Method, system and computer program product for generating program

• US 7,802,237 B2
• Filed: 06/21/2005
• Issued: 09/21/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: Yamada, Yasuhiro, Hoshino, Hitoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): CHAVIS, JOHN Q
• Application Number:
  US11/156,494
• Publication Number:
  US 20060020949A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,918 Days
• Field of Search: 717/133
• US Class Current: 717/133
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/34 Graphical or visual programming

Abstract

A program generation program used in a personal computer processes information on relationship between an action and a pair of a state of a system and an event to create a program for incorporating a new state in a state transition table. The computer reads the state transition table in a storage medium and selects the state specified in the state transition table. The computer generates a program that determines whether the selected state is an exceptional state or a normal state on the basis of state information in the state transition table. Based on the result of the determination, the program performs an action including a state transition or a process allocated to the exceptional state specified in the state transition table when the state is the exceptional.

Claims

1. A method for generating a control program that implements a plurality of practical means to a computer by using a program generation program, the method in the program generation program comprising the steps of:

reading and storing correspondence information that specifies allocation of an action to a process state stored in a storage medium in the computer;

determining whether the process state in the correspondence information is either of an exceptional process state or a normal process state based on an exception attribute of the process state in the correspondence information; and

generating the control program based on the correspondence information,

wherein the execution of the control program implements the practical means to the computer, the practical means includes;

a process state detection means for detecting that the process state in process state information stored in the storage medium in the computer is either of the normal process state or the exceptional process state in the correspondence information based on whether the process state indicates either of the normal process state or the exceptional process state in the correspondence information;

a normal process handling means for performing the action allocated to the normal process state specified in the correspondence information if the process state detected by the process state detection means is the normal process state, wherein the action allocated to the normal process state generates a normal process state handling code that handles the normal process state; and

an exceptional process handling means for performing the action allocated to the exceptional process state specified in the correspondence information if the process state detected by the execution of the control program is not the normal process state, wherein the action allocated to the exceptional process state generates an exceptional process state handling code that handles the process state not corresponding to the normal process state,

the exceptional process state handling code is added to the control program for representing a state transition to a pre-defined state in the correspondence information stored in the storage medium, and

the exceptional process state not corresponding to the normal process state is handled by the execution of the control program having the exceptional process state handling code.

2. The method according to claim 1,

wherein the practical means further includes an event detection means for detecting an event in the computer,

the correspondence information is used for specifying allocation of the action to the process state having the event,

the normal process handling means performs the action allocated to the process state having the event specified in the correspondence information if the process state is the normal process state,

the exceptional process handling means performs the action allocated to the exceptional process state having the event specified in the correspondence information if the process state is not the normal process states, and

the normal process handling means and the exceptional process handling means store the process state after a state transition in the process state information in the storage medium if the action includes the state transition.

3. The method according to claim 2 further comprising the steps of:

determining whether each process state having the event specified in the correspondence information is either of the exceptional process state or the normal process state; and

generating a portion of the control program that implements the exceptional process handling means in the computer if the process state is the exceptional process state.

4. The method according to claim 3,

wherein a warning message is generated if the action allocated to the process state includes the state transition to the exceptional process state.

5. The method according to claim 4,

wherein the process state specified in the correspondence information is so structured that one process state includes a plurality of subordinate process states, and

the exceptional process handling means performs the action allocated to the exceptional process state specified in the correspondence information if the subordinate process state in the normal process state is not the normal process state.

6. The method according to claim 5,

wherein the warning message is generated if the exceptional process state includes at least one subordinate process state.

7. The method according to claim 5,

wherein the warning message is generated if one process state includes a plurality of exceptional subordinate process states.

8. The method according to claim 1,

wherein the exception attribute of the process state exists in a process state name specified in the correspondence information.

9. The method according to claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

receiving an input of an exceptional process state and an action associated therewith; and

storing the correspondence information that specifies allocation of the action in the input to the exceptional process state in the input with an attribute of the process state as the exceptional process state.

10. A method for generating a control program that implements a plurality of practical means in a computer by using a generation program comprising the steps of:

reading correspondence information that specifies allocation of an action to a process state stored in a storage medium in the computer;

determining whether the process state in the correspondence information is either of an exceptional process state or a normal process state based on an exception attribute of the process state in the correspondence information; and

generating the control program based on the correspondence information,

wherein the control program implements the practical means to the computer, the practical means includes;

a process state detection means for detecting the process state in process state information stored in the storage medium in the computer;

a normal process handling means for performing the action allocated to the normal process state specified in the correspondence information if the process state is the normal process state; and

an exceptional process handling means for performing the action allocated to the exceptional process state specified in the correspondence information if the process state is not the normal process state,

wherein the correspondence information is represented by combination of graphic representation,

the graphic representation includes a state form representing the process state and a transition form representing the state transition, and

the state form having an appendix represents the exception attribute of the process state.

11. A program generation system implemented in a computer comprising:

a reading means for reading and storing correspondence information that specifies allocation of an action to a process state;

a determining means for determining whether the process state specified in the correspondence information is either of an exceptional process state or a normal process state on the basis of an exception attribute in the correspondence information; and

a generating means for generating a program based on the correspondence information read by the reading means,

wherein the execution of the program implements the practical means in the computer, the practical means includes;

a process state detection means for detecting that the process state in process state information stored in a storage medium in the computer is either of the normal process state or the exceptional process state in the correspondence information based on whether the process state indicates either of the normal process state or the exceptional process state in the corresponding information;

a normal process handling means for performing the action allocated to the normal process state specified in the correspondence information if the process state detected by the process state detection means is the normal process state, wherein the action allocated to the normal process state generates a normal process state handling code that handles the normal process state; and

an exceptional process handling means for performing the action allocated to the exceptional process state specified in the correspondence information if the process state detected by the execution of the program does not correspond to any of the normal process state, wherein the action allocated to the exceptional process state generates an exceptional process state handling code that handles the process state not corresponding to the normal process state,

the exceptional process state handling code is added to the program for representing a state transition to pre-defined state in the correspondence information stored in the storage medium, and

the exceptional process state not corresponding to the normal process state is handled by the execution of the program having the exceptional process state handling code.

12. The program generation system according to claim 11 further comprising:

a receiving means for receiving an input of the exceptional process state having the action associated therewith from a user; and

a storage control means for storing the correspondence information including the exceptional process state having the action with the exception attribute in the storage medium for the program generation system,

wherein the receiving means and the storage means are implemented by the program to store the correspondence information in the storage medium according to the input from the user.

13. The program generation system according to claim 12 further comprising a warning means implemented by the program,

wherein the warning means outputs a warning message if the receiving means receives the input of the action including a state transition to the exceptional process state.

14. The program generation system according to claim 13,

wherein the process state specified in the correspondence information is so structured that one process state includes a plurality of subordinate process states, and

the warning means outputs the warning message if the exceptional process state in the input is the subordinate process state of a normal process state having at least one exceptional subordinate process state specified in the correspondence information.

15. The program generation system according to claim 13,

wherein the process state specified in the correspondence information can include at least two subordinate process state, and

the warning means outputs the warning message if the receiving means receives the input of the exceptional process state having the subordinate process state.

16. A program generation system implemented in a computer comprising:

a reading means for reading correspondence information that specifies allocation of an action to a process state;

a determining means for determining whether the process state specified in the correspondence information is either of an exceptional process state or a normal process state on the basis of an exception attribute in the correspondence information; and

a generating means for generating a program based on the correspondence information read by the reading means,

wherein the program implements the practical means in the computer, the practical means includes;

a process state detection means for detecting the process state in process state information stored in a storage medium in the computer;

a normal process handling means for performing the action allocated to the normal process state specified in the correspondence information if the process state is the normal process state;

an exceptional process handling means for performing the action allocated to the exceptional process state specified in the correspondence information if the process state does not corresponds to any of the normal process state;

a receiving means for receiving an input of the exceptional process state having the action associated therewith from a user;

a storage control means for storing the correspondence information including the exceptional process state having the action with the exception attribute in the storage medium for the program generation system; and

a display control means for displaying an image on a display device according to the correspondence information,

wherein the receiving means and the storage means are implemented by the program to store the correspondence information in the storage medium according to the input from the user,

wherein the display control means is implemented by the program,

the image has graphic forms including a state form representing the process state and a transition form representing the state transition, and

the exceptional process state and the normal process state are represented by different graphic forms.

17. A program generation system implemented in a computer comprising:

a reading means for reading correspondence information that specifies allocation of an action to a process state;

a determining means for determining whether the process state specified in the correspondence information is either of an exceptional process state or a normal process state on the basis of an exception attribute in the correspondence information; and

a generating means for generating a program based on the correspondence information read by the reading means,

wherein the program implements the practical means in the compute, the practical means includes;

process state detection means for detecting the process state in process state information stored in a storage medium in the computer;

a normal process handling means for performing the action allocated to the normal process state specified in the correspondence information if the process state is the normal process state;

an exceptional process handling means for performing the action allocated to the exceptional process state specified in the correspondence information if the process state does not corresponds to any of the normal process state;

a receiving means for receiving an input of the exceptional process state having the action associated therewith from a user;

a storage control means for storing the correspondence information including the exceptional process state having the action with the exception attribute in the storage medium for the program generation system; and

a display control means for displaying an image on a display device according to the correspondence information,

wherein the receiving means and the storage means are implemented by the program to store the correspondence information in the storage medium according to the input from the user,

wherein the display control means is implemented by the program,

the image includes the correspondence information represented in a tabular form, and

the tabular form has a mark for representing the exceptional process state.

18. A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable medium having computer program logic recorded thereon for enabling generation of a control program in a computer, the computer program logic comprising:

a reading procedure for reading and storing correspondence information that specifies allocation of an action to a process state stored in a storage medium in the computer;

a determining procedure for determining whether the process state specified in the correspondence information is either of an exceptional process state or a normal process state on the basis of an exception attribute in the correspondence information; and

a generating procedure for generating a program based on the correspondence information,

wherein the execution of the control program implements practical means in the computer, the practical means includes;

a process state detection means for detecting that the process state in process state information stored in the storage medium in the computer is either of the normal process state or the exceptional process state in the correspondence information based on whether the process state indicates either of the normal process state or the exceptional process state in the correspondence information;

a normal process handling means for performing the action allocated to the normal process state specified in the correspondence information if the process state detected by the process state detection means is the normal process state, wherein the action allocated to the normal process state generates a normal process state handling code that handles the normal process state; and

an exceptional process handling means for performing the action allocated to the exceptional process state specified in the correspondence information if the process state detected by the execution of the control program does not correspond to any of the normal process state, wherein the action allocated to the exceptional process state generates an exceptional process state handling code that handles the process state not corresponding to the normal process state,

the exceptional process state handling code is added to the control program for representing a state transition to a pre-defined state in the correspondence information stored in the storage medium, and

the exceptional process state not corresponding to the normal process state is handled by the execution of the control program having the exceptional process state handling code.

19. A method for generating a program for implementing a plurality of practical means to a computer, the method comprising the steps of:

reading and storing correspondence information that specifies allocation of an action to a process state stored in a storage medium in the computer;

determining whether the correspondence information read by the reading means includes the action for an exceptional process state; and

generating the program based on the correspondence information,

wherein execution of the program implements the practical means in the computer, the practical means includes;

a process state detection means for detecting that the process state in process state information stored in the storage medium in the computer is either of a normal process state or an exceptional process state in the correspondence information based on whether the process state indicates either of the normal process state or the exceptional process state in the correspondence information;

a normal process handling means for performing the action allocated to the normal process state in the correspondence information, wherein the action allocated to the normal process state generates a normal process state handling code that handles the normal process state; and

an exceptional process handling means for performing the action allocated to the exceptional process state specified in the correspondence information if the process state detected by the execution of the program does not correspond to any of the process state in the correspondence information, wherein the action allocated to the exceptional process state generates an exceptional process state handling code that handles the process state not corresponding to the normal process state,

the exceptional process state handling code is added to the program for representing a state transition to a pre-defined state in the correspondence information stored in the storage medium, and

the exceptional process state not corresponding to the normal process state is handled by the execution of the program having the exceptional process state handling code.

20. The method according to claim 19,

wherein the process state in the correspondence information includes at least two subordinate process states.

21. The method according to claim 20 further comprising the step of determining whether the correspondence information allocates the action to the exceptional process state in a subordinate process state,

wherein the exceptional process handling means performs the action when the process state is one of the process states in the correspondence information without corresponding to any subordinate process state.

22. The method according to claim 21 further comprising the steps of:

receiving an input of an exceptional process state and an action associated therewith; and

storing the correspondence information that associates the action in the input with the exceptional process state.

23. A program generation system in a computer comprising:

a reading means for reading and storing correspondence information that specifies allocation of an action to a process state in a storage medium in the computer;

a determining means for determining whether the correspondence information read by the reading means includes the action for an exceptional process state; and

a generating means for generating a program based on the correspondence information read by the reading means,

wherein execution of the program implements the practical means in the computer, the practical means includes;

a process state detection means for detecting that the process state in process state information stored in the storage medium in the computer is either of a normal process state or the exceptional process state in the correspondence information based on whether the process state indicates either of the normal process state or the exceptional process state in the correspondence information;

a process handling means for performing the action allocated to the normal process state in the correspondence information, wherein the action allocated to the normal process state generates a normal process state handling code that handles the normal process state; and

an exceptional process handling means for performing the action allocated to the exceptional process state specified in the correspondence information if the process state detected by the execution of the program does not correspond to any process state in the correspondence information, wherein the action allocated to the exceptional process state generates an exceptional process state handling code that handles the process state not corresponding to the normal process state,

the exceptional process state handling code is added to the program for representing a state transition to a pre-defined state in the correspondence information stored in the storage medium, and

the exceptional process state not corresponding to the normal process state is handled by the execution of the program having the exceptional process state handling code.

24. The program generation system according to claim 23 further comprising:

a receiving means for receiving an input of the exceptional process state having the action associated thereto from a user; and

a storage control means for storing the correspondence information including the exceptional process state having the action with the exception attribute in the storage medium in the computer,

wherein the receiving means and the storage means are implemented by the program for storing the correspondence information in the storage medium in the computer.

25. A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable medium having computer program logic recorded thereon for enabling generation of a control program in a computer, the computer program logic comprising:

a reading procedure for reading and storing correspondence information that specifies allocation of an action to a process state;

a determining procedure for determining whether the correspondence information read by the reading means includes the action for an exceptional process state; and

a generating procedure for generating the control program based on the correspondence information read by the reading means,

wherein execution of the control program implements the practical means in the computer, the practical means includes;

a process state detection means for detecting that the process state in process state information stored in the computer is either of a normal process state or the exceptional process state in the correspondence information based on whether the process state indicates either of the normal process state or the exceptional process state in the correspondence information;

a process handling means for performing the action allocated to the process state in the correspondence information, wherein the action allocated to the normal process state generates a normal process state handling code that handles the normal process state; and

an exceptional process handling means for performing the action allocated to the exceptional process state specified in the correspondence information if the process state detected by the execution of the control program does not correspond to any of the process states in the correspondence information, wherein the action allocated to the exceptional process state generates an exceptional process state handling code that handles the process state not corresponding to the normal process state,

the exceptional process state handling code is added to the control program for presenting a state transition to a pre-defined state in the correspondence information stored in the storage medium, and

the exceptional process state not corresponding to the normal process state is handled by the execution of the control program having the exceptional process state handling code.

26. A method for generating a control program that implements a plurality of practical means to a computer, the computer (a) reads and stores correspondence information that associates an action to a process state stored in a memory of the computer for controlling a process in the computer, (b) determines whether the process state in the correspondence information is either of a normal process state or an exceptional process state based on an exception attribute of the process state in the correspondence information, and (e) generates the control program based on the correspondence information, the method comprising:

adding to the control program a program code of a process state detection means for detecting that the process state in the memory is either of the normal process state or the exceptional process state;

adding to the control program a program code of a normal process handling means for performing the action allocated to the normal process state specified in the correspondence information if the detected process state is corresponding to the normal process state; and

adding to the control program a program code of an exceptional process handling means for performing the action allocated to the exceptional process state specified in the correspondence information if the detected process state is not corresponding to the normal process state,

wherein the generated control program executed in one process on the computer handles, by the execution of the generated control program in the other process on the computer, the exceptional process state not corresponding to the normal process state when the execution of the generated control program causes the exceptional process state, and

the exceptional process state transits to one of pre-defined states in the correspondence information stored in the memory by the execution of the generated control program in the other process.

27. A method for generating a control program that implements a plurality of practical means to a computer, the computer (a) reads and stores correspondence information that associates an action to a process state stored in a memory of the computer for controlling a process in the computer, (b) determines whether the process state in the correspondence information is either of a normal process state or an exceptional process state based on an exception attribute of the process state in the correspondence information, and (c) generates the control program based on the correspondence information, the method comprising:

adding to the control program a program code of a process state detection means for detecting that the process state in the memory is either of the normal process state or the exceptional process state;

adding to the control program a program code of a normal process handling means for performing the action allocated to the normal process state specified in the correspondence information if the detected process state is corresponding to the normal process state; and

adding to the control program a program code of an exceptional process handling means for performing the action allocated to the exceptional process state specified in the correspondence information if the detected process state is not corresponding to the normal process state,

wherein the generated control program executed in one process on the computer handles, by parallel execution of the generated control program in the other process on the computer, an event having no pre-defined action in the correspondence information, when the execution of the generated control program results in the event having no pre-defined action, and

the event having no pre-defined action is associated with an action of state transition to one of pre-defined states in the correspondence information in the memory by the execution of the generated control program in the other process.