Patent Description:
Generally, in times of an increasing globalization within the scope of measurements and the related increasing number of remote measurement sites, there is a growing need of a remote access and control system for test and measurement setups and a corresponding remote access and control method.

According to document <CIT>, mobile radiotelephones which are suitable for data transmission are used for remote-controlling electronic measuring devices whose functions can be regulated through a microprocessor. Said mobile radiotelephones can also be used to remote-transmit the measuring data of the measuring device. Disadvantageously, establishing and maintaining the respective remote control connection is complex and expensive, which leads to a reduced measurement efficiency.

The document <CIT> discloses a universal communication system for measurement apparatuses. The communication system includes a remote server, a data storage location, a remote platform of the lightweight client type configured to interact with at least part of a plurality of measurement instruments, and at least one gateway disposed between the remote server and the plurality of measurement instruments.

The document <CIT> discloses a system including a non-destructive testing (NDT) device. The NDT device may further include a communications system configured to receive control data from an external system, wherein the NDT device is configured to use the control data to control a component included in the NDT device, to control a parameter of the NDT device, or a combination thereof.

Accordingly, there is the object to provide a remote access and control system for test and measurement setups and a corresponding remote access and control method in order to allow for performing measurements in a remote manner, thereby ensuring a high efficiency of the measurement.

This object is solved by the features of the first independent claim for a remote access and control system for test and measurement setups and the features of the second independent claim for a remote access and control method for test and measurement setups. The dependent claims contain further developments.

According to a first aspect of the invention, a remote access and control system for test and measurement setups is provided. The remote access and control system comprises at least one virtual network, wherein the at least one virtual network is persistently defined as a set of test and measurement instruments and accompanying hardware. Advantageously, in this manner, complexity can be reduced, which leads to an increased measurement efficiency.

Further advantageously, the above-mentioned persistent definition may comprise a persistent definition to different network configurations and/or substituted measurement instruments. It is further noted that the above-mentioned accompanying hardware may comprise at least one of a computer, a virtual machine, or the combination thereof.

As a further advantage, particular users can be given access to a particular virtual network without being given access to the whole network. Furthermore, the particular users can get access to the necessary measurement instruments only.

According to a first preferred implementation form of the first aspect of the invention, the remote access and control system further comprises at least one remote system preferably comprising at least a part of the set of test and measurement instruments and accompanying hardware. Additionally, the remote access and control system is configured to grant an access level to the at least one remote system to the at least one virtual network.

Advantageously, said access level can be customized if necessary, thereby increasing measurement efficiency.

In this context, customization may comprise at least one of allowing ethernet, allowing SCIPI, allowing ethernet according to the SCIPI standard, mounting a shared network drive, or any combination thereof.

According to a second preferred implementation form of the first aspect of the invention, the at least one remote system is configured to have not access to the complete respective physical network with respect to the at least one virtual network. Advantageously, for instance, measurement efficiency and security can further be increased.

According to a further preferred implementation form of the first aspect of the invention, the at least one virtual network is configured to allow at least one virtual network connection. In addition to this or as an alternative, the remote access and control system is configured to set up a connection with at least one particular measurement device of the set of test and measurement instruments and accompanying hardware in order to control the at least one particular measurement device or the respective measurement site. Advantageously, for instance, this allows application engineers to assist customers with configuring their devices.

In this context, it is noted that it might be particularly advantageous if said connection comprises or is based on a virtual instrument software architecture (VISA) connection.

According to a further preferred implementation form of the first aspect of the invention, with respect to at least one access account for at least one particular remote system originating outside an entities internal network preferably of the at least one remote system, the remote access and control system is configured to give specific access rights to at least one particular virtual network preferably of the at least one virtual network. Advantageously, for example, an application engineer may only get access sometimes.

According to a further preferred implementation form of the first aspect of the invention, the specific access rights are limited to at least one of at least one specific port, a package inspection firewall, specific data, time, or any combination thereof. Advantageously, access rights can precisely be specified, thereby increasing measurement efficiency.

In this context, it is noted that it might be particularly advantageous if the at least one specific port comprises or is a port for the hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP), preferably port <NUM>.

According to a further preferred implementation form of the first aspect of the invention, the at least one remote system is configured to bridge over a large geographical distance. Advantageously, for instance, measurement efficiency can further be increased.

According to a further preferred implementation form of the first aspect of the invention, the at least one remote system is configured to transmit at least one test sequence to at least one particular measurement device of the set of test and measurement instruments and accompanying hardware. Advantageously, for example, the occurrence of errors can be reduced, thereby increasing measurement efficiency.

According to a further preferred implementation form of the first aspect of the invention, the remote access and control system further comprises a web-based dashboard. In this context, the web-based dashboard is configured to allow access to multiple-authenticated users. Additionally or alternatively, the web-based dashboard is configured to show at least one of the respective measurement setup preferably comprising at least a part of the set of test and measurement instruments and accompanying hardware, the corresponding measurement displays of the respective measurement setup, measurement data belonging to the respective measurement setup, or any combination thereof. Advantageously, for instance, the web-based dashboards allows for an increased measurement efficiency.

According to a further preferred implementation form of the first aspect of the invention, the remote access and control system is configured to inform at least one particular measurement device of the set of test and measurement instruments and accompanying hardware that the at least one particular measurement device is part of a respective measurement site. In addition to this or as an alternative, the remote access and control system is configured to instruct the at least one particular measurement device to give access to its measurement data. Advantageously, for example, measurement efficiency can further be increased.

According to a further preferred implementation form of the first aspect of the invention, the remote access and control system further comprises at least one remote storage. In this context, the remote access and control system is configured to update the corresponding measurement data from at least one particular measurement device of the set of test and measurement instruments and accompanying hardware to the at least one remote storage in the form of at least one remote instrument profile. Advantageously, the at least one remote storage may especially comprise or be a cloud storage.

According to a further preferred implementation form of the first aspect of the invention, the at least one remote instrument profile comprises at least one of I/Q data, at least one waveform, at least one saved setting, at least one script, at least one matlab script, at least one test script, at least one screenshot, other data, or any combination thereof. Advantageously, for instance, the measurement efficiency can further be increased.

According to a further preferred implementation form of the first aspect of the invention, in the case that at least one new measurement device is substituted for at least one particular measurement device of the set of test and measurement instruments and accompanying hardware, the remote access and control system is configured to update the at least one new measurement device with the respective remote instrument profile of the at least one particular measurement device. Advantageously, for example, measurement failures can further be reduced, which leads to an increased measurement efficiency.

According to a further preferred implementation form of the first aspect of the invention, in the case that the at least one particular measurement device is moved or acquires a different IP address, the at least one particular measurement device is configured to reach out to the corresponding measurement site on the at least one remote storage to authenticate automatically and/or to become part of the respective measurement site. Advantageously, each device in the virtual network knows it is part of that network. Further advantageously, the network definition, preferably the network definition on the at least one remote storage or the cloud, knows the identifier of each device.

According to a second aspect of the invention, a remote access and control method for test and measurement setups is provided. The remote access and control method comprises the step of employing at least one virtual network, wherein the at least one virtual network is persistently defined as a set of test and measurement instruments and accompanying hardware. Advantageously, in this manner, complexity can be reduced, which leads to an increased measurement efficiency.

With respect to <FIG>, a block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a remote access and control system <NUM> for test and measurement setups is shown.

According to <FIG>, the remote access and control system <NUM> comprises a virtual network <NUM>, wherein the virtual network <NUM> is persistently defined as a set of three measurement instruments, namely a first measurement instrument <NUM>, a second measurement instrument <NUM>, and a third measurement instrument <NUM>, and accompanying hardware in the form of two personal computers, namely a first personal computer <NUM>, and second personal computer <NUM>.

In addition to this, the remote access and control system <NUM> further comprises a remote system <NUM> comprising a part of the above-mentioned set, namely the third measurement instrument <NUM> and the second personal computer <NUM>.

Furthermore, the remote access and control system <NUM> is configured to grant an access level to the remote system <NUM> to the virtual network <NUM>.

In this context, it is noted that the remote access control system <NUM> may especially comprise a controller being configured to grant an access level to the remote system <NUM> to the virtual network <NUM>.

Moreover, the remote system <NUM> is configured to have not access to the complete respective physical network with respect to the virtual network <NUM> especially with the aid of the remote access control system <NUM> or the optional controller thereof. In other words, the remote access control system <NUM> or the optional controller thereof configures the remote system <NUM> to have not access to the complete respective physical network with respect to the virtual network <NUM>.

It is further noted that the virtual network <NUM> is configured to allow at least one virtual network connection especially with the aid of the remote access control system <NUM> or the optional controller thereof. In other words, the remote access control system <NUM> or the optional controller thereof configures the remote system <NUM> to allow at least one virtual network connection.

In addition to this or as an alternative, the remote access and control system <NUM> is configured to set up a connection with at least one particular measurement device of the set of the three measurement instruments <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> and the two personal computers <NUM>, <NUM> in order to control the at least one particular measurement device or the respective measurement site.

Alternatively, the optional controller of the remote access and control system <NUM> is configured to set up a connection with at least one particular measurement device of the set of the three measurement instruments <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> and the two personal computers <NUM>, <NUM> in order to control the at least one particular measurement device or the respective measurement site.

It is further noted that with respect to at least one access account for at least one particular remote system originating outside an entities internal network, the remote access and control system <NUM> is configured to give specific access rights to at least one particular virtual network.

Alternatively, the optional controller of the remote access and control system <NUM> is configured to give specific access rights to at least one particular virtual network with respect to at least one access account for at least one particular remote system originating outside an entities internal network.

In this context, the specific access rights are preferably limited to at least one of at least one specific port, a package inspection firewall, specific data, time, or any combination thereof. Furthermore, the remote system <NUM> is configured to bridge over a large geographical distance especially with the aid of the remote access and control system <NUM> or the optional controller thereof. Moreover, the remote system <NUM> is configured to transmit at least one test sequence to at least one particular measurement device of the set of three measurement instruments <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> and accompanying hardware in the form of the two personal computers <NUM>, <NUM>.

It might be particularly advantageous if the remote access and control system <NUM> further comprises a web-based dashboard, wherein the web-based dashboard is configured to allow access to multiple-authenticated users especially with the aid of the remote access and control system <NUM> or the optional controller thereof.

Additionally or alternatively, especially with the aid of the remote access and control system <NUM> or the optional controller thereof, the web-based dashboard is configured to show at least one of the respective measurement setup preferably comprising at least a part of the set of the three measurement instruments <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> and the two personal computers <NUM>, <NUM>, the corresponding measurement displays of the respective measurement setup, measurement data belonging to the respective measurement setup, or any combination thereof.

It is further noted that the remote access and control system <NUM> or the optional controller thereof is configured to inform at least one particular measurement device of the set of the three exemplary measurement instruments <NUM>. <NUM>, <NUM> and the two exemplary personal computers <NUM>, <NUM> that the at least one particular measurement device is part of a respective measurement site.

In addition to this or as an alternative, the remote access and control system <NUM> or the optional controller of the remote access and control system <NUM> is configured to instruct the at least one particular measurement device to give access to its measurement data.

It might be particularly advantageous if the remote access and control system <NUM> further comprises at least one remote storage, wherein the remote access and control system <NUM> or the optional controller thereof is configured to update the corresponding measurement data from at least one particular measurement device of the set of the exemplary three measurement instruments <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> and accompanying hardware in the exemplary form of the two personal computers <NUM>, <NUM> to the at least one remote storage in the form of at least one remote instrument profile.

In this context, the at least one remote instrument profile comprises at least one of I/Q data, at least one waveform, at least one saved setting, at least one script, at least one matlab script, at least one test script, at least one screenshot, other data, or any combination thereof.

Moreover, in the case that at least one new measurement device is substituted for at least one particular measurement device of the set of the three measurement instruments <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> and the two personal computers <NUM>, <NUM>, the remote access and control system <NUM> or the optional controller thereof is configured to update the at least one new measurement device with the respective remote instrument profile of the at least one particular measurement device.

It is further noted that in the case that the at least one particular measurement device is moved or acquires a different IP (internet protocol) address, the at least one particular measurement device is configured to reach out to the corresponding measurement site on the at least one remote storage to authenticate automatically and/or to become part of the respective measurement site.

Now, with respect to <FIG>, a second embodiment <NUM> of the inventive remote access and control system is illustrated. The remote access and control system <NUM> comprises a virtual network <NUM>, a first virtual machine <NUM> connected to the virtual network <NUM>, a second virtual machine <NUM> connected to the virtual network <NUM>, a personal computer <NUM> connected to the virtual network <NUM>, a first measurement site <NUM> connected to the virtual network <NUM>, and a second measurement site <NUM> connected to the virtual network <NUM>.

As it can further be seen, the first measurement site <NUM> comprises a first measurement instrument <NUM> connected the virtual network <NUM>, a second measurement instrument <NUM>, and a first personal computer <NUM>. The second measurement site <NUM> comprises a third measurement instrument <NUM> and a second personal computer <NUM>.

Exemplarily, the virtual network <NUM> may comprise virtual network service, preferably a virtual network micro service, especially for handling the shown connections. Furthermore, for instance, the first virtual machine <NUM> may be a virtual Windows system, whereas the second virtual machine <NUM> may be a virtual Linux system.

As a further example, the connection from the personal computer <NUM> to the first measurement site <NUM> via the virtual network <NUM> may especially be based on a VISA connection.

The personal computer <NUM> may exemplarily allow for IECWIN, Python, Matlab, or any combination thereof.

It is additionally noted that the measurement instruments <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> may comprise at least one of a signal generator, a spectrum analyzer, a network analyzer, or any combination thereof.

Finally, <FIG> shows a flow chart of an embodiment of the inventive remote access and control method for test and measurement setups. In a first step <NUM>, at least one virtual network is employed, wherein the at least one virtual network is persistently defined as a set of test and measurement instruments and accompanying hardware. Then, in a second step <NUM>, an access level is granted to at least one remote system to the at least one virtual network, wherein the at least one remote system comprises at least a part of the set of test and measurement instruments and accompanying hardware.

In this context, it might be particularly advantageous if the remote access and control method may further comprise the step of configuring the at least one remote system to have not access to the complete respective physical network with respect to the at least one virtual network. Furthermore, the remote access and control method may advantageously comprise the step of configuring the at least one virtual network to allow at least one virtual network connection.

In addition to this or as an alternative, the remote access and control method may comprise the step of setting up a connection with at least one particular measurement device of the set of test and measurement instruments and accompanying hardware in order to control the at least one particular measurement device or the respective measurement site.

Moreover, with respect to at least one access account for at least one particular remote system originating outside an entities internal network preferably of the at least one remote system, the remote access and control method may advantageously comprise the step of giving specific access rights to at least one particular virtual network preferably of the at least one virtual network. In this context, it is noted that the specific access rights may be limited to at least one of at least one specific port, a package inspection firewall, specific data, time, or any combination thereof.

Furthermore, it might be particularly advantageous if the remote access and control method further comprises the step of configuring the at least one remote system to bridge over a large geographical distance. In addition to this or as an alternative, the remote access and control method may comprise the step of configuring the at least one remote system to transmit at least one test sequence to at least one particular measurement device of the set of test and measurement instruments and accompanying hardware. Moreover, the remote access and control method may further comprise the step of employing a web-based dashboard, wherein the web-based dashboard is configured to allow access to multiple-authenticated users.

Additionally or alternatively, the remote access and control method may comprise the step of configuring the web-based dashboard to show at least one of the respective measurement setup preferably comprising at least a part of the set of test and measurement instruments and accompanying hardware, the corresponding measurement displays of the respective measurement setup, measurement data belonging to the respective measurement setup, or any combination thereof.

In further addition to this or as a further alternative, the remote access and control method may comprise the step of informing at least one particular measurement device of the set of test and measurement instruments and accompanying hardware that the at least one particular measurement device is part of a respective measurement site. Further additionally or further alternatively, the remote access and control method may comprise the step of instructing the at least one particular measurement device to give access to its measurement data.

It is further noted that it might be particularly advantageous if the remote access and control method further comprises the step of employing at least one remote storage, wherein the remote access and control system is configured to update the corresponding measurement data from at least one particular measurement device of the set of test and measurement instruments and accompanying hardware to the at least one remote storage in the form of at least one remote instrument profile.

In this context, the at least one remote instrument profile may advantageously comprise at least one of I/Q data, at least one waveform, at least one saved setting, at least one script, at least one matlab script, at least one test script, at least one screenshot, other data, or any combination thereof.

Furthermore, in the case that at least one new measurement device is substituted for at least one particular measurement device of the set of test and measurement instruments and accompanying hardware, the remote access and control method may comprise the step of updating the at least one new measurement device with the respective remote instrument profile of the at least one particular measurement device.

Claim 1:
A remote access and control system (<NUM>) for test and measurement setups, the remote access and control system (<NUM>) comprising:
at least one virtual network (<NUM>),
wherein the at least one virtual network (<NUM>) is persistently defined as a set of test and measurement instruments and accompanying hardware (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>), characterized in that
the remote access and control system (<NUM>) is configured to set up a connection with at least one particular measurement device of the set of test and measurement instruments and accompanying hardware (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) via the virtual network (<NUM>) in order to control the at least one particular measurement device,
wherein the connection comprises or is based on a virtual instrument software architecture, VISA, connection.