TOOLS FOR SYSTEM-LEVEL DESIGN ENVIRONMENTS

• US 20090012757A1
• Filed: 08/20/2007
• Published: 01/08/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The MathWorks, Inc.
• Original Assignee: The MathWorks, Inc.
• Inventors: Taitel, Howard, Orofino, Donald Paul II, Ciolfi, John, Mani, Ramamurthy
• Granted Patent: US 8,855,971 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 703/2
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/00 Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/34 Graphical or visual programming

Abstract

A remote auxiliary tool is created in a graphical model having at least one of a signal or a block. The remote auxiliary tool is non-intrusively attached to one of the signal or the block. The graphical model and the remote auxiliary tool are executed synchronously. At least one of an execution result or a remote auxiliary tool result is output to at least one of a display device, a storage device or a destination device.

Claims

1. A computer-based method for using a remote auxiliary tool in a graphical modeling environment, the method comprising:

creating the remote auxiliary tool in a graphical model having at least one of a signal or a block;

non-intrusively attaching the remote auxiliary tool to one of the signal or the block;

executing the graphical model and the remote auxiliary tool synchronously; and

outputting at least one of an execution result or a remote auxiliary tool result to at least one of a display device, a storage device or a destination device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein creating the remote auxiliary tool comprises:

creating the remote auxiliary tool from a block diagram model primitive.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein executing the graphical model includes invoking model methods and further comprising:

non-intrusively attaching the remote auxiliary tool with an event-listener application program interface (API), including;

providing at least one of a pre-execution callback, a post-execution callback, or an event associated with one or more model methods; and

synchronizing data transfer to and from the remote auxiliary tool using one of the pre-execution callback, post-execution callback, or event.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein executing the graphical model and the remote auxiliary tool comprises at least one of:

executing the graphical model by translating the graphical model into a generated code.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein executing the graphical model by translating the graphical model into a generated code comprises:

invoking model methods; and

instrumenting the generated code before and after invoking of each model method.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the remote auxiliary tool includes at least one of an observer tool, a generator tool, or a bypass tool.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein when the remote auxiliary tool includes a generator tool, and executing the remote auxiliary tool comprises:

generating at least one of data or a signal with the generator tool.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

generating at least one of a sine wave, a square wave, a pulse, or a user-created function with the generator tool.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the remote auxiliary tool includes an observer tool, and executing the remote auxiliary tool comprises:

receiving data from a signal or a block to which the remote auxiliary tool is attached and outputting the data.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein outputting the data comprises at least one of:

displaying the data on at least one of;

a display scope,

a strip chart recorder,

an oscilloscope,

a spectrum analyzer,

a multi-port network analyzer,

a logic signal display,

a waterfall plot,

a communications constellation plot, or

a video display device;

outputting the data on an audio output device;

or

transmitting the data to another system.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

debugging the graphical model with the observer tool.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the remote auxiliary tool includes a bypass tool, and executing the remote auxiliary tool comprises:

reading data from the signal or block to which the remote auxiliary tool is attached; and

in response to the read data, at least one of;

changing the read data and returning the changed data to the graphical model;

or

stopping execution of the graphical model based on the read data.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

changing and returning the read data with at least one of graphical model or textual language primitives.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

debugging the graphical model with the bypass tool.

15. A device for modeling, comprising:

a remote auxiliary tool for non-intrusive use as at least one of an observer tool, a bypass tool, or a generator tool in a block diagram; and

a graphical user interface (GUI) to manage;

creating the remote auxiliary tool,

attaching the remote auxiliary tool to at least one of a signal or a block in the block diagram,

detaching the remote auxiliary tool from the signal or block, and

outputting from the remote auxiliary tool to at least one of a destination device or a display.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein GUI includes at least one of:

a signal selector to display a model hierarchy and to allow selection of model objects that are connected with the remote auxiliary tool;

an object selector to associate the remote auxiliary tool with a block or a signal in a model;

or

a signal and scope manager to manage connections between an observer tool or a generator tool and at least one of the signal or block.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the graphical user interface comprises:

a context sensitive menu to at least one of create, connect, or detach at least one of the generator or observer tool to the signal or block.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the GUI includes:

a multiple document interface layout including multiple display devices, each display device to manage and support connections between the signal or block and a corresponding remote auxiliary tool simultaneously.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein the remote auxiliary tool comprises:

elements, and

a remote connection manager to facilitate a user to track and select the elements via the GUI.

20. A computer readable storage medium comprising instructions, which when executed by a computer system, causes the computer system to perform operations for modeling a system, the medium comprising:

instructions for creating a remote auxiliary tool in a system model having at least one of a signal or a block;

instructions for non-intrusively attaching the remote auxiliary tool to one of the signal or the block;

instructions for executing the system model and the remote auxiliary tool synchronously; and

instructions for outputting at least one of an execution result or a remote auxiliary tool result to at least one of a display, a storage device, or a destination device.

21. The medium of claim 20, further including at least one of:

instructions for generating at least one of data or a signal for the system model;

instructions for receiving at least one of data or a signal from the system model and providing the received data or signal to a user;

or

instructing for reading at least one of data or a signal from the system model and modifying the system model based on the read data or signal.