Creating a graphical program to configure one or more switch devices

• US 6,954,904 B2
• Filed: 03/29/2002
• Issued: 10/11/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/15/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: National Instruments Corporation (Emerson Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: National Instruments Corporation (Emerson Electric Company)
• Inventors: White, Jason
• Primary Examiner(s): Bautista, X. L.
• Application Number:
  US10/113,850
• Publication Number:
  US 20030046657A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,292 Days
• Field of Search: 715/700, 715/771, 715762-764, 715/772, 715/810, 715/826, 715/846, 715/853, 715/967, 715/970, 345/501, 345/520, 345/522
• US Class Current: 715/763
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/00 Routing or path finding of packets in data switching networks routing or path finding in wireless networks H04W40/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1302 Relay switches
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1304 Coordinate switches, crossbar, 4/2 with relays, coupling field
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13093 Personal computer, PC
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13097 Numbering, addressing
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13103 Memory
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13141 Hunting for free outlet, circuit or channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13175 Graphical user interface [GUI], WWW interface, visual indication
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/545 using a stored programme
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 715/967 Visual or iconic programming
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 715/97 Instrumentation and component modelling, e.g. interactive control panel

Abstract

A system and method for creating a graphical program operable to configure one or more switch devices. A first node may be displayed in the graphical program, wherein the first node is operable to use route information to control or configure one or more of switch devices in a switching system. The first node may be configured with route information. For example, the route information may comprise information specifying one or more routes previously configured and stored. Also, the route information may comprise information specifying two endpoints of a route, as in the case of run-time auto-routing, or may comprise information explicitly specifying a complete route. The first node may be operable to perform various types of operations to control or configure the one or more switch devices, such as a connect operation to connect specified routes.

Claims

1. A method for creating and executing a graphical program that configures one or more switch devices, wherein the method operates in a computer system including a display device and a user input device, the method comprising:

creating the graphical program, wherein said creating the graphical program comprises;

displaying on the display device one or more graphical program nodes in the graphical program in response to user input; and

configuring the one or more graphical program nodes to dynamically find a determined route between two endpoints in the one or more switch devices in response to user input; and

configuring the one or more graphical program nodes to configure the one or more switch devices in response to user input;

executing the graphical program, wherein said executing the graphical program comprises executing the one or more graphical program nodes, wherein during execution of the graphical program the one or more graphical program nodes are operable to dynamically find a determined route between two endpoints in the one or more switch devices and configure the one or more switch devices using the determined route.

2. The method of claim 1,

wherein the graphical program comprises a plurality of interconnected graphical program nodes that visually indicate functionality of the graphical program.

3. The method of claim 1,

wherein the graphical program comprises one of a graphical data flow program or a graphical control flow program.

4. The method of claim 1,

wherein the one or more switch devices each comprises a plurality of switch device channels;

wherein the determined route comprises a plurality of connections between the plurality of the switch device channels, wherein the plurality of connections connect a first endpoint of a first switch device to a second endpoint of a second switch device;

wherein said determining the determined route comprises determining the plurality of connections between the plurality of the switch device channels.

5. The method of claim 1,

wherein a first switch device of the one or more switch devices and a second switch device of the one or more switch devices are coupled using one or more hardwires, wherein the first switch device and the second switch device each comprise a plurality of switch device channels, wherein each of the one or more hardwires is operable to couple a channel of the first switch device to a channel of the second switch device;

wherein said determining the determined route comprises determining one or more switch device channels and one or more hardwires to use in the determined route.

6. The method of claim 1,

wherein the determined route specifies a plurality of connections within the one or more switch devices;

wherein, during execution of the graphical program, the one or more graphical program nodes are operable to cause the one or more switch devices to activate the plurality of connections specified by the determined route.

7. The method of claim 1,

wherein said configuring the one or more graphical program nodes to configure the one or more switch devices comprises connecting a first parameter to the one or more graphical program nodes, wherein the first parameter specifies two route endpoints;

wherein, during execution of the graphical program, the one or more graphical program nodes are operable to cause;

dynamic determination of a route connecting the two route endpoints; and

configuration of the one or more switch devices to perform the route connecting the two route endpoints.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

connecting the one or more graphical program nodes to one or more other graphical program nodes in the graphical program.

9. The method of claim 1,

wherein the graphical program comprises a block diagram portion and a user interface portion.

10. A computer-implemented method for creating and executing a graphical program to configure a route between one or more switch devices, the method comprising:

creating the graphical program, wherein said creating the graphical program comprises;

displaying a first node in the graphical program, wherein the first node is operable to dynamically find a route between two endpoints in the one or more switch devices to determine a determined route; and

configuring a second node with route information specifying the determined route, wherein he second node is operable to use the determined route to configure the one or more switch devices, wherein the determined route comprises route information;

executing the graphical program, wherein said executing the graphical program comprises executing the first node and the second node, wherein the first node executes to said dynamically find the determined route between two endpoints in the one or more switch devices and the second node executes to said configure the one or more switch devices according to the determined route.

11. The method of claim 10,

wherein the graphical program comprises a plurality of interconnected nodes that visually indicate functionality of the graphical program.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

connecting the first node to the second node in the graphical program.

13. The method of claim 10,

wherein the graphical program comprises a block diagram portion and a user interface portion.

14. The method of claim 10,

wherein the graphical program comprises a graphical data flow program.

15. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

receiving user input requesting to include the first node in the graphical program;

wherein said displaying the first node in the graphical program is performed in response to the user input.

16. The method of claim 10,

wherein the first node and the second node are the same node in the graphical program.

17. The method of claim 10,

wherein the one or more switch devices each comprises a plurality of switch device channels;

wherein the determined route comprises a plurality of connections between the plurality of the switch device channels, wherein the plurality of connections connect a first endpoint of a first switch device to a second endpoint of a second switch device;

wherein said finding the route comprises determining the plurality of connections between the plurality of the switch device channels.

18. The method of claim 10,

wherein a first switch device of the one or more switch devices and a second switch device of the one or more switch devices are coupled using one or more hardwires, wherein the first switch device and the second switch device each comprise a plurality of switch device channels, wherein each one of the one or more hardwires is operable to couple a channel of the first switch device to a channel of the second switch device;

wherein said finding the determnined route comprises determining one or more switch device channels and one or more hardwires to use in the determined route.

19. The method of claim 10,

wherein said second node executing to configure the one or more switch devices according to the determined route comprises the second node executing to cause the one or more switch devices to connect the determnined route.

20. The method of claim 10,

wherein said configuring the second node with route information specifying the determined route comprises connecting one or more inputs to one or more input terminals of the second node;

wherein the one or more inputs specify the determined route.

21. The method of claim 10,

wherein each route comprises a plurality of connections, wherein each connection connects two switch device channels.

22. The method of claim 10,

wherein said determining the determined route comprises determining a plurality of connections between the plurality of switch device channels, wherein said determining the determined route further comprises determining the hardwire connection between the first switch device and the second switch device.

23. The method of claim 10,

wherein said configuring the second node with route information specifying one or more routes comprises receiving user input to a graphical user interface panel or window associated with the first node.

24. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

using the first node two or more times in the graphical program to dynamically find a plurality of determined routes between a plurality of endpoints;

wherein one or more of the plurality of the determined routes comprises a plurality of connections, wherein each connection connects two switch device channels.

25. The method of claim 24,

wherein the plurality of connections comprises at least one hardwire connection;

wherein the hardwire connection connects a channel of a first switch device to a channel of a second switch device.

26. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

displaying a third node in the graphical program, wherein the third node is operable to cause the one or more switch devices to disconnect one or more routes; and

configuring the third node with route information specifying the determined route;

wherein said executing the graphical program further comprises executing the third node after said executing one or more of the first node and the second node, wherein the third node executes to cause the one or more switch devices to disconnect the determined route.

27. A memory medium for creating and executing a graphical program to configure one or more switch devices, the memory medium comprising program instructions executable to:

create the graphical program, wherein said creating the graphical program comprises program instructions being executable to;

receive user input requesting inclusion of a first node in the graphical program; and

display the first node in the graphical program in response to the request, wherein the first node is operable to find one or more determined route and use route information to configure the one or more switch devices; and

configure the first node with route information specifying the one or more determined route;

execute the graphical program, wherein during said execution of the graphical program the first node executes to dynamically find one or more determined routes and configure the one or more switch devices according to the one or more determined routes.

28. The memory medium of claim 27,

wherein the graphical program comprises a plurality of interconnected nodes that visually indicate functionality of the graphical program.

29. The memory medium of claim 28, further comprising program instructions executable to connect the first node to one or more other nodes in the graphical program.

30. The memory medium of claim 27,

wherein the graphical program comprises a graphical data flow program.

31. The memory medium of claim 27,

wherein said first node executing to configure the one or more switch devices according to the one or more determined routes comprises the first node executing to cause the one or more switch devices to connect the one or more determined routes.

32. The memory medium of claim 27,

wherein each of the one or more switch devices each comprises a plurality of switch device channels;

wherein the one or more determined routes comprise a plurality of connections between the plurality of the switch device channels, wherein the plurality of connections connect a first endpoint of a first switch device to a second endpoint of a second switch device;

wherein said finding the one or more determined routes comprises determining the plurality of connections between the plurality of the switch device channels.

33. The memory medium of claim 27,

wherein a first switch device of the one or more switch devices and a second switch device of the one or more switch devices are coupled using one or more hardwires, wherein the first switch device and the second switch device each comprise a plurality of switch device channels, wherein each one of the one or more hardwires is operable to couple a channel of the first switch device to a channel of the second switch device;

wherein said finding the one or more determined routes comprises determining one or more switch device channels and one or more hardwires to use in the one or more determined routes.

34. A memory medium for creating and executing a graphical program that configures one or more switch devices, the memory medium comprising program instructions executable to:

create a graphical program, wherein said creating a graphical program comprises program instructions executable to;

receive user input requesting inclusion of a graphical program node in the graphical program;

display on the display device the graphical program node in the graphical program in response to the user input; and

configure the graphical program node to configure the one or more switch devices in response to user input;

execute the graphical program, wherein said executing the graphical program comprises executing the graphical program node, wherein during execution of the graphical program the graphical program node is operable to dynamically find a determined route between two endpoints between the one or more switch devices and configure the one or more switch devices using the determined route.

35. The memory medium of claim 34,

wherein the graphical program comprises a plurality of interconnected graphical program nodes that visually indicate functionality of the graphical program.

36. The memory medium of claim 35,

wherein the graphical program comprises one of a graphical data flow program or a graphical control flow program.

37. The memory medium of claim 34,

wherein each of the one or more switch devices each comprises a plurality of switch device channels;

wherein the determined route comprises a plurality of connections between the plurality of the switch device channels, wherein the plurality of connections connect a first endpoint of a first switch device to a second endpoint of a second switch device;

wherein said finding the determined route comprises determining the plurality of connections between the plurality of the switch device channels.

38. The memory medium of claim 34,

wherein a first switch device of the one or more switch devices and a second switch device of the one or more switch devices are coupled using one or more hardwires, wherein the first switch device and the second switch device each comprise a plurality of switch device channels, wherein each one of the one or more hardwires is operable to couple a channel of the first switch device to a channel of the second switch device;

wherein said finding the determined route comprises determining one or more switch device channels and one or more hardwires to use in the determined route.