Developing remote virtual instrument laboratory (RVIL) based on browser/server pattern

This paper describes the design of RVIL, which is developed under Browser/Server pattern. RVIL contains a variety of simulation instruments and hardware related instruments based on industry-wide standards bus. The multi-user scheme allows many users simultaneously access the RVIL. The design of this system is based on interchangeable virtual instrument (IVI) specification. Using IVI technology we only need to develop one sort of software even if this instrument is made by different manufacturer or bus. The benefits of using IVI is to reduce the developing cycle, increase the interchangeability of hardware. Microsoft Visual Basic6.0 programming language and ActiveX technology is used during the virtual instrument development. The developed virtual instrument is packaged into an ActiveX control, and embedded into the WEB. Through the medium of RVIL, users can operate virtual instrument, process their acquired data or realize remote measurement if only they open the browser