Hierarchical syntax for satellite command and control directives

• US 6,772,140 B1
• Filed: 11/01/1999
• Issued: 08/03/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Harris-Exigent, Inc. (L3Harris Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Harris-Exigent, Inc. (L3Harris Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Dyer, Douglas M., Montroy, Albert T., Crovetto, Alexis J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Uyen
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHEN, TE Y
• Application Number:
  US09/430,917
• Time in Patent Office: 1,737 Days
• Field of Search: 244/158.R, 345/339, 345/356, 455/12-- 1, 455/427-429, 717/5-6, 717/8-10, 707/3, 707/101, 707/102, 707/103-104, 725/34, 725/63, 725/68, 725/145, 380/228, 380/216, 380/239
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/31 Programming languages or programming paradigms
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching

Abstract

A method for structuring satellite command and control directives in a hierarchical syntax comprises the steps of: defining at least one satellite command and control directive; and, associating the directive with a family of directives. The method can further comprise the step of compiling the associated families and directives into a binary persistent library. In addition, the method can include the step of displaying in a graphical user interface (GUI) a hierarchy representing the associations among the families and directives in order to assist a user in assembling satellite directives, and, in a complex system, subdirectives. Advantageously, the inventive method can present the hierarchy in a tree-structure. In addition, the method can accept a selection of a subnode; and, in response to a selection, display in the GUI parameters corresponding to the directive associated with the selected subnode.

Claims

1. A method for assisting the selection of a satellite command and control directive and parameters to be inserted in said directive comprising the steps of:

defining a hierarchy of satellite command and control directives and subdirectives wherein each directive and subdirective has a hierarchical relationship;

storing said defined hierarchy in an electronic storage for subsequent access and retrieval;

retrieving said defined hierarchy from said electronic storage;

displaying said defined hierarchy in a graphical user interface (GUI);

accepting a user selection of a satellite command and control directive or subdirective in said defined hierarchy; and

,

responsive to said selection, displaying in said GUI predefined parameters in a list corresponding to said selected directive or subdirective in said defined hierarchy,

whereby said displaying of said hierarchy and said displaying of said list of predefined parameters corresponding to said selected directive or subdirective assists said user in issuing a satellite command and control directive.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said defining step comprises the steps of:

defining a family of directives for grouping directives logically or functionally related to each other directive grouped in said family;

defining a plurality of directives, each said directive logically or functionally related to each other said directive;

including in said defined family, said plurality of directives; and

,

storing said family of directives including each said defined directive in a file.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein said compiling step comprises the steps of:

serializing each directive in said family into a binary stream;

streaming said binary stream into a binary object, said binary object retaining said hierarchical relationship between each directive and subdirective; and

,

storing said binary object in said electronic storage.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein said retrieving step comprises the steps of:

retrieving from said electronic storage said binary object containing said family of directives;

retrieving from said binary object each directive in said family;

retrieving from said binary object each subdirective associated with a retrieved directive in said family; and

,

retrieving from said binary object each parameter associated with a retrieved directive or subdirective in said family.

5. A method for assisting the selection of a satellite command and control directive and parameters to be inserted in the directive comprising the steps of:

structuring a plurality of satellite command and control directives and subdirectives in a family of directives and subdirectives wherein each directive and subdirective in said family has a hierarchical relationship to each other directive and subdirective;

compiling said family of directives and subdirectives and storing the resulting object in an electronic storage for subsequent access and retrieval;

retrieving from said electronic storage said family of directives and subdirectives;

displaying said family of directives and subdirectives in a graphical tree in a graphical user interface (GUI);

accepting a user selection of a directive or subdirective in said graphical tree; and

,

displaying in said GUI predefined parameters in a list associated with said selected directive or subdirective,

whereby said GUI assists a user to resolve hierarchical relationships between each directive and subdirective in a satellite command and control directive syntax.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein said structuring step further comprises the steps of:

selecting said family of directives to include directives that are logically or functionally related to each other directive in said family; and

,

storing said family of directives including each said defined directive in a file.

7. The method according to claim 5, wherein said compiling step comprises the steps of:

serializing each directive in said family into a binary stream;

streaming said binary stream into a binary object, said binary object retaining said hierarchical relationship between each directive and subdirective; and

,

storing said binary object in said electronic storage.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein said retrieving step comprises the steps of:

retrieving from said electronic storage said binary object containing said family of directives;

retrieving from said binary object each directive in said family;

retrieving from said binary object each subdirective associated with a retrieved directive in said family; and

,

retrieving from said binary object each parameter associated with a retrieved directive or subdirective in said family.