Specifying and targeting portions of a graphical program for real-time execution on an embedded processor
First Claim
1. A memory medium which stores program instructions for configuring a device, wherein the device includes an embedded processor and an embedded memory, wherein the program instructions are executable to perform:
- storing a graphical program in a memory, wherein a first portion of the graphical program requires a greater real-time response, and wherein a second portion of the graphical program requires a lesser real-time response;
generating code that is executable on the device for real-time execution based on the first portion of the graphical program which requires a greater real-time response.
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Abstract
A computer-based virtual instrumentation system including a host computer and an embedded system or device, wherein graphical programs created using the computer system can be downloaded to the embedded system for execution in a real-time or more deterministic manner. The present invention thus provides a method for automatically generating an embedded application in response to a graphical program created by a user. This provides the user the ability to develop or define instrument functionality using graphical programming techniques, while enabling the resulting program to operate in an embedded real-time system. The invention includes a novel method for configuring the embedded system. During execution of a graphical program in the embedded system, the block diagram portion executes in the embedded system, and the host CPU executes front panel display code to display on the screen the graphical front panel of the graphical program. The embedded system and the host computer exchange data using a front panel protocol to enable this operation. The present invention also includes improved debugging support for graphical programs executing on the embedded system. The host graphical programming system thus provides the user interface for graphical programs executing on the embedded system, essentially acting as the front panel “browser” for embedded applications. The host LabVIEW can also act as an independent application communicating with embedded LabVIEW through the shared memory. The host graphical programming system further provides a seamless environment in which the user can develop an embedded application using high level graphical programming techniques.
79 Citations
34 Claims
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1. A memory medium which stores program instructions for configuring a device, wherein the device includes an embedded processor and an embedded memory, wherein the program instructions are executable to perform:
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storing a graphical program in a memory, wherein a first portion of the graphical program requires a greater real-time response, and wherein a second portion of the graphical program requires a lesser real-time response;
generating code that is executable on the device for real-time execution based on the first portion of the graphical program which requires a greater real-time response. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method comprising:
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storing a graphical program in a memory, wherein a first portion of the graphical program requires a greater real-time response, and wherein a second portion of the graphical program requires a lesser real-time response; and
generating code that is executable on an embedded device for real-time execution based on the first portion of the graphical program which requires a greater real-time response, wherein the embedded device includes an embedded processor and an embedded memory. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method comprising:
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receiving user input specifying a graphical program model, the graphical program model including sections, a first subset of the sections designated post-processing unit sections requiring a lesser real-time response, and a second subset of the section designated first processing unit sections requiring a greater real-time response;
generating software source code for the graphical program model using the second subset, wherein the software course code is deployable onto an embedded device for execution; and
linking the software source code to the first subset via an inter-process communication link; and
compiling the software source code into executable code. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A method comprising:
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identifying portions of a model as requiring a greater real-time response or a lesser real-time response; and
generating code that is capable of greater real-time response based on the portions of a model requiring a greater real-time response, wherein the generated code is targeted for execution on an embedded device comprising an embedded processor and an embedded memory.
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32. A system for configuring a device, wherein the device includes an embedded processor and an embedded memory, comprising:
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a host computer system, comprising;
a CPU; and
a first memory coupled to the CPU; and
a device, coupled to the host computer system, comprising;
an embedded processor; and
an embedded memory coupled to the embedded processor;
wherein the first memory stores program instructions which are executable by the CPU to;
store portions of a graphical program, wherein the graphical program comprises a plurality of interconnected nodes that visually represent functionality of a procedure, wherein a first portion requires a greater real-time response, and wherein a second portion requires a lesser real-time response; and
generate code that is executable on the device for real-time execution based on the first portion of the graphical program which requires greater real-time response.
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33. A system for configuring a device, wherein the device includes an embedded processor and an embedded memory, comprising:
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means for storing a graphical program in a memory, wherein a first portion of the graphical program requires a greater real-time response, and wherein a second portion of the graphical program requires a lesser real-time response;
means for generating code that is executable on the device for real-time execution based on the first portion of the graphical program which requires a greater real-time response.
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34. A memory medium which stores program instructions for configuring a device, wherein the device includes an embedded processor and an embedded memory, wherein the program instructions are executable to perform:
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storing portions of a block diagram, wherein a first portion requires a greater real-time response, and wherein a second portion requires a lesser real-time response; and
generating code that is executable on the device for real-time execution based on the first portion of the block diagram which requires greater real-time response.
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Specification