Graphical state machine based programming for a graphical user interface

• US 20070266329A1
• Filed: 07/20/2007
• Published: 11/15/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mathwork Incorporated
• Original Assignee: The MathWorks, Inc.
• Inventors: Gaudette, Thomas
• Granted Patent: US 8,856,667 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/763
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/34 Graphical or visual programming

Abstract

In one embodiment, a graphical arrangement of one or more interface elements and a definition of one or more events associated with the interface elements is used to build a state diagram model of a graphical user interface (GUI). The state diagram model of the GUI includes a plurality of states, and one or more transitions linking at least some of the states. The state diagram model may be displayed to a user, and in some cases, simulated to test functionality of the GUI. In response to user input, the state diagram model may be modified to change functionality of the GUI and/or to add functionality to the GUI. The GUI may then be generated from the state diagram model.

Claims

1. A method for creating a graphical user interface (GUI), comprising:

arranging one or more interface elements in a graphical layout editor to define a visual appearance of the GUI;

defining one or more events associated with the interface elements;

building, from the one or more interface elements and the one or more events, a state diagram model of the GUI, the state diagram model including a plurality of states and one or more transitions linking at least some of the states;

displaying the state diagram model to a user;

simulating the state diagram model to test functionality of the GUI;

in response to the simulating, modifying the one or more interface elements or the one or more events associated with the interface elements; and

generating the GUI.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the plurality of states includes one or more states that each correspond to an interface element, and one or more states that each correspond to an event.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of defining further comprises;

programming the one or more events with a text-based programming language.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of simulating further comprises:

displaying whether a given state of the plurality of states in the state diagram model is active or inactive in response to particular user interaction with the GUI.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

building a new state diagram model that reflects the modified one or more interface elements or one or more events.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the step of generating further comprises:

translating the new state diagram model into text-based code that when executed implements the GUI.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the text-based code is source code.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of generating further comprises:

building a block that implements the state diagram model;

coupling the block to one or more other blocks in a block diagram model; and

generating text-based code from the block diagram model that when executed implements the GUI.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of building further comprises:

providing one or more conditions that when met trigger at least one of the one or more transitions.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of building further comprises:

providing one or more junctions that represent decision points, each junction responsive to one or more conditions.

11. A method for creating a graphical user interface (GUI), comprising:

arranging one or more interface elements in a graphical layout editor to define a visual appearance of the GUI;

building, from the one or more interface elements, a framework of a state diagram model of the GUI, the framework of the state diagram model including one or more states corresponding to each of the interface elements;

displaying the framework of the state diagram model to a user;

adding at least one additional state or at least one transition between states to the framework of the state diagram model, to create a complete state diagram model of the GUI;

generating the GUI from the complete state diagram model.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

defining one or more events associated with the interface elements with a text-based programming language,

wherein the state diagram model further includes one or more states corresponding to each of the one or more events.

13. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

simulating the complete state diagram model to test the functionality of the GUI; and

in response to the simulating, modifying the state diagram model.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein the step of generating further comprises:

translating the complete state diagram model into text-based code that when executed implements the GUI.

15. A computer-readable storage media comprising instructions for creating a graphical user interface (GUI), the instructions executable by a computer to:

receive a graphical arrangement of one or more interface elements;

receive a definition of one or more events associated with the interface elements;

build, from the one or more interface elements and the one or more events, a state diagram model of the GUI, the state diagram model including a plurality of states and one or more transitions linking at least some of the states;

display the state diagram model to a user;

modify the state diagram model to change a functionality of the GUI or to expand the functionality to the GUI; and

generate the GUI from the modified state diagram model.

16. The computer-readable storage media of claim 15 wherein the plurality of states includes one or more states that each correspond to one of the one or more interface elements, and one or more states that each correspond to one of the one or more events.

17. The computer-readable storage media of claim 15 wherein the definition of the one or more events is embodied in a text-based programming language.

18. The computer-readable storage media of claim 15 wherein the instructions are further executable to:

simulate the state diagram model to test functionality of the GUI.

19. The computer-readable storage media of claim 16 wherein the instructions are further executable to:

display whether a given state of the plurality of states in the state diagram model is active or inactive in response to particular user interaction with the GUI.

20. The computer-readable storage media of claim 15 wherein the instructions executable to generate the GUI include instructions executable to:

translate the modified state diagram model into text-based code that when executed implements the GUI.

21. The computer-readable storage media of claim 15 wherein the instructions executable to generate the GUI include instructions executable to:

build a block that implements the modified state diagram model;

couple the block to one or more other blocks in a block diagram model; and

generate text-based code from the block diagram model that when executed implements the GUI.

22. An apparatus for creating a graphical user interface (GUI), the apparatus comprising:

means for receiving a graphical arrangement of one or more interface elements;

means for receiving a definition of one or more events associated with the interface elements;

means for building, from the one or more interface elements and the one or more events, a state diagram model of the GUI, the state diagram model including a plurality of states and one or more transitions linking at least some of the states;

means for simulating the state diagram model to test the functionality of the GUI; and

means for generating the GUI.

23. An apparatus for creating a graphical user interface (GUI), the apparatus comprising:

a graphical user interface tool including,

a layout editor configured to arrange one or more interface elements in response to user input, to define a visual appearance of the GUI, and

a programming environment configured to receive a text-based definition of one or more events associated with the interface elements;

a state diagram modeling tool configured to build, from the one or more interface elements and the one or more events, a state diagram model of the GUI, the state diagram model including a plurality of states and one or more transitions linking at least some of the states; and

a graphical model simulation tool configured to simulate the state diagram model to test the functionality of the GUI and to display the simulation to a user.

24. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein the graphical model simulation tool is further configured to:

generate text-based code from the state diagram model that when executed implements the GUI.

25. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein the state diagram modeling tool is further configured to, in response to user input, add at least one additional state, or at least one additional transition linking at least some of the state, to the state diagram model.