Graphical development system and method

• US 6,738,964 B1
• Filed: 03/10/2000
• Issued: 05/18/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Texas Instruments, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Texas Instruments, Inc.
• Inventors: Kuzemchak, Edward P., Zink, Edmund D., Tibbits, John L., Coley, Gerald K.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN BA, HOANG VU A
• Application Number:
  US09/523,577
• Time in Patent Office: 1,530 Days
• Field of Search: 717/107, 717/162, 717/105, 717/100, 717/113, 717/116, 717/117, 717/108, 717/109, 717/101-104, 717/115, 709/310-332, 712/17, 712/35, 712/36, 345/763, 345/769, 345/771
• US Class Current: 717/105
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 30/30 Circuit design

Abstract

A graphical solutions development system using placement of blocks representing hardware/software functionality on a computer screen drawing and connecting the blocks by wires representing data and control flow to create application programs and/or hardware design. The blocks are instances of development components that include intelligence for optimization within a detected environment. This permits effective programming of digital signal processors and system design by users not expert in digital signal processing programming and system design.

Claims

1. A method for creating a component for use in software library having a plurality of such components, comprising:

accepting a plurality of resources for a unit of primary functionality wherein a first resource of the plurality of resources comprises a code module and a second resource of the plurality of resources comprises a configuration module, the configuration module comprising an executable script;

packaging the plurality of resources in an archive file to form the component; and

adding the component to the software library.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein executable script of the configuration module is operable to provide configuration assistance for adapting the code module for use in a software application when the component is included in the software application.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the code module comprises source code.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the configuration module further comprises a tool for converting the source code to object code.

5. A graphical solutions development system, comprising:

a main memory system holding a graphical solutions development tool program;

a main computer system connected to the main memory system, the main computer system operable to execute the graphical solutions development tool program;

a target processing system; and

means for connecting to the target processing system

wherein the graphical solutions development tool is operable to support the creation of an application program for the target processing system from a software library having a plurality of user-selected components where the method for creating a component of the plurality of user-selected components comprises;

accepting a plurality of resources for a unit of primary functionality wherein a first resource of the plurality of resources comprises a code module and a second resource of the plurality of resources comprises a configuration module, the configuration module comprising an executable script;

packaging the plurality of resources in an archive file to form the component; and

adding the component to the software library.

6. The graphical solutions development system of claim 5 wherein the graphical solutions development tool is operable to create the application program responsive to a configuration module of each of the plurality of user-selected components within the software library.

7. A method for designing a software application comprising a plurality of components using a graphical solutions development system comprising the steps of:

displaying a graphical representation of a first user-selected component;

displaying a graphical representation of a second user-selected component;

drawing a first line connecting the first component to the second component responsive to user input directing that the first line be drawn wherein the first line represents the flow of data between the first component and the second component; and

drawing a second line connecting the first component to the second component responsive to user input directing that the second line be drawn wherein the second line represents the flow of control information between the first component and the second component.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the first line is given a first unique visual appearance denoting that the first line represents the flow of data and the second line is given a second unique visual appearance denoting that the second line represents the flow of control information.

9. A method for creating a software application using a graphical solutions development system comprising the steps of:

displaying a first graphical representation of a first user-selected component comprising first source code and an executable configuration script;

displaying a second graphical representation of a second user-selected component comprising second source code and an executable configuration script;

accepting user input connecting the first graphical representation and the second graphical representation;

configuring the first source code automatically for use in the software application by executing the configuration information of the first component responsive to the presence of the second component; and

configuring the second source code automatically for use in the software application by executing the configuration information of the second component responsive to the presence of the first component.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising the step of creating a proxy and a stub automatically for communication between the first configured source code and the second configured sourced code.

11. A method for creating a component for use in software library having a plurality of such components, comprising:

accepting a plurality of run-time resources for a unit of primary functionality;

accepting a plurality of configuration resources for the unit of primary functionality, wherein at least one of the configuration resources is an executable script; and

packaging the plurality of run-time resources and the plurality of configuration resources in an archive file.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the plurality of run-time resource comprise a plurality of source files.

13. A method for creating a software application using a graphical solutions development system comprising the steps of:

displaying a first graphical representation of a first user-selected component comprising a first plurality of run-time resources and a first plurality of configuration resources comprising at least a first executable configuration script;

displaying a second graphical representation of a second user-selected component comprising a second plurality of run-time resources and a second plurality of configuration resources comprising at least a second executable configuration script;

accepting user input connecting the first graphical representation and the second graphical representation;

creating the software application automatically wherein the application comprises;

a first portion of object code resulting from the execution of the first configuration script to a first run-time resource of the first plurality of run-time resources wherein the first configuration script is selected responsive to the design of the software application; and

a second portion of object code resulting from the execution of the second configuration script to a second run-time resource of the second plurality of run-time resources wherein the second configuration script is selected responsive to the design of the software application; and

wherein those portions of the first and second pluralities of run-time resources and the first and second pluralities of configuration resources not required in the software application are not made part of the application.