The method of developing Virtual Instrument Platform

Using the concept of the autonomous decentralized systems (ADS) technique the paper describes the methods and technique for developing a virtual instrument platform. In the platform, the measurement system consists of the module instances and a link table that defines the exchange of data packages. The data exchange among the modules uses the data field concept. The modules outputting data only send the data package to the data field. The Virtual Instrument Platform distributes the data packages to the modules. With the methods, development of the Virtual Instrument Platform and modules can be separated. The platform provides a flexible and simple integrated platform, in which the user can easily use modules defining and constructing an automatic instrument system. Furthermore, the Virtual Instrument Platform (VIP) provides a module template that includes controlling functions and defining input or output channel functions. The user only simply adds the C language code in the template for developing special modules or controlling modules for controlling the measurement course.