Patent ID: 7650589

Claim:
A memory medium that stores program instructions implementing a plurality of function blocks for use in specifying and performing a signal analysis function utilizing a plurality of instruments, wherein the plurality of instruments comprises two or more virtual instruments (VIs), wherein each function block comprises: a function block icon configured to be displayed in a graphical user interface (GUI) of a signal analysis function development environment, wherein the function block icon visually indicates a respective signal operation; and a set of program instructions associated with the function icon, wherein the set of program instructions are executable to perform the respective signal operation; wherein each function block is selectable from the plurality of function blocks by a user for inclusion in a set of function blocks, and wherein each function block operates to perform the respective signal operation continuously upon being selected without stopping execution of the set of function blocks; wherein each function block is configured to provide a respective output based on the respective signal operation, wherein the respective output is configured to be displayed in the GUI, provided as input to one or more other ones of the set of function blocks, or exported to an external device, wherein upon selection of a function block, the program instructions are further executable to: automatically analyze the set of function blocks to determine a function block in the set of function blocks configured to provide output useable by the selected function block as input; and automatically configure and display the determined function block and the selected function block to provide the determined function block's output as input to the selected function block; and wherein the set of function blocks is executable to perform the signal analysis function under the signal analysis function development environment using one or more of the plurality of instruments.