Patent ID: 7937502

Claim:
A controller for controlling a sequence of actions at a device, the controller comprising: a control application including computer-readable instructions, wherein the computer-readable instructions are configured to cause the controller to receive a first user input that identifies an instrument component in a bed layout of a device, wherein the bed layout defines an arrangement of a plurality of instrument components; receive a second user input that assigns the identified instrument component to a first zone of the bed layout, wherein the first zone identifies a first group of one or more instrument components of the plurality of instrument components at which to perform a first type of action; receive a third user input that assigns the identified instrument component to a second zone of the bed layout, wherein the second zone identifies a second group of one or more instrument components of the plurality of instrument components at which to perform a second type of action; and receive command information associated with an action of the first type of action for an instrument of the device to perform, wherein the command information comprises a command name, the command name identifying the action; and a device identifier, the device identifier identifying the instrument; identify a unique command method corresponding to the device identifier and to the command name, the identified unique command method including instructions to control the action for the instrument to perform; receive a fourth user input that indicates an operational mode for controlling performance of the action, wherein the operational mode includes a non-validation mode, the non-validation mode defining a state of operation wherein a device limitation is not imposed to restrict the action; select a device driver based on the device identifier; execute the identified unique command method to generate control commands for causing execution of the action at the instrument; and communicate the generated control commands to the selected device driver to control execution of the action at the instrument on the identified instrument component without imposing the device limitation if the fourth user input indicates the non-validation mode; a memory, the memory storing the control application; and a processor, the processor coupled to the memory and configured to execute the control application.