Graphically deployment of a program with automatic conversion of program type

• US 20030035005A1
• Filed: 04/01/2002
• Published: 02/20/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/14/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: National Instruments Corporation (Emerson Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: National Instruments Corporation (Emerson Electric Company)
• Inventors: Kodosky, Jeffrey L., Rogers, Steven W., Shah, Darshan
• Granted Patent: US 7,627,860 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/763
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/0426 Programming the control sequence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23258 GUI graphical user interface, icon, function bloc editor, labview
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25067 Graphic configuration control system
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0486 Drag-and-drop
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/34 Graphical or visual programming
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/60 Software deployment
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/61 Installation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/025 for remote control or remote monitoring of applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/75 Indicating network or usage conditions on the user display
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 715/967 Visual or iconic programming
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 715/97 Instrumentation and component modelling, e.g. interactive control panel

Abstract

A system and method for creating and using configuration diagrams for configuring distributed systems. The methods described herein may be used for various types of operations in configuring distributed systems, including creating programs, managing programs in the distributed system, deploying programs to various distributed devices, configuring remote execution or inter-operation of distributed programs, and executing distributed applications. Embodiments of the invention utilize graphical iconic-based techniques for performing the above operations. The configuration diagram may include device icons which represent devices and program icons which represent programs. Device icons and program icons may be associated with each other to accomplish various program creation and deployment operations. Device icons and program icons may also interact with graphical program nodes or icons. Context sensitive device connections and/or program connections are displayed. An asynchronous data flow node may be used to facilitate asynchronous data flow between two graphical programs. The distributed system may also support distributed graphical debugging.

Claims

1. A method for deploying a program on a device, wherein the method executes on a first computer system, the method comprising:

displaying a program icon on a display of the first computer system, wherein the program icon corresponds to the program, wherein the program has a first program type;

displaying a device icon on the display of the first computer system, wherein the device icon corresponds to the device, wherein the device is coupled to the first computer system;

associating the program icon with the device icon in response to user input;

automatically converting the program to a different program type supported by the device if the device is not compatible with the first program type of the program; and

deploying the converted program onto the device after said automatically converting.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining if the device is compatible with the first program type of the program;

wherein said automatically converting is performed if the device is determined to not be compatible with the first program type of the program.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said determining if the device is compatible is performed after said associating.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining the first program type of the program;

determining if the device is compatible with the first program type of the program;

wherein said automatically converting is performed if said determining if the device is compatible determines that the device is not compatible with the first program type of the program.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said determining the first program type of the program and said determining if the device is compatible are performed in response to said associating.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining the first program type of the program;

determining one or more program types supported by the device;

determining if the device is compatible with the first program type of the program;

wherein said automatically converting is performed if said determining if the device is compatible determines that the device is not compatible with the first program type of the program.

7. The method of claim 1,

wherein the device includes a programmable hardware element;

wherein the program is a software program;

wherein said automatically converting comprises automatically converting the software program to a hardware configuration program.

8. The method of claim 1,

wherein the device includes a processor and memory;

wherein the program is a hardware configuration program;

wherein said automatically converting comprises automatically converting the hardware configuration program to a software program capable of being executed by the processor and memory on the device.

9. The method of claim 1,

wherein the device includes a processor and memory;

wherein the program is a graphical program;

wherein said automatically converting comprises automatically converting the graphical program to a different type of software program capable of being executed by the processor and memory on the device.

10. The method of claim 9,

wherein said automatically converting comprises automatically converting the graphical program to a machine language program.

11. The method of claim 9,

wherein said automatically converting comprises automatically converting the graphical program to a dynamic linked library (DLL).

12. The method of claim 1,

wherein the device includes a processor and memory, wherein the device does not include a graphical program execution engine;

wherein the program is a graphical program;

wherein said automatically converting comprises automatically converting the graphical program to a different type of software program capable of being executed by the processor and memory on the device.

13. The method of claim 1,

wherein the device includes a processor and memory, wherein the device further includes a graphical program execution engine;

wherein the program is a script;

wherein said automatically converting comprises automatically converting the script to a graphical program capable of being executed by the graphical program execution engine on the device.

14. The method of claim 1,

wherein the device includes a processor and memory, wherein the device further includes a graphical program execution engine;

wherein the program is textual programming language source code;

wherein said automatically converting comprises automatically converting the textual programming language source code to a graphical program capable of being executed by the graphical program execution engine on the device.

15. The method of claim 1,

wherein the device includes a processor and memory, wherein the device further includes a graphical program execution engine capable of executing graphical programs of a first type;

wherein the program is a graphical program of a second type;

wherein said automatically converting comprises automatically converting the graphical program of the second type to a graphical program of the first type capable of being executed by the graphical program execution engine on the device.

16. The method of claim 1,

wherein the device includes a processor and memory;

wherein the program is textual programming language source code;

wherein said automatically converting comprises automatically compiling the textual programming language source code to executable code capable of being executed by the processor and memory on the device.

17. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying a new icon on the display in response to said associating, wherein the new icon visually indicates that the program is deployed on the device and will be executing on the device.

18. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying the program icon proximate to the device icon after said associating;

wherein the program icon displayed proximate to the device icon visually indicates that the program is deployed on the device.

19. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying the program icon connected to the device icon after said associating;

wherein the program icon displayed connected to the device icon visually indicates that the program is deployed on the device.

20. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

modifying the device icon in response to said associating, wherein the modified device icon visually indicates that the program is deployed on the device.

21. The method of claim 1,

wherein said associating the program icon with the device icon in response to user input comprises dragging and dropping the program icon onto the device icon.

22. The method of claim 21,

wherein said dragging and dropping the program icon onto the device icon includes receiving further user input indicating that the program is to be deployed onto the device.

23. The method of claim 1,

wherein said associating the program icon with the device icon in response to user input comprises using speech recognition to associate the program icon with the device icon.

24. The method of claim 1,

wherein the plurality of programs are configured to execute according to a specified relationship;

wherein the first program is configured to call one or more second programs according to the specified relationship;

wherein said automatically converting comprises automatically converting the first program and the one or more second programs

25. The method of claim 1,

wherein the program is executable to perform a first function;

the method further comprising;

the device executing after said deploying to perform the first function.

26. The method of claim 1,

wherein the device is a measurement device;

wherein the program is executable to perform a measurement function;

the method further comprising;

the measurement device executing after said deploying to perform the measurement function.

27. The method of claim 26,

wherein the program is executable to acquire a signal;

wherein the measurement device executing comprises;

the measurement device acquiring a first signal;

the measurement device providing the first signal to the first computer system;

wherein the first computer system is operable to execute to analyze or display the first signal.

28. The method of claim 26,

wherein the program is executable to acquire a signal and analyze the acquired signal;

wherein the measurement device executing comprises;

the measurement device acquiring a first signal;

the measurement device analyzing the first signal after said acquiring.

29. The method of claim 1,

wherein the device is an automation device;

wherein the program is executable to perform an automation function;

the method further comprising;

the automation device executing after said deploying to perform the automation function.

30. The method of claim 1,

wherein the program is executable to simulate operation of a device being designed;

the method further comprising;

the device executing after said deploying to simulate operation of the device being designed.

31. The method of claim 1,

wherein said automatically converting is performed by a software program executing on the first computer system.

32. The method of claim 1,

wherein said automatically converting is performed by a software program executing on a second computer system, wherein the second computer system is coupled to the first computer system over a network.

33. The method of claim 1,

displaying a visual indication to the user indicating that said automatically converting is being performed.

34. A method for deploying a program in a distributed system, wherein the method executes on a first computer system, the method comprising:

displaying a first program icon on a display of the first computer system, wherein the first program icon corresponds to a first program;

displaying a device icon on the display of the first computer system, wherein the device icon corresponds to a device in the distributed system, wherein the device is coupled to the first computer system;

associating the first program icon of the plurality of program icons with the device icon in response to user input;

determining a first program type of the first program;

determining one or more program types supported by the device;

determining if the device is compatible with the first program type of the first program;

automatically converting the first program to a different program type supported by the device if the device is not compatible with the first program type of the first program; and

deploying the converted first program onto the device after said automatically converting.

35. The method of claim 34,

wherein the device includes a programmable hardware element;

wherein said determining a first program type of the first program determines that the first program is a software program;

wherein said automatically converting comprises automatically converting the first software program to a hardware configuration program.

36. The method of claim 34,

wherein the device includes a processor and memory;

wherein said determining a first program type of the first program determines that the first program is a hardware configuration program;

wherein said automatically converting comprises automatically converting the first hardware configuration program to a software program capable of being executed by the processor and memory on the device.

37. The method of claim 34,

wherein the device includes a processor and memory;

wherein said determining a first program type of the first program determines that the first program is a graphical program;

wherein said automatically converting comprises automatically converting the first graphical program to a software program capable of being executed by the processor and memory on the device.

38. The method of claim 34,

wherein the device includes a processor and memory, wherein the device further includes a graphical program execution engine;

wherein said determining a first program type of the first program determines that the first program is a script;

wherein said automatically converting comprises automatically converting the script to a graphical program capable of being executed by the graphical program execution engine on the device.

39. The method of claim 34,

wherein the device includes a processor and memory, wherein the device further includes a graphical program execution engine;

wherein said determining a first program type of the first program determines that the first program is textual programming language source code;

wherein said automatically converting comprises automatically converting the textual programming language source code to a graphical program capable of being executed by the graphical program execution engine on the device.

40. The method of claim 34,

wherein the device includes a processor and memory, wherein the device further includes a graphical program execution engine capable of executing graphical programs of a first type;

wherein said determining a first program type of the first program determines that the first program is a graphical program of a second type;

wherein said automatically converting comprises automatically converting the graphical program of the second type to a graphical program of the first type capable of being executed by the graphical program execution engine on the device.

41. The method of claim 34,

wherein the device includes a processor and memory;

wherein said determining a first program type of the first program determines that the first program is textual programming language source code;

wherein said automatically converting comprises automatically compiling the textual programming language source code to executable code capable of being executed by the processor and memory on the device.

42. The method of claim 34,

wherein the device includes a programmable hardware element;

wherein said determining a first program type of the first program determines that the first program is a software program;

wherein said determining one or more program types supported by the device determines that the device is capable of executing a hardware configuration program;

wherein said determining if the device is compatible with the first program type of the first program determines that the device is not compatible with the first program;

wherein said automatically converting comprises automatically converting the first software program to a hardware configuration program.

43. A method for deploying a program in a system, wherein the method executes on a first computer system, the method comprising:

displaying a first program icon on a display of the first computer system, wherein the first program icon corresponds to a first program;

displaying a second program icon on the display of the first computer system, wherein the second program icon corresponds to a second program in the system;

associating the first program icon of the plurality of program icons with the second program icon in response to user input;

automatically converting the first program to a different program type supported by the second program if the second program is not compatible with the first program type of the first program; and

configuring the second program to invoke the converted first program after said automatically converting.

44. The method of claim 43,

wherein the second program is not compatible with the first program type of the first program if the second program is not capable of invoking programs of the first program type.

45. The method of claim 43, further comprising:

determining a first program type of the first program;

determining if the second program is capable of invoking programs of the first program type;

wherein said automatically converting is performed if said determining if the second program is capable determines that the second program is not capable of invoking programs of the first program type.

46. The method of claim 45,

wherein said steps of determining are performed in response to said associating.

47. The method of claim 43, further comprising:

determining a first program type of the first program;

determining one or more program types capable of being invoked by the second program;

determining if the second program is compatible with the first program type of the first program;

wherein said automatically converting is performed if said determining if the second program is compatible determines that the second program is not compatible with the first program type of the first program.

48. The method of claim 47, wherein said determining a first program type of the first program, said determining one or more program types capable of being invoked by the second program, and said determining if the second program is compatible are performed in response to said associating.

49. The method of claim 43,

wherein the second program is a hardware configuration program configured on a programmable hardware element;

wherein said determining a first program type of the first program determines that the first program is a software program;

wherein said automatically converting comprises automatically converting the first software program to a hardware configuration program.

50. The method of claim 43,

wherein the second program is a software program;

wherein said determining a first program type of the first program determines that the first program is a hardware configuration program;

wherein said automatically converting comprises automatically converting the first hardware configuration program to a software program capable of being invoked by the second program.

51. The method of claim 43,

wherein the second program is a software program;

wherein said determining a first program type of the first program determines that the first program is a graphical program;

wherein said automatically converting comprises automatically converting the first graphical program to a software program capable of being invoked by the second software program.

52. The method of claim 51,

wherein said automatically converting comprises automatically converting the first graphical program to a machine language program.

53. The method of claim 51,

wherein said automatically converting comprises automatically converting the first graphical program to a dynamic linked library (DLL).

54. The method of claim 43,

wherein the second program is a graphical program;

wherein said determining a first program type of the first program determines that the first program is a script;

wherein said automatically converting comprises automatically converting the script to a graphical program capable of being invoked by the second graphical program.

55. The method of claim 43,

wherein the second program is a graphical program;

wherein said determining a first program type of the first program determines that the first program is textual programming language source code;

wherein said automatically converting comprises automatically converting the textual programming language source code to a graphical program.

56. The method of claim 43,

wherein said determining a first program type of the first program determines that the first program is a graphical program of a second type;

wherein the second program is a graphical program of a second type;

wherein said automatically converting comprises automatically converting the graphical program of the first type to a graphical program of the second type.

57. The method of claim 43,

wherein said determining a first program type of the first program determines that the first program is textual programming language source code;

wherein said automatically converting comprises automatically compiling the textual programming language source code to executable code capable of being executed by the processor and memory on the device.

58. A method for deploying a program in a distributed system, wherein the method executes on a first computer system, the method comprising:

displaying a first program icon on a display of the first computer system, wherein the first program icon corresponds to a first program;

displaying a second program icon on the display of the first computer system, wherein the second program icon corresponds to a second program in the distributed system;

associating the first program icon of the plurality of program icons with the second program icon in response to user input;

automatically modifying the second program to invoke the first program.

59. The method of claim 58,

wherein the first program has a first program type;

wherein the second program has a second different program type.

60. The method of claim 59,

wherein said automatically modifying the second program comprises automatically converting the second program to the first type.

61. The method of claim 60, further comprising:

determining the first program type of the first program;

determining if the second program is capable of invoking programs of the first program type;

wherein said automatically converting is performed if said determining if the second program is capable determines that the second program is not capable of invoking programs of the first program type.

62. A memory medium comprising program instructions for deploying a program on a device, wherein the memory medium is comprised in a first computer system, wherein the program instructions are executable to implement:

displaying a program icon on a display of the first computer system, wherein the program icon corresponds to the program, wherein the program has a program type;

displaying a device icon on the display of the first computer system, wherein the device icon corresponds to the device, wherein the device is coupled to the first computer system;

associating the program icon with the device icon in response to user input;

automatically converting the program to a different program type supported by the device if the device is not compatible with the program type of the program; and

deploying the converted program onto the device after said automatically converting.

63. The memory medium of claim 62, wherein the program instructions are further executable to implement:

determining a program type of the program;

determining if the device is compatible with the program type of the program;

wherein said automatically converting is performed if said determining if the device is compatible determines that the device is not compatible with the program type of the program.

64. A memory medium comprising program instructions for deploying a program in a system, wherein the memory medium is comprised in a first computer system, wherein the program instructions are executable to implement:

displaying a first program icon on a display of the first computer system, wherein the first program icon corresponds to a first program;

displaying a second program icon on the display of the first computer system, wherein the second program icon corresponds to a second program in the distributed system;

associating the first program icon of the plurality of program icons with the second program icon in response to user input;

automatically converting the first program to a different program type supported by the second program if the second program is not compatible with the first program type of the first program; and

configuring the second program to invoke the converted first program after said automatically converting.