Method of componentisation of a graphically defined formula

• US 20060271908A1
• Filed: 05/31/2005
• Published: 11/30/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Xemplex Pty Limited
• Original Assignee: Xemplex Pty Limited
• Inventors: Johnston, Gregory Owen, Jones, Russell Benedict, Bargh, Christopher Ian
• Granted Patent: US 7,644,370 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 717/100
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/34 Graphical or visual programming
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/60 Editing figures and text; Combining figures or text

Abstract

A computer implemented method of graphically defining a formula comprises the steps of: providing a graphically defined formula including one or more objects that graphically define the formula; selecting one or more of the objects to be grouped into a new component object; determining the number of connections that provide an input to the selected objects; determining the number of connections that provide an output to the selected objects; determining a graphical definition of the formula, where the selected objects are replaced with a representation of the new component object having the determined number of inputs and the determined number of outputs, connection(s) inputting to the selected objects from other objects are replaced with connection(s) connecting to the input(s) of the new component object and connection(s) outputting from the selected objects to the other objects are replaced with connection(s) connecting from the output(s) of the new component object; and determining a logical definition of the formula, where the selected objects are retained in the logical definition.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method of graphically defining a formula, said method comprising at least the steps of:

providing a graphically defined formula including one or more objects that graphically define the formula;

selecting one or more of the objects to be grouped into a new component object;

determining the number of connections that provide an input to the selected objects;

determining the number of connections that provide an output to the selected objects;

determining a graphical definition of the formula, where the selected objects are replaced with a representation of the new component object having the determined number of inputs and the determined number of outputs, connection(s) inputting to the selected objects from other objects are replaced with connection(s) connecting to the input(s) of the new component object and connection(s) outputting from the selected objects to the other objects are replaced with connection(s) connecting from the output(s) of the new component object;

determining a logical definition of the formula, where the selected objects are retained in the logical definition; and

determining the input/output properties of connections that connect to the selected objects, and providing each input of the new component object with the properties of the corresponding connection inputting the selected objects and providing each output of the new component object with the properties of the corresponding connection outputting from the selected objects.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the objects are one or more of components, variables or connections therebetween.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the method further includes storing a graphical definition of the replaced selected objects as a sub-set of the graphical definition of the formula.

4. A method according to claim 3, wherein the sub-set is defined to display the selected objects on a separate page to that of the new component.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein the logical definition includes linking the selected objects to the different hierarchical levels of the logical definition such that the logical definition is logically/mathematically/functionally equivalent to a previous logical definition.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein the new component object is re-useable elsewhere in the formula.

8. A method according to claim 1, wherein the new component is re-useable in another graphically defined formula.

9. A method according to claim 1, wherein the new component is a new type of component.

10. A method according to claim 9, wherein the new component type is re-useable elsewhere in the formula or in another graphically defined formula.

11. A method according to claim 9, wherein the new component type may be graphically re-defined, by graphically modifying the inner graphical definition, which in turn results in changes to its logical definition.

12. A method according to claim 11, wherein following re-definition of the component type all instances of the component are updated to reflect the change made in the re-definition.

13. A method according to claim 11, wherein version information is recorded with each change to the component type definition for allowing selection of a version of the component type definition in each instance of the component.

5. A method according to claim 5, wherein the selected objects are moved to a different hierarchical level in the logical definition.

14. A method of componentising a portion of a graphically defined formula comprising at least the steps of:

providing a graphically defined formula including a plurality of objects that graphically define the formula, the graphically defined formula having a logical definition and a graphical definition;

selecting one or more of the objects to be grouped into a new component object;

determining the number of connections that provide an input to the selected objects;

determining the number of connections that provide an output to the selected objects;

changing the graphical definition to replace the selected objects with a representation of the new component object having the determined number of inputs and the determined number of outputs, changing connection(s) inputting to the selected objects from other objects into the connection(s) connecting to the input(s) of the new component object and changing connection(s) outputting from the selected objects to the other objects into connection(s) connecting to the output(s) of the new component object;

changing the logical definition to reflect the connections between the new component object and the selected components; and

determining the input/output properties of connections that connect to the selected objects, and providing each input of the new component object with the properties of the corresponding connection inputting the selected objects and providing each output of the new component object with the properties of the corresponding connection outputting from the selected objects.

15. A method of defining a new component type of a graphically defined formula, comprising at least:

providing a graphically defined formula including one or more objects that graphically define the formula, the graphically defined formula having a logical definition and a graphical definition;

selecting one or more of the objects to be included in the functionality of the new component type;

determining the number of connections that provide an input to the selected objects;

determining the number of connections that provide an output to the selected objects;

determining an interface definition to the new component type, which defines how an instance (a new component object) of the new component type interacts with other objects in the graphically defined formula;

determining a graphical definition of the new component type, which includes a representation of the new component object having the determined number of inputs and the determined number of outputs;

determining a logical definition of the new component type, which includes the logical definition of the selected components; and

determining the input/output properties of connections that connect to the selected objects, and providing each input of the new component type with the properties of the corresponding connection inputting the selected objects and providing each output of the new component type with the properties of the corresponding connection outputting from the selected objects.

16. A computer program for controlling a computer to perform a method of graphically defining a formula, said computer program comprising computer executable instructions for controlling the computer to undertake at least the steps of:

providing a graphically defined formula including one or more objects that graphically define the formula;

selecting one or more of the objects to be grouped into a new component object;

determining the number of connections that provide an input to the selected objects;

determining the number of connections that provide an output to the selected objects;

determining a graphical definition of the formula, where the selected objects are replaced with a representation of the new component object having the determined number of inputs and the determined number of outputs, connection(s) inputting to the selected objects from other objects are replaced with connection(s) connecting to the input(s) of the new component object and connection(s) outputting from the selected objects to the other objects are replaced with connection(s) connecting from the output(s) of the new component object;

determining a logical definition of the formula, where the selected objects are retained in the logical definition; and

determining the input/output properties of connections that connect to the selected objects, and providing each input of the new component object with the properties of the corresponding connection inputting the selected objects and providing each output of the new component object with the properties of the corresponding connection outputting from the selected objects.

19. A computer readable medium for storing a computer program as defined by claim 16.

17. A computer program for controlling a computer to perform a method of componentising a portion of a graphically defined formula, said computer program comprising computer executable instructions for controlling the computer to undertake at least the steps of:

providing a graphically defined formula including a plurality of objects that graphically define the formula, the graphically defined formula having a logical definition and a graphical definition;

selecting one or more of the objects to be grouped into a new component object;

determining the number of connections that provide an input to the selected objects;

determining the number of connections that provide an output to the selected objects;

changing the graphical definition to replace the selected objects with a representation of the new component object having the determined number of inputs and the determined number of outputs, changing connection(s) inputting to the selected objects from other objects into the connection(s) connecting to the input(s) of the new component object and changing connection(s) outputting from the selected objects to the other objects into connection(s) connecting to the output(s) of the new component object;

changing the logical definition to reflect the connections between the new component object and the selected components; and

determining the input/output properties of connections that connect to the selected objects, and providing each input of the new component object with the properties of the corresponding connection inputting the selected objects and providing each output of the new component object with the properties of the corresponding connection outputting from the selected objects.

20. A computer readable medium for storing a computer program as defined in claim 17.

18. A computer program for controlling a computer to perform a method of defining a new component type of a graphically defined formula, said computer program comprising computer executable instructions for controlling the computer to undertake at least the steps of:

providing a graphically defined formula including one or more objects that graphically define the formula, the graphically defined formula having a logical definition and a graphical definition;

selecting one or more of the objects to be included in the functionality of the new component type;

determining the number of connections that provide an input to the selected objects;

determining the number of connections that provide an output to the selected objects;

determining an interface definition to the new component type, which defines how an instance (a new component object) of the new component type interacts with other objects in the graphically defined formula;

determining a graphical definition of the new component type, which includes a representation of the new component object having the determined number of inputs and the determined number of outputs;

determining a logical definition of the new component type, which includes the logical definition of the selected components; and

determining the input/output properties of connections that connect to the selected objects, and providing each input of the new component type with the properties of the corresponding connection inputting the selected objects and providing each output of the new component type with the properties of the corresponding connection outputting from the selected objects.

21. A computer readable medium for storing a computer program as defined in claim 18.

22. A system for graphically defining a formula comprising:

means for providing a graphically defined formula including a plurality of objects that graphically define the formula, the graphically defined formula having a logical definition and a graphical definition;

means for selecting one or more of the objects to be grouped into a new component object;

means for determining the number of connections that provide an input to the selected objects;

means for determining the number of connections that provide an output to the selected objects;

means for changing the graphical definition to replace the selected objects with a representation of the new component object having the determined number of inputs and the determined number of outputs, changing connection(s) inputting to the selected objects from other objects into the connection(s) connecting to the input(s) of the new component object and changing connection(s) outputting from the selected objects to the other objects into connection(s) connecting to the output(s) of the new component object;

means for changing the logical definition to reflect the connections between the new component object and the selected components; and

means for determining the input/output properties of connections that connect to the selected objects, and providing each input of the new component object with the properties of the corresponding connection inputting the selected objects and providing each output of the new component object with the properties of the corresponding connection outputting from the selected objects.

23. A system for graphically defining a formula comprising:

means for providing a graphically defined formula including one or more objects that graphically define the formula, the graphically defined formula having a logical definition and a graphical definition;

means for selecting one or more of the objects to be included in the functionality of the new component type;

means for determining the number of connections that provide an input to the selected objects;

means for determining the number of connections that provide an output to the selected objects;

means for determining an interface definition to the new component type, which defines how an instance (a new component object) of the new component type interacts with other objects in the graphically defined formula;

means for determining a graphical definition of the new component type, which includes a representation of the new component object having the determined number of inputs and the determined number of outputs;

means for determining a logical definition of the new component type, which includes the logical definition of the selected components; and

means for determining the input/output properties of connections that connect to the selected objects, and providing each input of the new component object with the properties of the corresponding connection inputting the selected objects and providing each output of the new component object with the properties of the corresponding connection outputting from the selected objects.

24. A system of defining a new component type of a graphically defined formula, comprising at least:

means for providing a graphically defined formula including one or more objects that graphically define the formula, the graphically defined formula having a logical definition and a graphical definition;

means for selecting one or more of the objects to be included in the functionality of the new component type;

means for determining the number of connections that provide an input to the selected objects;

means for determining the number of connections that provide an output to the selected objects;

means for determining an interface definition to the new component type, which defines how an instance (a new component object) of the new component type interacts with other objects in the graphically defined formula;

means for determining a graphical definition of the new component type, which includes a representation of the new component object having the determined number of inputs and the determined number of outputs;

means for determining a logical definition of the new component type, which includes the logical definition of the selected components; and

means for determining the input/output properties of connections that connect to the selected objects, and providing each input of the new component type with the properties of the corresponding connection inputting the selected objects and providing each output of the new component type with the properties of the corresponding connection outputting from the selected objects.

25. A computer implemented method of graphically defining a formula, said method comprising at least the steps of:

providing a graphically defined formula including a plurality of objects that graphically define the formula, wherein the graphically defined formula includes a plurality of variable name objects that represent a logical connection to another object and at least two of the variable objects have the same name;

selecting one or more of the objects to be grouped into a new component object;

determining the number of graphical connections that provide an input to the selected objects, wherein inputs to named variable objects which have the same name are represented by a single graphical input;

determining the number of graphical connections that provide an output to the selected objects, wherein outputs to named variable objects which have the same name are represented by a single graphical output;

determining a graphical definition of the formula, where the selected objects are replaced with a representation of the new component object having the determined number of inputs and the determined number of outputs, connection(s) inputting to the selected objects from other objects are replaced with connection(s) connecting to the input(s) of the new component object and connection(s) outputting from the selected objects to the other objects are replaced with connection(s) connecting from the output(s) of the new component object; and

determining a logical definition of the formula, where the selected objects are retained in the logical definition.

26. A method according to claim 25, wherein the method further includes a step of determining the input/output properties of connections that connect to the selected objects, and providing each input of the new component object with the properties of the corresponding connection inputting the selected objects and providing each output of the new component object with the properties of the corresponding connection outputting from the selected objects.

27. A method of componentising a portion of a graphically defined formula comprising at least the steps of:

providing a graphically defined formula including a plurality of objects that graphically define the formula, the graphically defined formula having a logical definition and a graphical definition, wherein the graphically defined formula includes a plurality of variable name objects that represent a logical connection to another object and at least two of the variable objects have the same name;

selecting one or more of the objects to be grouped into a new component object;

determining the number of graphical connections that provide an input to the selected objects, wherein inputs to named variable objects which have the same name are represented by a single graphical input;

determining the number of graphical connections that provide an output to the selected objects, wherein outputs to named variable objects which have the same name are represented by a single graphical output;

changing the graphical definition to replace the selected objects with a representation of the new component object having the determined number of inputs and the determined number of outputs, changing connection(s) inputting to the selected objects from other objects into the connection(s) connecting to the input(s) of the new component object and changing connection(s) outputting from the selected objects to the other objects into connection(s) connecting to the output(s) of the new component object; and

changing the logical definition to reflect the connections between the new component object and the selected components.

28. A method of defining a new component type of a graphically defined formula, comprising at least:

providing a graphically defined formula including a plurality of objects that graphically define the formula, the graphically defined formula having a logical definition and a graphical definition, wherein the graphically defined formula includes a plurality of variable name objects that represent a logical connection to another object and at least two of the variable objects have the same name;

selecting one or more of the objects to be included in the functionality of the new component type;

determining the number of graphical connections that provide an input to the selected objects, wherein inputs to named variable objects which have the same name are represented by a single graphical input;

determining the number of graphical connections that provide an output to the selected objects, wherein outputs to named variable objects which have the same name are represented by a single graphical output;

determining an interface definition to the new component type, which defines how an instance (a new component object) of the new component type interacts with other objects in the graphically defined formula;

determining a graphical definition of the new component type, which includes a representation of the new component object having the determined number of inputs and the determined number of outputs; and

determining a logical definition of the new component type, which includes the logical definition of the selected components.

29. A computer program for controlling a computer to perform a method of graphically defining a formula, said computer program comprising computer executable instructions for controlling the computer to undertake at least the steps of:

providing a graphically defined formula including a plurality of objects that graphically define the formula, wherein the graphically defined formula includes a plurality of variable name objects that represent a logical connection to another object and at least two of the variable objects have the same name;

selecting one or more of the objects to be grouped into a new component object;

determining the number of graphical connections that provide an input to the selected objects, wherein inputs to named variable objects which have the same name are represented by a single graphical input;

determining the number of graphical connections that provide an output to the selected objects, wherein outputs to named variable objects which have the same name are represented by a single graphical output;

determining a graphical definition of the formula, where the selected objects are replaced with a representation of the new component object having the determined number of inputs and the determined number of outputs, connection(s) inputting to the selected objects from other objects are replaced with connection(s) connecting to the input(s) of the new component object and connection(s) outputting from the selected objects to the other objects are replaced with connection(s) connecting from the output(s) of the new component object; and

determining a logical definition of the formula, where the selected objects are retained in the logical definition.

30. A computer program for controlling a computer to perform a method of componentising a portion of a graphically defined formula, said computer program comprising computer executable instructions for controlling the computer to undertake at least the steps of:

providing a graphically defined formula including a plurality of objects that graphically define the formula, the graphically defined formula having a logical definition and a graphical definition, wherein the graphically defined formula includes a plurality of variable name objects that represent a logical connection to another object and at least two of the variable objects have the same name;

selecting one or more of the objects to be grouped into a new component object;

determining the number of graphical connections that provide an input to the selected objects, wherein inputs to named variable objects which have the same name are represented by a single graphical input;

determining the number of graphical connections that provide an output to the selected objects, wherein outputs to named variable objects which have the same name are represented by a single graphical output;

changing the graphical definition to replace the selected objects with a representation of the new component object having the determined number of inputs and the determined number of outputs, changing connection(s) inputting to the selected objects from other objects into the connection(s) connecting to the input(s) of the new component object and changing connection(s) outputting from the selected objects to the other objects into connection(s) connecting to the output(s) of the new component object; and

changing the logical definition to reflect the connections between the new component object and the selected components.

31. A computer program for controlling a computer to perform a method of defining a new component type of a graphically defined formula, said computer program comprising computer executable instructions for controlling the computer to undertake at least the steps of:

providing a graphically defined formula including a plurality of objects that graphically define the formula, the graphically defined formula having a logical definition and a graphical definition, wherein the graphically defined formula includes a plurality of variable name objects that represent a logical connection to another object and at least two of the variable objects have the same name;

selecting one or more of the objects to be included in the functionality of the new component type;

determining the number of graphical connections that provide an input to the selected objects, wherein inputs to named variable objects which have the same name are represented by a single graphical input;

determining the number of graphical connections that provide an output to the selected objects, wherein outputs to named variable objects which have the same name are represented by a single graphical output;

determining an interface definition to the new component type, which defines how an instance (a new component object) of the new component type interacts with other objects in the graphically defined formula;

determining a graphical definition of the new component type, which includes a representation of the new component object having the determined number of inputs and the determined number of outputs; and

determining a logical definition of the new component type, which includes the logical definition of the selected components.

32. A system for graphically defining a formula comprising:

means for providing a graphically defined formula including a plurality of objects that graphically define the formula, the graphically defined formula having a logical definition and a graphical definition, wherein the graphically defined formula includes a plurality of variable name objects that represent a logical connection to another object and at least two of the variable objects have the same name;

means for selecting a plurality of the objects to be grouped into a new component object;

means for determining the number of graphical connections that provide an input to the selected objects, wherein inputs to named variable objects which have the same name are represented by a single graphical input;

means for determining the number of graphical connections that provide an output to the selected objects, wherein outputs to named variable objects which have the same name are represented by a single graphical output;

means for changing the graphical definition to replace the selected objects with a representation of the new component object having the determined number of inputs and the determined number of outputs, changing connection(s) inputting to the selected objects from other objects into the connection(s) connecting to the input(s) of the new component object and changing connection(s) outputting from the selected objects to the other objects into connection(s) connecting to the output(s) of the new component object; and

means for changing the logical definition to reflect the connections between the new component object and the selected components.

33. A system for graphically defining a formula comprising:

means for providing a graphically defined formula including one or more objects that graphically define the formula, the graphically defined formula having a logical definition and a graphical definition, wherein the graphically defined formula includes a plurality of variable name objects that represent a logical connection to another object and at least two of the variable objects have the same name;

means for selecting one or more of the objects to be included in the functionality of the new component type;

means for determining the number of graphical connections that provide an input to the selected objects, wherein inputs to named variable objects which have the same name are represented by a single graphical input;

means for determining the number of graphical connections that provide an output to the selected objects, wherein outputs to named variable objects which have the same name are represented by a single graphical output;

means for determining an interface definition to the new component type, which defines how an instance (a new component object) of the new component type interacts with other objects in the graphically defined formula;

means for determining a graphical definition of the new component type, which includes a representation of the new component object having the determined number of inputs and the determined number of outputs; and

means for determining a logical definition of the new component type, which includes the logical definition of the selected components.

34. A system of defining a new component type of a graphically defined formula, comprising at least:

means for providing a graphically defined formula including one or more objects that graphically define the formula, the graphically defined formula having a logical definition and a graphical definition, wherein the graphically defined formula includes a plurality of variable name objects that represent a logical connection to another object and at least two of the variable objects have the same name;

means for selecting one or more of the objects to be included in the functionality of the new component type;

means for determining the number of graphical connections that provide an input to the selected objects, wherein inputs to named variable objects which have the same name are represented by a single graphical input;

means for determining the number of graphical connections that provide an output to the selected objects, wherein outputs to named variable objects which have the same name are represented by a single graphical output;

means for determining an interface definition to the new component type, which defines how an instance (a new component object) of the new component type interacts with other objects in the graphically defined formula;

means for determining a graphical definition of the new component type, which includes a representation of the new component object having the determined number of inputs and the determined number of outputs; and

means for determining a logical definition of the new component type, which includes the logical definition of the selected components.