Function specific graphical program property nodes

• US 7,631,295 B2
• Filed: 06/24/2003
• Issued: 12/08/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: National Instruments Corporation (Emerson Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: National Instruments Corporation (Emerson Electric Company)
• Inventors: Johnson, Brian M., Makowski, Thomas A., Vaidya, Rajesh, Thorne, Stephen C., Bryant, Deborah E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dam; Tuan Q
• Assistant Examiner(s): TECKLU, ISAAC TUKU
• Application Number:
  US10/602,553
• Publication Number:
  US 20040230553A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,359 Days
• Field of Search: 717/105
• US Class Current: 717/113
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 30/3312 Timing analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/34 Graphical or visual programming

Abstract

System and method for accessing properties of a pre-defined object in a graphical program (GP) operable to perform first functionality. A node icon is displayed in the GP and coupled to the pre-defined object in response to user input, and is associated with program instructions executable to only provide access to a plurality of properties corresponding to the object, and specifying configuration of the object, where the object is associated with a subset of the first functionality. Available properties of the object are displayed, and user input indicating the plurality of properties received. The GP is executed, including executing the property node to: receive input specifying modification of a property, and modify the property to configure the object to perform the subset of the first functionality; and/or to read the property from the pre-defined object, and provide the property to a graphical program element of the GP, e.g., for display.

Claims

1. A computer readable storage memory medium comprising program instructions, wherein the program instructions are executable by a processor to:

display a function node in a graphical program on a display, wherein the graphical program comprises a plurality of nodes and connections between the plurality of nodes, wherein the plurality of connected nodes visually indicate functionality of the graphical program, and wherein the function node is executable in the graphical program to perform a first function;

display a function specific property node in the graphical program on the display, wherein the function specific property node is specific to the first function, wherein the function specific property node comprises a plurality of properties of the first function;

associate the function specific property node with the function node;

display the plurality of properties on the display; and

receive user input selecting one or more of the plurality of properties;

wherein the selected one or more properties are accessible during execution of the graphical program, and wherein, during execution of the graphical program, the function specific property node is executable to;

receive input specifying a modification to at least one of the one or more properties; and

modify the at least one of the one or more properties in response to the input to configure the function node to perform the first function, wherein, after said modifying, the function node is executable in the graphical program to perform the first function in accordance with the modified at least one of the one or more properties.

2. The memory medium of claim 1, wherein the property node is statically typed to correspond to the function node.

3. The memory medium of claim 1, wherein the function specific property node visually indicates the association with the function node.

4. The memory medium of claim 1, wherein, prior to said displaying the plurality of properties on the display, the function specific property node is executable to:

display one or more filtering options for available properties of the function node, wherein the available properties include the plurality of properties; and

receive user input indicating a first filtering option of the one or more filtering options, wherein said displaying the plurality of properties is performed in accordance with the first filtering option.

5. The memory medium of claim 1, wherein, during execution of the graphical program, the function specific property node is executable to:

read at least one of the plurality of properties from the function node; and

provide the at least one property to a graphical program element comprised in the graphical program.

6. The memory medium of claim 5, wherein the graphical program element comprises a GUI, wherein the GUI is operable to display the at least one property during execution of the graphical program.

7. The memory medium of claim 1,

wherein the function node comprises a timing node, operable to provide timing functionality for the graphical program;

and

wherein the function specific property node comprises a timing property node.

8. The memory medium of claim 1,

wherein the function node comprises a triggering node, operable to provide triggering functionality for the graphical program;

and

wherein the function specific property node comprises a triggering property node.

9. The memory medium of claim 1,

wherein the function node comprises a read node, operable to provide data acquisition (DAQ) functionality for the graphical program;

and

wherein the function specific property node comprises a read property node.

10. The memory medium of claim 1,

wherein the function node comprises a write node, operable to provide signal generation functionality for the graphical program;

and

wherein the function specific property node comprises a write property node.

11. The memory medium of claim 1,

wherein the function node comprises a channel creation node, operable to create a channel for the graphical program;

and

wherein the function specific property node comprises a channel property node, operable to access channel properties of the created channel.

12. The memory medium of claim 1,

wherein the function node comprises a calibration information data structure that is operable to provide calibration information for a device used by the graphical program;

and

wherein the function specific property node comprises a calibration information property node.

13. The memory medium of claim 1,

wherein the function node comprises an export signal data structure that is operable to provide export signal data for the graphical program;

and

wherein the function specific property node comprises an export signal property node.

14. The memory medium of claim 1,

wherein the function node comprises a switch channel specification for the graphical program;

and

wherein the function specific property node comprises a switch channel property node.

15. The memory medium of claim 1,

wherein the object comprises a switch scanning task specification for the graphical program;

and

wherein the function specific property node comprises a switch scan property node.

16. The memory medium of claim 1,

wherein the function node comprises a scale specification for the graphical program;

and

wherein the function specific property node comprises a scale property node.

17. The memory medium of claim 1,

wherein the function node comprises a data structure storing software configuration information for a host computer system;

and

wherein the function specific property node comprises a system property node.

18. The memory medium of claim 1,

wherein the function node comprises a data structure that stores general task information, including one or more of:

a task name;

one or more channel names;

a number of channels;

or

a task status indicator; and

wherein the function specific property node comprises a task property node.

19. The memory medium of claim 1,

wherein the function node represents a hardware device;

and

wherein the function specific property node comprises a device property node.

20. A system, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory medium coupled to the processor, wherein the memory medium stores program instructions executable by the processor to;

display a function node in a graphical program on a display, wherein the graphical program comprises a plurality of nodes and connections between the plurality of nodes, wherein the plurality of connected nodes visually indicate functionality of the graphical program, and wherein the function node is executable in the graphical program to perform a first function;

display a function specific property node in the graphical program on the display, wherein the function specific property node is specific to the first function, wherein the function specific property node comprises a plurality of properties of the first function;

associate the function specific property node with the function node;

display the plurality of properties on the display; and

receive user input selecting one or more of the plurality of properties;

wherein the selected one or more properties are accessible during execution of the graphical program, and wherein, during execution of the graphical program, the function specific property node is executable to;

receive input specifying a modification to at least one of the one or more properties; and

modify the at least one of the one or more properties in response to the input to configure the function node to perform the first function, wherein, after said

modifying, the function node is executable in the graphical program to perform the first function in accordance with the modified at least one of the one or more properties.