IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
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국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
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출원번호 |
UP-0037652
(2005-01-18)
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등록번호 |
US-7627695
(2009-12-16)
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발명자
/ 주소 |
- Peck, Joseph E.
- Novacek, Matthew
- Andrade, Hugo A.
- Petersen, Newton G.
- Ranganathan, Ganesh
- Sierer, Brian
- Pasquarette, John
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출원인 / 주소 |
- National Instruments Corporation
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대리인 / 주소 |
Meyertons Hood Kivlin Kowert & Goetzel, P.C.
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인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
9 인용 특허 :
36 |
초록
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A system and method for online configuration of a measurement system. The user may access a server over a network and specify a desired task, e.g., a measurement task, and receive programs and/or configuration information which are usable to configure the user's measurement system hardware (and/or s
A system and method for online configuration of a measurement system. The user may access a server over a network and specify a desired task, e.g., a measurement task, and receive programs and/or configuration information which are usable to configure the user's measurement system hardware (and/or software) to perform the desired task. Additionally, if the user does not have the hardware required to perform the task, the required hardware may be sent to the user, along with programs and/or configuration information. The hardware may be reconfigurable hardware, such as an FPGA or a processor/memory based device. In one embodiment, the required hardware may be pre-configured to perform the task before being sent to the user. In another embodiment, the system and method may provide a graphical program in response to receiving the user's task specification, where the graphical program may be usable by the measurement system to perform the task.
대표청구항
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We claim: 1. A method for configuring a device to perform a task, wherein the device is coupled to or comprised in a client computer system, and wherein the device is comprised in a system comprising one or more devices, the method comprising: displaying a graphical user interface (GUI) on a displa
We claim: 1. A method for configuring a device to perform a task, wherein the device is coupled to or comprised in a client computer system, and wherein the device is comprised in a system comprising one or more devices, the method comprising: displaying a graphical user interface (GUI) on a display of the client computer system which iconically illustrates the system; receiving user input to the GUI specifying one or more target devices of the one or more devices to receive one or more hardware configuration programs, wherein the one or more target devices comprise the device; the client computer system receiving user input indicating information specifying the task; the client computer system providing the information specifying the task to a server over a network; the server receiving the information specifying the task over the network; automatically generating a hardware configuration program based on the information; and providing the hardware configuration program to the device over the network, wherein the device includes a programmable hardware element, wherein the hardware configuration program is usable to configure the programmable hardware element to perform the specified task. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein said automatically generating the hardware configuration program based on the information comprises: automatically generating a program based on the information; and automatically generating the hardware configuration program based on the program. 3. The method of claim 2, wherein said automatically generating the program comprises automatically generating a graphical program based on the information, wherein the graphical program comprises a plurality of interconnected nodes which visually indicate functionality of the graphical program. 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the programmable hardware element is a field programmable gate array (FPGA). 5. The method of claim 1, further comprising: displaying a graphical user interface (GUI) on a display of the client computer system; and wherein the client computer system receiving user input comprises the GUI receiving user input indicating the information for the task. 6. The method of claim 5, wherein said displaying the GUI comprises displaying a plurality of panels on the display to guide a user of the client computer system in providing the information for the task. 7. The method of claim 1, further comprising: the server providing a graphical user interface (GUI) to the client computer system over the network; and the client computer system displaying the graphical user interface (GUI); wherein the client computer system receiving user input comprises the GUI receiving user input indicating the information for the task. 8. The method of claim 1, the client computer system providing payment information to pay for receipt of the hardware configuration program. 9. The method of claim 1, wherein said displaying the graphical user interface (GUI) on the display of the client computer system which iconically illustrates the system comprises: displaying one or more device icons corresponding to respective ones of the one or more devices in the system. 10. The method of claim 9, wherein said displaying the graphical user interface (GUI) on the display of the client computer system which iconically illustrates the system further comprises: displaying connections between the one or more device icons, wherein the displayed connections correspond to couplings between the one or more devices. 11. The method of claim 9, further comprising: displaying one or more program icons associated with the one or more hardware configuration programs; and associating a first program icon with a first device icon in response to user input, wherein the first program icon corresponds to a first program, wherein the first device icon corresponds to a first device, wherein said associating operates to configure a first programmable hardware element on the first device with the first hardware configuration program. 12. The method of claim 11, further comprising: changing an appearance of the first device icon in response to said associating to indicate that the first programmable hardware element is configured according to the first hardware configuration program. 13. The method of claim 1, further comprising: configuring the programmable hardware element in the device with the hardware configuration program; and the programmable hardware element operating according to the hardware configuration program to perform the at least a portion of the task. 14. The method of claim 1, wherein the device is comprised in a system comprising a plurality of devices, wherein each of the devices includes a programmable hardware element; and wherein said automatically generating comprises the server generating a hardware configuration program for each of the programmable hardware elements based on the information, wherein each of the hardware configuration programs is useable for configuring a respective one of the programmable hardware elements to perform at least a portion of the task; wherein the server providing comprises the server providing the plurality of hardware configuration programs to the system; wherein each of the programmable hardware elements is configurable with a respective hardware configuration program to perform the at least a portion of the task. 15. The method of claim 14, further comprising: configuring each of the programmable hardware elements in the system with a respective hardware configuration program; and the programmable hardware elements operating according to the respective hardware configuration programs to perform the at least a portion of the task. 16. The method of claim 15, the method further comprising: deploying respective ones of the plurality of hardware configuration programs on respective ones of the plurality of devices after said providing; wherein after said deploying a first device is operable to execute according to a first hardware configuration program to perform a first portion of the task, and a second device is operable to execute according to a second hardware configuration program to perform a second portion of the task. 17. The method of claim 1, wherein the information comprises information indicating type of the device. 18. The method of claim 1, wherein the information comprises information indicating desired operation of the device. 19. The method of claim 1, further comprising: the server automatically determining information regarding the device; wherein the server also determines the hardware configuration program based on the information regarding the device. 20. The method of claim 1, further comprising: the server receiving payment information to pay for receipt of the hardware configuration program. 21. A system for configuring a device to perform a task, the system comprising: a client computer system, wherein the client computer system is coupled to or comprised in a first system, wherein the first system comprises one or more devices, wherein the client computer system includes: a display, wherein the display displays a graphical user interface for receiving user input indicating information for the task, wherein the graphical user interface iconically illustrates the first system; a user input device, wherein the user input device is useable for providing input to the graphical user interface, including: user input specifying one or more target devices of the one or more devices to receive one or more hardware configuration programs; and user input indicating information specifying the task; and a first network interface device for coupling to a network; wherein the client computer system is operable to provide the information specifying the task over the network; at least one device coupled to the client computer system, wherein the at least one device is comprised in the one or more specified target devices, and wherein the at least one device includes a programmable hardware element; and a server computer system, comprising: a second network interface device for coupling to the network; a processor; a memory medium coupled to the processor and storing program instructions executable by the processor to: receive the information specifying the task, wherein the information is received over the network; automatically generate a hardware configuration program based on the information; and provide the hardware configuration program to the at least one device over the network, wherein the hardware configuration program is usable to configure the programmable hardware element to perform the specified task. 22. A system for configuring a device to perform a task, the system comprising: means for a server receiving information specifying the task, wherein the information is received over a network, wherein the information specifying the task is provided to the server via: a client computer system displaying a graphical user interface (GUI) on a display of the client computer system, wherein the client computer system is coupled to or comprised in a first system that includes one or more devices, and wherein the GUI iconically illustrates the first system; the client computer system receiving user input to the GUI specifying one or more target devices of the one or more devices to receive one or more hardware configuration programs, wherein the one or more target devices comprise the device; the client computer system receiving user input indicating information specifying the task; the client computer system providing the information specifying the task to the server over a network; means for automatically generating a hardware configuration program based on the information; and means for providing the hardware configuration program to the device over the network, wherein the device includes a programmable hardware element, wherein the hardware configuration program is usable to configure the programmable hardware element to perform the specified task. 23. A computer-accessible memory medium comprised on a server, wherein the memory medium stores program instructions for configuring a device to perform a task, wherein the program instructions are executable by a processor of the server to perform: receiving information specifying the task, wherein the information is received over a network, wherein the information specifying the task is provided to the server via: a client computer system displaying a graphical user interface (GUI) on a display of the client computer system, wherein the client computer system is coupled to or comprised in a first system that includes one or more devices, and wherein the GUI iconically illustrates the first system; the client computer system receiving user input to the GUI specifying one or more target devices of the one or more devices to receive one or more hardware configuration programs, wherein the one or more target devices comprise the device; the client computer system receiving user input indicating information specifying the task; and the client computer system providing the information specifying the task to the server over a network; automatically generating a hardware configuration program based on the information; and providing the hardware configuration program to the device over the network, wherein the device includes a programmable hardware element, wherein the hardware configuration program is usable to configure the programmable hardware element to perform the specified task. 24. A computer-accessible memory medium comprised on a server that stores program instructions for configuring a plurality of devices in a system to perform a task, wherein each of the devices includes a programmable hardware element, wherein the program instructions are executable to: receive information specifying the task, wherein the information is received over a network; automatically generate a hardware configuration program for each of the programmable hardware elements based on the information, wherein each of the hardware configuration programs is useable for configuring a respective one of the programmable hardware elements to perform at least a portion of the task; and provide the generated hardware configuration programs to the system over the network, wherein the hardware configuration programs are usable to configure the programmable hardware elements to perform the specified task, and wherein each of the programmable hardware elements is configurable with a respective hardware configuration program to perform the at least a portion of the task; wherein respective ones of the plurality of hardware configuration programs are operable to be deployed on respective ones of the plurality of devices after said providing, wherein after deployment a first device is operable to execute according to a first hardware configuration program to perform a first portion of the task, and a second device is operable to execute according to a second hardware configuration program to perform a second portion of the task; and wherein the programmable hardware elements are configured to operate according to the respective hardware configuration programs to perform the at least a portion of the task. 25. A computer-implemented method for configuring a plurality of devices in a system to perform a task, wherein each of the devices includes a programmable hardware element, the method comprising: a server receiving information specifying the task, wherein the information is received over a network; the server automatically generating a hardware configuration program for each of the programmable hardware elements based on the information, wherein each of the hardware configuration programs is useable for configuring a respective one of the programmable hardware elements to perform at least a portion of the task; and the server providing the generated hardware configuration programs to the system over the network, wherein the hardware configuration programs are usable to configure the programmable hardware elements to perform the specified task, and wherein each of the programmable hardware elements is configurable with a respective hardware configuration program to perform the at least a portion of the task; wherein respective ones of the plurality of hardware configuration programs are operable to be deployed on respective ones of the plurality of devices after said providing, wherein after deployment a first device is operable to execute according to a first hardware configuration program to perform a first portion of the task, and a second device is operable to execute according to a second hardware configuration program to perform a second portion of the task; and wherein the programmable hardware elements are configured to operate according to the respective hardware configuration programs to perform the at least a portion of the task. 26. A computer-accessible memory medium comprised on a server that stores program instructions for configuring a user specified device in a client system to perform a task, wherein the program instructions are executable by a processor to: receive information specifying the task, wherein the information is received over a network, wherein the information specifying the task is provided to the server via user input received to a graphical user interface (GUI) presented on a display of the client computer system, wherein the GUI iconically illustrates the client system; automatically generate a hardware configuration program based on the information; and provide the hardware configuration program to the device over the network, wherein the device includes a programmable hardware element, wherein the hardware configuration program is usable to configure the programmable hardware element to perform the specified task. 27. The memory medium of claim 26, wherein to automatically generate the hardware configuration program based on the information the program instructions are executable to: automatically generate a program based on the information; and automatically generate the hardware configuration program based on the program. 28. The memory medium of claim 27, wherein to automatically generate the program the program instructions are executable to automatically generate a graphical program based on the information, wherein the graphical program comprises a plurality of interconnected nodes which visually indicate functionality of the graphical program. 29. The memory medium of claim 26, wherein the programmable hardware element is a field programmable gate array (FPGA). 30. The memory medium of claim 26, wherein the program instructions are further executable to: provide the GUI to the client system over the network for display on the client system. 31. The memory medium of claim 26, wherein the GUI comprises a plurality of panels to guide a user of the client computer system in providing the information specifying the task. 32. The memory medium of claim 26, wherein the program instructions are further executable to receive payment information from the client computer system over the network to pay for receipt of the hardware configuration program. 33. The memory medium of claim 26, wherein the GUI comprises: one or more device icons corresponding to respective ones of the one or more devices in the system. 34. The memory medium of claim 33, wherein the GUI further comprises: connections between the one or more device icons, wherein the connections correspond to couplings between the one or more devices. 35. The memory medium of claim 33, wherein the GUI is further operable to: display one or more program icons associated with the one or more hardware configuration programs; and associate a first program icon with a first device icon in response to user input, wherein the first program icon corresponds to a first program, wherein the first device icon corresponds to a first device, wherein said associating operates to configure a first programmable hardware element on the first device with the first hardware configuration program. 36. The memory medium of claim 35, wherein the GUI is further operable to: change an appearance of the first device icon in response to said associating to indicate that the first programmable hardware element is configured according to the first hardware configuration program. 37. The memory medium of claim 26, wherein the programmable hardware element in the device is configurable using the hardware configuration program, after which the programmable hardware element is operable according to the hardware configuration program to perform the at least a portion of the task. 38. The memory medium of claim 26, wherein the device is comprised in a system comprising a plurality of devices, wherein each of the devices includes a programmable hardware element; wherein to automatically generate the hardware configuration program the program instructions are executable to generate a hardware configuration program for each of the programmable hardware elements based on the information, wherein each of the hardware configuration programs is useable for configuring a respective one of the programmable hardware elements to perform at least a portion of the task; wherein to provide the hardware configuration program to the device, the program instructions are executable to provide the plurality of hardware configuration programs to the client system; and wherein each of the programmable hardware elements is configurable with a respective hardware configuration program to perform the at least a portion of the task. 39. The memory medium of claim 38, wherein after respective ones of the plurality of hardware configuration programs are deployed on respective ones of the plurality of devices, a first device of the plurality of devices is operable to execute according to a first hardware configuration program to perform a first portion of the task, and a second device of the plurality of devices is operable to execute according to a second hardware configuration program to perform a second portion of the task. 40. The memory medium of claim 26, wherein the information comprises information indicating type of the device. 41. The memory medium of claim 26, wherein the information comprises information indicating desired operation of the device. 42. The memory medium of claim 26, wherein the program instructions are further executable to: automatically determine information regarding the device; wherein said generating the hardware configuration program is also based on the information regarding the device. 43. A computer-implemented method for configuring a user specified device in a client system to perform a task, comprising: a server receiving information specifying the task, wherein the information is received over a network, wherein the information specifying the task is provided to the server via user input received to a graphical user interface (GUI) presented on a display of the client computer system, wherein the GUI iconically illustrates the client system; the server automatically generating a hardware configuration program based on the information; and the server providing the hardware configuration program to the device over the network, wherein the device includes a programmable hardware element, wherein the hardware configuration program is usable to configure the programmable hardware element to perform the specified task. 44. A computer-accessible memory medium comprised on a server, wherein the memory medium stores program instructions for configuring a user specified device in a client system to perform a task, wherein the program instructions are executable by a processor to: provide a graphical user interface (GUI) for display on the client system which iconically illustrates the client system, wherein the GUI is operable to receive user input specifying one or more target devices in the client system to receive one or more hardware configuration programs, wherein the one or more target devices include the device, and wherein the GUI is further operable to receive user input indicating information specifying the task; receive the information specifying the task from the client system over the network, wherein the information was provided via user input to the GUI; automatically generate a hardware configuration program based on the information; and provide the hardware configuration program to the device over the network, wherein the device includes a programmable hardware element, wherein the hardware configuration program is usable to configure the programmable hardware element to perform the specified task. 45. The memory medium of claim 44, wherein to automatically generate the hardware configuration program based on the information the program instructions are executable to: automatically generate a program based on the information; and automatically generate the hardware configuration program based on the program. 46. The memory medium of claim 45, wherein to automatically generate the program the program instructions are executable to automatically generate a graphical program based on the information, wherein the graphical program comprises a plurality of interconnected nodes which visually indicate functionality of the graphical program. 47. The memory medium of claim 44, wherein the programmable hardware element is a field programmable gate array (FPGA). 48. The memory medium of claim 44, wherein the GUI comprises a plurality of panels to guide a user of the client computer system in providing the information specifying the task. 49. The memory medium of claim 44, wherein the program instructions are further executable to receive payment information from the client computer system over the network to pay for receipt of the hardware configuration program. 50. The memory medium of claim 44, wherein the GUI comprises: one or more device icons corresponding to respective ones of the one or more devices in the system. 51. The memory medium of claim 50, wherein the GUI further comprises: connections between the one or more device icons, wherein the connections correspond to couplings between the one or more devices. 52. The memory medium of claim 50, wherein the GUI is further operable to: display one or more program icons associated with the one or more hardware configuration programs; and associate a first program icon with a first device icon in response to user input, wherein the first program icon corresponds to a first program, wherein the first device icon corresponds to a first device, wherein said associating operates to configure a first programmable hardware element on the first device with the first hardware configuration program. 53. The memory medium of claim 52, wherein the GUI is further operable to: change an appearance of the first device icon in response to said associating to indicate that the first programmable hardware element is configured according to the first hardware configuration program. 54. The memory medium of claim 44, wherein the programmable hardware element in the device is configurable using the hardware configuration program, after which the programmable hardware element is operable according to the hardware configuration program to perform the at least a portion of the task. 55. The memory medium of claim 44, wherein the device is comprised in a system comprising a plurality of devices, wherein each of the devices includes a programmable hardware element; wherein to automatically generate the hardware configuration program the program instructions are executable to generate a hardware configuration program for each of the programmable hardware elements based on the information, wherein each of the hardware configuration programs is useable for configuring a respective one of the programmable hardware elements to perform at least a portion of the task; wherein to provide the hardware configuration program to the device, the program instructions are executable to provide the plurality of hardware configuration programs to the client system; and wherein each of the programmable hardware elements is configurable with a respective hardware configuration program to perform the at least a portion of the task. 56. The memory medium of claim 55, wherein after respective ones of the plurality of hardware configuration programs are deployed on respective ones of the plurality of devices, a first device of the plurality of devices is operable to execute according to a first hardware configuration program to perform a first portion of the task, and a second device of the plurality of devices is operable to execute according to a second hardware configuration program to perform a second portion of the task. 57. The memory medium of claim 44, wherein the information comprises information indicating type of the device. 58. The memory medium of claim 44, wherein the information comprises information indicating desired operation of the device. 59. The memory medium of claim 44, wherein the program instructions are further executable to: automatically determine information regarding the device; wherein said generating the hardware configuration program is also based on the information regarding the device. 60. A computer-implemented method for configuring a user specified device in a client system to perform a task, comprising: a server providing a graphical user interface (GUI) for display on the client system which iconically illustrates the client system, wherein the GUI is operable to receive user input specifying one or more target devices in the client system to receive one or more hardware configuration programs, wherein the one or more target devices include the device, and wherein the GUI is further operable to receive user input indicating information specifying the task; the server receiving the information specifying the task from the client system over the network, wherein the information was provided via user input to the GUI; the server automatically generating a hardware configuration program based on the information; and the server providing the hardware configuration program to the device over the network, wherein the device includes a programmable hardware element, wherein the hardware configuration program is usable to configure the programmable hardware element to perform the specified task. 61. A computer-accessible memory medium comprised on a client system that stores program instructions for configuring a user specified device in the client system to perform a task, wherein the program instructions are executable by a processor to: display a graphical user interface (GUI) on the client system which iconically illustrates the system; receive user input to the GUI specifying one or more target devices of the one or more devices to receive one or more hardware configuration programs, wherein the one or more target devices comprise the device; receive user input to the GUI indicating information specifying the task; provide the information specifying the task to a server over a network; and receive a hardware configuration program from the server over the network, wherein the hardware configuration program is automatically generated at the server based on the information; wherein the hardware configuration program is usable to configure a programmable hardware element on the device to perform the specified task. 62. The memory medium of claim 61, wherein display of the GUI on the client system comprises receiving the GUI from the server over the network for display on the client system. 63. The memory medium of claim 61, wherein the program instructions are further executable to: receive user input to the GUI specifying one or more target devices of the one or more devices to receive one or more hardware configuration programs, wherein the one or more target devices comprise the device. 64. The memory medium of claim 61, wherein the hardware configuration program is automatically generated at the server by: automatic generation of a program based on the information; and automatic generation of the hardware configuration program based on the program. 65. The memory medium of claim 64, wherein the program comprises a graphical program, wherein the graphical program comprises a plurality of interconnected nodes which visually indicate functionality of the graphical program. 66. The memory medium of claim 61, wherein the programmable hardware element is a field programmable gate array (FPGA). 67. The memory medium of claim 61, wherein to display the GUI the program instructions are executable to display a plurality of panels on the display to guide a user of the client computer system in providing the information specifying the task. 68. The memory medium of claim 61, wherein the program instructions are further executable to: provide payment information to the server over the network to pay for receipt of the hardware configuration program. 69. The memory medium of claim 61, wherein to display the GUI on the display of the client computer system which iconically illustrates the system, the program instructions are executable to: display one or more device icons corresponding to respective ones of the one or more devices in the system. 70. The memory medium of claim 69, wherein to display the GUI on the display of the client computer system which iconically illustrates the system, the program instructions are executable to: display connections between the one or more device icons, wherein the displayed connections correspond to couplings between the one or more devices. 71. The memory medium of claim 69, wherein the program instructions are further executable to: display one or more program icons associated with the one or more hardware configuration programs; and associate a first program icon with a first device icon in response to user input, wherein the first program icon corresponds to a first program, wherein the first device icon corresponds to a first device, wherein said associating operates to configure a first programmable hardware element on the first device with the first hardware configuration program. 72. The memory medium of claim 71, wherein the program instructions are further executable to: change an appearance of the first device icon in response to said associating to indicate that the first programmable hardware element is configured according to the first hardware configuration program. 73. The memory medium of claim 61, wherein the program instructions are further executable to: configure the programmable hardware element in the device with the hardware configuration program, after which the programmable hardware element is operable according to the hardware configuration program to perform the at least a portion of the task. 74. The memory medium of claim 61, wherein the device is comprised in a system comprising a plurality of devices, wherein each of the devices includes a programmable hardware element; wherein to receive a hardware configuration program from the server over the network, the program instructions are executable to receive a hardware configuration program for each of the programmable hardware elements, wherein each of the hardware configuration programs is automatically generated by the server based on the information, wherein each of the hardware configuration programs is useable for configuring a respective one of the programmable hardware elements to perform at least a portion of the task; and wherein each of the programmable hardware elements is configurable with a respective hardware configuration program to perform the at least a portion of the task. 75. The memory medium of claim 74, wherein the program instructions are further executable by a processor to: configure each of the programmable hardware elements in the system with a respective hardware configuration program; and wherein after each of the programmable hardware elements in the system is configured with a respective hardware configuration program, the programmable hardware elements operate according to the respective hardware configuration programs to perform the at least a portion of the task. 76. The memory medium of claim 75, wherein the program instructions are further executable by a processor to: deploy respective ones of the plurality of hardware configuration programs on respective ones of the plurality of devices; wherein after said deploying a first device of the plurality of devices is operable to execute according to a first hardware configuration program to perform a first portion of the task, and a second device of the plurality of devices operates to execute according to a second hardware configuration program to perform a second portion of the task. 77. The memory medium of claim 61, wherein the information comprises information indicating type of the device. 78. The memory medium of claim 61, wherein the information comprises information indicating desired operation of the device. 79. The memory medium of claim 61, wherein the hardware configuration program is automatically generated by the server based on information regarding the device, and wherein the information regarding the device is automatically determined by the server. 80. A computer-implemented method for configuring a user specified device in the client system to perform a task, comprising: displaying a graphical user interface (GUI) on the client system which iconically illustrates the system; receiving user input to the GUI specifying one or more target devices of the one or more devices to receive one or more hardware configuration programs, wherein the one or more target devices comprise the device; receiving user input to the GUI indicating information specifying the task; providing the information specifying the task to a server over a network; and receiving a hardware configuration program from the server over the network, wherein the hardware configuration program is automatically generated at the server based on the information; and wherein the hardware configuration program is usable to configure a programmable hardware element on the device to perform the specified task.
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