Use system utilization to send test station usage data to SystemLink.

Introduced in PAtools Battery Software Suite 2025 Q4

Test station data includes time, state, and process information. You can use system utilization to determine billing information for a test station. You can also use system utilization to analyze which test stations are underutilized.

Four primary categories describe the utilization of test stations.

  • Active—A test plan and a DUT are actively using a test station.
  • Waiting—A test plan and a DUT use a test station but a test is not active. For example, a DUT might be in a test station that is waiting to take control of the climate chamber.
  • Idle—A test plan does not use a test station. However, the test station is not undergoing service or maintenance.
  • Service—A test plan is not using the test station because the test station is undergoing service or maintenance.

    • PAconfigurator includes the following predefined categories to allocate test station data into one of the primary categories.

    Table 8. PAconfigurator Categories for SystemLink Utilization
    Category Indicates
    System on A test station is on.
    Automatic mode Automatic mode is active.
    Manual mode Manual mode is active.
    Sequence running A sequence is running in automatic mode.
    Climate chamber (STMC) A climate chamber command is executing during a sequence. Examples of climate chamber commands include turning on, turning off, setting the temperature, and waiting for stability.
    Container (STMC) A container is opening or closing during a sequence.
    DC cycler (STMC) A DC cycler is switching on or switching off during a sequence.
    Current (ABT) The DC output is being enabled in the cycler. A current setpoint is applied. Current (ABT) stays active during the Next step condition check.
    Power (ABT) The DC output is being enabled in the cycler. A power setpoint is applied. Power (ABT) stays active during the Next step condition check.
    Drive cycle A drive cycle is running during a sequence.
    DUT parameter (STMC) DUT parameters are being set during a sequence.
    Dynamic measurement trigger The dynamic measurement trigger is being configured during a sequence.
    Execute PAgraph (STMC) A selected PAgraph is executing as a part of the sequence.
    Iso measurement (STMC) An isolation measurement is activating or deactivating during a sequence.
    Measurement A measurement is being controlled during a sequence. Examples of measurement control include starting, stopping, and changing the version.
    Message A message is sending during a sequence.
    Pause (DC output off) The sequence is disabling the DC output and then holding for a period of time.
    Pause point The sequence is in a pause state because you clicked the pause icon.
    Pause sequence table The sequence is in a pause state because of a Pause sequence table command.

    To view system utilization, create a SystemLink dashboard that displays utilization data. For each test station, view the percent of time the test station was in each primary utilization category in a year.

    Enabling System Utilization

    Enable SystemLink utilization, which is disabled by default.

    1. Navigate to PAcfg » Application_Components » Module_Library » PAmodule » submodules » SystemLinkUtilization_(Asset_Utilization).
    2. Open the utilization configuration that is linked to your application.
    3. Open the SystemLinkUtilization_Config initialization group.
    4. Enable utilization.
    5. Select the log level for the module.
      OptionDescription
      Low Only error messages are written to the log file.
      Normal Error messages and warning messages are written to the log file.
      Debug All messages are written to the log file.
    6. Click Save.

    Configuring Custom Identification for SystemLink Utilization

    The identification information you use for SystemLink utilization depends on whether you are generating a test from SystemLink or from PAtools.

    The value of the test plan ID is in the SystemLink utilization taskName field of the /niapm/vi/query-asset-utilization-history API.

    You can run a test that you generate and deploy from a SystemLink test plan. In this case, PAtools sets the value of the SystemLink test plan ID.

    Alternatively, you can run a test that you generate and deploy from PAconfigurator. In this case, you can configure PAtools to use a custom identification value. For example, you can use the DUT serial number.

    Complete the following steps to configure PAtools to use a custom identification value:

    1. Deactivate the mapping of the test name to the utilization task name.
      1. Navigate to PAcfg » Application_Components » Module_Library » PAmodule » submodules » SystemLinkUtilization_(Asset_Utilization).
      2. Open the utilization configuration that is linked to your application.
      3. Open SystemLinkUtilization_Mapping.IN.TAB.
      4. Deactivate the mapping of OrgDaten_SystemLink_TestPlanId.TXT to SysemLinkUtilization_UtilizationTaskName.
    2. Configure the variable for the utilization task name.
      1. Open the ABT_Pre.ABT test initialization sequence in your test.
      2. Configure the SysemLinkUtilization_UtilizationTaskName variable.