Providing block state information for a model based development process

• US 20060064294A1
• Filed: 12/28/2004
• Published: 03/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The MathWorks, Inc.
• Original Assignee: The MathWorks, Inc.
• Inventors: Clark, Martin
• Granted Patent: US 7,743,361 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 703/22
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 30/20 Design optimisation, verification or simulation optimisation, verification or simulation of circuit designs G06F30/30

Abstract

A method and system for providing a block for use in a block diagram in a graphical modeling environment which is capable of outputting information regarding the dynamic state of the block.

Claims

1. In a graphical modeling environment, a method comprising:

providing a model of a dynamic system wherein a selected entity in the graphical model contains state information;

performing a functional transformation on the state information; and

outputting the result of the functional transformation by reference.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein a user selects whether to output the state information.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the user selects whether to output the state information via a graphical user interface.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the graphic user interface comprises a dialog box.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the transformation is an identity transformation.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the transformation operates on states at previous times.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the transformation operates on states at future times.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the execution of the graphical model is time-driven.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the result of the transformation is outputted to a visual display.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the visual display comprises a frequency plot.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the visual display comprises a time-based plot.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the state information is outputted to an object.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the graphical modeling environment is a MATLAB graphical modeling environment.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the graphical modeling environment is SIMULINK.

15. A medium for use with an electronic device holding instructions executable by the electronic device for performing a method, the method comprising:

providing a model of a dynamic system wherein a selected entity in the graphical model contains state information;

performing a functional transformation on the state information; and

outputting the result of the functional transformation by reference.

16. A system for generating and displaying a graphical modeling application, comprising:

user-operable input means for inputting data to the graphical modeling application;

a display device for displaying a graphical model; and

an electronic device including memory for storing computer program instructions and data, and a processor for executing the stored computer program instructions, the computer program instructions including instructions for providing a model of a dynamic system wherein a selected entity in the graphical model contains state information, performing a functional transformation on the state information, and outputting the result of the functional transformation by reference.

17. In a graphical modeling environment, a block diagram model of a dynamic system comprising:

a block, in communication with the input signal, containing state information; and

an output signal in communication with the block.

18. In a graphical modeling environment, a method comprising the steps of:

providing a block diagram model of a dynamic system wherein a selected block in the block diagram model contains state information; and

performing a functional transformation on the state information; and

outputting the result of the functional transformation by reference.

19. In a graphical modeling environment, a block, for use in a block diagram model of a dynamic system, comprising:

an input port for receiving signals for the block;

an output port for outputting signals in response to signals received by the block; and

state information reflecting the dynamic the dynamic state of the block as it interacts with a signal received on the input port and produces and output on the output port.

20. A system for generating and displaying a graphical modeling application, comprising:

a distribution server for providing to a client device, a block containing state information; and

a client device in communication with the distribution server.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the client device is operable to output the state information of the provided block.

22. The system of claim 20, wherein the client device is an electronic device including memory for storing computer program instructions and data, and a processor for executing the stored computer program instructions, the computer program instructions including instructions for providing a block diagram model of a dynamic system wherein a selected block in the block diagram model contains state information, performing a functional transformation on the state information, and outputting the state information from the block

23. In a network having a server, executing a graphical modeling environment, and a client device in communication with the server, a method comprising the steps of:

providing, at the server, a block diagram model of a dynamic system;

receiving, at the server from the client device, a selection of a block, in the block diagram model, containing state information;

performing a functional transformation on the state information and outputting, from the server to the client device, the result of the transform from the selected block.