System and method for providing audio probe and debugging features in a graphical data flow program
First Claim
1. A method for audially probing signals in a graphical program in a computer system including a display screen, wherein said audial probing is used in debugging the graphical program, the method comprising:
- assembling a graphical program comprising 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 output, ad a first wire connected to the at least one output of the first function icon;
receiving a user input request to enable an audio probe feature to audially generate data transferred on said first wire, wherein said audio probe feature is requested to aid in debugging the graphical program;
beginning execution of said graphical program;
the first function icon executing after said beginning execution, wherein the first function icon generates first data;
converting said first data into first audio signals; and
generating sounds corresponding to said first audio signals after said converting said first data into said first audio signals, wherein said converting said first data into first audio signals and said generating sounds corresponding to said first audio signals is performed in response to said audio probe feature being enabled;
wherein said sounds are useable in debugging the graphical program.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An audio probe feature which enables a user to select a wire or connector connected to a graphical object and "hear" the signals propagating on the wire or input to/output from the object. This provides a more complete and more informative debugging environment for certain classes of signals. The present invention also provides various features for obtaining audial information regarding signals in the graphical program. A cursor driver icon is also disclosed which can be used in conjunction with the audio probe icon and which provides a motor driven audible cursor capability.
-
Citations
32 Claims
-
1. A method for audially probing signals in a graphical program in a computer system including a display screen, wherein said audial probing is used in debugging the graphical program, the method comprising:
-
assembling a graphical program comprising 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 output, ad a first wire connected to the at least one output of the first function icon; receiving a user input request to enable an audio probe feature to audially generate data transferred on said first wire, wherein said audio probe feature is requested to aid in debugging the graphical program; beginning execution of said graphical program; the first function icon executing after said beginning execution, wherein the first function icon generates first data; converting said first data into first audio signals; and generating sounds corresponding to said first audio signals after said converting said first data into said first audio signals, wherein said converting said first data into first audio signals and said generating sounds corresponding to said first audio signals is performed in response to said audio probe feature being enabled; wherein said sounds are useable in debugging the graphical program. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
-
-
14. A method for audially probing signals in a graphical program in a computer system including a display screen, the method comprising:
-
assembling a graphical program comprising 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 lest one output, and a first wire connected to the at least one output of the first function icon, wherein the graphical program implements an instrumentation function using a first signal, wherein the first signal is not an audio signal; receiving a user input request to enable an audio probe feature to audially generate data transferred on said first wire; beginning execution of said graphical program; the first function icon executing after said beginning execution, wherein the first function icon generates first data corresponding to the first signal; converting said first data into first audio signals; and generating sounds corresponding to said first audio signals after said converting said first data into said first audio signals, wherein said converting said first data into first audio signals and said generating sounds corresponding to said first audio signals is performed in response to said audio probe feature being enabled. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
-
-
18. A method for debugging a graphical program in a computer system including a display screen, the method comprising:
-
assembling on the screen a graphical program comprising a plurality of interconnected function icons, wherein the function icons are connected by a plurality of wires, placing a plurality of audio probe icons in said graphical program, wherein said plurality of audio probe icons are connected to a first plurality of said plurality of wires, wherein said plurality of audio probe icons are also connected to outputs of a first plurality of said plurality of function icons; beginning execution of said graphical program; each of said function icons executing after said beginning execution in accordance with said graphical program, wherein each of said function icons generates data; converting data generated by said first plurality of function icons into audio signals as said first plurality of function icons execute; generating sounds corresponding to said audio signals as said first plurality of function icons execute, wherein said sounds indicate an execution progression of said graphical program; wherein said sound are useable in debugging the graphical program. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21)
-
-
22. A computer-implemented method for improved debugging of a graphical diagram in a computer system including a display screen, wherein the computer system further includes a sound system including one or more speakers, the method comprising:
-
assembling on the screen a graphical program comprising a plurality of interconnected function icons, wherein the function icons perform operations in the graphical program; receiving a user input request to enable an audio autoprobe feature to audially present data associated with or produced by said icons in said graphical program; beginning execution of said graphical program after said receiving said request to enable said audio autoprobe feature; 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; generating sounds in response to said data output from each of said plurality of function icons during said executing said plurality of function icons, wherein said generating sounds in response to said data output from each of said plurality of function icons is performed in response to said audio autoprobe feature being enabled; wherein said sounds are useable in debugging the graphical program. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25)
-
-
26. In an iconic programming system process within a computer system, wherein said process performs functions defined within an iconic program containing a plurality of connected graphical objects, a computer implemented method for audially presenting data associated with or produced by one or more of said plurality of graphical objects of said process, said computer implemented method comprising:
-
accepting an audio probe request to generate sounds in response to signals associated with or produced by one or more of said plurality of graphical objects, wherein said audio probe request is made to aid in debugging of the iconic program; beginning execution of said iconic program; programmatically obtaining data from said one or more of said plurality of graphical objects as said graphical objects are executed; generating sounds for said one or more of said plurality of graphical objects in response to said programmatically obtaining data, wherein sounds for a respective graphical object are generated as said data is generated by said respective graphical object. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29)
-
-
30. A method for audially presenting data in a graph in a graphical program in a computer system including a display screen, the method comprising:
-
displaying on the screen a graph which presents data, wherein the graph includes a cursor along a first axis; receiving a request to enable an audio probe feature to audially present the data displayed in said graph; displaying on the screen a cursor driver icon connected to said graph, wherein said cursor driver icon is operable to move the cursor across said axis of said graph; operating said cursor driver icon to move the cursor across said axis of said graph; moving the cursor across said axis of said graph in response to operating said cursor driver icon; converting said data from said graph into audio signals during said moving the cursor across said axis of said graph; generating sounds corresponding to said audio signals in response to said converting said data into said audio signals, wherein said generating sounds corresponding to said audio signals is performed during said moving the cursor across said axis of said graph.
-
-
31. A computer system which includes an audio probe, comprising:
-
a display device including a screen; a graphical program comprising a plurality of interconnected function icons displayed on the video screen, wherein the plurality of interconnected function icons include a first function icon including at lest one input and at least one output, and a first wire connected to the at least one output of the first function icon, wherein the first function icon generates first data; an audio probe icon coupled to the first function icon which receives data from the first function icon during execution of the graphical program, wherein the audio probe icon provides debugging for the graphical program; a sound system which converts said first data into first audio signals and generates sounds corresponding to said first audio signals, wherein said sound operates in response to said audio probe icon.
-
-
32. A computer-readable storage medium comprising program instructions for audially probing signals in a graphical program in a computer system, the computer system including a display screen, wherein the program instructions are executable to implement:
-
assembling a graphical program comprising 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 output, and a first wire connected to the at least one output of the first function icon; receiving a user input request to enable an audio probe feature to audially generate data transferred on said first wire, wherein said audio probe feature is requested to aid in debugging the graphical program; beginning execution of said graphical program; the first function icon executing after said beginning execution, wherein the first function icon generates first data; converting said first data into first audio signals; and generating sounds corresponding to said first audio signals after said converting said first data into said audio signals, wherein said converting said first data into first audio signals and said generating sounds corresponding to said first audio signals is performed in response to said audio probe feature being enabled; wherein said sounds are useable in debugging the graphical program.
-
Specification