Graphically deploying programs on devices in a system

• US 7,367,028 B2
• Filed: 04/01/2002
• Issued: 04/29/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/14/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: National Instruments Corporation (Emerson Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: National Instruments Corporation (Emerson Electric Company)
• Inventors: Kodosky, Jeffrey L., Rogers, Steven W., Shah, Darshan
• Primary Examiner(s): Dam; Tuan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rutten; J. Derek
• Application Number:
  US10/113,067
• Publication Number:
  US 20030184595A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,220 Days
• Field of Search: 717174-178, 715/763, 715/835, 715/967, 715/748
• US Class Current: 717/177
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/0426 Programming the control sequence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23258 GUI graphical user interface, icon, function bloc editor, labview
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25067 Graphic configuration control system
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0486 Drag-and-drop
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/34 Graphical or visual programming
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/60 Software deployment
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/61 Installation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/025 for remote control or remote monitoring of applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/75 Indicating network or usage conditions on the user display
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• 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 and using configuration diagrams for configuring distributed systems. The methods described herein may be used for various types of operations in configuring distributed systems, including creating programs, managing programs in the distributed system, deploying programs to various distributed devices, configuring remote execution or inter-operation of distributed programs, and executing distributed applications. Embodiments of the invention utilize graphical iconic-based techniques for performing the above operations. The configuration diagram may include device icons which represent devices and program icons which represent programs. Device icons and program icons may be associated with each other to accomplish various program creation and deployment operations. Device icons and program icons may also interact with graphical program nodes or icons. Context sensitive device connections and/or program connections are displayed. An asynchronous data flow node may be used to facilitate asynchronous data flow between two graphical programs. The distributed system may also support distributed graphical debugging.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for deploying a program in a system, wherein the method executes on a first computer system, the method comprising:

displaying a plurality of program icons on a display of the first computer system, wherein each of the program icons corresponds to a respective at least one program of a plurality of programs, wherein the plurality of programs are configured to execute according to a specified relationship, wherein said displaying the plurality of program icons on the display comprises displaying the plurality of program icons according to the specified relationship to visually indicate the specified relationship of the plurality of programs;

displaying a device icon on the display of the first computer system, wherein the device icon corresponds to a. device in the system, wherein the device is coupled to the first computer system;

associating a first program icon of the plurality of program icons with the device icon in response to user input, wherein the first program icon corresponds to a first program;

deploying the first program onto the device in response to said associating; and

displaying the first program icon connected to the device icon after said associating;

wherein the first program icon displayed connected to the device icon visually indicates that the first program is deployed on the device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying a new icon on the display in response to said associating, wherein the new icon visually indicates that the first program is deployed, on the device and will be executing on the device.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the new icon is displayed in place of the first program icon.

4. The method of claim 2,

wherein said displaying a new icon comprises modifying the first program icon to visually indicate that the first program is deployed on the device and will be executing on the device, wherein said modifying is performed in response to said associating.

5. The method of claim 4,

wherein said modifying comprises modifying the first program icon to include the appearance of the device icon.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying the first program icon proximate to the device icon after said associating;

wherein the first program icon displayed proximate to the device icon visually indicates that the first program is deployed on the device.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

modifying the device icon in response to said associating, wherein the modified device icon visually indicates that the first program is deployed on the device.

8. The method of claim 1,

wherein the specified relationship comprises one of an object-oriented relationship or a hierarchical relationship.

9. The method of claim 1,

wherein the first program is configured to call one or more second programs according to the specified relationship;

wherein said deploying comprises deploying the first program and the one or more second programs onto the device in response to said associating.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the one or more second programs have corresponding one or more second program icons;

the method further comprising;

displaying the first program icon and the one or more second program icons proximate to the device icon in response to said associating;

wherein the first program icon and the one or more second program icons displayed proximate to the device icon visually indicates that the first program and the one or more second programs are deployed on the device.

11. The method of claim 1,

wherein the plurality of programs are configured to execute according to a hierarchy;

wherein said displaying the plurality of program icons on the display comprises displaying the plurality of program icons according to the hierarchy to visually indicate the execution hierarchy of the plurality of programs;

wherein the first program is operable to call one or more lower level programs in the execution, hierarchy, wherein the one or more lower level programs include a corresponding one or more lower level program icons

the method further comprising;

displaying the first program icon and the one or more lower level program icons proximate to the device icon in response to said associating;

wherein the first program icon and the one or more lower level program icons displayed proximate to the device icon visually indicates that the first program and the one or more lower level program icons are deployed on the device.

12. The method of claim 1,

wherein the plurality of programs comprise an application;

the method further comprising;

automatically modifying the application to invoke the first program on the device in response to said associating;

wherein during execution the application is operable to invoke the first program on the device;

wherein the first program executes on the device.

13. The method of claim 12,

wherein said modifying comprises modifying at least one program in the application to invoke the first program on the device in response to said associating.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

modifying one or more of the program icons on the display to visually indicate that the application invokes the first program on the device.

15. The method of claim 12,

wherein the first program is invoked by a second program according to the specified relationship;

wherein said modifying comprises modifying the second program in the application to invoke the first program on the device.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

modifying the first program icon to visually indicate that the first program is deployed on the device and will be executing on the device, wherein said modifying is performed in response to said associating.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

executing the application after said deploying;

executing the second program;

the second program invoking the first program on the device during said executing; and

the first program executing on the device in response to said invoking.

18. The method of claim 12,

wherein the plurality of programs are configured to execute according to a hierarchy;

wherein said displaying the plurality of program icons on the display comprises displaying the plurality of program icons according to the hierarchy;

wherein the first program is below a second program in the hierarchy, and

wherein the first program is invoked by the second program, wherein the second program icon is located immediately above the first program icon in the hierarchy;

wherein said modifying comprises modifying the second program in the application to invoke the first program on the device.

19. The method of claim 1,

wherein the plurality of programs comprise an application;

wherein, when the application executes, the application is operable to invoke the first program on the device.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of programs comprise an application, the method further comprising:

modifying the application to invoke the first program on the device in response to said associating;

executing the application after said deploying;

the application invoking the first program on the device during said executing; and

the first program executing on the device.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein the first program has a first program type, the method further comprising:

determining the first program type of the first program;

determining the one or more program types supported by the device;

determining if the device is compatible with the first program type of the first program;

converting the first program to a different program type supported by the device if the device is not compatible with the first program type of the first program.

22. The method of claim 1,

wherein said associating the first program icon of the plurality of program icons with the device icon in response to user input comprises dragging and dropping the first program icon onto the device icon.

23. The method of claim 22,

wherein said dragging and dropping the first program icon onto the device icon includes receiving further user input indicating that the first program is to be deployed onto the device.

24. The method of claim 1,

wherein said associating the first program icon of the plurality of program icons with the device icon in response to user input comprises using speech recognition to associate the first program icon with the device icon.

25. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

installing a new program on the first computer system;

automatically detecting the new program installed on the first computer system;

automatically displaying a new program icon on the display corresponding to the new program.

26. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying a first computer system device icon corresponding to the first computer system;

wherein the plurality of program icons are displayed proximate to the first computer system device icon.

27. The method of claim 26, further comprising:

installing a new program on the first computer system;

automatically detecting the new program installed on the first computer system;

automatically displaying a new program icon on the display corresponding to the new program;

wherein the new program icon is displayed proximate to the first computer system device icon.

28. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

coupling a new device to the system;

automatically detecting the new device coupled to the system;

automatically displaying a new device icon on the display corresponding to the new device.

29. The method of claim 1,

wherein the plurality of programs include one or more graphical programs.

30. The method of claim 1,

wherein the system is a measurement system, wherein the device is a measurement device;

wherein the first program performs a measurement function;

the method further comprising;

the first program executing on the measurement device to acquire a signal;

the measurement device providing the signal to the first computer system;

the first computer system executing to analyze and/or display the signal.

31. The method of claim 1,

wherein the plurality of programs comprise a measurement application;

wherein the system is a measurement system, wherein the device is a measurement device;

wherein the first program performs a measurement function;

the method further comprising;

beginning execution of the measurement application on the first computer system after said deploying;

invoking the first program on the measurement device during said executing;

the first program executing on the measurement device to acquire a signal;

the measurement device providing the signal to the first computer system;

the first computer system executing to analyze and/or display the signal.

32. The method of claim 1,

wherein the system is a automation system, wherein the device is an automation device, wherein the first program performs an automation function;

the method further comprising;

the first program executing on the automation device to acquire a signal;

the automation device providing the signal to the first computer system;

wherein the automation application executes on the first computer system to perform an automation function.

33. The method of claim 32,

wherein the automation system is a process control system.

34. A method for distributing an application among a plurality of devices in a system, wherein the application comprises a plurality of programs, wherein the method executes on a first computer system, the method comprising:

displaying a plurality of program icons on a display of the first computer system, wherein each of the program icons corresponds to a respective at least one program in the application, wherein the plurality of programs are configured to execute according to a specified relationship, and wherein said displaying the plurality of program icons on the display comprises displaying the plurality of urowam icons according to the specified relationship to visually indicate the specified relationship of the plurality of programs;

displaying a plurality of device icons on the display of the first computer system, wherein each of the device icons con-es ponds to a device in the system, wherein each of the devices is coupled to the first computer system;

associating a first program icon of the plurality of program icons with a first device icon in response to user input, wherein the first program icon corresponds to a first program in the application, wherein the first device icon corresponds to a first device;

deploying the first program onto the first device in response to said associating;

associating a second program icon of the plurality of program icons with a second device icon in response to user input, wherein the second program icon corresponds to a second program in the application, wherein the second device icon corresponds to a second device;

deploying the second program onto the second device in response to said associating;

displaying the first program icon connccted to the first device icon after said associating, wherein the first program icon displayed connected to the first device icon visually indicates that the first program is deployed on the first device; and

displaying the second program icon connected to the second device icon after said associating, wherein the second program icon displayed connected to the second device icon visually indicates that the second program is deployed on the second device.

35. The method of claim 34, further comprising:

displaying a first new icon on the display in response to said associating the first program icon, wherein the first new icon visually indicates that the first program is deployed on the first device and will be executing on the first device;

displaying a second new icon on the display in response to said associating the second program icon, wherein the second new icon visually indicates that the second program is deployed on the second device and will be executing on the second device.

36. The method of claim 34, further comprising:

displaying the first program icon proximate to the first device icon after said associating;

wherein the first program icon displayed proximate to the first device icon visually indicates that the first program is deployed on the first device;

displaying the second program icon proximate to the second device icon after said associating;

wherein the second program icon displayed proximate to the second device icon visually indicates that the second program is deployed on the second device.

37. The method of claim 34, further comprising:

automatically modifying the application to invoke the first program on the first device in response to said associating;

automatically modifying the application to invoke the second program on the second device in response to said associating;

wherein during execution of the application the application is operable to invoke the first program on the first device and invoke the second program on the second device.

38. The method of claim 34,

wherein the first program is configured to call one or more third programs according to the specified relationship, wherein the one or more third programs have corresponding one or more third program icons;

wherein said deploying comprises deploying the first program and the one or more third programs onto the device in response to said associating;

wherein said displaying comprises displaying the first program icon and the one or third program icons proximate to the device icon in response to said associating;

wherein the first program icon and the one or third program icons displayed proximate to the device icon visually indicates that the first program and the one or third programs are deployed on the device.

39. A memory medium comprising program instructions for distributing an application among devices in a system, wherein the application comprises a plurality of programs, wherein the system comprises a plurality of devices, wherein the program instructions are computer-executable to implement:

displaying a plurality of program icons on a display of a first computer system, wherein each of the program icons corresponds to a respective at least one program in the application, wherein the plurality of programs are configured to execute according to a specified relationship, and wherein said displaying the plurality of proaram icons comprises displaying the plurality of program icons according to the specified relationship to visually indicate the specified relationship of the plurality of programs;

displaying a plurality of device icons on the display of the first computer system, wherein each of the device icons corresponds to a device in the system;

associating a first program icon of the plurality of program icons with a first device icon in response to user input, wherein the first program icon corresponds to a first program in the application, wherein the first device icon corresponds to a first device in the system;

deploying the first program onto the first device in response to said associating; and

displaying the first program icon connected to the first device icon after said associating;

wherein the first program icon displayed connected to the first device icon visually indicates that the first program is deployed on the first device.

40. The memory medium of claim 39, wherein the program instructions are further executable to implement:

displaying a new icon on the display in response to said associating, wherein the new icon visually indicates that the first program is deployed on the first device and is executable on the first device.

41. The memory medium of claim 40, wherein the new icon is displayed in place of the first program icon.

42. The memory medium of claim 39, wherein the program instructions are further executable to implement:

modifying one or more of an appearance or a position of the first program icon to visually indicate that the first program is deployed on the first device and is executable on the first device, wherein said modifying is performed in response to said associating.

43. The memory medium of claim 42,

wherein said modifying comprises modifying the first program icon to include the appearance of the first device icon.

44. The memory medium of claim 39, wherein the program instructions are further executable to implement:

displaying the first program icon proximate to the device icon in response to said associating;

wherein the first program icon displayed proximate to the device icon visually indicates that the first program is deployed on the device.

45. The memory medium of claim 39, wherein the program instructions are further executable to implement:

modifying the device icon in response to said associating, wherein the modified device icon visually indicates that the first program is deployed on the device.

46. The memory medium of claim 39,

wherein the specified relationship comprises one of an object-oriented relationship and a hicrarchical relationship.

47. The memory medium of claim 39,

wherein said displaying the plurality of device icons further comprises displaying connections between the plurality of device icons, wherein the displayed connections indicate physical couplings between the devices.

48. The memory medium of claim 39,

wherein the plurality of programs are configured to execute according to a hierarchy;

wherein said displaying the plurality of program icons on the display comprises displaying the plurality of program icons according to the hierarchy to visually indicate the execution hierarchy of the plurality of programs.

49. The memory medium of claim 39, wherein the program instructions are further executable to implement:

modifying the application to invoke the first program on the device in response to said associating;

wherein during execution of the application the application is operable to invoke the first program on the device;

wherein the first program executes on the device.

50. The memory medium of claim 49,

wherein said modifying comprises modifying the application to include a call to the first program on the device in response to said associating.

51. The memory medium of claim 49, wherein the program instructions are further executable to implement:

modifying one or more of the program icons on the display to visually indicate that the application invokes the first program on the device.

52. The memory medium of claim 49,

wherein the first program is invoked by a second program according to the specified relationship;

and

wherein said modifying comprises modifying the second program in the application to invoice the first program on the device.

53. The memory medium of claim 49,

wherein the plurality of programs are configured to execute according to a hierarchy;

wherein said displaying the plurality of program icons on the display comprises displaying the plurality of program icons according to the hierarchy;

wherein the first program is below a second program in the hierarchy, and

wherein the first program is invoked by the second program, wherein the second program icon is located immediately above the first program icon in the hierarchy;

wherein said modifying comprises modifying the second program in the application to invoke the first program on the device.

54. The memory medium of claim 39, wherein the program instructions are further executable to implement:

modifying the application to invoke the first program on the device in response to said associating;

wherein the program instructions are further executable to implement;

executing the application after said deploying;

the application invoking the first program on the device during said executing; and

the first program executing on the device.

55. The memory medium of claim 39, wherein the program instructions are further executable to implement:

coupling a new device to the system;

automatically detecting the new device coupled to the system;

automatically displaying a new device icon on the display corresponding to the new device.

56. The memory medium of claim 39, wherein the program instructions are further executable to implement:

installing a new program on the first computer system;

automatically detecting the new program installed on the first computer system;

automatically displaying a new program icon on the display corresponding to the new program.

57. The memory medium of claim 39, further comprising:

displaying a first computer system device icon corresponding to the first computer system;

wherein one or more of the plurality of program icons are displayed proximate to the first computer system device icon.

58. The memory medium of claim 39, further comprising:

displaying a first computer system device icon corresponding to the first computer system;

installing a new program on the first computer system;

automatically detecting the new program installed on the first computer system;

automatically displaying a new program icon on the display corresponding to the new program;

wherein the new program icon is displayed proximate to the first computer system device icon.

59. The memory medium of claim 39, wherein the first program has a first program type, wherein the program instructions are further executable to implement:

determining the first program type of the first program;

determining the one or more program types supported by the device;

determining if the device is compatible with the first program type of the first program; and

converting the first program to a different program type supported by the device if the device is not compatible with the first program type of the first program.

60. The memory medium of claim 39,

wherein, when the application executes on the first computer system, the application is operable to invoke the first program on the device.

61. The memory medium of claim 39,

wherein said associating the first program icon of the plurality of program icons with the device icon in response to user input comprises dragging and dropping the first program icon onto the device icon.

62. The memory medium of claim 61,

wherein said dragging and dropping is performed by a pointing device.

63. The memory medium of claim 61,

wherein said dragging and dropping the first program icon onto the device icon includes receiving further user input indicating that the first program is to be deployed onto the device.

64. The memory medium of claim 63,

wherein said further user input comprises user input to a keyboard of the first computer system.

65. The memory medium of claim 39,

wherein said associating the first program icon of the plurality of program icons with the device icon in response to user input comprises using speech recognition to associate the first program icon with the device icon.

66. The memory medium of claim 39,

wherein said plurality of programs include one or more graphical programs.

67. A method for deploying a program on a device in a system, wherein the method executes on a first computer system, the mcthod comprising:

displaying a plurality of program icons on a display of the first computer system, wherein each of the program icons corresponds to a respective at least one program of a plurality of programs, wherein the plurality of programs are configured to execute according to a specified relationship, and wherein said displaying the plurality of program icons on the display comprises displaying the plurality of program icons according to the specified relationship to visually indicate the specified relationship of the plurality of programs;

displaying a device icon which corresponds to a device in the systcm, wherein the device is coupled to the first computer system;

dragging and dropping a first program icon of the plurality of program icons onto the device icon in response to user input, wherein the first program icon corresponds to a first program;

deploying the first program onto the device in response to said dragging and dropping; and

displaying the first program icon connected to the device icon after said dragging and dropping;

wherein the first program icon displayed connected to the device icon visually indicates that the first program is deployed on the device.

68. The method of claim 67, further comprising:

displaying a new icon on the display in response to said dragging and dropping, wherein said new icon visually indicates that the first program is deployed on the device and will be executing on the device.

69. The method of claim 68, wherein the new icon is displayed in place of the first program icon.

70. The method of claim 67, further comprising:

modifying one or more of an appearance or position of the first program icon to visually indicate that the first program is deployed on the device and will be executing on the device, wherein said modifying is performed in response to said dragging and dropping.

71. The method of claim 70,

wherein said modifying comprises modifying the first program icon to include the appearance of the device icon.

72. The method of claim 67, further comprising:

displaying the first program icon proximate to the device icon in response to said dragging and dropping;

wherein the first program icon displayed proximate to the device icon visually indicates that the first program is deployed on the device.

73. The method of claim 67, further comprising:

modifying the device icon in response to said dragging and dropping, wherein the modified device icon visually indicates that the first program is deployed on the device.

74. The method of claim 67,

wherein the specified relationship comprises on of an object-oriented relationship and a hierarchical relationship.

75. The method of claim 67,

wherein the plurality of programs are configured to execute according to a hierarchy;

wherein said displaying the plurality of program icons on the display comprises displaying the plurality of program icons according to the hierarchy;

wherein the plurality of program icons are displayed to visually indicate the execution hierarchy of the plurality of programs.

76. The method of claim 67, the method further comprising:

modifying a second program to invoke the first program on the device in response to said dragging and dropping;

wherein during execution of the application the second program is operable to invoke the first program on the device;

wherein the first program executes on the device.

77. The method of claim 76, further comprising:

modifying a second program icon on the display to visually indicate that the second program invokes the first program on the device.

78. The method of claim 76,

wherein the first program is invoked by the second program according to the specified relationship.

79. The method of claim 76,

wherein the plurality of programs are configured to execute according to a hierarchy;

wherein said displaying the plurality of program icons on the display comprises displaying the plurality of program icons according to the hierarchy;

wherein the first program is below the second program in the hierarchy, and

wherein the first program is invoked by the second program, wherein the second program icon is located immediately above the first program icon in the hierarchy.

80. The method of claim 67, further comprising:

modifying a second program to invoke the first program on the device in response to said dragging and dropping;

modifying a second program icon on the display to visually indicate that the second program invokes the first program on the device;

the method further comprising;

executing the programs after said deploying;

the second program invoking the first program on the device during said executing; and

the first program executing on the device.

81. The method of claim 67, further comprising:

the first program executing on the device after said deploying.

82. A computer-implemented method for configuring a system, the method comprising:

displaying one or more device icons on a display, wherein each device icon represents a device in the system;

displaying a plurality of program icons on the display, wherein each program icon represents a respective program of a corresponding plurality of programs in the system, wherein the plurality of programs are configured to execute according to a specified relationship, wherein said displaing the plurality of program icons on the display comprises displaying the plurality of program icons according to the specified relationship to visually indicate the specified relationship of the plurality of programs;

graphically selecting a first program icon of the plurality of program icons on the display and dragging the first program icon on to a first device icon on the display in response to user input, wherein the first program icon corresponds to a first program, and wherein the first device icon corresponds to a first device;

transferring the first program to the first device in response to said selecting and said dragging; and

displaying the first program icon connected to the first device icon after said selecting and dragging;

wherein the first program icon displayed connected to the first device icon visually indicates that the first program is transferred to the first device.

83. The method of claim 82,

wherein the plurality of programs are configurcd to execute in a hierarchy;

and

wherein said displaying the plurality of program icons comprises displaying the plurality of program icons in a hierarchy corresponding to the hierarchy of the plurality of programs.

84. The method of claim 82,

wherein the first program is a graphical program.

85. The method of claim 82,

wherein said displaying one or more device icons comprises displaying a plurality of device icons on the display, wherein said displaying further comprises displaying connections between the plurality of device icons, wherein the displayed connections indicate actual connections between the devices.

86. A method for deploying a program in a system, wherein the method executes on a first Computer system, the method comprising:

displaying a first device icon on the display of the first compi,iter system, wherein the first device icon corresponds to a first device in the system, wherein the first device is coupled to the first computer system;

displaying a plurality of program icons, including a first program icon, proximate to the first device icon, wherein the plurality of program icons correspond to a plurality of programs stored on the first device, wherein the first program icon corresponds to a first program, stored on the first device, wherein the plurality of programs are configured to execute according to a specified relationship, and wherein said displaying the plurality of program icons comprises displaying the plurality of program icons according to the specified relationship to visually indicate the specified relationship of the plurality of programs;

displaying a second device icon on the display of the first computer system, wherein the second device icon corresponds to a second device in the system, wherein the second device is qoupied. to the first computer system;

associating the first program icon with the second device icon in response to user input;

deploying the first program onto the second device in response to said associating; and

displaying the first program icon connected to the second device icon after said associating;

wherein the first program icon displayed connected to the second device icon visually indicates that the first program is deployed on the second device.

87. The method of claim 86, further comprising:

displaying the first program icon proximate to the second device icon after said associating;

wherein the first program icon displayed proximate to the second device icon visually indicates that the first program is deployed on the second device.

88. The method of claim 86, further comprising:

modifying the second device icon in response to said associating, wherein the modified second device icon visually indicates that .the first program is deployed on the second device.

89. The method of claim 86, further comprising:

displaying a new icon proximate to the second device icon after said associating;

wherein the new icon displayed proximate to the second device icon visually indicates that the first program is deployed on the second device.

90. The method of claim 89, wherein the new icon is displayed in place of the first program icon.

91. The method of claim 89,

wherein said displaying a new icon comprises modifying the first program icon to visually indicate that the first program is deployed on the second device and will be executing on the second device, wherein said modifying is performed in response to said associating.

92. The method of claim 91,

wherein said modifying comprises modifying the first program icon to include the appearance of the second device icon.

93. The method of claim 86, further comprising:

displaying a new icon on the display proximate to the first device icon in response to said associating, wherein the new icon visually indicates that the first program is deployed on the second device and will be executing on the second device.

94. The method of claim 86, further comprising:

displaying a new icon on the display proximate to the first device icon in response to said associating, wherein the new icon visually indicates that a program on the first device will be invoking the first program for remote execution on the second device.

95. The method of claim 86,

wherein the first device includes a third program which invokes the first program the method further comprising:

displaying on the display a third program icon proximate to the first device icon, wherein the third program icon corresponds to the third program;

displaying a new icon on the display proximate to the third program icon in response to said associating;

wherein the new icon visually indicates that the third program on the first device will be invoking the first program for remote execution on the second device.

96. The method of claim 86,

wherein the first program is configured to call one or more second programs according to the specified relationship;

and

wherein said deploying comprises the first program and the one or more second programs onto the second device in respbnse to said associating.

97. The method of claim 96, wherein the one or more second programs have corresponding one or more second program icons;

the method further comprising;

displaying the first program icon and the one or more second program icons proximate to the second device icon in response to said associating;

wherein the first program icon and the one or more second program icons displayed proximate to the second device icon visually indicate that the first program and the one or more second programs are deployed on the second device.

98. The method of claim 86, further comprising:

automatically modifying a third program on the first device to invoke the first program on the second device in response to said associating;

wherein during execution the third program is operable to invoke the first program on the second device;

wherein the first program executes on the second device.

99. The method of claim 98,

wherein the third program includes a corresponding third program icon;

the method further comprising;

modifying the third program icon on the display to visually indicate that the third program invokes the first program on the second device.

100. The method of claim 98, further comprising:

executing the application after said deploying;

executing the third program on the first device;

the third program invoking the first program on the second device during said executing; and

the first program executing on the second device in response to said invoking.

101. The method of claim 86,

wherein the first program is comprised in an application;

wherein, when the application executes on the first device, the application is operable to invoke the first program on the second device.

102. The method of claim 101, further comprising:

modifying the application to invoke the first program on the second device in response to said associating;

the method further comprising;

executing the application after said deploying;

the application invoking the first program on the second device during said executing; and

the first program executing on the second device.

103. The method of claim 86, wherein the first program has a first program type, the method further comprising:

determining the first program type of the first program;

determining the one or more program types supported by the second device;

determining if the second device is compatible with the first program type of the first program;

converting the first program to a different program type supported by the second device if the second device is not compatible with the first program type of the first program.

104. The method of claim 86,

wherein said associating the first program icon with the second device icon in response to user input comprises dragging and dropping the first program icon onto the second device icon.

105. The method of claim 104,

wherein said dragging and dropping the first program icon onto the second device icon includes receiving further user input indicating that the first program is to be deployed onto the second device.

106. The method of claim 86,

wherein said deploying the first program onto the second device comprises moving the first program from the first device to the second device.

107. A memory medium comprising program instructions for deploying a program in a system, wherein the program instructions are computer-executable to implement:

displaying a plurality of program icons on a display of a first computer system, wherein each of the program icons corresponds to a respective at least one program of a plurality of orograms in an application, wherein the plurality of pronrams are configured to execute according to a specified relationship, and wherein said displaying the plurality of program icons on the display comprises displaying the plurality of program icons according to the specified relationship to visually indicate the specified relationship of the plurality of programs;

displaying a device icon on the display of the first computer system, wherein the device icon corresponds to a device in the system, wherein the device is coupled to the first computer system;

associating a first program icon of the plurality of program icons with the device icon in response to user input, wherein the first program icon corresponds to a first program in the application;

deploying the first program onto the device in response to said associating;

displaying the first program icon connected to the device icon after said associating;

wherein the first program icon displayed connected to the device icon visually indicates that the first program is deployed on the device.

108. The memory medium of claim 107, wherein the program instructions are further executable to implement:

displaying a new icon on the display in response to said associating, wherein the new icon visually indicates that the first program is deployed on the device and will be executing on the device.

109. The memory medium of claim 108, wherein the new icon is displayed in place of the first program icon.

110. The memory medium of claim 108,

wherein said displaying a new icon comprises modifying the first program icon to visually indicate that the first program is deployed on the device and will be executing on the device, wherein said modifying is performed in response to said associating.

111. The memory medium of claim 110,

wherein said modifying comprises modifying the first program icon to include the appearance of the device icon.

112. The memory medium of claim 107, wherein the program instructions are further executable to implement:

displaying the first program icon proximate to the device icon after said associating;

wherein the first program icon displayed proximate to the device icon visually indicates that the first program is deployed on the device.

113. The memory medium of claim 107, wherein the program instructions are further executable to implement:

automatically modifying the application to invoke the first program on the device in response to said associating;

wherein during execution of the application the application is operable to invoke the first program on the device;

wherein the first program executes on the device.

114. The memory medium of claim 107, wherein the first program has a first program type, wherein the program instructions are further executable to implement:

determining the first program type of the first program;

determining the one or more program types supported by the device;

determining if the device is compatible with the first program type of the first program;

converting the first program to a different program type supported by the device if the device is not compatible with the first program type of the first program.

115. A memory medium comprising program instructions for deploying a program in a system, wherein the program instructions are executable to implement:

displaying a plurality of program icons, including a first device icon, on the display of a first computer system, wherein the plurality of program icons correspond to a plurality of programs stored on the first device, wherein the first device icon corresponds to a first device in the system, wherein the first device is coupled to the first computer system, wherein the plurality of programs are configured to execute according to a specified relationship, and wherein said displaying the plurality of program icons comprises displaying the plurality of program icons according to the specified relationship to visually indicate the specified relationship of the plurality of programs;

displaying a first program icon proximate to the first device icon, wherein the first program icon corresponds to a first program;

displaying a second device icon on the display of the first computer system, wherein the second device icon corresponds to a second device in the system, wherein the second device is coupled to the first computer system;

associating the first program icon with the second device icon in response to user input;

deploying the first program onto the second device in response to said associating; and

displaying the first program icon connected to the second device icon after said associating;

wherein the first program icon displayed connected to the second device icon visually indicates that the first program is deployed on the second device.

116. A memory medium which stores:

representations for a plurality of program icons, wherein each of the program icons corresponds to a respective at least one program in an application, wherein the programs represented by the plurality of program icons are configured to execute according to a specified relationship;

representations for a device icon, wherein the device icon corresponds to a device in the system, wherein the device is coupled to a first computer system; and

a software program executable to;

display the plurality of program icons and the device icon on a display of the first computer system, according to the specified relationship to visually indicate the specified relationship of the programs;

associate a first program icon. of the plurality of program icons with the device icon in response to user input, wherein the first program icon corresponds to a first program in the application;

deploy the first program onto the device in response to said associating; and

display the first program icon connected to the device icon after said associating;

wherein the first program icon displayed connected to the device icon visually indicates that the first program is deployed on the device.