Graphically constructed control and scheduling system

• US 5,638,522 A
• Filed: 09/28/1995
• Issued: 06/10/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Jocatek, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Jocatek, Inc.
• Inventors: Dunsmuir, Martin R. M., Alabiso, Bruno
• Primary Examiner(s): Powell, Mark R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Huynh, Ba
• Application Number:
  US08/535,742
• Time in Patent Office: 621 Days
• Field of Search: 395/155, 395/157, 395/159, 395/161
• US Class Current: 715/763
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/0421 Multiprocessor system
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/0426 Programming the control sequence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2231 Master slave
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23258 GUI graphical user interface, icon, function bloc editor, labview
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23259 Synchronous language
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23289 State logic control, finite state, tasks, machine, fsm
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23322 Hand, manual or automatic
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25165 Token ring network
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25235 Associate a sequence function to each control element, event signature
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25413 Interrupt, event, state change triggered
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2666 Toy
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 345/904 Display with fail/safe testing feature

Abstract

A system and method for controlling a model train system and for defining a finite state machine for implementing control of the system. A computer (32) that is running a graphic user operating system is coupled through its serial port to a master control unit (MCU) (48). The MCU is coupled to slave control units (SCUs) (50, 52) and to a hand control unit (HCU) (152) through a token ring network (69) over which the computer transmits commands to energize selected track sections and to control the speed of locomotives (88, 90) running thereon. The MCU and SCUs are coupled to the sections of tracks and to electromagnetic switches (42, 44, 46) that determine the route of the trains over the sections of track. Furthermore, detector circuits (126) monitor a detector pulse to sense the presence of a locomotive or train on a particular section of track, producing an indicative output signal that is provided to the computer. The user graphically defines events, conditions, and control actions that are to be carried out on a visually displayed schedule manager grid. In addition, the user can graphically define a control panel that includes graphic controls, which can be manipulated by the user to establish the speed of a locomotive and to control the status of the electromagnetic switches. The control system can also be applied to control other systems that include electrically energized components.

Claims

1. A method for defining a finite state machine to control a system, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a graphic environment running on a computer, under which a control application is run to enable a user to define the finite state machine and to control the system in accordance with the finite state machine;

(b) while running the control application on the computer, developing a schedule manager grid that comprises the finite state machine using state vectors, by graphically associating together selected symbols from among a plurality of different symbols, the different symbols representing corresponding different possible events and possible control actions for the system, at least some of the different symbols representing events that can occur external to the computer as indicated by signals input to the computer from the system, each state vector of the state machine comprising one of a row and a column of the schedule manager grid, said schedule manager grid thereby graphically defining with the selected symbols a desired control action that should occur when an event associated with the desired control action occurs; and

(c) starting with a first state vector each time, evaluating the state vectors in succession and producing a control signal with the computer that effects the desired control action on the system when the vent associated with said desired control action occurs in a state vector.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of different symbols from which symbols are selected include symbols representing different conditions that can be satisfied on the system, the step of developing the schedule manager further comprising the step of graphically associating a symbol that represents a desired condition, selected from among the plurality of symbols, with the symbols representing the event and the symbol representing the desired control action.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the step of producing the control signal only occurs if the desired condition is met.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein at least some of the plurality of different symbols represent events that occur internally within the computer.

5. The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of including a variable with at least one of the selected symbols representing the event, the desired condition, and the desired control action in developing the schedule manager grid.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the schedule manager grid includes a plurality of lines of selected symbols, each line of selected symbols corresponding to a state of the system in which is graphically indicated one of a plurality of desired control actions that should occur when one of a plurality of events occurs, using the selected symbols that respectively represent said one of the plurality of desired control actions and said one of the plurality of events.

7. A method for defining a control system for a plurality of devices, wherein the control system reacts to events meeting predefined conditions occurring, to control the plurality of devices, comprising the steps of:

(a) on a computer display, graphically representing a plurality of different events that can occur with event symbols, each different event being represented with a corresponding different event symbol;

(b) on the computer display, graphically representing a plurality of control actions that can be implemented with a plurality of action symbols, each control action being represented by a corresponding different action symbol;

(c) for each device to be controlled, defining a control scheme by selecting one of the event symbols and at least one of the action symbols and associating said selected symbols together in a graphical representation of a finite state machine that comprises a grid of rows and columns; and

(d) in accordance with the events, and the control actions respectively represented by the corresponding event symbols, and action symbols in the computer display of the graphical representation, controlling the plurality of devices to effect specific control actions represented by the action symbols selected, when the events associated with the specific control actions occur.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising the steps of:

(a) graphically representing a plurality of different conditions with condition symbols, each different condition being represented with a corresponding different condition symbol;

(b) for at least one device to be controlled, selecting at least one of the plurality of condition symbols and associating it in the graphical representation, with said one of the event symbols and said at least one action symbol that were selected; and

(c) effecting the control action represented by said at least one action symbol selected, on said at least one device, when the event represented by said one of the event symbols of preceding step (b) occurs, under the condition represented by the selected said at least one of the condition symbols of the preceding step (b).

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the graphic representation comprises a grid having at least one row and at least one column, each event symbol and associated condition and control symbols selected comprising a state vector, each state vector comprising one of said at least one row and said at least one column of the grid.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the state vectors are checked to determine if any events have occurred matching all conditions associated with said events, based upon the order in which the state vectors are graphically arranged in the grid, to determine the order in which control actions represented by action symbols associated with said event symbols and condition symbols in the state vectors are effected.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of defining a plurality of grids, each grid comprising a schedule manager grid for a different device.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein one of the plurality of control actions is to activate an inactive schedule manager grid, and another control action is to deactivate an active schedule manager grid.

13. The method of claim 7, wherein one of the plurality of control actions is to set a timer to determine an interval of time, and one of the plurality of events is to respond to the timer, determining that the interval of time has expired.

14. The method of claim 7, further comprising the step of limiting at least some of the plurality of events to devices for which control must be exclusively owned, to avoid undesired control actions that can otherwise occur due to conflicting control actions being implemented on the same device.

15. A system for controlling a plurality of devices, wherein the system reacts to events meeting predefined conditions that have occurred to control the plurality of devices, comprising:

(a) a computer that includes a display, a central processing unit, an operator interface, a memory, and a port coupled to the central processing unit for input and output of electrical signals, said central processing unit responding to program instructions stored in said memory that cause the computer to function as;

(i) means for graphically representing on the display a plurality of events that can occur, using event symbols, each different type of event being represented with a corresponding different event symbol;

(ii) means for graphically representing on the display a plurality of conditions using condition symbols, each different condition being represented with a corresponding different condition symbol; and

(iii) means for graphically representing in a grid of rows and columns on the display a plurality of control actions that can be implemented using a plurality of action symbols, each control action being represented by a corresponding different action symbol;

(b) said central processing unit responding to an operator'"'"'s input through the operator interface, which for each device to be controlled, defines a control scheme by selecting one of the event symbols and at least one of the action symbols and graphically associating said selected symbols together on the display so as to represent a finite state machine; and

(c) a switching network that is coupled to the central processing unit, said central processing unit implementing control of the plurality of devices by producing output signals conveyed to the switching network to effect specific control actions in accordance with the events and the control actions respectively represented by the corresponding event symbols and action symbols on the display, when the events occur.