generic data and a modification unit for modifying the generic data stored in the storage unit to modify the functional interface of the apparatus 8 An apparatus for providing a functional interface the apparatus comprising a formalized description of the functional interface wherein the formalized description is generated based on generic data defining the functional interface of the apparatus in general terms 9 The apparatus of claim 8 comprising at least one of the features an interface via which the formalized description of the functional interface of the apparatus is providable to an entity coupled to the interface the apparatus is adapted as at least one of a measurement device for performing a measurement in a coupled mea
37. vable storage cartridge like a USB stick Thus on the storage device 107 the source code for controlling the apparatus to be designed is stored 0069 The CPU 105 may further generate based on the XML file stored in the storage unit 106 a user manual file documenting the functionality of the apparatus This user manual file may be stored on the further storage device 107 and or may be sent to a printer 108 to generate a hardcopy of the user manual The manual file can be stored for instance a HTML file allowing a user to read the manual on the display device of a computer 0070 FIG 2 shows a flow diagram 200 illustrating a method of processing data according to an exemplary embodiment 0071 The diagram 200 shown in FIG 2 schematically illustrates generic data 210 which may be input by a user in general terms in a human language for instance via the GUI 101 of FIG 1 0072 The generic data 210 defining a functionality of the biochemical analysis device to be designed are translated automatically in a formalized description that is to say into an XML file 220 denoted as Inst xml 0073 This XML file 220 includes all information related to the functionality of the apparatus in accordance with the generic data or specification 210 however in a machine readable format 0074 Using a Stylesheet a file Header 230 is generated based on the XML file 220 The file Header 230 is a basis for source code 240 in C language de
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