Graphical functions

• US 7,720,656 B2
• Filed: 05/14/2001
• Issued: 05/18/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The MathWorks, Inc.
• Original Assignee: The MathWorks, Inc.
• Inventors: Torgerson, Jay Ryan, Raghavan, Vijaya
• Primary Examiner(s): Shah; Kamini S
• Assistant Examiner(s): Alhija; Saif A
• Application Number:
  US09/855,199
• Publication Number:
  US 20020167544A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,291 Days
• Field of Search: 703/6, 703/2, 717/109
• US Class Current: 703/6
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/34 Graphical or visual programming

Abstract

A method, system and computer program product to define and utilize functions graphically is provided which may be used in the simulation of finite state machines. The functions may combine mathematical, logical, non-linear and comparative operations. The graphical elements of the function may be hidden for ease of display of various portions of a model.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

providing a graphical user interface for defining a function to be used in a graphical representation of a finite state machine, where the graphical representation is an executable model of the finite state machine in a statechart system and includes at least one state and at least one transition;

representing the function graphically such that the function is graphically represented separately from the at least one state and at least one transition in the graphical representation of the finite state machine, wherein the function that is represented graphically has a function prototype that specifies a syntax for invoking the function, the function prototype specifying a function name for the function, and the function is defined in the statechart system in a graphical language; and

calling the function that is represented graphically by the function name according to the syntax specified by the function prototype from within the graphical representation of the finite state machine.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the graphical function further includes a function block.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the graphical function further includes a function flow diagram that graphically defines a procedure performed by the function.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising modifying the function through graphical diagramming.

4. A computer-implemented method, said method comprising:

providing a graphical user interface for defining a function to be used in a graphical representation of a finite state machine, where the graphical representation is an executable model of the finite state machine in a statechart system and includes at least one state and at least one transition;

representing the function graphically such that the function is graphically represented separately from the at least one state and the at least one transition in the graphical representation of the finite state machine,

wherein the function is represented graphically in the statechart system as a diagram comprising graphical elements and has a function prototype that specifies a syntax for invoking the function, the function prototype specifying a function name for the function; and

calling the function that is represented graphically by the function name according to the syntax specified by the function prototype from within the graphical representation of the finite state machine.

6. A computer program product, stored in a computer readable storage medium, comprising instructions to cause a computer to:

receive input defining a graphical function for use in a finite state machine in a statechart system, the graphical function having a function prototype in the statechart system that specifies a syntax for invoking the graphical function, the function prototype specifying a function name for the graphical function; and

use the graphical function in a simulation of a system represented by the finite state machine, wherein the instructions to use the graphical function further comprise instructions to call the graphical function by the function name according to the syntax specified by the function prototype from at least one state or transition in the finite state machine, the graphical function being represented graphically such that the graphical function is graphically represented separately from the at least one state or transition in the finite state machine.

7. The computer program product of claim 6 wherein the input defining the graphical function is entered into a function block.

8. The computer program product of claim 6 wherein the input comprises a function flow diagram that graphically defines a procedure performed by the function.

9. The computer program product of claim 8 wherein the function flow diagram is comprised of graphical elements.

10. A system for modeling at least one finite state machine, said system comprising:

a computer comprising a graphical user interface, a memory, a storage, and at least one input device;

means to receive input to define a graphical function, the graphical function having a function prototype that specifies a syntax for invoking the graphical function, the function prototype specifying a function name for the graphical function;

means to represent the graphical function as an executable state flow diagram in a statechart system; and

means to call the graphical function by the function name according to the syntax specified by the function prototype from the at least one finite state machine in a simulation of the at least one finite state machine, the at least one finite state machine including at least one state and at least one transition, the graphical function being represented graphically such that the graphical function is graphically represented separately from the at least one state and the at least one transition in the finite state machine in the statechart system.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the input to define the graphical function is entered into a function block.

12. The system of claim 10 wherein the input comprises a function flow diagram that graphically defines a procedure performed by the graphical function.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein the function flow diagram is comprised of graphical elements.

14. The system of claim 12 further comprising means for hiding the display of the function flow diagram based upon input.

15. A method of operating a data processing system having a graphical user interface, said method comprising:

creating a graphical representation of a finite state machine and a graphical representation of a function for use in the graphical representation of the finite state machine in a statechart system, the function having a function prototype represented in the statechart system that specifies a syntax for invoking the function, the function prototype specifying a function name for the function, the graphical representation of the finite state machine including at least one state and at least one transition, the graphical representation of the function being represented graphically such that the function is graphically represented separately from the at least one state and the at least one transition in the graphical representation of the finite state machine;

simulating a system represented by the finite state machine in the statechart system, wherein the graphical representation of the finite state machine is an executable model of the system; and

calling the function by the function name according to the syntax specified by the function prototype from the executable model of the system during the act of simulating the system represented by the finite state machine.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising shadowing the function, wherein shadowing comprises using in a function invocation a function definition closest to a point of invocation of the function in a state diagram hierarchy.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein the function is exportable by a state chart and may be invoked anywhere in the finite state machine in which the chart appears, including other charts that define the finite state machine.

18. The method of claim 15 wherein simulating the system represented by the finite state machine further comprises computer code generation.

19. A computer readable storage medium having encoded thereon:

instructions for causing a computer system to receive through a graphical user interface a graphical representation of a finite state machine for use in a statechart system and a graphical representation of a function for use in the graphical representation of the finite state machine, the function having a function prototype that is represented in the statechart system that specifies a syntax for invoking the function, the function prototype specifying a function name for the function, the graphical representation of the finite state machine including at least one state and at least one transition, the function being represented graphically such that the function is graphically represented separately from the at least one state and the at least one transition in the graphical representation of the finite state machine; and

instructions for simulating a system represented by the finite state machine, where the graphical representation of the finite state machine is an executable model of the system; and

instructions for calling the function by the function name according to the syntax specified in the function prototype from at least one place in the executable model during the system simulation.

20. In an electronic device, a method of graphically representing an event-driven system, said method comprising:

providing one or more block components representing one or more states in an executable model in a event-driven system modeling environment;

providing one or more transition components representing transitions between the one or more states; and

providing a function having a function prototype that specifies a syntax for invoking the function, the function prototype specifying a function name for the function, said function comprising at least two graphical components in the event driven-system modeling environment and being referenced by at least one of the states or at least one of the transitions to call the function by the function name according to the syntax specified by the function prototype at the at least one of the states or the at least one of the transitions, the function being represented graphically such that the function is graphically represented separately from the at least one of the states and the at least one of the transitions in the executable model.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the function accepts at least one argument and returns at least one result.

22. The method of claim 20, further comprising invoking the function at a second one of the one or more transition components or one or more block components.

23. The method of claim 20, further comprising specifying data properties of the function.

24. The method of claim 20, further comprising associating a data item with the function.

25. The method of claim 20, wherein the function comprises a graphical function.

26. The method of claim 20, wherein the function has a plurality of configurable properties.

27. The method of claim 20, further comprising providing a shadowing function, wherein shadowing comprises using in a function invocation a function definition proximally closest to a point of invocation of the function in a state diagram hierarchy.

28. In a graphical representation environment, a system for graphically representing an event-driven system, said system comprising:

one or more block components representing one or more states in an executable model in an event-driven system environment;

one or more transition components representing transitions between the one or more block components representing the one or more states; and

a component representing a graphical function having a function prototype that specifies a syntax for invoking the function, the function prototype represented in the event-driven system environment and specifying a function name for the graphical function, and referenced by at least one of the states or at least one of the transitions to call the graphical function by the function name according to the syntax specified by the function prototype at one of the states or one of the transitions, the graphical function being represented graphically such that the graphical function is graphically represented separately from the at least one of the states and the at least one of the transitions in the executable model.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein the graphical function accepts at least one argument and returns at least one result.

30. The system of claim 28, wherein at least a subset of the one or more block components representing the states and the one or more transition components can invoke the graphical function.

31. The system of claim 28, further comprising means for specifying data properties of the graphical function.

32. The system of claim 28, further comprising means for associating a data item with the graphical function.

33. The system of claim 28, wherein the component representing the graphical function is referenced by one more of:

at least one of the states or at least one of the transitions.

34. The system of claim 28, wherein the graphical function has a plurality of configurable properties.

35. The system of claim 28, further comprising means for providing a shadowing function, wherein shadowing comprises using in a function invocation a function definition proximally closest to a point of invocation of the function in a state diagram hierarchy.

36. A computer-readable storage medium for use in a graphical representation environment on an electronic device, the medium holding instructions executable using the electronic device for graphically representing an event-driven system, said instructions comprising instructions for:

providing one or more block components representing one or more states in an executable model in an event-driven system environment;

providing one or more transition components representing transitions between the one or more block components representing the one or more states; and

providing a block component in the event-driven system environment representing a graphical function defined in the event-driven system environment having a function prototype that specifies a syntax for invoking the graphical function, the function prototype specifying a function name for the graphical function and referenced by at least one of the states or at least one of the transitions to call the graphical function by the function name according to the syntax specified by the function prototype at one of the states or one of the transitions during execution of the event-driven system, the graphical function being represented graphically such that the graphical function is graphically represented separately from the at least one of the states and the at least one of the transitions in the executable model.

37. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 36, wherein the graphical function accepts at least one argument and returns at least one result.

38. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 36, wherein the one or more transition components can invoke the graphical function.

39. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 36, further comprising instructions for accepting input specifying data properties of the graphical function.

40. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 36, further comprising instructions for associating a data item with the graphical function.

41. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 36, wherein the graphical function comprises two or more graphical elements.

42. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 36, wherein the graphical function has a plurality of configurable properties.

43. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 36 further comprising instructions for providing a shadowing function, wherein shadowing comprises using in a function invocation a function definition proximally closest to a point of invocation of the graphical function in a state diagram hierarchy.

44. A computer-implemented method for modeling a system using a graphical block diagram environment, said method comprising:

graphically representing a function defined in the graphical block diagram environment having a function prototype that specifies a syntax for invoking the function, the function prototype specifying a function name for the function for use in an executable model within the graphical block diagram environment, the executable model including at least one state and at least one transition, the function being represented graphically such that the function is graphically represented separately from the at least one state and the at least one transition in the executable model; and

textually referencing the graphically represented function by the function name according to the syntax specified by the function prototype within the model to cause an invocation of the graphically represented function during execution of the model.

45. The computer-implemented method of claim 44, wherein the model is represented as a finite state machine.

46. The computer-implemented method of claim 45, wherein the finite state machine is a hierarchical finite state machine.

47. The computer-implemented method of claim 45 further comprising:

associating the graphically represented function with at least one state or transition within the finite state machine.

48. The computer-implemented method of claim 44, wherein the graphically represented function is represented as at least one of a finite state machine, a state flow diagram, a function flow diagram, and a graphical block diagram model.

49. A computer-readable storage medium holding instructions executable using an electronic device for modeling a system using a graphical block diagram environment, said instructions comprising instructions for:

graphically defining a function in the graphical block diagram environment having a function prototype that specifies a syntax for invoking the function, the function prototype specifying a function name for the function for use in an executable model within the graphical block diagram environment, the executable model including at least one state and at least one transition, the function being represented graphically such that the function is graphically represented separately from the at least one state and the at least one transition in an executable model; and

textually referencing the graphically represented function by the function name according to the syntax specified by the function prototype within the model to cause an invocation of the graphically represented function during execution of the model.

50. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 49, wherein the model is represented as a finite state machine.

51. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 50 further comprising instructions for:

associating the graphically represented function with at least one state or transition within the finite state machine.

52. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 49, wherein the graphically represented function is represented as at least one or a combination of:

a finite state machine, a state flow diagram, a function flow diagram, and a graphical block diagram model.

53. A computer-implemented system for modeling using a graphical block diagram environment, said system comprising:

means for representing a function defined in the graphical block diagram environment having a function prototype that specifies a syntax for invoking the function, the function prototype specifying a function name for the function, the function being defined graphically for use in an executable model within the graphical block diagram environment, the executable model including at least one state and at least one transition, the function being represented graphically such that the function is graphically represented separately from the at least one state and the at least one transition in the executable model; and

means for textually referencing the function defined graphically by the function name according to the syntax specified by the function prototype within the model to cause an invocation of the function during execution of the model.

54. The system of claim 53, wherein the executable model is represented as a finite state machine.

55. The system of claim 54 further comprising:

means for associating the graphically represented function with at least one state or transition within the finite state machine.

56. The system of claim 53, wherein the graphically represented function is represented as at least one or a combination of a finite state machine, a state flow diagram, a function flow diagram, and a graphical block diagram model.

57. A graphical block diagram modeling system comprising:

a graphical function for use in an executable model in a graphical block diagram modeling environment, the graphical function having a function prototype that specifies a syntax for invoking the graphical function, the function prototype specifying a function name for the graphical function, wherein at least a subset of commands of the graphical function are defined through a graphical representation in the graphical block diagram modeling environment, the executable model including at least one state and at least one transition, the graphical function being represented graphically such that the graphical function is graphically represented separately from the at least one state and the at least one transition in the executable model; and

a graphical representation of the model including a textual reference of the graphical function by the function name according to the syntax specified by the function prototype within the graphical representation of the model to cause an invocation of the graphical function during an execution of the model.

58. The system of claim 57, wherein the model is represented as a finite state machine.

59. The system of claim 58, wherein the finite state machine is a hierarchical finite state machine.

60. The system of claim 58, wherein the finite state machine further comprises:

at least one state or transition associated with the graphical function.

61. The system of claim 57, wherein the graphical function is represented as at least one or a combination of:

a finite state machine, a state flow diagram, a function flow diagram, and a graphical block diagram model.