Remote Access to LabVIEW using HTML5

[Roso]

HTML5 supports WebSockets which allows low-latency, two-way communication between browser and server.  There are various screen-sharing technologies in existence based on this, but integrating a similar server in LabVIEW would enable capabilities that could be accessed from any desktop or mobile browser, no configuration required on the client side.  The key to this feature is the ability to configure the server and enable sharing from within LabVIEW or from a VI (i.e. a LabVIEW-aware server).

An idea of what this could do:

• Remote control of LabVIEW development machine

 

• Selective sharing of windows, for instance allowing interaction with only LabVIEW windows.  The server application would have a mechanism for selecting which of the open windows to share.

• A view-only mode so users could check the status of a running application from anywhere, including their cell phone.

 

• A brat or Express VI that when dropped in a VI would automatically share the VI when run.
• Third-party toolkits and applications could build in sharing capability for their own app using the API.

This feature would be more powerful than Remote Panels in that:

• It would give access to the LabVIEW development environment in addition to running applications.
• No configuration or special software required on the client side, enabling multiple platforms including mobile.

[dthor]

I really like this Idea, though I think it's similar to Support for HTML5Support for HTML5 and SVG in Web Publishing Tool.

Regarding your view-only mode: is that true "view only" meaning no interaction at all, or do you mean that they can view everything (block diagram too) and interact with controls, but not edit block diagrams? My vote is for the latter: that way it's very easy to set up something where you can, for example, remotely abort a VI or start a new test.

I fear that, if implemented, it will make the Web Publishing Tool (WPT) obsolete. Personally, I'm OK with that as I have never used it, but I'm sure there are others who would be concerned.

[SnowMule]

Why not use something like logmein or vnc, that's already designed for remote access?

VNC has clients/servers for most any device or OS; logmein has a pretty nice mobile app (android and iOS) and again, works cross-platform, and an advantage to this is it doesn't require any firewall setup...

[Roso]

I saw that topic, and I think there is an audience that would like access to development details as well, not just front panels.

For view-only, I can see cases for both.  I am hoping if one can be done, the other comes with it, but I suppose that depens on the implementation.

The idea would be to wrap some VNC-like technology so that it can integrate with LabVIEW.  That way you can control access, differentiate between front panels and block diagrams, running apps vs development environment, etc.  Also it would give an API to developers.

[RobCole]

An interesting idea. I would like it for creating thin clients for apps. Internet capable and controllable applications with only a web browser on the client end. Very useful. Cross platform with no driver installation.

Are you thinking of controlling user access? Only those with the appropriate password could control. Multiple passwords for levels of access (view, control, program)?

[colinrebello@hotmail.com]

Hi

                    HTML5 to control Labview panels remotely from any Desktop or Mobile browser.

With regard to controlling any application including selectively viewing and controlling LabView Panels via a regular browser running on any internet connected device:  desktop or mobile (Android, IPhone, IPad whatever) I do have a simple web server written (in C#) especially for doing this. It can be used to  control Labview and also  any application.  Yes, It works like a VNC application and  uses HTML5 on the browser side.

On the webserver side the server captures images of the Labview window and sends that across to the browser. The user can then click on any part of the image displayed in the remote mobile /desktop screen and the corresponding point will get clicked on the Laview or other application on the server. Keystrokes are handled similarly.  Being browser based there is no need for any client side install. Just start the browser application and go to the relevant start page on the server.

If anyone is interested you may contact me at colinrebello@hotmail.com .

[vitoi]

Why was this declined?

[SimonH]

Just to add a little color from the NI side... (I wasn't involved in this particular discussion but have spent plenty of time in similar discussions)

Remotely controlling LabVIEW for development is a use case already well served by dedicated tools such as Remote Desktop (Windows), Screen Sharing (Mac), VNC (cross platform), join.me, logmein, etc. Adding that functionality to LabVIEW would require us to develop and maintain something that can easily (and normally is) provided by the OS. Given all the work we'd have to do both to release this feature and then for every version of LabVIEW thereafter it simply doesn't seem worthwhile considering it would give you little you can't do today with existing tools.

Being able to see (and interact with) a remote panel is a separate use case and one we will continue to improve. Today we have remote front panels and the various data dashboard apps. We have investigated HTML5 and, like many other companies, discovered that it does not yet deliver the performance, consistency, and user-experience we need. We will keep an eye on it because it promises to have significant upside. For the time being we're focusing on delivering native applications for the most popular platforms.

[vitoi]

SimonH, do you know off-hand if iPads have a remote access solution.

(Still prefer the ease of use and user friendliness of a standard web browser user interface to LabVIEW (as well as the evolution of Data Dashboard). http://forums.ni.com/t5/LabVIEW-Idea-Exchange/LabVIEW-mobile-device-user-interface-using-web-browser... )

[SimonH]

---

vitoi wrote:

SimonH, do you know off-hand if iPads have a remote access solution.

---

Absolutely, there are several VNC (open standard, servers available for most platforms, built in to Mac OS X) and RDP (Windows remote desktop protocol) apps in the app store ranging from free to about $20.  Lifehacker did a review of VNC apps a while ago - http://lifehacker.com/5713455/the-best-vnc-apps-for-your-ipad.  LogMeIn is also a popular commercial option that I believe has a free offering.

I haven't heard of anyone remotely accessing an iPad (as opposed to using the iPad to remotely access a regular computer). This would likely be difficult due to the lack of user-specified background services. A VNC server exists on the cydia app store but that would require you to jailbreak your iPad and I won't go there.