Dynamic and user-defined events for a graphical program

• US 20030071842A1
• Filed: 08/14/2002
• Published: 04/17/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: National Instruments Corporation (Emerson Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: National Instruments Corporation (Emerson Electric Company)
• Inventors: King, Jason S., Smith, B. Craig
• Granted Patent: US 7,594,182 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/762
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/542 Event management; Broadcasting; Multicasting; Notifications

Abstract

One embodiment of the invention comprises a system and method for enabling a graphical program to dynamically register one or more events during execution of the graphical program. An event registration node may be displayed in the block diagram of the graphical program. One or more events may be associated with the event registration node. The event registration node may be operable to dynamically register the one or more events during execution of the graphical program. Another embodiment of the invention comprises a system and method for enabling a graphical program to programmatically generate and respond to a user-defined event. The user may desire to define custom, i.e., user-defined, events for use in a graphical program.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

executing a graphical program, wherein the graphical program includes first graphical source code operable to dynamically register a first event during execution of the graphical program, wherein said executing the graphical program includes executing the first graphical source code; and

dynamically registering the first event during execution of the graphical program in response to said executing the first graphical source code;

wherein said dynamically registering the first event enables the graphical program to respond to the first event when the first event is generated.

2. The method of claim 1,

wherein the graphical program comprises a plurality of interconnected nodes that visually indicate functionality of the graphical program.

3. The method of claim 1,

wherein the graphical program comprises a graphical data flow program.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

creating the graphical program, wherein said creating the graphical program comprises including the first graphical source code in the graphical program.

5. The method of claim 4,

wherein the first graphical program source code comprises one or more nodes operable to dynamically register the first event during execution of the graphical program;

wherein said including the first graphical source code in the graphical program comprises including the one or more nodes in the graphical program.

6. The method of claim 4,

wherein the first graphical program source code comprises an event registration node operable to dynamically register the first event during execution of the graphical program;

wherein said including the first graphical source code in the graphical program comprises including the event registration node in the graphical program.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

associating the first event with the event registration node in response to user input;

wherein said associating the first event with the event registration node enables the event registration node to dynamically register the first event during execution of the graphical program.

8. The method of claim 7,

wherein said associating the first event with the event registration node comprises connecting one or more inputs to one or more input terminals of the event registration node.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

generating the first event during execution of the graphical program, after said dynamically registering the first event; and

the graphical program responding to the first event in response to said generating the first event.

10. The method of claim 1,

wherein the graphical program includes second graphical source code operable to respond to the first event;

wherein said dynamically registering the first event includes dynamically associating the second graphical source code with the first event so that the second graphical source code executes when the first event is generated.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

generating the first event during execution of the graphical program, after said dynamically registering the first event; and

executing the second graphical source code in response to said generating the first event, wherein the second graphical source code executes to respond to the first event.

12. The method of claim 1,

wherein the first event is a user-defined event.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the first event comprises one of:

a user interface event;

a system event;

a timer event;

an event generated in response to data acquired from a device.

14. The method of claim 1,

wherein the graphical program includes a first user interface element;

wherein the first event is associated with the first user interface element.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

generating the first event during execution of the graphical program, after said dynamically registering the first event, wherein the first event is generated in response to user input received to the first user interface element; and

the graphical program responding to the first event in response to said generating the first event.

16. The method of claim 1,

wherein the graphical program includes second graphical source code operable to dynamically un-register the first event during execution of the graphical program;

wherein the method further comprises;

executing the second graphical source code after said executing the first graphical source code; and

dynamically un-registering the first event during execution of the graphical program in response to said executing the second graphical source code;

wherein said dynamically un-registering the first event makes the graphical program stop responding to the first event when the first event is generated.

17. The method of claim 1,

wherein the first graphical source code is further operable to dynamically register a second event during execution of the graphical program;

wherein the method further comprises dynamically registering the second event during execution of the graphical program in response to said executing the first graphical source code;

wherein said dynamically registering the second event enables the graphical program to respond to the second event when the second event is generated.

18. A computer-implemented method for creating a graphical program, the method comprising:

displaying a first node in a block diagram of the graphical program in response to user input; and

associating one or more events with the first node in response to user input;

wherein the first node is operable to dynamically register the one or more events during execution of the graphical program.

19. The method of claim 18,

wherein said first node dynamically registering the first event enables the graphical program to respond to the first event when the first event is generated.

20. The method of claim 18,

wherein the block diagram comprises a data flow block diagram.

21. The method of claim 18,

wherein said associating the one or more events with the first node comprises connecting one or more inputs to one or more input terminals of the first node.

22. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

executing the graphical program;

wherein said executing the graphical program comprises executing the first node;

wherein said executing the first node comprises dynamically registering the one or more events.

23. The method of claim 22,

wherein said dynamically registering the one or more events includes dynamically registering a first event;

wherein the method further comprises;

generating the first event during execution of the graphical program, after said dynamically registering the first event; and

the graphical program responding to the first event in response to said generating the first event.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising:

displaying a plurality of nodes in the block diagram of the graphical program for responding to the first event in response to user input;

interconnecting the plurality of nodes in response to user input, wherein the interconnected nodes visually indicate functionality for responding to the first event;

executing the plurality of interconnected nodes in response to said generating the first event, wherein the plurality of interconnected nodes executes to respond to the first event.

25. The method of claim 18, wherein the one or more events include one or more events from the group consisting of:

user interface events;

system events; and

timer events.

26. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

displaying a second node in the block diagram of the graphical program in response to user input; and

associating one or more of the events registered by the first node with the second node in response to user input;

wherein the second node is operable to dynamically un-register the one or more events associated with the second node during execution of the graphical program.

27. A computer-implemented method for creating a graphical program, the method comprising:

displaying a first node in a block diagram of the graphical program in response to user input; and

configuring the first node to create a first user-defined event in response to user input;

wherein the first node is operable to programmatically create the first user-defined event during execution of the graphical program.

28. The method of claim 27,

wherein the block diagram comprises a data flow block diagram.

29. The method of claim 27,

wherein the block diagram comprises a plurality of interconnected nodes that visually indicate functionality of the graphical program.

30. The method of claim 27, further comprising:

configuring the first node with a name for the first user-defined event in response to user input;

wherein the first user-defined event created by the first node has the specified name.

31. The method of claim 30,

wherein said configuring the first node with the name comprises connecting an input to an input terminal of the first node.

32. The method of claim 27, further comprising:

configuring the first node with one or more data fields for the first user-defined event in response to user input;

wherein the first user-defined event created by the first node has the specified one or more data fields.

33. The method of claim 32,

wherein said configuring the first node with the one or more data fields comprises connecting one or more inputs to one or more input terminals of the first node.

34. The method of claim 27,

wherein the first node has a first output terminal for providing a reference to the first user-defined event to a second node in the block diagram of the graphical program.

35. The method of claim 34, further comprising:

connecting the first output terminal of the first node to an input terminal of the second node, wherein the second node receives the reference to the first user-defined event via the input terminal of the second node.

36. The method of claim 27, further comprising:

displaying a second node in the block diagram of the graphical program in response to user input; and

configuring the second node to programmatically register the first user-defined event created by the first node during execution of the graphical program;

wherein said programmatically registering the first user-defined event enables the graphical program to respond to the first user-defined event when the first user-defined event is generated.

37. The method of claim 36, further comprising:

displaying a first portion of graphical source code for responding to the first user-defined event in the block diagram of the graphical program in response to user input;

wherein said enabling the graphical program to respond to the first user-defined event when the first user-defined event is generated comprises enabling the first portion of graphical source code to respond to the first user-defined event when the first user-defined event is generated.

38. The method of claim 27,

wherein the first node is further operable to programmatically register the first user-defined event;

wherein said programmatically registering the first user-defined event enables the graphical program to respond to the first user-defined event when the first user-defined event is generated.

39. The method of claim 27, further comprising:

executing the graphical program, wherein said executing the graphical program comprises executing the first node;

wherein the first node executes to programmatically create the first user-defined event.

40. The method of claim 27, further comprising:

displaying a second node in the block diagram of the graphical program in response to user input; and

configuring the second node to programmatically generate the first user-defined event in response to user input;

wherein the second node is operable to programmatically generate the first user-defined event during execution of the graphical program.

41. The method of claim 40, further comprising:

configuring the second node with a reference to the first user-defined event in response to user input;

wherein said configuring the second node with the reference to the first user-defined event comprises connecting an input to an input terminal of the second node.

42. The method of claim 40, further comprising:

configuring the second node with data for the programmatically generated first user-defined event in response to user input;

wherein the data is associated with the programmatically generated first user-defined event.

43. The method of claim 42,

wherein said configuring the second node with data for the first user-defined event comprises connecting one or more inputs to one or more input terminals of the second node.

44. The method of claim 43, further comprising:

executing the graphical program, wherein said executing the graphical program comprises executing the first node;

wherein the first node executes to programmatically create the first user-defined event;

wherein said executing the graphical program further comprises executing the second node after said executing the first node;

wherein the second node executes to programmatically generate the first user-defined event.

45. The method of claim 44,

wherein said executing the graphical program further comprises executing a portion of the graphical program for responding to the first user-defined event in response to said programmatically generating the first user-defined event.

46. The method of claim 27, further comprising:

displaying a second node in the block diagram of the graphical program in response to user input; and

configuring the second node to programmatically destroy the first user-defined event in response to user input;

wherein the second node is operable to programmatically destroy the first user-defined event during execution of the graphical program.

47. The method of claim 46, further comprising:

configuring the second node with a reference to the first user-defined event in response to user input;

wherein said configuring the second node with the reference to the first user-defined event comprises connecting an input to an input terminal of the second node.

48. The method of claim 46, further comprising:

displaying a third node in the block diagram of the graphical program in response to user input; and

configuring the third node to programmatically register the first user-defined event created by the first node during execution of the graphical program;

wherein said programmatically registering the first user-defined event enables the graphical program to respond to the first user-defined event when the first user-defined event is generated;

wherein said second node programmatically destroying the first user-defined event makes the graphical program stop responding to the first user-defined event when the first user-defined event is generated.

49. The method of claim 46, further comprising:

executing the graphical program, wherein said executing the graphical program comprises executing the first node;

wherein the first node executes to programmatically create the first user-defined event;

wherein said executing the graphical program further comprises executing the second node after said executing the first node;

wherein the second node executes to programmatically destory the first user-defined event.

50. A computer-implemented method for creating a graphical program, the method comprising:

displaying a first node in a block diagram of the graphical program in response to user input;

configuring the first node to create a first user-defined event in response to user input, wherein the first node is operable to programmatically create the first user-defined event during execution of the graphical program;

displaying a second node in the block diagram of the graphical program in response to user input; and

configuring the second node to generate the first user-defined event in response to user input, wherein the second node is operable to programmatically generate the first user-defined event during execution of the graphical program.

51. The method of claim 50,

wherein the first node has a first output terminal for outputting a reference to the first user-defined event;

wherein the method further comprises connecting the reference to an input terminal of the second node.

52. The method of claim 50, further comprising:

displaying a third node in the block diagram of the graphical program in response to user input; and

configuring the third node to register the first user-defined event in response to user input, wherein the third node is operable to programmatically register the first user-defined event during execution of the graphical program;

wherein said programmatically registering the first user-defined event enables the graphical program to respond to the first user-defined event when the second node programmatically generates the first user-defined event.

53. The method of claim 52, further comprising:

displaying one or more additional nodes in the block diagram of the graphical program in response to user input;

interconnecting the one or more additional nodes in response to user input, wherein the interconnected nodes visually indicate functionality for responding to the first user-defined event;

wherein said enabling the graphical program to respond to the first user-defined event when the second node programmatically generates the first user-defined event comprises enabling the one or more additional nodes to respond to the first user-defined event when the second node programmatically generates the first user-defined event.

54. The method of claim 50,

wherein the first node is further operable to programmatically register the first user-defined event;

wherein said programmatically registering the first user-defined event enables the graphical program to respond to the first user-defined event when the second node programmatically generates the first user-defined event.

55. A computer-implemented method for creating a graphical program, the method comprising:

displaying first graphical source code in a block diagram of the graphical program in response to user input;

configuring the first graphical source code to create a first user-defined event in response to user input, wherein the first graphical source code is operable to programmatically create the first user-defined event during execution of the graphical program;

displaying second graphical source code in the block diagram of the graphical program in response to user input; and

configuring the second graphical source code to generate the first user-defined event in response to user input, wherein the second graphical source code is operable to programmatically generate the first user-defined event during execution of the graphical program.

56. The method of claim 55,

wherein the first graphical source code includes one or more nodes;

and

wherein the second graphical source code includes one or more nodes.

57. The method of claim 55, further comprising:

displaying third graphical source code in the block diagram of the graphical program in response to user input; and

configuring the third graphical source code to respond to the first user-defined event when the first user-defined event is programmatically generated during execution of the graphical program.

58. A computer-implemented method for creating a graphical program, the method comprising:

displaying first graphical source code in a block diagram of the graphical program in response to user input;

configuring the first graphical source code to register a first user-defined event in response to user input, wherein the first graphical source code is operable to programmatically register the first user-defined event during execution of the graphical program, wherein said programmatically registering the first user-defined event comprises enabling the graphical program to respond to the first user-defined event;

displaying second graphical source code in the block diagram of the graphical program in response to user input; and

configuring the second graphical source code to generate the first user-defined event in response to user input, wherein the second graphical source code is operable to programmatically generate the first user-defined event during execution of the graphical program.

59. A method for executing a graphical program, the method comprising:

executing first graphical source code in the graphical program, wherein the first graphical source code executes to programmatically generate a user-defined event; and

executing second graphical source code in the graphical program in response to the generated user-defined event.