Method for configuration and parameterization of a graphical computer program for the operation of a data processing system

• US 6,784,902 B1
• Filed: 08/25/2000
• Issued: 08/31/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/04/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: National Instruments Ireland Resources Limited (Emerson Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: National Instruments Corporation (Emerson Electric Company)
• Inventors: Melder, Wilfried, Becker, Thomas Dieter
• Primary Examiner(s): Kincaid, Kristine
• Assistant Examiner(s): Vu, Thanh T
• Application Number:
  US09/648,927
• Time in Patent Office: 1,467 Days
• Field of Search: 345/733, 345/734, 345/810, 345/863, 345/866, 345/735, 345/736, 345/737, 345/738, 345/739, 345/766, 345/776, 345/853, 345/712, 345/855, 345/771, 345/731
• US Class Current: 715/771
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/34 Graphical or visual programming

Abstract

A graphical program development system for developing a graphical program, wherein the development system utilizes a configuration matrix for representing the graphical program. The matrix may graphically illustrate or specify the operation of the computer program. The matrix may comprise columns (or rows) displayed on the display device, including one or more columns which comprise symbols for functional elements and one or more interconnection columns that include interconnections between two or more of the symbols for functional elements. Once the matrix (the computer program) has been created, the computer program may be executed, wherein the computer program executes according to the interconnected symbols for functional elements displayed in the matrix.

Claims

1. A method for creating a computer program for the operation of a data processing system that contains at least one data processor, one data memory, one input device and one display device, wherein the computer program controls functional elements, characterized by the following steps:

generating a matrix which graphically specifies operation of the computer program, wherein the matrix comprises columns displayed on the display device, wherein said generating the matrix comprises;

displaying a first column of the matrix, wherein the first column comprises a plurality of symbols for functional elements;

displaying an interconnection column proximate to the first column that contains fields that each form a row with the fields of adjacent interconnection columns, wherein each row is assigned to one signal transmission channel; and

displaying an interconnection between one signal transmission channel and another signal transmission channel within the interconnection column in accordance with user input, wherein the interconnection operates to connect two or more of the symbols for functional elements;

wherein the computer program comprises a plurality of interconnected symbols, including said two or more of the symbols and a plurality of interconnections, including said interconnection, wherein the plurality of interconnected symbols graphically represents the functionality of the computer program, and wherein the computer program is executable according to the interconnected symbols for the functional elements represented in the matrix.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the interconnection column is blocked against a second interconnection between other signal transmission channels.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

executing the computer program, wherein the computer program executes according to the interconnected symbols for functional elements displayed in the matrix.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein said displaying the interconnection column comprises displaying the interconnection column parallel to the first column.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein said displaying the interconnection column comprises:

displaying a plurality of interconnection columns proximate to the first column, wherein the plurality of interconnection columns comprise fields that each form a row with the fields of adjacent interconnection columns, wherein each row includes at least one signal transmission channel, and

displaying an interconnection between one signal transmission channel and another signal transmission channel within an interconnection column in accordance with user input.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

displaying a new interconnection column after the arrangement of an interconnection in the interconnection column, wherein the new interconnection column is displayed adjacent to the interconnection column.

7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

deleting an interconnection in the interconnection column;

wherein an empty interconnection column is deleted from the matrix on the display device after the deletion of this interconnection.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein an interconnection is illustrated on the display device by means of lines, namely by two signal lines in the rows that extend from the two connected symbols to the interconnection column, as well as one interconnection line that extends between the two signal lines in the interconnection column.

9. The method according to claim 8, characterized in that a window with input fields is activated on the display device by selecting an interconnection line, a signal line or a connection symbol of a certain interconnection by means of the input device, wherein adjustment and configuration data of the pertinent interconnection is input in this window.

10. The method according to claim 8, characterized in that, if a symbol for a certain functional element is selected by means of the input device, all interconnection lines and signal lines connected to this symbol, as well as all symbols of additional functional elements linked to this symbol, are optically highlighted on the display device.

11. The method according to claim 10, characterized in that only the optically highlighted interconnections and symbols are released for processing and changing of the assigned data by means of the input device, wherein the processing of all other interconnections and symbols is blocked.

12. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that all empty interconnection columns are deleted from the matrix on the display device in a blocking mode, and that the symbols of the functional elements arranged in the first column, as well as the symbols of the interconnections, are blocked from being altered by the input device.

13. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that each symbol of a functional element illustrated in the first column is assigned at least one symbol for a connection of this element, wherein the connection symbol is arranged adjacent to the signal transmission channel leading to this connection in the matrix.

14. The method according to claim 13, characterized in that a data set in the data memory is assigned to each signal or data connection, wherein said data set contains properties including one or more of transmission direction, transmission format, and transmission mode.

15. The method according to claim 14, characterized in that the connection symbol is designed in accordance with the content of the assigned data set.

16. The method according to claim 15, characterized in that all connection symbols from the object column are illustrated in the fields of an empty interconnection column.

17. The method according to claim 14, characterized in that a monitoring function of the data processor only allows the interconnection between one connection symbol and a second connection symbol if a comparison of the data sets of both connections, which is carried out by the data processor, indicates that the transmission of data or signals from one connection to the other connection is possible.

18. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that a window with input fields is activated on the display device by selecting a symbol for a functional element by means of the input device, wherein adjustment and configuration data of the pertinent functional element is input in this window.

19. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that each symbol for a certain functional element and the corresponding connection symbols can be assigned to a definable group or specified level, wherein all symbols and interconnections assigned to this group or level are optically highlighted on the monitor through the selection of one group or level by means of the input device.

20. The method according to claim 19, characterized in that the group is specified based on the properties of this element.

21. The method according to claim 19, characterized in that the level is specified based on the properties of the signals processed by the respective functional element.

22. The method according to claim 19, characterized in that the group can be freely specified by the user.

23. The method according to claim 19, characterized in that, after selecting a level by means of the input device, only the symbols of the functional element assigned to this level and the interconnections assigned to these elements are released for processing and changing of the assigned data by means of the input device.

24. The method according to claim 19, characterized in that, after selecting a level by means of the input device, the interconnections that do not belong to this level are no longer displayed on the display device.

25. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that several symbols of functional elements in the first column can be selected by means of the input device and combined by the input of a combination command, wherein the combination is illustrated in the form of a combination symbol in one field of the first column, and the interconnections to the symbols of functional elements that are not contained in the combination are displayed on the display device in the form of lines in the rows and in the interconnection columns of the matrix.

26. The method according to claim 25, characterized in that the combination can be illustrated on the display device in a separate matrix, wherein the first functional element in the first column of this matrix represents the connections to the functional elements that are not contained in this combination, and contains symbols for signal transmission channels to the functional elements that are not contained in this combination.

27. The method according to claim 25, characterized in that a combination of symbols can be broken into the individual symbols by the input of an ungroup command by means of the input device.

28. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the position of all symbols and lines is sorted within the matrix on the display device in accordance with fixed specifications or user specifications by the input of a sort command.

29. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the columns extend vertically and the rows extend horizontally on the display device.

30. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the rows extend vertically and the columns extend horizontally on the display device.

31. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that a parameterization data set for a program to control a data processing system is prepared from the symbols of functional elements that are input into the first column of the matrix and the data sets assigned to these symbols, as well as from the interconnections input into the additional columns of the matrix and the data sets assigned to these symbols.

32. A system for creating a computer program, comprising:

at least one data processor;

a memory, wherein the memory stores a graphical program development software program which is executable for creating the computer program;

an input device; and

a display device;

wherein the graphical program development software program is executable by the processor to generate a matrix which graphically specifies operation of the computer program, wherein the matrix comprises columns displayed on the display device, wherein, in generating the matrix, the processor is operable to;

display a first column of the matrix, wherein the first column comprises a plurality of symbols for functional elements;

display an interconnection column proximate to the first column that contains fields that each form a row with the fields of adjacent interconnection columns, wherein each row is assigned to one signal transmission channel; and

display an interconnection between one signal transmission channel and another signal transmission channel within the interconnection column in accordance with user input, wherein the interconnection operates to connect two or more of the symbols for functional elements;

wherein the computer program comprises a plurality of interconnected symbols, including said two or more of the symbols and a plurality of interconnections, including said interconnection, wherein the plurality of interconnected symbols graphically represents the functionality of the computer program, and wherein the computer program is executable according to the interconnected symbols for functional elements displayed in the matrix.

33. The system according to claim 32, wherein the interconnection column is blocked against a second interconnection between other signal transmission channels.

34. The method according to claim 32, wherein displaying the interconnection column comprises displaying the interconnection column parallel to the first column.

35. The method according to claim 32, wherein, in displaying the interconnection column, the processor is operable to:

display a plurality of interconnection columns proximate to the first column, wherein the plurality of interconnection columns comprise fields that each form a row with the fields of adjacent interconnection columns, wherein each row includes at least one signal transmission channel, and

display an interconnection between one signal transmission channel and another signal transmission channel within an interconnection column in accordance with user input.

36. A memory medium comprising program instructions for creating a computer program, wherein the computer program controls functional elements, wherein the program instructions are executable to implement:

generating a matrix which graphically specifies operation of the computer program, wherein the matrix comprises columns displayed on the display device, wherein said generating the matrix comprises;

displaying a first column of the matrix, wherein the first column comprises a plurality of symbols for functional elements;

displaying an interconnection column proximate to the first column that contains fields that each form a row with the fields of adjacent interconnection columns, wherein each row is assigned to one signal transmission channel; and

displaying an interconnection between one signal transmission channel and another signal transmission channel within the interconnection column in accordance with user input, wherein the interconnection operates to connect two or more of the symbols for functional elements;

wherein the computer program comprises a plurality of interconnected symbols, including said two or more of the symbols and a plurality of interconnections, including said interconnection, wherein the plurality of interconnected symbols graphically represents the functionality of the computer program, and wherein the computer program is executable according to the interconnected symbols for the functional elements represented in the matrix.

37. The memory medium according to claim 36 wherein the interconnection column is blocked against a second interconnection between other signal transmission channels.

38. The memory medium according to claim 36, wherein the program instructions are further executable to implement:

executing the computer program, wherein the computer program executes according to the interconnected symbols for functional elements displayed in the matrix.

39. A memory medium which stores a graphical computer program, wherein the graphical computer program controls functional elements, wherein the graphical computer program comprises:

a matrix which graphically specifies operation of the computer program, wherein the matrix comprises columns displayed on a display device, wherein the matrix comprises;

a first column of the matrix, wherein the first column comprises a plurality of symbols for functional elements;

an interconnection column proximate to the first column that contains fields that each form a row with the fields of adjacent interconnection columns, wherein each row is assigned to one signal transmission channel; and

an interconnection between one signal transmission channel and another signal transmission channel within the interconnection column in accordance with user input, wherein the interconnection operates to connect two or more of the symbols for functional elements;

wherein the graphical computer program comprises a plurality of interconnected symbols, including said two or more of the symbols and a plurality of interconnections, including said interconnection, wherein the plurality of interconnected symbols graphically represents the functionality of the computer program, and wherein the computer program is executable according to the interconnected symbols for the functional elements represented in the matrix.

40. A method for the configuration and parameterization of a computer program for the operation of a data processing system that contains at least one data processor, one data memory, one input device and one display device, wherein the computer program controls functional elements, characterized by the following steps:

a) generating a first column of a matrix with columns and rows that are perpendicular to one another on the display device, wherein the first column contains at least one field for accommodating a symbol for a functional element that can be input by means of the input device,

b) generating an interconnection column that is parallel to the first column and contains fields that each form a row with the fields of adjacent interconnection columns, wherein each row is assigned to one signal transmission channel, and

c) generating an interconnection between one signal transmission channel and another signal transmission channel within an interconnection column in accordance with user inputs by means of the input device, the interconnection being displayed in the interconnection column on the display device, and this interconnection column being blocked against a second interconnection between other signal transmission channels;

wherein said matrix, when configured with a plurality of symbols and a plurality of interconnections, including said interconnection, comprises the computer program, wherein the computer program is executable according to the interconnected symbols for the functional elements represented in the matrix.