Method and apparatus for providing autoprobe features in a graphical data flow diagram

• US 5,652,909 A
• Filed: 06/07/1995
• Issued: 07/29/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/1986
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: National Instruments Corporation (Emerson Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: National Instruments Corporation (Emerson Electric Company)
• Inventors: Kodosky, Jeffrey L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Geckil, Mehmet B.
• Application Number:
  US08/475,338
• Time in Patent Office: 783 Days
• Field of Search: 395/800, 395/500, 395/140, 395/162
• US Class Current: 717/125
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/31912 Tester/user interface
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3632 of specific synchronisation aspects
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3636 by tracing the execution of the program
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3664 Environments for testing or debugging software
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2111/12 Symbolic schematics
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 30/20 Design optimisation, verification or simulation optimisation, verification or simulation of circuit designs G06F30/30
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/34 Graphical or visual programming
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4494 data driven
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 1/20 Processor architectures; Processor configuration, e.g. pipelining
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 19/00 Manipulating 3D models or images for computer graphics
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2200/24 involving graphical user interfaces [GUIs]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 715/967 Visual or iconic programming

Abstract

An autoprobe feature which illustrates the data output of each node as data propagates through a data flow program. As each node in the diagram executes or fires, a routine is invoked which displays the resultant data on the block diagram. Thus, a user can select the autoprobe feature and visually see the data flow out each node as the block diagram executes. Thus, the user can immediately determine if one node is providing incorrect output.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for improved debugging of a data flow diagram in a computer system including a video screen and means for creating a graphical data flow diagram, wherein the data flow diagram comprises a plurality of interconnected function icon, wherein the function icons perform operations in the graphical data flow diagram, the method comprising:

receiving a request to enable an autoprobe feature to display data associated with or produced by said icons in said data flow diagram;

beginning execution of said data flow diagram after said receiving said request to enable said autoprobe feature, wherein said request is a request to display data associated with all of said plurality of interconnected function icons;

executing said plurality of function icons after beginning execution, wherein each of said plurality of function icons generate data as said function icons are executed; and

automatically displaying on the screen data output from each of said plurality of function icons proximate to each of said plurality of function icons during said executing said plurality of function icons, wherein said displaying on the screen said data output from each of said plurality of function icons is performed in response to said autoprobe feature being enabled;

wherein said displaying on the screen said data output from each of said plurality of function icons proximate to said function icons is automatically performed for each of said plurality of function icons as said function icons are executed.

2. A computer-implemented method for improved debugging of a data flow diagram in a computer system including a video screen and means for creating a graphical data flow diagram, wherein the data flow diagram comprises a plurality of interconnected function icons and a first input terminal icon coupled to one or more of the plurality of interconnected function icons, wherein the function icons perform operations in the graphical data flow diagram, the method comprising:

receiving a request Go enable an autoprobe feature to display data associated with or produced by said icons in said data flow diagram;

beginning execution of said data flow diagram after said receiving said request to enable said autoprobe feature, wherein said request is a request to display data associated with all of said plurality of interconnected function icons;

automatically displaying on the screen input data to the first input terminal icon proximate to the first input terminal icon, wherein said displaying on the screen said input data to the first input terminal icon is automatically performed in response to said autoprobe feature being enabled;

executing said plurality of function icons after beginning execution, wherein each of said plurality of function icons generate data as said function icons are executed; and

automatically displaying on the screen data output from each of said plurality of function icons proximate to each of said plurality of function icons during said executing said plurality of function icons, wherein said displaying on the screen said data output from each of said plurality of function icons is performed in response to said autoprobe feature being enabled.

3. A computer-implemented method for improved debugging of a data flow diagram in a computer system including a video screen and means for creating a graphical data flow diagram, wherein the data flow diagram comprises a plurality of function icons and a plurality of wires connecting said plurality of function icons, wherein each of said plurality of wires is connected to an output of one of said plurality of interconnected function icons or is connected to an input of one of said plurality of interconnected function icons, and wherein the function icons perform operations in the graphical data flow diagram, the method comprising:

receiving a request to enable an autoprobe feature to display data associated with or produced by said icons in said data flow diagram;

beginning execution of said data flow diagram after said receiving said request to enable said autoprobe feature, wherein said request is a request to display data associated with all of said plurality of interconnected function icon;

executing said plurality of function icons are beginning execution, wherein each of said plurality of function icons generate data as said function icons are executed;

automatically displaying on the screen data output from each of said plurality of function icons proximate to each of said plurality of function icons during said executing said plurality of function icons, wherein said displaying on the screen said data output from each of said plurality of function icons is performed in response to said autoprobe feature being enabled; and

automatically displaying on the screen one or more objects propagating along said plurality of wires during said displaying on the screen data output from each of said plurality of function icons;

wherein said displaying on the screen said one or more objects propagating along said plurality of wires is performed for a respective wire as data is provided to one or more of said plurality of function icons connected by said respective wire.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said displaying on the screen said one or more objects propagating along said plurality of wires comprises displaying on the screen one or more bubbles propagating along said plurality of wires.

5. A compute-implemented method for improved debugging of a data flow diagram in a computer system including a video screen and means for creating a graphical data flow diagram, wherein the data flow diagram comprises a first input terminal icon and a plurality of interconnected function icons, wherein the plurality of interconnected function icons include a first function icon including at least one input and at least one ouput, a first wire connected to the at least one input of the first function icon to provide data to the first function icon, a second function icon including at least one input and a least one output, a second wire connected to the at least one output of the first function icon and also connected to the at least one input of the second function icon to provide data from the first function icon to the second function icon, and a first input terminal icon connected to the first wire to provide data to the first function icon, the method comprising:

receiving a request to enable an autoprobe feature to display data associated with or produced by icons in said data flow diagram;

beginning execution of said data flow diagram after said receiving said request to enable said autoprobe feature;

automatically displaying on the screen input data to the first input terminal icon proximate to the first input terminal icon, wherein said displaying on the screen said input data to the first input terminal icon is automatically performed in response to said autoprobe feature being enabled;

the first function icon executing after said beginning execution, wherein the first function icon generates first data;

automatically displaying on the screen the first data output from the first function icon proximate to the first function icon after the first function icon executes, wherein said displaying on the screen said first data output from the first function icon is automatically performed in response to said autoprobe feature being enabled;

the second function icon executing after the first function icon executes, wherein the second function icon generates second data; and

automatically displaying on the screen the second data output from the second function icon proximate to the second function icon after the second function icon executes, wherein said displaying on the screen the second data output from the second function icon is automatically performed in response to said autoprobe feature being enabled.

6. A computer-implemented method for improved debugging of a data flow diagram in a computer system including a video screen and means for creating a graphical data flow diagram, wherein the data flow diagram comprises a plurality of interconnected function icons, wherein the plurality of interconnected function icons include a first function icon including a least one input and at least one output, a first wire connected to the at least one input of the first function icon to provide data to the first function icon, a second function icon including at least one input and at least one output, and a second wire connected to the at least one output of the first function icon and also connected to the at least one input of the second function icon to provide data from the first function icon to the second function icon, the method comprising:

receiving a request to enable an autoprobe feature to display data associated with or produced by icons in said data flow diagram;

beginning execution of said data flow diagram after said receiving said request to enable said autoprobe feature;

automatically displaying on the screen one or more objects propagating on said first wire;

the first function icon executing after said beginning execution, wherein the first function icon generates first data;

automatically displaying on the screen the first data output from the first function icon proximate to the first function icon after the first function icon executes, wherein said displaying on the screen said first data output from the first function icon is automatically performed in response to said autoprobe feature being enabled;

automatically displaying on the screen one or more objects propagating on said second wire;

the second function icon executing after the first function icon executes, wherein the second function icon generates second data; and

automatically displaying on the screen the second data output from the second function icon proximate to the second function icon after the second function icon executes, wherein said displaying on the screen the second data output from the second function icon is automatically performed in response to said autoprobe feature being enabled.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said displaying on the screen one or more objects propagating on said first and second wires comprises displaying on the screen one or more bubbles propagating on said first and second wires.

8. A computer-implemented method for improved debugging of a data flow program in a computer system including a video screen and means for displaying images to control data flow operations, the method comprising:

displaying on the screen a first input terminal icon that references a first input variable;

displaying on the screen a first output terminal icon that references a first output variable;

displaying on the screen a plurality of function icons that each perform respective functions;

assembling on the screen a data flow diagram including said first input terminal icon coupled to one or more of said plurality of function icons, wherein said plurality of function icons are interconnected, and wherein one or more of said plurality of function icons are connected to said first output terminal icon, wherein the data flow diagram displays a first procedure for producing at least on value for the at least one first output terminal icon from at least one value for the at least one first input terminal icon,

receiving a request to enable an autoprobe function to display data associated with or produced by said icons in said data flow diagram;

beginning execution of said data flow diagram after said receiving said request to enable said autoprobe feature;

executing said plurality of function icons after beginning execution, wherein each of said plurality of function icons generates data as said function icons are executed; and

automatically displaying on the screen data output from each of said plurality of function icons proximate to each of said plurality of function icons during said executing said plurality of function icons, wherein said displaying on the screen said data output from each of said plurality of said function icons is automatically performed in response to said autoprobe feature being enabled;

wherein said displaying on the screen said data output from each of said plurality of function icons is automatically performed for each of said plurality of function icons as said function icons are executed.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

automatically displaying on the screen input data to the first input terminal icon proximate to the first input terminal icon after beginning execution and prior to said displaying on the screen data output from each of said plurality of function icons, wherein said displaying on the screen said input data to the first input terminal icon is automatically performed in response to said autoprobe feature being enabled.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein said data flow diagram includes a plurality of wires connecting said plurality of function icons, wherein each of said plurality of wires is connected to an output of one of said plurality of function icons or is connected to an input to one of said plurality of function icons, the method further comprising:

automatically displaying on the screen one or more objects propagating along said plurality of wires during said displaying on the screen the data output from each of said plurality of function icons;

wherein said displaying on the screen said one or more objects propagating along said plurality of wires is performed for a respective wire as data is provided between two or more of said plurality of function icons connected by said respective wire.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said displaying on the screen said one or more objects propagating along said plurality of wires comprises displaying on the screen one or more bubbles propagating along said plurality of wires.