Embedded graphical programming system

• US 6,173,438 B1
• Filed: 08/18/1997
• Issued: 01/09/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: National Instruments Corporation (Emerson Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: National Instruments Corporation (Emerson Electric Company)
• Inventors: Rogers, Steven, Shah, Darshan, Kodosky, Jeffrey L, DeKey, Samson
• Primary Examiner(s): Hafiz, Tariq R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Vo, Ted T.
• Application Number:
  US08/912,445
• Time in Patent Office: 1,240 Days
• Field of Search: 395/701, 395/702, 395/703, 717/1, 717/12
• US Class Current: 717/109
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/34 Graphical or visual programming
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/44505 Configuring for program initiating, e.g. using registry, configuration files

Abstract

A computer-based virtual instrumentation system including a host computer and an embedded system or device, wherein graphical programs created using the computer system can be downloaded to the embedded system for execution in a real-time or more deterministic manner. The present invention thus provides a method for automatically generating an embedded application in response to a graphical program created by a user. This provides the user the ability to develop or define instrument functionality using graphical programming techniques, while enabling the resulting program to operate in an embedded real-time system. The invention includes a novel method for configuring the embedded system. During execution of a graphical program in the embedded system, the block diagram portion executes in the embedded system, and the host CPU executes front panel display code to display on the screen the graphical front panel of the graphical program. The embedded system and the host computer exchange data using a front panel protocol to enable this operation. The present invention also includes improved debugging support for graphical programs executing on the embedded system. The host graphical programming system thus provides the user interface for graphical programs executing on the embedded system, essentially acting as the front panel “browser” for embedded applications. The host LabVIEW can also act as an independent application communicating with embedded LabVIEW through the shared memory. The host graphical programming system further provides a seamless environment in which the user can develop an embedded application using high level graphical programming techniques.

Claims

1. A method for executing a graphical program in a system comprising a host computer system and a device, wherein the host computer system includes a host CPU, a host memory and a display, wherein the device is coupled to the computer system, wherein the device includes an embedded CPU and an embedded memory, the method comprising:

storing a graphical program in the host computer system, wherein the graphical program includes a graphical user interface;

compiling the graphical program in the host computer system to produce a compiled graphical program;

receiving user input selecting the device for execution of at least a portion of the compiled graphical program;

downloading the at least a portion of the compiled graphical program to the embedded memory comprised on the device;

the device executing the at least a portion of the compiled graphical program, wherein the device executing the at least a portion of the compiled graphical program includes;

generating output data for display in the graphical user interface of the graphical program; and

transferring the output data to the host computer system;

the host CPU executing code from the host memory to present said graphical user interface on the display during the device executing the at least a portion of the compiled graphical program; and

the host computer system displaying the output data in the graphical user interface of the graphical program in response to said transferring;

wherein said downloading and said device executing are performed in response to said user input selecting the device for execution of the at least a portion of the compiled graphical program.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

the host computer system executing a portion of the compiled graphical program during the device executing the at least a portion of the compiled graphical program.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the device executes a first portion of the compiled graphical program;

the method further comprising;

the host computer system executing a second portion of the compiled graphical program.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the compiled graphical program includes a first portion and a second portion;

wherein said selecting comprises receiving user input selecting the device for execution of the first portion of the compiled graphical program;

wherein the second portion of the compiled graphical program executes on the host CPU.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the compiled graphical program includes a first portion and a second portion;

wherein said selecting comprises receiving user input selecting the device for execution of the first portion of the compiled graphical program;

the method comprising;

receiving user input selecting the host computer for execution of the second portion of the compiled graphical program; and

the host CPU executing the second portion of the compiled graphical program in response to said user input selecting the host computer for execution of the second portion of the compiled graphical program.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said selecting comprises receiving user input selecting the device for execution of all of the compiled graphical program;

wherein said executing comprises the device executing all of the compiled graphical program.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing a graphical program execution engine in the embedded memory of the device;

wherein said executing includes the execution engine executing the at least a portion of the compiled graphical program.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

storing a graphical programming system in the memory of the host computer system;

wherein said storing the graphical program execution engine in the embedded memory of the device comprises storing a portion of the graphical programming system in the embedded memory of the device, wherein the portion of the graphical programming system includes the execution engine.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing a graphical programming development system in the memory of the host computer system;

wherein said storing the graphical program includes creating the graphical program on the host computer system using the graphical programming development system in response to user input, wherein said creating the graphical program includes arranging on the display a plurality of nodes comprising the graphical program in response to user input.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing a kernel in the embedded memory of the device, wherein the kernel provides basic operating system services;

wherein said executing the at least a portion of the compiled graphical program includes executing said kernel.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the device executes the at least a portion of the compiled graphical program in a deterministic manner.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the embedded memory comprised on the device includes a shared memory portion, the method further comprising:

the host CPU communicating with the embedded CPU utilizing the shared memory.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein said graphical user interface is useable for providing/displaying input/output to/from the at least a portion of the compiled graphical program executing on the device.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving input data to the graphical program via the graphical user interface in response to user input;

the host computer system displaying the input data in the graphical user interface of the graphical program in response to said receiving user input;

transferring the input data to the device;

the device utilizing the input data during execution of the at least a portion of the compiled graphical program.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the graphical program includes a diagram portion comprising a plurality of nodes;

wherein the graphical user interface comprises a graphical front panel separate from the diagram portion.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the device comprises one of:

an interface card comprised in the host computer system or an external device coupled to the host computer system.

17. A method for executing a graphical program in a system comprising a host computer system and a device, wherein the host computer system includes a host CPU, a host memory and a display, wherein the device is coupled to the computer system, wherein the device includes an embedded CPU and an embedded memory, the method comprising:

storing a graphical program in the host computer system;

wherein the graphical program comprises a virtual instrument, wherein the graphical program includes a front panel portion of the virtual instrument;

compiling the graphical program in the host computer system to produce a compiled graphical program;

downloading at least a portion of the compiled graphical program to the embedded memory comprised on the device;

the device executing the at least a portion of the compiled graphical program, wherein the device executing the at least a portion of the compiled graphical program includes;

generating output data for display in the front panel portion of the graphical program; and

transferring the output data to the host computer system;

the host CPU executing code from the host memory to present said front panel portion on the display during the device executing the at least a portion of the compiled graphical program; and

the host computer system displaying the output data in the front panel portion of the graphical program in response to said transferring;

wherein the device executing the at least a portion of the compiled graphical program performs instrumentation functions.

18. A system for executing a graphical program, the system comprising:

a host computer system, wherein the host computer system includes a host CPU, a host memory and a display, wherein the host computer system stores a graphical program, wherein the graphical program includes a graphical user interface;

a device coupled to the host computer system, wherein the device includes an embedded CPU and an embedded memory;

wherein the host computer system is operable to compile the graphical program to produce a compiled graphical program;

a user input device which is operable to receive user input selecting the device for execution of at least a portion of the compiled graphical program;

wherein the host computer system is operable to download the at least a portion of the compiled graphical program to the embedded memory in response to said user input selecting the device for execution of the at least a portion of the compiled graphical program;

wherein the device is operable to execute the at least a portion of the compiled graphical program, wherein, in executing the at least a portion of the compiled graphical program, the device is operable to;

generate output data for display in the graphical user interface of the graphical program; and

transfer the output data to the host computer system;

wherein the host computer system is operable to;

present said graphical user interface on the display during the device executing the at least a portion of the compiled graphical program; and

display the output data in the graphical user interface of the graphical program.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the device is operable to execute a first portion of the compiled graphical program;

wherein the host computer system is operable to execute a second portion of the compiled graphical program.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the compiled graphical program includes a first portion and a second portion;

wherein the user input device is operable to receive first user input selecting the device for execution of the first portion of the compiled graphical program and is operable to receive second user input selecting the host CPU for execution of the second portion of the compiled graphical program;

wherein the device is operable to execute the first portion of the compiled graphical program in response to user input selecting the device for execution of the first portion of the compiled graphical program;

wherein the host computer is operable to execute the second portion of the compiled graphical program in response to user input selecting the host computer for execution of the second portion of the compiled graphical program.

21. The system of claim 18, wherein the embedded memory stores a graphical program execution engine;

wherein the device is operable to execute the graphical program execution engine in executing that at least a portion of the compiled graphical program.

22. The system of claim 18, wherein:

the host computer system further stores a graphical programming system;

the graphical programming system is executable to create the graphical program in response to user input, wherein creation of the graphical program includes arranging a plurality of nodes comprising the graphical program on the display in response to user input.

23. The system of claim 22,

wherein the embedded memory stores a graphical program execution engine;

wherein the graphical program execution engine stored in the embedded memory of the device comprises a portion of the graphical programming system.

24. The system of claim 18, wherein:

the embedded memory stores a graphical program execution engine;

the embedded memory further stores a kernel, wherein the kernel provides basic operating system services;

the device executes said kernel and said graphical program execution engine in executing the at least a portion of the compiled graphical program.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein the device executes the at least a portion of the compiled graphical program in a deterministic manner.

26. The system of claim 18, wherein the embedded memory comprised on the device includes a shared memory portion;

wherein the host CPU is operable to communicate with the embedded CPU utilizing the shared memory.

27. The system of claim 18, wherein said graphical user interface is useable for providing/displaying input/output to/from the compiled graphical program executing on the device.

28. The system of claim 18,

wherein the host computer system includes a user input device for receiving user input;

wherein the graphical user interface is operable to receive input data to the graphical program in response to the user input;

wherein the host computer system is operable to display the input data in the graphical user interface of the graphical program;

wherein the host computer system is further operable to transfer the input data to the device; and

wherein the device utilizes the input data during execution of the at least a portion of the compiled graphical program.

29. The system of claim 18, wherein the device comprises an interface card comprised in the host computer system.

30. The system of claim 18, wherein the device is an external device coupled to the host computer system.

31. The system of claim 18, wherein the device includes data acquisition logic for acquiring data from an external source.

32. A system for executing a graphical program, the system comprising:

a host computer system, wherein the host computer system includes a host CPU, a host memory and a display, wherein the host computer system stores a graphical program;

a device coupled to the host computer system, wherein the device includes an embedded CPU and an embedded memory, wherein the embedded memory stores a graphical program execution engine;

wherein the graphical program comprises a virtual instrument, wherein the graphical program includes a front panel portion of the virtual instrument;

wherein the host computer system is operable to compile the graphical program to produce a compiled graphical program;

wherein the host computer system is further operable to download at least a portion of the compiled graphical program to the embedded memory comprised on the device;

wherein the device is operable to execute the execution engine to execute the at least a portion of the compiled graphical program, wherein, in executing the at least a portion of the compiled graphical program, the device is operable to;

generate output data for display in the front panel portion of the graphical program; and

transfer the output data to the host computer system;

wherein the host computer system is operable to;

present said front panel portion on the display during the device executing the at least a portion of the compiled graphical program; and

display the output data in the front panel portion of the graphical program;

wherein the device executing the at least a portion of the compiled graphical program performs instrumentation functions.

33. An instrumentation system for measuring a signal, the system comprising:

a host computer system, wherein the host computer system includes a host CPU, a host memory and a display, wherein the host computer system stores a graphical program, wherein the graphical program implements a measurement function, wherein the graphical program includes a front panel user interface, wherein the front panel user interface simulates a front panel of the instrument;

an instrument coupled to the host computer system, wherein the instrument includes an embedded CPU and an embedded memory, wherein the instrument further includes an input for receiving a signal from an external source;

wherein the host computer system is operable to compile the graphical program to produce a compiled graphical program;

wherein the host computer system is operable to download at least a portion of the compiled graphical program to the embedded memory in the instrument for execution of the at least a portion of the compiled graphical program;

wherein the instrument is operable to execute the at least a portion of the compiled graphical program to perform the measurement function on a received signal;

wherein the instrument is operable to generate output data for display in the front panel user interface of the graphical program in response to execution of the at least a portion of the compiled graphical program;

wherein the instrument is operable to transfer the output data to the host computer system;

wherein the host CPU is operable to execute code from the host memory to present said front panel user interface on the display when the instrument executes the at least a portion of the compiled graphical program;

wherein the host computer system is operable to display the output data in the front panel user interface.

34. The instrumentation system of claim 33, wherein the instrument further includes analog to digital (A/D) logic for performing analog to digital conversion on a received signal to produce a digital signal;

wherein the instrument is operable to execute the at least a portion of the compiled graphical program to perform the measurement function on the digital signal.

35. The instrumentation system of claim 33, wherein the instrument is operable to execute a first portion of the compiled graphical program;

wherein the host computer system is operable to execute a second portion of the compiled graphical program.

36. The instrumentation system of claim 33, wherein the compiled graphical program includes a first portion and a second portion;

wherein the instrumentation system includes a user input device which is operable to receive first user input selecting the instrument for execution of the first portion of the compiled graphical program and is operable to receive second user input selecting the host CPU for execution of the second portion of the compiled graphical program;

wherein the instrument is operable to execute the first portion of the compiled graphical program in response to the first user input selecting the instrument for execution of the first portion of the compiled graphical program;

wherein the host computer is operable to execute the second portion of the compiled graphical program in response to the second user input selecting the host CPU for execution of the second portion of the compiled graphical program.

37. The instrumentation system of claim 33, wherein said front panel user interface is useable for providing/displaying input/output to/from the compiled graphical program executing on the instrument.

38. The instrumentation system of claim 33,

wherein the host computer system includes a user input device for receiving user input;

wherein the host computer system is operable to display the input data in the front panel user interface of the graphical program;

wherein the host computer system is further operable to transfer the input data to the instrument; and

wherein the instrument utilizes the input data during execution of the at least a portion of the compiled graphical program.

39. The instrumentation system of claim 33, wherein the instrumentation system is a virtual instrument.

40. The instrumentation system of claim 33, wherein the instrument executes the at least a portion of the compiled graphical program in a real time manner.

41. The instrumentation system of claim 33, wherein the instrument executes the at least a portion of the compiled graphical program in a deterministic manner.

42. The instrumentation system of claim 33, wherein the embedded memory stores a graphical program execution engine;

wherein the instrument is operable to execute the graphical program execution engine in executing the at least a portion of the compiled graphical program.

43. The instrumentation system of claim 42, wherein:

the embedded memory further stores a kernel, wherein the kernel provides basic operating system services;

the instrument executes said kernel in executing the at least a portion of the compiled graphical program.

44. The instrumentation system of claim 33, wherein:

the host computer system further stores a graphical programming system;

the graphical programming system is executable to create the graphical program in response to user input, wherein creation of the graphical program includes arranging a plurality of nodes comprising the graphical program on the display in response to user input.

45. The instrumentation system of claim 33, wherein the embedded memory comprised on the instrument includes a shared memory;

wherein the host CPU is operable to communicate with the embedded CPU utilizing the shared memory.

46. The instrumentation system of claim 33, wherein the instrument comprises an interface card comprised in the host computer system.

47. The instrumentation system of claim 33, wherein the instrument is an external instrument coupled to the host computer system.

48. A method for performing instrumentation functions in a system comprising a host computer system and an instrument, wherein the host computer system includes a host CPU, a host memory and a display, wherein the instrument is coupled to the computer system, wherein the instrument includes an embedded CPU and an embedded memory, the method comprising:

storing a graphical program execution engine in the embedded memory of the instrument;

storing a graphical program in the host computer system, wherein the graphical program implements a measurement function, wherein the graphical program includes a front panel user interface, wherein the front panel user interface simulates a front panel of the instrument;

compiling the graphical program in the host computer system to produce a compiled graphical program;

downloading at least a portion of the compiled graphical program to the embedded memory comprised on the instrument;

the instrument receiving a signal from an external source;

the instrument executing the at least a portion of the compiled graphical program to perform the measurement function on the signal, wherein said executing includes the execution engine executing the at least a portion of the compiled graphical program, wherein the instrument executing the at least a portion of the compiled graphical program includes;

the instrument generating output data for display in response to execution of the at least a portion of the compiled graphical program; and

the instrument transferring the output data to the host computer system;

the host CPU executing code from the host memory to present said front panel user interface on the display when the instrument executes the at least a portion of the compiled graphical program; and

the host computer system displaying the output data in the front panel user interface.

49. The method of claim 48, further comprising:

the instrument performing analog to digital conversion on the signal to produce a digital signal;

wherein the instrument executes the at least a portion of the compiled graphical program to perform the measurement function on the digital signal.

50. The method of claim 48, further comprising:

the host computer system executing a portion of the compiled graphical program during the instrument executing the at least a portion of the compiled graphical program.

51. The method of claim 48, wherein the compiled graphical program includes a first portion and a second portion;

the method further comprising;

receiving first user input selecting the instrument for execution of the first portion of the compiled graphical program; and

receiving second user input selecting the host CPU for execution of the second portion of the compiled graphical program;

the instrument executing the first portion of the compiled graphical program in response to the first user input selecting the instrument for execution of the first portion of the compiled graphical program;

the instrument executing the second portion of the compiled graphical program in response to the second user input selecting the host CPU for execution of the second portion of the compiled graphical program.

52. The method of claim 48, further comprising:

said front panel user interface performing one or more of;

     1) providing input to the at least a portion of the compiled graphical program executing on the instrument; and

     2) displaying output from the at least a portion of the compiled graphical program executing on the instrument.

53. The method of claim 48, further comprising:

the host computer system receiving user input;

the host computer system displaying the input data in the front panel user interface of the graphical program;

the host computer system transferring the input data to the instrument; and

the instrument utilizing the input data during execution of the at least a portion of the compiled graphical program.

54. The method of claim 48, wherein the system is a virtual instrunfent.

55. The method of claim 48, wherein the instrument executes the at least a portion of the compiled graphical program in a real time manner.

56. The method of claim 48, wherein the instrument executes the at least a portion of the compiled graphical program in a deterministic manner.

57. The method of claim 48, wherein the instrument comprises one of:

an interface card comprised in the host computer system or an external device coupled to the host computer system.

58. A method for executing a graphical program in a system comprising a host computer system and a device, wherein the host computer system includes a host CPU, a host memory and a display, wherein the device is coupled to the computer system, wherein the device includes an embedded CPU and an embedded memory, the method comprising:

storing a graphical program execution engine in the embedded memory of the device;

storing a graphical program in the host computer system, wherein the graphical program includes a graphical user interface;

compiling the graphical program in the host computer system to produce a compiled graphical program;

downloading at least a portion of the compiled graphical program to the embedded memory comprised on the device;

the device executing the at least a portion of the compiled graphical program, wherein said executing includes the execution engine executing the at least a portion of the compiled graphical program, wherein the device executing the at least a portion of the compiled graphical program includes;

generating output data for display in the graphical user interface of the graphical program; and

transferring the output data to the host computer system;

the host CPU executing code from the host memory to present said graphical user interface on the display during the device executing the at least a portion of the compiled graphical program; and

the host computer system displaying the output data in the graphical user interface of the graphical program in response to said transferring.

59. The method of claim 58, further comprising:

storing a graphical programming system in the memory of the host computer system;

wherein said storing the graphical program includes creating the graphical program on the host computer system using the graphical programming system in response to user input, wherein said creating the graphical program includes arranging on the display a plurality of nodes comprising the graphical program in response to user input.

60. The method of claim 59, wherein said storing the graphical program execution engine in the embedded memory of the device comprises storing a portion of the graphical programming system in the embedded memory of the device, wherein the portion of the graphical programming system includes the execution engine.

61. The method of claim 58, further comprising:

storing a kernel in the embedded memory of the device, wherein the kernel provides basic operating system services;

wherein said executing the at least a portion of the compiled graphical program includes executing said kernel.

62. The method of claim 58, wherein the device executes the at least a portion of the compiled graphical program in a deterministic manner.

63. The method of claim 58, further comprising:

receiving user input selecting the execution engine comprised in the device for execution of the at least a portion of the compiled graphical program after said storing the graphical program;

wherein said downloading and said executing are performed in response to said receiving user input selecting the execution engine comprised in the device for execution of the at least a portion of the compiled graphical program.

64. The method of claim 58, wherein the embedded memory comprised on the device includes a shared memory portion, the method further comprising:

the host CPU communicating with the embedded CPU utilizing the shared memory.

65. The method of claim 58, wherein said graphical user interface is useable for providing/displaying input/output to/from the at least a portion of the compiled graphical program executing on the device.

66. The method of claim 58, further comprising:

receiving input data to the graphical program via the graphical user interface in response to user input;

the host computer system displaying the input data in the graphical user interface of the graphical program in response to said receiving user input;

transferring the input data to the device;

the device utilizing the input data during execution of the at least a portion of the compiled graphical program.

67. The method of claim 58, wherein the graphical program includes a diagram portion comprising a plurality of nodes;

wherein the graphical user interface comprises a graphical front panel separate from the diagram portion.

68. The method of claim 58, wherein the device comprises one of:

an interface card comprised in the host computer system or an external device coupled to the host computer system.

69. The method of claim 58, wherein the graphical program comprises a virtual instrument;

wherein the device executing the at least a portion of the compiled graphical program performs instrumentation functions.

70. A system for executing a graphical program, the system comprising:

a host computer system, wherein the host computer system includes a host CPU, a host memory and a display, wherein the host computer system stores a graphical program;

a device coupled to the host computer system, wherein the device includes an embedded CPU and an embedded memory, wherein the embedded memory stores a graphical program execution engine;

wherein the host computer system is operable to compile the graphical program to produce a compiled graphical program;

wherein the host computer system is further operable to download at least a portion of the compiled graphical program to the embedded memory comprised on the device;

wherein the device is operable to execute the execution engine to execute the at least a portion of the compiled graphical program, wherein, in executing the at least a portion of the compiled graphical program, the device is operable to;

generate output data for display in the graphical user interface of the graphical program; and

transfer the output data to the host computer system;

wherein the host computer system is operable to;

present said graphical user interface on the display during the device executing the at least a portion of the compiled graphical program; and

display the output data in the graphical user interface of the graphical program in response to said transferring.

71. The system of claim 70, further comprising:

wherein the host computer system further stores a graphical programming system;

wherein the graphical programming system is executable to create the graphical program in response to user input, wherein creation of the graphical program includes arranging a plurality of nodes comprising the graphical program on the display in response to user input.

72. The system of claim 71, wherein the graphical program execution engine stored in the embedded memory of the device comprises a portion of the graphical programming system.

73. The system of claim 70, further comprising:

wherein the embedded memory further stores a kernel, wherein the kernel provides basic operating system services;

wherein the device executes said kernel in executing the at least a portion of the compiled graphical program.

74. The system of claim 70, wherein the device executes the at least a portion of the compiled graphical program in a deterministic manner.

75. The system of claim 70, further comprising:

a user input device which is operable to receive user input selecting the execution engine comprised in the device for execution of the at least a portion of the compiled graphical program;

wherein the host computer system operates to download the at least a portion of the compiled graphical program to the embedded memory in response to said user input selecting the execution engine comprised in the device for execution of the at least a portion of the compiled graphical program.

76. The system of claim 70, wherein the embedded memory comprised on the device includes a shared memory portion;

wherein the host CPU is operable to communicate with the embedded CPU utilizing the shared memory.

77. The system of claim 70, wherein said graphical user interface is useable for providing/displaying input/output to/from the compiled graphical program executing on the device.

78. The system of claim 70,

wherein the host computer system includes a user input device for receiving user input;

wherein the graphical user interface is operable to receive input data to the graphical program in response to the user input;

wherein the host computer system is operable to display the input data in the graphical user interface of the graphical program;

wherein the host computer system is further operable to transfer the input data to the device; and

wherein the device utilizes the input data during execution of the at least a portion of the compiled graphical program.

79. The system of claim 70, wherein the device is one of:

an interface card comprised in the host computer system, or an external device coupled to the host computer system.

80. The system of claim 70, wherein the graphical program comprises a virtual instrument;

wherein the device executing the at least a portion of the compiled graphical program performs instrumentation functions.

81. The system of claim 70, wherein the device includes data acquisition logic for acquiring data from an external source.