A PXI modular instrument-based VXI-11 protocol implementation method

Abstract

The application discloses a VXI-11 protocol implementation method based on a PXI modular instrument, and comprises the following processes: a relay program in a PXI case system is connected with a plurality of server programs, the server programs register their serial numbers and listening IP port numbers in the relay program; a client sends a connection request or a control command to the relay program through a LAN, the relay program matches the server programs with which the connection has been established according to message target IP information, if the matching is successful, the connection request or the control command is transmitted to the corresponding server program; after the server program receives the connection request or the control command forwarded by the relay program, the response is realized according to the specific content. By adopting the method disclosed by the application, a plurality of PXI instruments in a test system can share one physical network card, and the problem that each instrument device needs an effective IP and the network card in the PXI zero slot controller in the test system is insufficient is effectively solved.

Description

A method for implementing the VXI-11 protocol based on PXI modular instruments Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of PXI modular testing, and in particular to a method for implementing the VXI-11 protocol based on PXI modular instruments. Background Technology

[0002] In distributed automated testing systems, to control test instruments via a LAN, these instruments must be automatically discoverable on the network, requiring unique IP addresses. Typically, a single test instrument contains only one controller and one network interface card (NIC), functioning solely as a server. However, PXI modular testing systems typically integrate multiple PXI instruments into a single PXI chassis, with a PXI zero-slot controller controlling all the PXI instruments within the chassis.

[0003] PXI is an open standard with advantages such as high technical specifications and cost-effectiveness, powerful functions, flexible structure, rapid technological updates, and ease of system integration. PXI products allow for the rapid development of ideal measurement and control instrument systems, making it an ideal platform for building virtual instruments. Its instrument hardware is plug-in type, with the same size as computer expansion cards. Simply insert the hardware cards into the PCI slot of a computer to form a test system, fully utilizing computer resources to achieve functions such as data acquisition and processing, fault analysis and diagnosis, and process control. Compared with test systems built using traditional instruments, PCI bus-based virtual instrument test systems have advantages in performance, flexibility, ease of use, and low cost.

[0004] The VXI-11 protocol is one of the key standards for test instruments. Support for the VXI-11 protocol is essential for discovering and using test instruments on a network. In recent years, the development of the VXI-11 protocol under Windows has made some progress, but the implemented functionality is still incomplete, and its application is limited to some desktop instruments. In the field of modular instruments integrated into PXI chassis, where there is often a need to simultaneously start and control multiple PXI instruments under the same Windows system, the VXI-11 control protocol, similar to that of desktop instruments where one server connects to multiple clients, is no longer suitable.

[0005] Current VXI-11 technology is primarily used in desktop instruments. It allows multiple clients to connect to the desktop instrument via LAN while the instrument's software is running, and simultaneously send remote control commands to interact with it. However, if two or more server-side software programs are running on the desktop instrument, the VXI-11 protocol cannot distinguish which server is processing the messages sent by the clients, nor can it match clients with specific servers. On PXI chassis that can run multiple instrument software programs simultaneously, it's necessary not only to receive messages from multiple clients concurrently, but also to differentiate the recipients of these messages—that is, to achieve point-to-point connection and control. Current VXI-11 technology cannot meet this requirement. Summary of the Invention

[0006] To address the aforementioned technical problems, this invention provides a VXI-11 protocol implementation method based on PXI modular instruments, effectively solving the problem that each instrument requires a valid IP address while the network cards in the PXI zero-slot controller of the test system are insufficient.

[0007] To achieve the above objectives, the technical solution of the present invention is as follows:

[0008] A method for implementing the VXI-11 protocol based on PXI modular instruments includes the following steps:

[0009] Step 1: The relay program vxiAD in the PXI chassis system establishes a connection with multiple server programs. The server programs register their serial numbers and listening IP port numbers with the relay program vxiAD in order to distinguish the received connection requests.

[0010] Step 2: The client sends a connection request or control command to the relay program vxiAD via the LAN. The relay program vxiAD matches the target IP information of the message with the established server program. If the match is successful, it transmits the connection request or control command to the corresponding server program.

[0011] Step 3: After receiving the connection request or control command forwarded by the relay program vxiAD, the server-side program responds according to the specific content.

[0012] In the above scheme, step three, the execution process of the server-side program, is as follows:

[0013] (1) The server program starts and initialization is complete;

[0014] (2) Check if the relay program vxiAD has been started. If it has not been started, run the relay program vxiAD.

[0015] (3) Call the register function in vxi11Fram.dll to register the server device information. The registration information includes the device serial number and the listening IP port number. Then the relay program vxiAD will automatically bind to the server program. At this time, the server program has entered the waiting connection state.

[0016] (4) The client device is connected to the PXI chassis via LAN. The client program sends a connection request to the PXI according to the VXI-11 protocol. The message will be received by the relay program vxiAD first. Then the relay program vxiAD matches the registered device IPs. If a registered device exists, a connection path is established between the device and the client. Otherwise, a connection failure message is returned.

[0017] (5) The established client sends a message to the server program. Similar to the connection establishment process, the message is first sent to the relay program vxiAD. Then, the relay program vxiAD matches the message source IP with the registered device. If a matching device exists, the message is sent to the matching device; otherwise, a connection loss message is returned.

[0018] (6) When the server program closes, it calls the abort function in vxi11Fram.dll to disconnect from the relay program vxiAD. If there is a client connected to this server program at this time, the relay program vxiAD sends a connection loss message to it.

[0019] Through the above technical solution, the VXI-11 protocol implementation method based on PXI modular instruments provided by the present invention has the following beneficial effects:

[0020] This invention proposes a method for connecting client programs and server programs via a relay program, enabling multiple client programs to establish targeted connections with multiple server programs within the same system. Upon receiving a client message, the relay program distributes it to the corresponding server program based on the message's target IP address. This technology allows multiple PXI instruments in a testing system to share a single physical network interface card (NIC), effectively solving the problem of insufficient NICs in the PXI zero-slot controller of the testing system, where each instrument requires a valid IP address. Attached Figure Description

[0021] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention or the prior art, the accompanying drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below.

[0022] Figure 1 is a schematic flowchart of a VXI-11 protocol implementation method based on a PXI modular instrument disclosed in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0023] Figure 2 is a block diagram of the execution logic of the server-side program and the relay program. Detailed Implementation

[0024] The technical solutions of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings in the embodiments of the present invention.

[0025] This invention provides a method for implementing the VXI-11 protocol based on PXI modular instruments, as shown in Figure 1, including the following process:

[0026] Step 1: The relay program vxiAD in the PXI chassis system establishes a connection with multiple server programs (i.e., the host computer software in the PXI chassis, which can be opened simultaneously). The server program registers its serial number (i.e., the unique identification number of the device) and the listening IP port number with the relay program vxiAD in order to distinguish the received connection requests.

[0027] Step 2: The client sends a connection request or control command to the relay program vxiAD via the LAN. The relay program vxiAD matches the target IP information of the message with the established server program. If the match is successful, it transmits the connection request or control command to the corresponding server program.

[0028] Step 3: After receiving the connection request or control command forwarded by the relay program vxiAD, the server-side program responds according to the specific content.

[0029] Specifically, as shown in Figure 2, the server-side program runs as follows:

[0030] (1) The server-side program (soft panel program on the PXI chassis) starts and initialization is complete;

[0031] (2) Check if the relay program vxiAD has been started. If it has not been started, run the relay program vxiAD.

[0032] (3) Call the register function in vxi11Fram.dll to register the server device information. The registration information includes the device serial number (used to uniquely identify the device) and the listening IP port number. Then the relay program vxiAD will automatically bind to the server program. At this time, the server program has entered the waiting connection state.

[0033] (4) The client device is connected to the PXI chassis via LAN. The client program (such as Keysight, NI remote control program, user-developed control software, etc.) sends a connection request to the PXI according to the VXI-11 protocol. The message will be received by the relay program vxiAD first. Then the relay program vxiAD matches the registered device IP list. If a registered device exists, a connection path is established between the device and the client. Otherwise, a connection failure message is returned.

[0034] (5) The established client sends a message to the server program. Similar to the connection establishment process, the message is first sent to the relay program vxiAD. Then, the relay program vxiAD matches the message source IP with the registered device. If a matching device exists, the message is sent to the matching device; otherwise, a connection loss message is returned.

[0035] (6) When the server program closes, it calls the abort function in vxi11Fram.dll to disconnect from the relay program vxiAD. If there is a client connected to this server program at this time, the relay program vxiAD sends a connection loss message to it.

[0036] The above description of the disclosed embodiments enables those skilled in the art to make or use the invention. Various modifications to these embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein may be implemented in other embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Therefore, the invention is not to be limited to the embodiments shown herein, but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein.

Claims

1. A method for implementing the VXI-11 protocol based on PXI modular instruments, characterized in that, The process includes the following steps: Step 1, the relay program vxiAD in the PXI chassis system establishes a connection with multiple server programs. The server programs register their serial numbers and listening IP port numbers with the relay program vxiAD to distinguish the received connection requests; Step 2, the client sends a connection request or control command to the relay program vxiAD through the LAN. The relay program vxiAD matches the established server programs with the target IP information of the message. If the match is successful, it transmits the connection request or control command to the corresponding server program; Step 3, after receiving the connection request or control command forwarded by the relay program vxiAD, the server program responds according to the specific content; Step 3, the server program runs as follows: (1) The server program starts and initialization is completed; (2) It checks whether the relay program vxiAD has started. If it has not started, it runs the relay program vxiAD; (3) It calls the register function in vxi11Fram.dll to register the server device information. The registration information includes the device serial number and listening IP port number, and then the relay program... The program vxiAD will automatically bind to the server program. At this time, the server program has entered the waiting connection state; (4) The client device and PXI chassis are connected through LAN. The client program sends a connection request to PXI according to the VXI-11 protocol. The message will be received by the relay program vxiAD first. Then the relay program vxiAD matches the registered device IP list. If there is a registered device, a connection path is established between the device and the client. Otherwise, a connection failure message is returned; (5) The client that has established a connection sends a message to the server program. Similar to the connection establishment process, the message is first sent to the relay program vxiAD. Then the relay program vxiAD matches the message source IP with the registered device. If there is a matching device, the message is sent to the matching device. Otherwise, a connection loss message is returned; (6) When the server program closes, the abort function in vxi11Fram.dll is called to disconnect from the relay program vxiAD. At this time, if there is a client connected to this server program, the relay program vxiAD sends a connection loss message to it.

Images