Modeling of a multiprocessor system

• US 20060282252A1
• Filed: 05/31/2005
• Published: 12/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The MathWorks, Inc.
• Original Assignee: The MathWorks, Inc.
• Inventors: Ciolfi, John
• Granted Patent: US 8,447,580 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 703/22
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/10 Requirements analysis; Specification techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/34 Graphical or visual programming
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/35 model driven
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/5066 Algorithms for mapping a plurality of inter-dependent sub-tasks onto a plurality of physical CPUs mappping at compile time, see G06F8/451

Abstract

Methods and systems for modeling a multiprocessor system in a graphical modeling environment are disclosed. The multiprocessor system may include multiple processing units that carry out one or more processes, such as programs and sets of instructions. Each of the processing units may be represented as a node at the top level of the model for the multiprocessor system. The nodes representing the processing units of the multiprocessor system may be interconnected to each other via a communication channel. The nodes may include at least one read element for reading data from the communication channel into the nodes. The node may also include at least one write element for writing data from the nodes into the communication channel. Each of the processing unit can communicate with other processing unit via the communication channel using the read and write elements.

Claims

1. In an electronic device that provides a graphical modeling environment, a method for creating a model for a multi-process system, the method comprising:

providing a functional model for the multi-process system in the graphical modeling environment, the fuinctional model including at least one functional unit and

creating from the functional model a deployment model that includes nodes representing the multiple processes of the multi-process system, wherein at least two of the nodes communicate with each other.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the graphical modeling environment is a time-based block diagram.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of creating comprises the step of automatically partitioning the functional model into sub-models that map to the nodes of the deployment model.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of creating comprises the step of partitioning the functional model into sub-models that map to the nodes of the deployment model through instructions from a user.

5. The method of claim 1 where independently developed functional models are combined into the single deployment model.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

providing an inter-process channel (IPC) model for representing dynamics of communications between the multiple processes, wherein the IPC model is used for simulation of the model in the graphical modeling environment.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the IPC channel model is associated with a line in the graphical model and the IPC channel model is visible in a window separate from the window containing the model.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of:

generating code for the deployment model wherein the generated code is used in a physical processor environment.

9. The method of claim 6 further comprising the step of:

generating code for the deployment model wherein the generated code is used for simulation acceleration of each process and the IPC model.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the deployment model is executed on multiple processors for simulation.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the deployment model represents a distributed system.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein the deployment model represent a parallel computing system.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the nodes in the deployment model comprises sub-nodes representing portions of algorithms that are to be mapped to the nodes.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising the step of:

simulating interconnections between the sub-nodes.

15. The method of claim 13 further comprising the step of:

generating code for interconnections between the sub-nodes for execution of the graphical model as a collection of independent tasks represented by the sub-nodes.

16. The method of claim 13 further comprising the step of:

partially generating code and partially simulating interconnections between the sub-nodes.

17. The method of claim 1 wherein each of the nodes in the deployment model optionally comprises at least one IPC block.

18. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

enabling a user to edit the deployment model; and

automatically making the equivalent edits in the functional model.

19. In an electronic device that provides a graphical modeling environment, a method for generating a graphical model for a multi-process system in the graphical model environment, the method comprising:

providing a plurality of nodes for representing multiple processes of the multi-process system; and

creating a deployment model by interconnecting the plurality of nodes using a communication channel to enable one of the multiple processes to communicate with another process.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the graphical modeling environment is a time-based block diagram.

21. The method of claim 19, further comprising the step of:

providing an inter-process channel (IPC) model for representing dynamics of communications between the multiple processes, wherein the IPC model is used for simulation of the graphical model in the graphical modeling environment.

22. The method of claim 19 further comprising the step of:

generating code for the deployment model wherein the generated code is used in a physical processor environment.

23. The method of claim 21 further comprising the step of:

generating code for the deployment model wherein the generated code is used for simulation acceleration of each process and the IPC model.

24. The method of claim 19 wherein the deployment model is executed on multiple processors for simulation.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein the deployment model represents a distributed system.

26. The method of claim 24 wherein the deployment model represent a parallel computing system.

27. The method of claim 19, wherein at least one of the nodes in the deployment model comprises sub-nodes representing portions of algorithms that are to be mapped to the nodes.

28. The method of claim 27 further comprising the step of:

simulating interconnections between the sub-nodes.

29. The method of claim 27 further comprising the step of:

generating code for interconnections between the sub-nodes for execution of the graphical model as a collection of independent tasks represented by the sub-nodes.

30. The method of claim 27 further comprising the step of:

partially generating code and partially simulating interconnections between the sub-nodes.

31. The method of claim 19 wherein each of the nodes in the deployment model optionally comprises at least one IPC block.

32. In an electronic device that provides a graphical modeling environment, a method for editing a model for a multiprocessor system in the graphical modeling environment, the method comprising:

displaying on a display of the electronic device graphical elements for representing processing units of the multiprocessor system; and

displaying a communication channel for interconnecting the plurality of the processing units, wherein the processing units of the multiprocessor system communicate with other processing units via the communication channel.

33. A system for creating a graphical model for a multi-process system in a graphical modeling environment, the system comprising:

a user interface for enabling a user to creating a functional model for the multi-process system in the graphical modeling environment, the functional model including at least one functional unit; and

an integrator for generating from the functional model a deployment model that includes nodes representing the multiple processes of the multi-process system, wherein at least two of the nodes communicate with each other.

34. The system of claim 33, wherein the graphical modeling environment is a time-based block diagram.

35. The system of claim 33, wherein the integrator combines independently developed functional models into the single deployment model.

36. The system of claim 33, further comprising:

an inter-process channel (IPC) model for representing dynamics of communications between the multiple processes, wherein the IPC model is used for simulation of the graphical model in the graphical modeling environment.

37. The system of claim 33 further comprising:

a code generator for generating code for the deployment model wherein the generated code is used in a physical processor environment.

38. The system of claim 33, wherein at least one of the nodes in the deployment model comprises sub-nodes representing portions of algorithms that are to be mapped to the nodes.

39. A system for generating a graphical model for a multi-process system in a graphical modeling environment, the system comprising:

a plurality of nodes for representing multiple processes of the multi-process system; and

a communication channel for interconnecting the plurality of nodes to enable one of the multiple processes to communicate with another process.

40. The system of claim 39, wherein the graphical modeling environment is a time-based block diagram.

41. The system of claim 39, further comprising:

an inter-process channel (IPC) model for representing dynamics of communications between the multiple processes, wherein the IPC model is used for simulation of the graphical model in the graphical modeling environment.

42. The system of claim 39 further comprising:

a code generator for generating code for the graphical model wherein the generated code is used in a physical processor environment.

43. The system of claim 39 further comprising:

a code generator for generating code for the graphical model wherein the generated code is used for simulation acceleration of each process and the IPC model.

44. The system of claim 39, wherein at least one of the nodes in the graphical model comprises sub-nodes representing portions of algorithms that are to be mapped to the nodes.

45. A medium holding instructions executed in an electronic device to create a graphical model for a multi-process system in a graphical modeling environment, comprising the steps of:

providing a functional model for the multi-process system in the graphical modeling environment, the functional model including at least one functional unit and

creating from the functional model a deployment model that includes nodes representing the multiple processes of the multi-process system, wherein at least two of the nodes communicate with each other.

46. The medium of claim 45, wherein the graphical modeling environment is a time-based block diagram.

47. The medium of claim 45 where independently developed functional models are combined into the single deployment model.

48. The medium of claim 45, further comprising the step of:

providing an inter-process channel (IPC) model for representing dynamics of communications between the multiple processes, wherein the IPC model is used for simulation of the graphical model in the graphical modeling environment.

49. The medium of claim 45 further comprising the step of:

generating code for the deployment model.

50. The medium of claim 45, wherein at least one of the nodes in the deployment model comprises sub-nodes representing portions of algorithms that are to be mapped to the nodes.

51. A medium holding instructions executed in an electronic device to generate a graphical model for a multi-process system in a graphical modeling environment, the medium comprising:

providing a plurality of nodes for representing multiple processes of the multi-process system; and

creating a deployment model by interconnecting the plurality of nodes using a communication channel to enable one of the multiple processes to communicate with another process.

52. The system of claim 51, wherein the graphical modeling environment is a time-based block diagram.

53. The medium of claim 51, further comprising the step of:

providing an inter-process channel (IPC) model for representing dynamics of communications between the multiple processes, wherein the IPC model is used for simulation of the graphical model in the graphical modeling environment.

54. The medium of claim 51 further comprising the step of:

generating code for the deployment model.

55. The medium of claim 51, wherein at least one of the nodes in the deployment model comprises sub-nodes representing portions of algorithms that are to be mapped to the nodes.

56. A medium holding instructions executed in an electronic device to create a graphical model for a multiprocessor system in a graphical modeling environment, comprising the steps of:

displaying on a display of the electronic device graphical elements for representing processing units of the multiprocessor system; and

displaying a communication channel for interconnecting the plurality of the processing units, wherein the processing units of the multiprocessor system communicate with other processing units via the communication channel.