Map the data path
| Acquisition | Device state, sampling trigger, driver/API and timing. |
|---|---|
| Interpretation | Frame parsing, scale, units, status and invalid readings. |
| Storage | Timestamps, precision, metadata, database/file semantics. |
| Output | Plots, reports, exports and downstream consumers. |
Preserve raw samples and representative final outputs so a new implementation can be compared at every boundary.
Modernization options
Stabilize the old PC when interfaces cannot yet move; isolate the application in a VM when drivers and timing permit; introduce a gateway for device acquisition; or replace one layer at a time. Logs must distinguish transport gaps from invalid measurements.
See instrument integration, serial application design, PC replacement and industrial software repair.