Patent ID: 7478349

Claim:
A computer-implemented method for automatic synchronization of I/O devices, comprising: creating a graphical program in response to user input, wherein the graphical program specifies timing configuration and operation of a plurality of timed circuits comprised on one or more I/O devices; and executing the graphical program to perform an I/O operation using the one or more I/O devices, wherein said executing comprises invoking software to perform: analyzing the plurality of timed circuits to determine timing and triggering information for synchronous operation of the plurality of timed circuits, wherein said analyzing comprises: determining the number and types of timing signals for each of the plurality of timed circuits; determining sharing of the timing signals in order to synchronize the timed circuits; determining sources of timing signals for each of the plurality of timed circuits; determining timing signal routes from each of the sources to the plurality of timed circuits; and determining a starting order of the plurality of timed circuits; configuring the timed circuits in accordance with the timing and triggering information; and operating the configured plurality of timed circuits to perform the I/O operation in a synchronous manner, wherein said operating the plurality of timed circuits comprises: initiating operation of each of the plurality of timed circuits in accordance with the determined starting order.