Patent ID: 7647562

Claim:
A computer-implemented method for programming an embedded sensor device, the method comprising, creating a graphical program, wherein the graphical program specifies a function to be performed by the embedded sensor device, wherein the graphical program comprises a block diagram that includes a plurality of interconnected nodes or icons which visually indicate the functionality of the program, and a graphical user interface (GUI) portion implementing a GUI for displaying information from the program or providing user input to the program, and wherein the embedded sensor device comprises one or more sensors, and wherein the embedded sensor device does not include a display; storing the graphical program on a personal digital assistant (PDA); transmitting the block diagram of the graphical program from the PDA to the embedded sensor device over a serial link, wherein the GUI portion of the graphical program is not transmitted to the embedded sensor device, and wherein after said transmitting, the embedded sensor device is operable to execute the block diagram of the graphical program to perform the specified function; the embedded sensor device executing the block diagram to perform the function, wherein the embedded sensor device executing the block diagram generates data; the embedded sensor device sending the data to the PDA; and the PDA executing the GUI portion to display the data in the GUI.