Granted Patent B2

US 6,937,844 · App. 10/156,826 · Granted Aug 30, 2005

Abstract

Claims (34)

1. A GPIB adapter adapted for providing wireless communication between at least one GPIB device and at least one computer, the adapter comprising a command handler and a wireless communication module, the command handler adapted for communication with the wireless communication module, wherein the adapter comprises a GPIB control unit, the command handler adapted for executing GPIB function calls directed to the GPIB device through the GPIB control unit, and the command handler comprises a GPIB driver, the GPIB driver adapted for communication with the GPIB control unit, such that GPIB functionality is provided by the adapter.

2. Adapter according to claim 1 , wherein the GPIB control unit and the GPIB driver are adapted for providing complete GPIB functionality.

3. Adapter according to claim 1 , wherein the GPIB control unit and the GPIB driver are adapted for providing a selection of the GPIB functionality, the selection comprising essential and/or frequently used functions.

4. Adapter according to claim 1 wherein said wireless communication module provides short range radio communication.

5. Adapter according to claim 4 , wherein said wireless communication module is a Bluetooth module.

6. Adapter according to claim 4 , wherein said wireless communication module is adapted for providing communication with a wireless local area network (W-LAN) or a hyper local area network (Hyper-LAN).

7. Adapter according to claim 1 , wherein said wireless communication module provides infra red (IR) communication.

8. Adapter according to claim 1 , wherein said command handler is a microcontroller and comprises a Bluetooth interface, a main program and said GPIB driver.

9. Adapter according to claim 1 , wherein the adapter, or the functionality of the adapter, is arranged within a GPIB device.

10. A system for providing wireless communication between GPIB units comprising at least one adapter and at least one computer, the adapter comprising a wireless communication module and a command handler, the computer comprising a wireless communication module and a user application wherein an adapter driver is arranged in communication with said user application and said wireless communication module of the computer, and a logical interface is provided between the adapter driver and the command handler.

11. System according to claim 10 , wherein said logical interface is provided by GPIB packets, the GPIB packets comprising a section representing a function call number (FCN) which corresponds to a GPIB function call, and the structure of the GPIB packet being adapted to the information carried by the GPIB packet, as for reducing the amount of data wirelessly transmitted.

12. System according to claim 11 , wherein said GPIB packets are created by the adapter driver in accordance with a list of GPIB function calls and their corresponding GPIB packet structures and function call number (FCN), the list stored in the host computer.

13. System according to claim 11 , wherein a main program of said command handler transforms said GBIP packets to GPIB function calls in accordance with a list of GPIB function calls and their corresponding GPIB packet structures and function call number (FCN), the list stored in memory means of the adapter.

14. System according to claim 10 , wherein said communication module of the adapter and said wireless communication module of the computer are Bluetooth modules.

15. Method of, in a GPIB adapter, receiving and executing a GPIB function call, the method comprising the steps of:

checking for incoming function calls from a wireless communication module;

receiving a GPIB Packet comprising the parameters of a GPIB function call;

identifying from the GPIB packet, the GPIB function call by the use of a stored list of GPIB function calls and their corresponding GPIB packet structures and function call number FCN;

calling the identified function in GPIB driver;

assembling the result from the function call in a GPIB return packet; and

transmitting the result in the format of GPIB packets via the wireless communication module.

16. A computer program product directly loadable into an internal memory of a processing means with an adapter, comprising software code means adapted for controlling the steps of claim 15 .

17. A computer program product stored on a computer usable medium, comprising readable program adapted for causing a processing means in a processing unit for image processing, to control an execution of the steps of claim 15 .

18. Method of wirelessly transmitting and executing a GPIB function call, the method comprising the steps of:

calling from a user application, executed in a host computer, a GPIB function call;

assembling in an adapter driver of the host computer, a GPIB packet comprising a function identification number FCN and function parameters, the GPIB packet assembled according to a first list of GPIB function calls and their corresponding GPIB packet structures and function call number FCN, the first list stored in the host computer;

transmitting the GPIB packet from, the host computer to an adapter;

receiving the GPIB Packet in the adapter;

identifying from the GPIB packet, the GPIB function call by the use of a second list of GPIB function calls and their corresponding GPIB packet structures and function call number FCN, the second list stored in the adapter;

calling the identified function in a GPIB driver;

assembling the result or part of the result from the function call in a GPIB return packet; and

transmitting the GPIB return packet from the adapter to the host computer.

19. Computer program products directly loadable into an internal memory of a processing means within an adapter and a computer, respectively, comprising software code means adapted for controlling the steps of claim 18 .

20. A computer program product stored on a computer usable medium, comprising readable program adapted for causing a processing means in a processing unit for image processing, to control an execution of the steps of claim 18 .

Assignments (11)