TRACEABILITY IN A MODELING ENVIRONMENT

• US 20120096430A1
• Filed: 12/22/2011
• Published: 04/19/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The MathWorks, Inc.
• Original Assignee: The MathWorks, Inc.
• Inventors: LIN, Xiaocang, Pillarisetti, Aravind, Aldrich, William J., Tuschner, Kai
• Granted Patent: US 8,627,276 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 717/107
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3664 Environments for testing or debugging software
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3688 for test execution, e.g. scheduling of test suites
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3696 Methods or tools to render software testable
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/137 Hierarchical processing, e.g. outlines
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/151 Transformation
• 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 8/355 Round-trip engineering
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/73 Program documentation

Abstract

Exemplary embodiments employ a mapping among entities that are related to each other. The entities may include a graphical model, generated code, a generated report, a requirements document and/or an intermediate representation. The mapping may facilitate graphical identifications between parts of one entity that maps to part of another entity. The graphical identification may occur based on a selection of a part in one of the entities.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

identifying a plurality of entities having relationships therebetween, the plurality of entities comprising at least one of a graphical model, generated code, a generated report, a requirements document or an intermediate representation;

accessing a first entity from the plurality of entities;

accessing a second entity from the plurality of entities; and

mapping the first entity to the second entity, where mapping the first entity to the second entity includes bi-directionally mapping a first part of the first entity to a second part of the second entity.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first part includes a portion of the graphical model and the second part includes a segment of the generated code.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the method further comprises:

creating a deployable representation that facilitates generated code inspection in a first environment that is independent of a second environment used to develop the graphical model.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the deployable representation comprises a web deployable format.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the method further comprises:

searching the graphical model for the portion; and

graphically relating the segment with the portion.

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

replacing the portion with another portion; and

updating the segment to reflect replacing the portion with the other portion.

7. The method of claim 2, wherein the method further comprises:

updating an inferred property of the portion; and

implementing the inferred property as a specified property related to the portion.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the method further comprises:

indicating that the specified property cannot be modified; and

preventing the specified property from being modified.

9. The method of claim 2, wherein the method further comprises:

searching the generated code for the segment; and

graphically relating the segment with the portion.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the method further comprises:

replacing the segment with another segment; and

updating the portion to reflect replacing the segment with another segment.

11. The method of claim 2, wherein the portion represents an interface for an element and the segment represents at least part of a function related to the interface.

12. The method of claim 2, wherein the portion of the graphical model represents a user specified element.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein mapping the first entity to the second entity includes generating tracing information that associates the first part with the second part.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the method further comprises:

generating an independent representation comprising the tracing information.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the method further comprises:

identifying a programmable application program interface (API) that programmatically identifies the first part or the second part based on the independent representation.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the second entity includes the generated code and the programmable API allows a user to use an external browser to browse the generated code.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the second entity includes the generated code, and

wherein the method further includes using an external code debugger to debug the generated code.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the first entity includes the graphical model, and the method further comprises:

synchronizing a graphical model debugger with the external code debugger prior to debugging the graphical model or the generated code.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the method further comprises:

debugging the graphical model and the generated code simultaneously.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the first part is related to a plurality of parts related to the second entity or the second part is related to a plurality of parts related to the first entity.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein identifying the plurality of entities further comprises:

identifying members of the plurality of parts related to the first entity or members of the plurality of parts related to the second entity using unique graphical identifiers.

22. The method of claim 1, wherein the second part further includes a section of a generated report associated with the graphical model.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the method further comprises:

graphically identifying the section based on a selection of the first part.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the method further comprises:

graphically identifying the first part based on a selection of the section.

25. The method of claim 22, wherein the generated report includes one of:

a coverage report,

a model checking report,

a code generation report or

a profiling report.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the generated report comprises at least one of a partial listing of the generated code, information related to a process used to generate the generated code, or information related to an execution of the generated code or the graphical model.

27. The method of claim 1, wherein the generated report includes a model coverage report and the method further comprises:

converting, based on mapping the first entity to the second entity, the model coverage report to a code coverage report.

28. The method of claim 1, wherein the generated report includes a code coverage report and the method further comprises:

converting, based on mapping the first entity to the second entity, the code coverage report to a model coverage report.

29. The method of claim 1, wherein the first entity includes the graphical model, and the method further comprises:

associating an unemphasized aspect of the graphical model with the second part.

30. The method of claim 1, wherein the first entity includes the graphical model, and the method further comprises:

specifying a scope for aspects in the graphical model, the aspects related to graphically identifying the second part as at least one segment that is within the specified scope.

31. The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises:

selecting the first part to graphically identify the second part with a graphical identifier.

32-47. -47. (canceled)

48. A computer-readable medium for use on a computer device, the computer-readable medium holding instructions executable using the computing device, the instructions for:

identifying a plurality of entities having relationships therebetween, the plurality of entities comprising at least one of a graphical model, generated code, a generated report, a requirements document or an intermediate representation;

accessing a first entity from the plurality of entities;

accessing a second entity from the plurality of entities; and

mapping the first entity to the second entity, where mapping the first entity to the second entity includes bi-directionally mapping a first part of the first entity and a second part of the second entity.

49. The computer-readable medium of claim 48, wherein the first part includes a portion of the graphical model and the second part includes a segment of the generated code.

50. The computer-readable medium of claim 49, wherein the computer-readable medium comprises instructions for:

creating a deployable representation that facilitates generated code inspection in a first environment that is independent of a second environment used to develop the graphical model.

51. The computer-readable medium of claim 50, wherein the deployable representation comprises a web deployable format.

52. The computer-readable medium of claim 49, wherein the computer-readable medium comprises instructions for:

searching the graphical model for the portion; and

graphically relating the segment with the portion.

53. The computer-readable medium of claim 49, wherein the computer-readable medium comprises instructions for:

searching the generated code for the segment; and

graphically relating the segment with the portion.

54. The computer-readable medium of claim 53, wherein the computer-readable medium comprises instructions for:

replacing the segment with another segment; and

updating the portion to reflect the replacing.

55. The computer-readable medium of claim 49, wherein the portion further represents an interface of an element and the segment represents at least part of a function related to the interface.

56. The computer-readable medium of claim 49, wherein the portion of the graphical model represents a user specified element developed in textual code.

57. The computer-readable medium of claim 48, wherein the instructions for mapping the first entity to the second entity include:

instructions for generating tracing information that associates the first part with the second part.

58. The computer-readable medium of claim 57, wherein the computer-readable medium comprises instructions for:

generating an independent representation comprising the tracing information.

59. The computer-readable medium of claim 58, wherein the computer-readable medium comprises instructions for:

identifying a programmable application program interface (API) that programmatically identifies the first part or the second part based on the independent representation.

60. The computer-readable medium of claim 48, wherein the first part is related to a plurality of parts related to the second entity or the second part is related to a plurality of parts related to the first entity.

61. The computer-readable medium of claim 60, wherein the instructions for identifying the plurality of entities further comprises:

instructions for identifying members of the plurality of parts related to the first entity or members of the plurality of parts related to the second entity using unique graphical identifiers.

62. The computer-readable medium of claim 48, wherein the second part includes a section of the generated report and the computer-readable medium comprises instructions for:

graphically identifying the section based on a selection of the first part.

63. The computer-readable medium of claim 48, wherein the second part includes a section of the generated report and the computer-readable medium comprises instructions for:

graphically identifying the first part based on selection of the section.

64. The computer-readable medium of claim 48, wherein the first entity includes the graphical model, and the computer-readable medium further comprises instructions for:

associating an unemphasized aspect of the graphical model with the second part.

65. The computer-readable medium of claim 48, wherein the first entity includes the graphical model, and the computer-readable medium further comprises instructions for:

specifying a scope for aspects in the graphical model, the aspects related to graphically identifying the second part as at least one segment that is within the specified scope.

66-86. -86. (canceled)

87. A device comprising:

memory to store instructions; and

a processor to implement the instructions to;

identify a plurality of entities having relationships therebetween, the plurality of entities comprising at least one of a graphical model, generated code, a generated report, a requirements document or an intermediate representation,

access a first entity from the plurality of entities,

access a second entity from the plurality of entities, and

map the first entity to the second entity, where the processor, when mapping the first entity to the second entity, is further to bi-directionally map a first part, of the first entity, and a second part, of the second entity.

88. The device of claim 87, wherein the first part includes a portion of the graphical model and the second part includes a segment of the generated code.

89. The device of claim 88, wherein the processor is further to:

create a deployable representation that facilitates generated code inspection in a first environment that is independent of a second environment used to develop the graphical model.

90. The device of claim 89, wherein the deployable representation comprises a web deployable format.

91. The device of claim 88, wherein the processor is further to:

search the graphical model for the portion; and

graphically relate the segment with the portion.

92. The device of claim 88, wherein the processor is further to:

search the generated code for the segment; and

graphically relate the segment with the portion.

93. The device of claim 92, wherein the processor is further to:

replace the segment with another segment; and

update the portion to reflect replacing the segment with the other segment.

94. The device of claim 88, wherein the portion further represents an interface of an element and the segment represents at least part of a function related to the interface.

95. The device of claim 88, wherein the portion of the graphical model represents a user specified element developed in textual code.

96. The device of claim 87, wherein the processor, when forming the mapping, is further to:

generate tracing information that associates the first part with the second part.

97. The device of claim 96, wherein the processor is further to:

generate an independent representation that includes the tracing information.

98. The device of claim 97, wherein the processor is further to:

identify a programmable application program interface (API) that programmatically identifies the first part or the second part based on the independent representation.

99. The device of claim 87, wherein the first part is related to a plurality of parts related to the second entity or the second part is related to a plurality of parts related to the first entity.

100. The device of claim 99, wherein the processor, when identifying the plurality of entities, is further to:

identify, using unique graphical identifiers, members of the plurality of parts related to the first entity or members of the plurality of parts related to the second entity.

101. The device of claim 87, wherein the second part includes a section of the generated report, and

wherein the processor is further to:

graphically identifying the section based on a selection of the first part.

102. The device of claim 87, wherein the second part includes a section of the generated report, and

wherein the processor is further to:

graphically identify the first part based on selection of the section.

103. The device of claim 87, wherein the first entity includes the graphical model, and

where the processor is further to:

associate an unemphasized aspect of the graphical model with the second part.

104. The device of claim 87, wherein the first entity includes the graphical model, and

where the processor is further to:

specify a scope for aspects in the graphical model, the aspects related to graphically identifying the second part as at least one segment that is within the scope.