Single-Device Integration of Legal Metrology and Third-Party Software via Virtualization

Integrating process-support functionalities within legal for trade-certified metering heads is a significant challenge in the digital transformation of industrial metering. In this context, we present a virtualized software architecture successfully implemented on the TEX electronic metering head by IDEX/Sampi S.p.A., a commercially available, legally certified metrological device. The resulting system includes a host machine running legal metrology software and a virtualized guest machine managing auxiliary functions, which may be developed by third-party integrators. The guest handles the display, keypad, and I/O ports when no measurement is in progress. During measurement, the legal metrology software takes preemptive control to ensure legally relevant pulse counting, visualization of metrological data, printouts via sealed printers, and data storage in a database with read-only access for the guest system. This approach enables software extensibility without requiring frequent re-certifications while maintaining regulatory compliance, data integrity, and system flexibility. The proposed solution advances modern industrial metering, as demonstrated in a real-world use case.