Patent Description:
Measuring and test instruments are generally known, so that their design and function need not be discussed in detail. A measuring instrument is a device for measuring a physical parameter, such as voltage, current, frequency, etc. Measuring instruments are often used for testing purposes. Although this invention can be applied to any measuring or testing instrument, it is explained below using a test device, but without limiting the invention to it.

In the course of the testing, test devices typically create test data which are displayed on the display of the test device. The test data may also be collected in test data files which can be suitably stored by the user on the test device. Additionally, the user often wants to transfer the obtained test datato a different device, e.g. for documentation or analysis purposes or for further processing this information.

In order to transfer the obtained data to other devices, one may use a suitable remote command, such as SCPI (Standard Command for Programmable Instruments) which is a standardized set of command for controlling and programming measuring instruments. Another option is connecting a suitable data medium, such as u USB memory stick, to the test device for the data transfer. However, transferring the obtained data via a memory stick or using a remote command is not always possible and can be annoying.

<CIT> discloses a field device for monitoring a physical or chemical measurand including a sensor, an electronic circuitry with a micro-controller and a data storage circuitry, and a display unit. The electronic circuitry is configured to generate a machine-readable code from digital measuring data or derived data and the display unit is configured to display the digital measuring data or derived data as machine-readable code.

<CIT> discloses an interface (device) having a display controller communicatively coupled to the plurality of devices, configured to receive data associated with at least one of the plurality of devices. The display controller is also configured to generate at least one barcode/QR-code representative of the received data. The interface (device) has a display screen communicatively coupled to the display controller and configured to display the at least one barcode/QR-code. The QR-code incorporates an encoded URL link to a website that hosts data associated with a status of a device or the QR-code incorporates an encoded hyperlink to data associated with a status of a device stored locally on a mobile device.

<CIT> discloses an electric measuring device having a coding unit for encoding measurement data in form of one-dimensional or two-dimensional bar codes.

<CIT> discloses a system and method for the generation and use of a compact crash dump that can be viewed and/or captured as a two-dimensional (<NUM>-D) high contrast graphical barcode.

Against this background, there is the need to enable a more user comfortable option for transferring data from a test or measurement instrument to another device.

The present invention provides a test or measurement instrument and a method having the features of the independent claims.

According thereto, the following is provided:.

The present invention is based on the concept of transferring data, such as test or measurement data, automatically to other ethernal devices using a machine-readable representation of data on the display of the test or measurement instrument. For this purpose, a user has only to scan the displayed machine-readable representation of data by means of a suitable scanning device and after decoding the data may be downloaded to the scanning device or any other target device via a network interface. No setup or computer knowledge of the user is needed for this downloading and data transferring process, so that user comfortable downloading and data transferring mechanism is provided.

Advantageous configurations and developments emerge from the further dependent claims and from the description with reference to the figures of the drawings.

In a preferred embodiment, the machine-readable representation of data is a barcode. A barcode (or bar code) is a machine-readable optical label that contains information about the item to which it is attached. Some sorts of simple barcodes systematically represent data by varying the widths and spacings of parallel lines, and may be referred to as linear or one-dimensional barcodes. Two-dimensional (2D) variants of barcodes are using rectangles, dots, hexagons and other geometric patterns, called matrix codes or 2D barcodes, although they do not use bars as such. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the machine-readable representation of data is a QR code. A QR (quick response) code is a special type of a barcode which comprises a so-called matrix barcode or two-dimensional barcode. In practice, QR codes often contain data for a locator, identifier, or tracker that points to a website or application. A QR code consists of black squares arranged in a square grid on a white background, which can be read by an optical scanning device such as a camera, and processed using Reed-Solomon error correction until the image can be appropriately interpreted. The required data is then extracted from patterns that are present in both horizontal and vertical components of the image. It goes without saying that instead of a QR code other types of linear or matrix barcodes may also be employed.

In a further preferred configuration, the machine-readable representation of data contains address information of a web server, such as a URL address. The URL (uniform resource locator), often referred to as web address, is a reference to an internal or external web resource that specifies its location in a network or a computer and a mechanism for retrieving it.

In a preferred development, the network interface is a wireless interface, such as a WLAN or radio interface. However, the network interface may also be a wired interface, for example for connecting a data cable to the test instrument. The network may be a wired network, such as a LAN, a cloud based network, the internet or the like.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the processing unit is configured to setup an internal web server for establishing a network connection to the external network device via the network interface. Preferably, the processing unit is setting up an Apache HTTP server or a NGINX web server which are the most common web server programs and which in addition are free software. However, also other web servers, such as Microsoft IIS, Google web server or any other web server software may be used. A web server refers to an application or instance that provides content to web enabled devices via different web protocols, such as Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP). In particular, a web server is a server software - or hardware dedicated to running said software - that can satisfy world wide web (www) client requests. A web server can, in general, contain one or more websites. A web server processes incoming network requests over a suitable protocol, such as HTTP. The web server can then act as a form of a hotspot inside the test or measuring instrument for communication with the external network device.

According to an alternative configuration, the processing unit is configured to setup an internal client for establishing a network connection to an external web server via the network interface. This option is preferable if the external network device is not in the same network of the test or measuring instrument. In this case, the external web service has to be used for the communication between the test or measuring instrument and the external network device.

In a further embodiment, the internal web server and/or the client comprise a compression module. The compression module is configured to compress the data files before providing the address information (URL)/or and before the stored data is uploaded to the external device via the network interface. As such, a more efficient and quicker data transfer is provided In particular for larger data files.

In a preferred development, the processing unit further comprises a timer, preferably a settable timer. The processing unit is further configured to display the generated machine-readable representation of data on the display only for a predetermined time provided by the timer. This is particularly advantageous for security aspects.

In one preferred application, the test or measuring instrument comprises a test unit which is configured to measure and/or analyse an electrical signal, in particular a test signals.

In a typical development, the stored data file comprises at least one of the following information: a graphical representation of a measurement or test signal, such as a screenshot or a video of subsequent graphical images of the test or measuring signal; test or measurement data derived from the measurement or test signal, such as test data; a test report; reference waveforms; setup information of the test or measurement instrument. It goes without saying, that other information may also be stored in the memory.

In a particularly preferred aspect, the separate optical scanning device is a smart phone. This is in particular advantageous as the smartphone typically has an integrated camera and the ability of QR code reading. Further, the smart phone has a network interface to the internet or any other local or distributed network for automatically forwarding the downloaded data to another device. In an alternative application, the smart phone may also carries out the analysing and processing of the downloaded data files as it has also processing and computing resources.

The test or measurement instrument may preferably be an electronic test equipment, such as an oscilloscope, a frequency analyzer, a spectrum analyzer, network analyzer, signal generator, etc..

The present invention is described in greater detail in the following on the basis of the embodiments shown in the schematic figures of the drawings, in which:.

The appended drawings are intended to provide further understanding of the embodiments of the invention. They illustrate embodiments and, in conjunction with the description, help to explain principles and concepts of the invention. Other embodiments and many of the advantages mentioned become apparent in view of the drawings. The elements in the drawings are not necessarily shown to scale.

In the drawings, like, functionally equivalent and identically operating elements, features and components are provided with like reference signs in each case, unless stated otherwise.

<FIG> shows a block diagram of an embodiment of a test or measurement instrument according to the present invention.

The test or measurement instrument in <FIG> is denoted by reference numeral <NUM>. In the following, it is assumed that the instrument <NUM> is a test instrument, such as a network analyser, an oscilloscope, a spectrum analyser, etc..

The test instrument <NUM> comprises -amongst others- a test unit <NUM>, a memory <NUM>, a display <NUM>, a network interface <NUM> and a processing unit <NUM>.

The test unit <NUM> is configured to test a device under test (DUT) (not shown in <FIG>) such as a cell phone, a radio transmitter, a radio receiver, etc. During a test mode, the test unit <NUM> is configured to analyse an electrical test signal gathered from or received by the device under test (DUT).

For data storage purposes, the electrical test signal or the data or parameter values derived from the electrical test signal may be stored as data files in a suitable memory <NUM>. The memory may be a RAM, ROM, DRAM, a magnetic storage, such as a hard disk, an optical storage, such as a CD or DVD, etc. Additional content, such as setup data of the test instrument <NUM>, graphical representations of the test signal, such as screen-shots, etc. may also be stored in the memory <NUM>.

The test instrument <NUM> comprises a display <NUM> which is configured to display a graphical representation of the test signal, reports of the analysis of the test signal, setup information, information of the used operation mode, user manual information, status information of the test instrument <NUM> and its components, the content stored in the memory, interface information, etc. Additionally, according to the invention the display <NUM> is configured the display a graphical representation of a machine-readable code, such as a barcode or a QR-code.

The test instrument <NUM> further comprises at least one network interface <NUM>. The network interface <NUM> is used for connecting the test instrument <NUM> to another external network device (not shown in <FIG>), to the DUT, to the internet, to a cloud, etc. In the example of <FIG>, the network interface <NUM> comprises at least one wired network interface <NUM>-<NUM> and at least one wireless network interface <NUM>-<NUM>.

The processing unit <NUM> may be any kind of programmable electronic circuit, such as a microprocessor, microcomputer, CPU, graphic processor, signal processor, FPGA, etc. The primary purpose of the processing unit <NUM> is to perform operations on some external data source, usually from a memory, a sensor or from any incoming data stream. The processing unit <NUM> is connected to the display <NUM>, the memory <NUM> and the network interface <NUM>. According to the present invention, the processing unit <NUM> generates a machine-readable representation of data which comprises encoded address information of at least one the data file stored in the memory <NUM>.

The machine-readable representation of data generated by the processing unit <NUM> is according to one aspect of the invention a QR code <NUM>. <FIG> shows such a QR code. The QR code <NUM> contains the version information <NUM> and the data format <NUM> used. The data part <NUM> contains the coded data in redundant form. For field delimitation, the QR code contains a specific pattern <NUM> in only three of its corners. The scanning device recognizes the orientation via the missing pattern in the fourth corner. As the size of the QR code <NUM> increases, more patterns <NUM> are added to make the orientation of the code more visible. Between the three main position marks there is a line <NUM> consisting of a sequence of strictly alternating bits over which the matrix is defined. This line is used for synchronization. The QR code matrix is surrounded by a so called quiet zone <NUM>.

According to the present invention, the processing unit <NUM> in <FIG> further displays the generated machine-readable representation of data on the display <NUM> of the test instrument <NUM>. An external network device which comprises a suitable scanning functionality is then able to scan the displayed machine-readable representation of data. After decoding the scanned address information encoded in the displayed machine-readable representation of data, the external network device is then able to download the at least one data file stored at the decoded address in the memory <NUM> via the network interface <NUM>.

Preferably the network interface <NUM> used for downloading the data files is the wireless interface <NUM>-<NUM> since in this case no plugging has to be made and the downloading process is the executed fully automatically.

<FIG> shows a flow chart of an embodiment of a method according to the invention for enabling a network device to downloaded data stored in a test or measurement instrument.

In a first step S1, at least one data file is stored in the test or measurement instrument.

In a second step S2, a machine-readable representation of data, such as a barcode or QR code, is generated. The generated machine-readable representation of data comprises encoded address information of the stored data file.

In a next step S3, the generated machine-readable representation of data is displayed on a display of the test or measurement instrument.

This displayed machine-readable representation of data can then be scanned using a separate optical scanning device (step S4).

Thereafter, the address information contained in the scanned machine-readable representation of data is decoded, preferably by the scanning device (step S5).

In a final step S6, after decoding the address information, the stored data file may then be downloaded from the test or measurement instrument via a network interface.

<FIG> shows a block diagram of a further embodiment of a test instrument according to the present invention.

In addition to the embodiment shown in <FIG>, the test instrument <NUM> in <FIG> comprises an internal web server <NUM>, a client <NUM>, a timer <NUM> and a compression unit <NUM>. The DUT which is tested by the test instrument <NUM> is denoted by reference numeral <NUM> and the external network device is denoted by reference numeral <NUM>.

The external network device <NUM> is in this embodiment a smart phone having a scanning functionality, in particular a scanning function for scanning a QR code. However, it is clear that any other device having a scanning function for scanning and decoding the displayed and scanned machine-readable representation of data would be usable either.

In this example, the processing unit <NUM> is configured to setup a web server <NUM>, such as NGINX or Apache, for establishing a (wired or wireless) network connection to the external network device <NUM> via the network interface <NUM>. In this case, the generated and displayed machine-readable representation of data contains address information of the web server <NUM>. This aspect of the present invention applies for applications where as well the external network device <NUM> and the test instrument <NUM> and its web server <NUM> are in the same network.

In another aspect, an internal client <NUM> may also be used for data transfer of the stored data files. This aspect applies in particular for those applications, where the external network device <NUM> and the test instrument <NUM> are not in the same network. In this case, the client <NUM> of the test instrument <NUM> uploads the stored data files to a preconfigured external web service <NUM>, such as DropBox, Box, AWS, etc. The processing unit <NUM> within the test instrument <NUM> then generates the machine-readable representation of data which comprises address information (e.g. the URL) for the external web service <NUM>.

The test instrument <NUM> further comprises a compression module <NUM>. The compression module <NUM> is used for compressing the data to be uploaded to an external server or network device <NUM> via the network interface <NUM>. This accelerates and simplifies data transfer in particular in case large data files have to be uploaded. The compression module <NUM> may be implemented in the web server <NUM> and/or the client <NUM>.

The test instrument <NUM> and in particular its processing unit <NUM> comprises a timer <NUM>. The timer <NUM> can be used to set a time period within which the display <NUM> displays the generated machine-readable representation of data. After the predetermined time period set by the timer <NUM>, the displayed machine-readable representation of data disappears again. This is advantageous in particular for security reasons since this prevents that any not authorized user downloads the stored data files after having scanned the displayed machine-readable representation of data.

Claim 1:
A test or measurement instrument (<NUM>), comprising:
a memory (<NUM>) configured to store at least one data file;
a display (<NUM>) configured to display a machine-readable representation of data;
a network interface (<NUM>) for connecting the test or measurement instrument (<NUM>) to another network device (<NUM>); and
a processing unit (<NUM>) connected to the display (<NUM>), the memory (<NUM>) and the network interface (<NUM>), characterized in that the processing unit (<NUM>) is configured to generate a machine-readable representation of data which comprises encoded address information of the data file stored in the memory (<NUM>) and wherein the processing unit (<NUM>) is further configured to display the generated machine-readable representation of data on the display (<NUM>) for enabling the network device (<NUM>) to download the stored data file via the network interface (<NUM>) after having scanned the displayed machine-readable representation of data and decoded the address information.