Web-based recorder configuration utility

1. A method for identifying a data recorder having a first operational configuration of at least one of hardware components and software components, comprising:

receiving, by a processing device, configuration information for changing the first operational configuration of the data recorder to a second operational configuration that is defined by a plurality of data recording input parameters and a configuration for each said data recording input parameters which is to be employed during use of the data recorder in a particular data recording application;

transforming, by the processing device, the configuration information in accordance with a pre-defined encoding scheme;

using a signature generating algorithm to generate with said processing device a unique signature for said data recorder, the unique signature comprising a code which uniquely identifies the data recorder based on the configuration information which was previously transformed, wherein the configuration information is recoverable from the unique signature;

storing, on a memory of said data recorder, the unique signature; and

responsive to an input request, providing at least the unique signature to a user to facilitate unique identification of the data recorder and the configuration information.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the unique signature is generated by:

analyzing each of a plurality of input parameters contained within the configuration information; and

generating at least a portion of the unique signature based upon each of the plurality of input parameters.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the code is a human readable set of numeric or alpha-numeric values.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein said processing device generates the unique signature based on said configuration information and on a data recorder core part number which cannot be modified.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein said data recorder core part number is unique to said data recorder.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein said unique signature is generated by generating a signature for said data recorder which is unique

relative to other similar data recorders based on said unique data recorder core part number.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein a similar second data recorder having identical configuration information as said data recorder will have a unique signature as a result of the similar second recorder comprising a unique data recorder core part number.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving user-defined values for a data frame for defining a rate of data collection by the data recorder; and

configuring the data frame based upon the received user-defined values.

9. A system for identifying a data recorder having a first operational configuration of at least one of hardware components and software components, comprising:

a processing device; and

a hardware-based non-transitory storage medium operably connected to the processing device and configured to store a set of instructions that, when executed, cause the processing device to:

receive configuration information for changing the first operational configuration of the data recorder to a second operational configuration that is defined by a plurality of data recording input parameters and a configuration for each said data recording input parameters which is to be employed during use of the data recorder in a particular data recording application,

transform the configuration information in accordance with a pre-defined encoding scheme,

use a signature generating algorithm to generate a unique signature for said data recorder, the unique signature comprising a code which uniquely identifies the data recorder based on the configuration information which was previously transformed, wherein the configuration information is recoverable from the unique signature,

store the unique signature; and

provide, in response to an input request, at least the unique signature to a user to facilitate unique identification of the data recorder and the configuration information.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the processing device is further caused to:

analyze each of a plurality of input parameters contained within the configuration information; and

generate at least a portion of the unique signature based upon each of the plurality of input parameters.

11. The system of claim 9 , wherein the code is a human readable set of numeric or alpha-numeric values.

12. The system of claim 9 , wherein said processing device generates the unique signature based on said configuration information and on a data recorder core part number which cannot be modified.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein said data recorder core part number is unique to said data recorder.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the processing device is further caused to generate a signature for said data recorder which is unique relative to other similar data recorders based on said unique data recorder core part number.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein a similar second data recorder having identical configuration information as said data recorder will have a unique signature as a result of the similar second recorder comprising a unique data recorder core part number.

16. The system of claim 9 , further comprising instructions for causing the processing device to:

receive user-defined values for a data frame for defining a rate of data collection by the data recorder; and

configure the data frame based upon the received user-defined values.