Graphical method for programming a virtual instrument
DCFirst Claim
1. A method for programming a computer to execute a procedure, the computer including memory, a display, user input means, and a data processor, the method comprising the steps of:
- storing in the memory a plurality of executable functions and a plurality of data types;
assembling a first data flow diagram on the display in response to user input to specify a first process, the first data flow diagram including function-icons corresponding to respective ones of the plurality of executable functions, variable-icons corresponding to respective ones of the plurality of data types, and arcs interconnecting the function-icons and variable-icons;
assembling a second data flow diagram on the display in response to user input to specify a second process, the second data flow diagram including function-icons corresponding to respective ones of the plurality of executable functions, variable-icons corresponding to respective ones of the plurality of data types, a procedure-icon corresponding to the first data flow diagram, and arcs interconnecting the function-icons, variable-icons and the procedure-icon;
assembling a panel on the display in response to user input, the panel including input variable-icons and output variable-icons for assigning input values and displaying output values, respectively, to variable-icons in the second data flow diagram; and
generating an executable program in response to the first and second data flow diagrams and the panel including interconnected executable functions and data types as indicated by the first and second data flow diagrams, for receiving input values indicated in the panel and executing a procedure including the first and second processes to generate output values for display in the panel.
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Abstract
A method for programming a computer to execute a procedure, is based on a graphical interface which utilizes data flow diagrams to represent the procedure. The method stores a plurality of executable functions, scheduling functions, and data types. A data flow diagram is assembled in response to the user input utilizing icons which correspond to the respective executable functions, scheduling functions, and data types which are interconnected by arcs on the screen. A panel, representative of an instrument front panel having input and output formats is likewise assembled for the data flow diagram. An executable program is generated in response to the data flow diagram and the panel utilizing the executable functions, scheduling functions, and data types stored in the memory. Furthermore, the executable functions may include user defined functions that have been generated using the method for programming. In this manner, a hierarchy of procedures is implemented, each represented by a data flow diagram.
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Citations
33 Claims
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1. A method for programming a computer to execute a procedure, the computer including memory, a display, user input means, and a data processor, the method comprising the steps of:
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storing in the memory a plurality of executable functions and a plurality of data types; assembling a first data flow diagram on the display in response to user input to specify a first process, the first data flow diagram including function-icons corresponding to respective ones of the plurality of executable functions, variable-icons corresponding to respective ones of the plurality of data types, and arcs interconnecting the function-icons and variable-icons; assembling a second data flow diagram on the display in response to user input to specify a second process, the second data flow diagram including function-icons corresponding to respective ones of the plurality of executable functions, variable-icons corresponding to respective ones of the plurality of data types, a procedure-icon corresponding to the first data flow diagram, and arcs interconnecting the function-icons, variable-icons and the procedure-icon; assembling a panel on the display in response to user input, the panel including input variable-icons and output variable-icons for assigning input values and displaying output values, respectively, to variable-icons in the second data flow diagram; and generating an executable program in response to the first and second data flow diagrams and the panel including interconnected executable functions and data types as indicated by the first and second data flow diagrams, for receiving input values indicated in the panel and executing a procedure including the first and second processes to generate output values for display in the panel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method for programming a computer to execute a procedure, the computer including memory, a display, user input means, and a data processor, the method comprising the steps of:
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storing in the memory a plurality of executable functions and a plurality of data types; assembling a plurality of data flow diagrams on the display in response to user input, the data flow diagrams in the plurality specifying respective processes, the data flow diagrams in the plurality including a subset of a set of function-icons corresponding to respective ones of the plurality of executable functions, procedure-icons corresponding to user defined data flow diagrams, and variable-icons corresponding to respective ones of the plurality of data types, and including arcs interconnecting the subset of function-icons, procedure-icons and variable-icons; assembling a plurality of panels on the display in response to user input, the panels including input variable-icons and output variable-icons for assigning input values and displaying output values, respectively, to variable-icons in respective data flow diagrams in the plurality; and generating an executable program in response to a selected data flow diagram and a corresponding selected panel, including interconnected executable functions and data types as indicated by the selected data flow diagram, for receiving input values indicated in the selected panel and executing a procedure including the process specified in the selected data flow diagram to generate output values for display in the selected panel. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for programming a computer to execute a procedure, the computer including memory, a display, user input means, and a data processor, the method comprising the steps of:
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storing in the memory a plurality of executable functions and a plurality of data types; assembling a data flow diagram on the display in response to user input, the data flow diagram including function-icons corresponding to respective ones of the plurality of executable functions, variable-icons corresponding to respective ones of the plurality of data types, and arcs interconnecting the function-icons and variable-icons; assembling a panel on the display in response to user input, the panel including input variable-icons and output variable-icons for assigning input values and displaying output values, respectively, to variable-icons in the data flow diagram; generating an executable program in response to the data flow diagram and the panel including interconnected executable functions and data types as indicated by the data flow diagram, for receiving input values indicated in the panel and executing a procedure to generate output values for display in the panel; and defining a relational database in response to the panel for storing input values and output values indicated by the panel for respective executions of the procedure. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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21. A method for programming a computer to execute a procedure, the computer including memory, a display, user input means, and a data processor, the method comprising the steps of:
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storing in the memory a plurality of executable functions and a plurality of data types; storing in the memory a plurality of scheduling functions for controlling data flow among executable functions; assembling a plurality data flow diagrams on the display in response to user input, the data flow diagrams in the plurality specifying respective processes, the data flow diagrams including a subset of a set of function-icons corresponding to respective ones of the plurality of executable functions, procedure-icons corresponding to user defined data flow diagrams, scheduler-icons coupled with at least one function-icon and corresponding to respective ones of the plurality of scheduling functions, and variable-icons corresponding to respective ones of the plurality of data types, and including arcs interconnecting the subset of function-icons, procedure-icons, and variable-icons; assembling a plurality of panels on the display in response to user input, the panels including input variable-icons and output variable-icons for assigning input values and displaying output values, respectively, to variable-icons in respective data flow diagrams; generating an executable program in response to the data flow diagrams and the panels, including interconnected executable functions, scheduling functions and data types as indicated by a selected data flow diagram, for receiving input values indicated in a selected panel and executing a procedure including the process specified in the selected data flow diagram to generate output values for display in the selected panel; assigning execution states to the respective processes specified by the plurality of data flow diagrams, including at least; a first state in which the respective process is being executed, a second state in which the respective process is specified as a subset of a process in the first state, and a third state in which the respective process is not in the first or second states; and controlling execution of the executable programs in response to the execution states. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A method for programming a computer to execute a procedure, the computer including memory, a display, user input means, and a data processor, the method comprising the steps of:
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storing in the memory a plurality of executable functions and a plurality of data types; assembling a data flow diagram on the display in response to user input, the data flow diagram including function-icons corresponding to respective ones of the plurality of executable functions, variable-icons corresponding to respective ones of the plurality of data types, and arcs interconnecting the function-icons and variable-icons; assembling a panel on the display in response to user input, the panel including input variable-icons and output variable-icons for assigning input values and displaying output values, respectively, to variable-icons in the data flow diagram; and generating an executable program in response to the data flow diagram and the panel including interconnected executable functions and data types as indicated by the data flow diagram, for receiving input values indicated in the panel and executing a procedure to generate output values for display in the panel; wherein at least one input variable-icon for supplying input values in the panel includes an input control having a range of possible values, and the executable program includes a function for detecting values falling outside of the range. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33)
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Specification