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A transmitter for measuring a process variable includes a sensor configured to couple to a process and having a sensor output related to the process variable. A microprocessor coupled to the sensor output provides a process variable output which is a function of an orthogonal-polynomial of the senso

A transmitter for measuring a process variable includes a sensor configured to couple to a process and having a sensor output related to the process variable. A microprocessor coupled to the sensor output provides a process variable output which is a function of an orthogonal-polynomial of the sensor output. A transmitter output is configured to provide an output related to the process variable.

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A transmitter for measuring a process variable includes a sensor configured to couple to a process and having a sensor output related to the process variable. A microprocessor coupled to the sensor output provides a process variable output which is a function of an orthogonal-polynomial of the senso

A transmitter for measuring a process variable includes a sensor configured to couple to a process and having a sensor output related to the process variable. A microprocessor coupled to the sensor output provides a process variable output which is a function of an orthogonal-polynomial of the sensor output. A transmitter output is configured to provide an output related to the process variable. upon comparing said test priority score of one of said nodes and a predefined adequacy threshold and for re-initiating said testing caused by said fourth means; wherein said fifth means (5) further comprises means for computing said test priority score for a particular node of said nodes by mathematically combining any combination of the following: (i) a result of said test performed on said particular node at step (b); (ii) a previous diagnostic loop alarm score, indicative of any alarms associated with said particular node and generated by said at least one diagnostic loop test; (iii) a long term alarm score, indicative of any alarms associated with said particular node and generated by any of said tests; (iv) a performance loop timer expired score, indicative of when said performance loop timer has expired; and (v) a deferral score, indicative of how many times said particular node has not undergone testing responsive to said seventh means. 9. A computer readable medium having a program, the program comprising: (a) means for storing a channel plan and a test plan for each of a plurality of nodes, each channel plan having predefined specifications for signal channels on a respective node, said test plan having predefined tests for said respective node; (b) means for causing testing of a signal characteristic of each of said plurality of nodes using a test for each of said nodes that is defined in said test plan; (c) means for determining a test priority score for each of said nodes based at least upon said test; (d) means for establishing a priority for said nodes based upon said test priority scores; and (e) means for causing testing of a plurality of signal characteristics of said nodes in an order based upon said priority. 10. A method for enabling efficient monitoring of electrical signals communicated along connections, comprising: (a) storing a channel plan and a test plan for each of a plurality of nodes, each channel plan having predefined specifications for signal channels on a respective node, said test plan having predefined tests for said respective node; (b) testing a signal characteristic of each of said plurality of nodes using a test for each of said nodes that is defined in said test plan; (c) determining a test priority score for each of said nodes based at least upon said test; (d) establishing a priority for said nodes based upon said test priority scores; and (e) testing a plurality of signal characteristics of said nodes in an order based upon said priority. 11. The method of claim 10, wherein the step (e), comprises the step of: (f) ceasing step (e) based upon comparing said test priority score of one of said nodes and a predefined adequacy threshold; and (g) re-initiating step (b). 12. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of: after said step (f) and before said step (g), adjusting said test priority score of at least one of said nodes so that said at least one node will exhibit a higher priority relative to testing at said step (e). 13. The method of claim 10, wherein the step (e), comprises the step of: performing either at least one diagnostic test or at least one performance test, both defined in said test plan, upon said nodes, based upon a performance loop timer associated with each of said nodes. 14. The method of claim 10, wherein said at least one diagnostic test takes a longer amount of time to perform than said performance test and measures more signal characteristics than said performance test. 15. The method of claim 10, further comprising the steps of: (f) performing either at least one diagnostic test or at least one performance test, both defined in said test plan, upon said nodes, based upon a performance loop timer associated with each of said nodes; (g) ceasing step (e) and re-initiating step (b) when said test priority score of one of said nodes meets a predefined adequacy threshold; (h) during said step (b), computi ng said test priority score for a particular node of said nodes by mathematically combining any combination of the following: (1) a result of said test performed on said particular node at step (b); (2) a previous diagnostic loop alarm score, indicative of any alarms associated with said particular node and generated by said at least one diagnostic loop test; (3) a long term alarm score, indicative of any alarms associated with said particular node and generated by any of said tests; (4) a performance loop timer expired score, indicative of when said performance loop timer has expired; and (5) a deferral score, indicative of how many times said particular node has not undergone said testing at step (e). 16. A method for enabling efficient monitoring of electrical signals communicated along nodes, comprising: storing a channel plan and a test plan for each of said nodes, each channel plan having predefined specifications for signal channels on a respective node, said test plan having predefined tests for said respective node; initializing a quick scan loop timer and a performance loop timer; performing at least one quick scan test defined in said test plan upon said nodes; allocating a test priority score to each of said nodes based at least upon said quick scan test; prioritizing said nodes based upon said test priority scores to form an ordered test priority list; commencing testing of said nodes in an order defined by said test priority list, by performing either at least one diagnostic loop test or at least one performance loop test upon each node, based upon said performance loop timer and a predefined performance loop time period; refraining from performing any more of said testing on said nodes and re-initiating another said quick scan loop test based upon said quick scan loop timer and a predefined quick scan loop time period; and refraining from performing any more of said testing on said nodes and re-initiating another said quick scan loop test based upon a comparison of said test priority score associated with said one node and a predefined adequacy threshold. 17. The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of: after said commencing step and before said re-initiating step, adjusting said test priority score of at least one of said nodes. 18. The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of: computing said test priority score for a particular node by mathematically combining any combination of the following: a quick scan score, indicative of a quick scan test result; a previous diagnostic loop alarm score, indicative of any alarms associated with said particular node and generated by said diagnostic loop test; a long term alarm score, indicative of any alarms associated with said particular node and generated by any of said tests; a performance loop timer expired score, indicative of when said performance loop timer has expired; and a deferral score, indicative of how many times said particular node has not undergone said testing via said diagnostic loop test and said performance loop test. 19. The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of displaying results regarding said testing. 20. The method of claim 16, wherein said tests are performed using a spectrum analyzer controlled by a controller and a database stores testing information measured by said spectrum analyzer.