Stephen L May

US Patent:

20020078173, Jun 20, 2002

Filed:

Sep 25, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/962623

Inventors:

Paul Horn - Huntsville AL, US
Stephen May - Huntsville AL, US
Gary Sutherland - Owens Crossroads AL, US

International Classification:

G06F015/16

US Classification:

709/218000, 709/250000

Abstract:

A data acquisition apparatus acquires sensor data indicative of an operational state of an external operational unit and provides the sensor data to a remote host. To achieve this functionality, the data acquisition apparatus utilizes memory, a first data interface, a second data interface, and logic. The first data interface is configured to receive sensor data that is indicative of an operational state of an external operational unit, and the second data interface is configured to communicate with a remote host. The logic is configured to store the sensor data in the memory and, when requested, to communicate the sensor data to the remote host via the first data interface.