Experiment lab server architecture: A web services approach to supporting interactive LabVIEW-based remote experiments under MIT's iLab shared architecture

The MIT iLab Shared Architecture (ISA) is widely used to support remote experimentation, providing basic functionalities such as users management, scheduling, access control and results storage. This paper addresses the optimization of LabVIEW-based RE's creation under ISA, with the standardization of common lab server functionalities and communications. The Experiment Lab Server Architecture (ELSA), created as an ISA extension, fulfills the requirements of an ISA process agent and uses web services to connect the client with the lab server. ELSA automatically manages the initial definition and runtime traffic of experiment-specific input/output parameters. Once the experiment and client codes are created, RE configuration, startup and operation can be easily accomplished. In a pilot implementation using ELSA, the web services mediation of data transfer performed at rates high enough for a smooth user interaction experience. ELSA web services approach allows for a loose coupling in RE design and can effectively shorten its development cycle.