Basic concepts for the MIL Function Development module

Asynchronous function. A function that returns control to the calling thread before it has finished executing.

C-based user-defined MIL function. A user-defined function written in C or C++, compiled into a DLL, and integrated into a MIL application using the MIL function development module.

Distributed processing. Distributed processing is a processing method which involves using more than one processor to perform the required operations. Execution of a function by a remote processor requires special consideration during compilation.

Master function. In a user-defined MIL function, the master function provides the user interface. The slave function is called from within the master function.

Master processor. The master processor is the processor on which the master function is executed.

Opcode. All MIL functions, including user-defined functions, are associated with a unique operation code. Operation codes are, in turn, associated with pointers to their corresponding functions. The operation code is then used to refer to the function indirectly. For simplicity, operation codes are referred to as opcodes.

Opcode table. The opcode table is a table in which on-board processors store the associations between opcodes and pointers to MIL functions.

Remote processor. A remote processor is any available processor which is separate from the Host processor.

Script-based user-defined MIL function. A user-defined function written in a language requiring an interpreter or based on the .NET framework, and integrated into a MIL application using the MIL function development module.

Slave function. In a user-defined MIL function, the slave function is called by the master function. The slave function performs the data processing operations of the user-defined MIL function.

Slave processor. The slave processor is the processor on which the slave function will be executed. The slave processor can be either the same processor as the master processor or a remote processor.

Synchronous function. A function that returns control to the calling thread only after it has finished executing.