Process for generating program listings for programming a logic control unit
First Claim
1. A process for generating a flow chart representing a control program for execution by a logic control unit having a plurality of input ports for receiving input signals from components of an external system under control, and a plurality of output ports for providing output signals to components of the external system, the control program being defined by associative relationships between control states and conditions, each said condition specifying a transition from an associated one of the states as a source state to a corresponding selected destination state upon satisfaction of the condition during execution of the control program by the logic control unit, comprising the steps of:
- rendering on a chart at least one first state indicator representing a corresponding state of the control program and including an associated first state anchor point, each said first state indicator being identifiable as representing a source state and/or a destination state;
rendering on said chart at least one first condition indicator representing a corresponding condition of the control program and including an associated first condition anchor point, each of said first condition indicators being associated with a corresponding one of said first state indicators that it identifies as a corresponding source state indicator;
rendering on said chart at least one second state indicator representing a corresponding state of the control program and including an associated second state anchor point, each said second state indicator being identifiable as representing a source state and/or a destination state;
rendering on said chart at least one second condition indicator representing a corresponding condition of the control program and including an associated second condition anchor point, each of said second condition indicators being associated with a corresponding one of said second state indicators that it identifies as a corresponding source state indicator; and
for each of said first and second condition indicators, rendering on said chart a transition indicator identifying one of said first and second state indicators as a destination state indicator associated therewith.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A process is provided for generating a flow chart representing a control program defined by associative relationships between program levels, states and conditions, each condition specifying a transition from an associated one of the states as a source state to a corresponding selected destination state upon satisfaction of the condition during execution of the control program by the logic control unit. Each program level defines a sub-process of the control program. The process includes the steps of rendering on a chart: a first group of state indicators each representing a corresponding one of a first plurality of the states, and including an associated first state anchor point; a first group of condition indicators each being associated with a corresponding one of the first group of state indicators, each of the first group of condition indicators indicating a corresponding one of a first plurality of the conditions, and including an associated first condition anchor point; a second group of state indicators each indicating a corresponding one of a second plurality of the states, and including an associated second state anchor point; a second group of condition indicators each being associated with a corresponding one of the second group of state indicators, each of the second group of condition indicators indicating a corresponding one of a second plurality of the conditions, and including an associated second condition anchor point; and for each of the conditions, a corresponding transition indicator indicative of transition information specified by the condition.
32 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A process for generating a flow chart representing a control program for execution by a logic control unit having a plurality of input ports for receiving input signals from components of an external system under control, and a plurality of output ports for providing output signals to components of the external system, the control program being defined by associative relationships between control states and conditions, each said condition specifying a transition from an associated one of the states as a source state to a corresponding selected destination state upon satisfaction of the condition during execution of the control program by the logic control unit, comprising the steps of:
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rendering on a chart at least one first state indicator representing a corresponding state of the control program and including an associated first state anchor point, each said first state indicator being identifiable as representing a source state and/or a destination state; rendering on said chart at least one first condition indicator representing a corresponding condition of the control program and including an associated first condition anchor point, each of said first condition indicators being associated with a corresponding one of said first state indicators that it identifies as a corresponding source state indicator; rendering on said chart at least one second state indicator representing a corresponding state of the control program and including an associated second state anchor point, each said second state indicator being identifiable as representing a source state and/or a destination state; rendering on said chart at least one second condition indicator representing a corresponding condition of the control program and including an associated second condition anchor point, each of said second condition indicators being associated with a corresponding one of said second state indicators that it identifies as a corresponding source state indicator; and for each of said first and second condition indicators, rendering on said chart a transition indicator identifying one of said first and second state indicators as a destination state indicator associated therewith. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A process for generating a flow chart representing a control program for execution by a logic control unit having a plurality of input ports for receiving input signals from components of an external system under control, and a plurality of output ports for providing output signals to components of the external system, the control program being defined by associative relationships between program levels, control states and conditions, each said condition specifying a transition from an associated one of the states as a source state to a corresponding selected destination state upon satisfaction of the condition during execution of the control program by the logic control unit, each said program level defining a sub-process of the control program, wherein said program levels include at least one task program level, and at least one subroutine program level which may be called by a corresponding calling program level, said plurality of states of said corresponding calling program level including at least one state having a call condition associated therewith, said call condition specifying a transition from an associated state of a calling program level to a corresponding selected destination state of a corresponding subroutine program level, said plurality of states of said corresponding subroutine program level including at least one state having a return condition associated therewith, said return condition specifying that said control program is to transition to a return state of said corresponding calling program level upon satisfaction of said return condition during execution of said control program, comprising the steps of:
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rendering on a chart at least one first state indicator representing a corresponding state of the control program and including an associated first state anchor point, each said first state indicator being identifiable as representing a source state and/or a destination state; rendering on said chart at least one first condition indicator representing a corresponding condition of the control program and including an associated first condition anchor point, each of said first condition indicators being associated with a corresponding one of said first state indicators that it identifies as a corresponding source state indicator; rendering on said chart at least one second state indicator representing a corresponding state of the control program and including an associated second state anchor point, each said second state indicator being identifiable as representing a source state and/or a destination state; rendering on said chart at least one second condition indicator representing a corresponding condition of the control program and including an associated second condition anchor point, each of said second condition indicators being associated with a corresponding one of said second state indicators that it identifies as a corresponding source state indicator; and for each of said first and second condition indicators, rendering on said chart a transition indicator identifying one of said first and second state indicators as a destination state indictor associated therewith. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification