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Process flow diagram generator

  • US 5,596,704 A
  • Filed: 11/11/1993
  • Issued: 01/21/1997
  • Est. Priority Date: 11/11/1993
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A method for creating a process flow diagram from a process model, wherein the process model includes a plurality of process streams and a plurality of nodes, wherein the process streams represent material transfers and the nodes represent processes, the method using a computer system, the computer system including a processor coupled to an output device, user input device and storage means, the method comprising the steps of:

  • (a) retrieving a plurality of tables of data representing the process model, the process model describing stream data and node data, said node data defining the plurality of nodes and said stream data defining the plurality of process streams between the plurality of nodes;

    (b) using the processor, said stream data and said note data to determine corresponding node coordinates for an adjacency matrix between each of the plurality of nodes, the step further comprising the steps of;

    (i) creating an adjacency matrix between each of the plurality of nodes;

    (ii) subsequent to creating an adjacency matrix, using the processor, said stream data and said node data to identify an origin node, starting node and an ending node;

    (iii) creating a placement matrix, with a row dimension and a column dimension, for output placement of the plurality of modes;

    (iv) subsequent to creating a placement matrix, placing said origin node in a top row of a first column of said placement matrix;

    (v) subsequent to placing said origin node, placing said starting node in a second column of said placement matrix, wherein placement order occurs in said second column from said top row downwards in said placement matrix;

    (vi) subsequent to placing said starting node, using said adjacency matrix to determine starting adjacent nodes, said starting adjacent nodes being nodes which are adjacent to said starting node;

    (vii) subsequent to using said adjacency matrix to determine starting adjacent nodes placing said starting adjacent nodes into a third column of said placement matrix, wherein placement order occurs in said third column from said top row downwards in said placement matrix; and

    (viii) subsequent to placing each of the plurality of nodes, placing said ending node in said top row of a last column of said placement matrix;

    (c) using the processor, said stream data and said node data to determine corresponding stream routing coordinates for the plurality of process streams between the plurality of nodes; and

    (d) displaying to the output device an icon for each node at said corresponding respective node row and column coordinates in response to the adjacency matrix and displaying to the output device a line interconnecting two or more icons for each process stream at said corresponding stream routing coordinates.

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