System and method for graphical model processing

• US 7,979,243 B1
• Filed: 05/13/2005
• Issued: 07/12/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The MathWorks, Inc.
• Original Assignee: The MathWorks, Inc.
• Inventors: Aberg, Robert O., Mosterman, Pieter J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Silver; David
• Assistant Examiner(s): PATEL, SHAMBHAVI K
• Application Number:
  US11/129,000
• Time in Patent Office: 2,251 Days
• Field of Search: 703/1, 703/2, 703/3, 703/6, 703/7, 703/16, 703/17, 703/20, 703/22
• US Class Current: 703/2
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2111/12 Symbolic schematics
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 30/15 Vehicle, aircraft or watercraft design
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 30/20 Design optimisation, verification or simulation optimisation, verification or simulation of circuit designs G06F30/30
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/34 Graphical or visual programming

Abstract

In a graphical modeling environment supporting a model having at least two different analysis frameworks operating therein, a system and corresponding method of processing the graphical model modify the model to group model portions together for processing in the same analysis framework. Model parts are identified and associated with the analysis framework in which they operate. Model parts are then grouped based on their association with their analysis framework to form model portions that operate in one of the different analysis frameworks. In instances where topological separation of model portions operating in the same analysis framework occurs, the system and method reconfigure intervening model portions to be amenable with operation in the analysis framework of the surrounding model portions to improve processing efficiency.

Claims

1. In a graphical modeling environment on a computational device having at least one physical processing element coupled to a memory, a method of processing an executable graphical model having at least two different analysis frameworks operating therein, the graphical model representing, at least in part, a physical device, the method comprising:

storing the graphical model formed of a plurality of model components and at least one demarcating block in the memory, each model component of the plurality of model components operating within one of the at least two different analysis frameworks, wherein each analysis framework relies upon a different dedicated algorithm from other of the analysis frameworks to derive solutions during processing;

automatically identifying a plurality of model parts of the graphical model, using a first physical processing element, each of the plurality of model parts being formed of at least one of the plurality of model components, at least one of the model parts identified by recognizing the at least one demarcating block within the graphical model, is the at least one demarcating block connecting the at least one model part being identified to a second model part and indicating a boundary of the least one model part;

identifying the analysis framework corresponding with each of the plurality of model parts, using the first physical processing element or a second physical processing element;

automatically grouping each of the plurality of model parts together to form a plurality of model portions, using the first physical processing element, the second physical processing element or a third physical processing element, wherein each model portion operates in one of the at least two different analysis frameworks, and wherein at least two of the model portions operating in a same analysis framework are topologically separated by one model portion operating in an analysis framework different from the at least two model portions operating in the same analysis framework; and

transforming the one model portion, which represents at least a part of the physical device, operating in the analysis framework different from the at least two model portions operating in the same analysis framework to operate in the same analysis framework as the at least two model portions operating in the same analysis framework, using the first physical processing element, the second physical processing element, the third physical processing element or a fourth physical processing element;

wherein the same analysis framework is not an executable block diagram.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein transforming comprises processing the plurality of model portions according to a dedicated algorithm of the plurality of dedicated algorithms corresponding to the analysis framework of the at least two different analysis frameworks to achieve intermediate processing results for each analysis framework;

and

converting the intermediate processing results for each analysis framework into a single model portion having a single dedicated algorithm corresponding to a single analysis framework within the graphical model.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the graphical model has a plurality of single model portions resulting from conversion of intermediate processing results, such that the graphical model is not limited to a single analysis framework.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the graphical model has at least one model portion resulting from conversion of intermediate processing results, such that the graphical model is limited to only a single analysis framework.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein

each model component forming the graphical model has a type,

the types of model components include a mechanical body type, a control signal type, and a rotating machine type, and

the identifying a plurality of model parts comprises recognizing the types of the model components forming the graphical model, and at least one of the identified model parts includes a set of interconnected model components all of which have the same type.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying the analysis framework comprises associating an analysis framework with the dedicated algorithm that corresponds to each of the plurality of model parts.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the different dedicated algorithms derives sorted equations in block diagram form.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the sorted equations are at least partially formed of block diagram elements.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein grouping each of the plurality of model parts together to form a plurality of model portions comprises operating a selection mechanism to select and indicate which of the plurality of model parts is processed by the same dedicated algorithm, such that each of the resulting plurality of model portions is processed with a different dedicated algorithm.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein one or more of the model parts of the graphical model is are formed of at least one block.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the at least one block is a polymorph block that is configurable to implement one of a plurality of different execution interpretations.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the execution interpretation implemented by the polymorph block within the graphical model is based at least in part on an indication from a user received by the graphical modeling environment.

13. In a computational device having one or more physical processors coupled to a memory, a system for processing an executable graphical model formed of a plurality of model components and at least one demarcating block, each model component of the plurality of model components operating within one of at least two different analysis frameworks, wherein each analysis framework relies upon a different dedicated algorithm from other of the analysis frameworks to derive solutions during processing, the graphical model representing, at least in part, a physical device, the system comprising:

a part identification mechanism stored on the memory and executable by a first physical processor, the part identification mechanism configured to identify a plurality of model parts of the graphical model, each of the plurality of model parts being formed of at least one of the plurality of model components, the part identification mechanism configured to automatically identify at least one of the model parts by recognizing the at least one demarcating block within the graphical model, the at least one demarcating block connecting the at least one model part being identified and indicating a boundary of the at least one model part;

an analysis framework identification mechanism stored on the memory and executable by the first or a second physical processor, the analysis framework identification mechanism configured to identify the analysis framework corresponding with each of the plurality of model parts;

a grouping mechanism stored on the memory and executable by the first, second or a third physical processor, the grouping mechanism configured to automatically group each of the plurality of model parts together to form a plurality of model portions, wherein each model portion operates in one of the at least two different analysis frameworks, and wherein at least two of the model portions operating in a same analysis framework are topologically separated by one model portion operating in an analysis framework different from the at least two model portions operating in the same analysis framework; and

a transforming mechanism stored on the memory and executable by the first, second, third or a fourth processor, the transforming mechanism configured to modify the one model portion, which represents at least a part of the physical device, operating in the analysis framework different from the at least two model portions operating in the same analysis framework to operate in the same analysis framework as the at least two model portions operating in the same analysis framework;

wherein the same analysis framework is not an executable block diagram.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the transforming mechanism processes the plurality of model portions according to a dedicated algorithm of the plurality of dedicated algorithms corresponding to the analysis framework of the at least two different analysis frameworks to achieve intermediate processing results for each analysis framework, and converts the intermediate processing results for each analysis framework into a single model portion having a single dedicated algorithm corresponding to a single analysis framework within the graphical model.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the graphical model has a plurality of single model portions resulting from conversion of intermediate processing results, such that the graphical model is not limited to a single analysis framework.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein the graphical model has at least one model portion resulting from conversion of intermediate processing results, such that the graphical model is limited to only a single analysis framework.

17. The system of claim 13, wherein

each model component forming the graphical model has a type, the types of model components including a mechanical body type, a control signal type, and a rotating machine type, and

the part identification mechanism is further configured to identify the plurality of model parts by recognizing the types of the model components forming the graphical model.

18. The system of claim 13, wherein each of the different dedicated algorithms derives sorted equations in block diagram form.

19. The system of claim 13, wherein the analysis framework identifier mechanism identifies the analysis framework corresponding with each of the plurality of model parts by associating an analysis framework with the dedicated algorithm that corresponds to each of the plurality of model parts.

20. The system of claim 13, wherein the grouping mechanism groups each of the plurality of model parts together to form a plurality of model portions by operating a selection mechanism to select and indicate which of the plurality of model parts is processed by the same dedicated algorithm, such that each of the resulting plurality of model portions is processed with a different dedicated algorithm.

21. The system of claim 13, wherein one or more of the model parts of the graphical model is formed of at least one block.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the at least one block is a polymorph block that is configurable to implement one of a plurality of different execution interpretations.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the execution interpretation implemented by the polymorph block within the graphical model is based at least in part on an indication received from a user.

24. A system for processing an executable graphical model having at least two different analysis frameworks operating therein, the system comprising:

at least one processor; and

a physical memory coupled to the at least one processor, the physical memory storing computer readable code that, when executed by the at least one processor, causes the processor to;

provide the graphical model formed of a plurality of model components and at least one demarcating block, each model component of the plurality of model components operating within one of the at least two different analysis frameworks, wherein each analysis framework relies upon a different dedicated algorithm from other of the analysis frameworks to derive solutions during processing;

automatically identify a plurality of model parts of the graphical model, each of the plurality of model parts being formed of at least one of the plurality of model components, at least one of the model parts identified by recognizing the at least one demarcating block within the graphical model, the at least one demarcating block connecting the at least one model part to a second model part and indicating a boundary of the at least one model part;

identify the analysis framework corresponding with each of the plurality of model parts;

automatically group each of the plurality of model parts together to form a plurality of model portions, wherein each model portion operates in one of the at least two different analysis frameworks, and wherein at least two of the model portions operating in a same analysis framework are topologically separated by one model portion operating in an analysis framework different from the at least two model portions operating in the same analysis framework; and

transform the one model portion operating in the analysis framework different from the at least two model portions operating in the same analysis framework to operate in the same analysis framework as the at least two model portions operating in the same analysis framework;

wherein the same analysis framework is not an executable block diagram.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein execution of the computer readable code that causes the at least one processor to transform further causes the at least one processor to

process the plurality of model portions according to a dedicated algorithm of the plurality of dedicated algorithms corresponding to the analysis framework of the at least two different analysis frameworks to achieve intermediate processing results for each analysis framework;

and

convert the intermediate processing results for each analysis framework into a single model portion having a single dedicated algorithm corresponding to a single analysis framework within the graphical model.

26. The system of claim 24, wherein the graphical model has a plurality of single model portions resulting from conversion of intermediate processing results, such that the graphical model is not limited to a single analysis framework.

27. The system of claim 24, wherein the graphical model has at least one model portion resulting from conversion of intermediate processing results, such that the graphical model is limited to only a single analysis framework.

28. The system of claim 24, wherein

each model component forming the graphical model has a type, the types of model components including a mechanical body type, a control signal type, and a rotating machine type, and

execution of the computer readable code that causes the at least one processor to identify a plurality of model parts further causes the at least one processor to recognize the types of the model components forming the graphical model.

29. The system of claim 24, wherein execution of the computer readable code that causes the at least one processor to identify the analysis framework further causes the at least one processor to associate an analysis framework with the dedicated algorithm that corresponds to each of the plurality of model parts.

30. The system of claim 24, wherein each of the different dedicated algorithms derives sorted equations in block diagram form.

31. The system of claim 30, wherein the sorted equations are at least partially formed of block diagram elements.

32. The system of claim 24, wherein execution of the computer readable code that causes the at least one processor to group each of the plurality of model parts together to form a plurality of model portions further causes the at least one processor to operate a selection mechanism to select and indicate which of the plurality of model parts is processed by the same dedicated algorithm, such that each of the resulting plurality of model portions is processed with a different dedicated algorithm.

33. The system of claim 24, wherein one or more the model parts of the graphical model is formed of at least one block.

34. The system of claim 33, wherein the at least one block is a polymorph block that is configurable to implement one of a plurality of different execution interpretations.

35. The system of claim 34, wherein the execution interpretation implemented by the polymorph block within the graphical model is based at least in part on an indication received from a user.

36. A system for processing an executable graphical model having at least two different analysis frameworks operating therein, the graphical model representing, at least in part, a physical device, the system comprising:

means for storing the graphical model formed of a plurality of model components and at least one demarcating block in the memory, each model component of the plurality of model components operating within one of the at least two different analysis frameworks, wherein each analysis framework relies upon a different dedicated algorithm from other of the analysis frameworks to derive solutions during processing;

means for automatically identifying a plurality of model parts of the graphical model, using a first physical processing element, each of the plurality of model parts being formed of at least one of the plurality of model components, at least one of the model parts identified by recognizing the at least one demarcating block within the graphical model, the at least one demarcating block connecting the at least one model part being identified to a second model part and indicating a boundary of the at least one model part;

means for identifying the analysis framework corresponding with each of the plurality of model parts, using the first physical processing element or a second physical processing element;

means for automatically grouping each of the plurality of model parts together to form a plurality of model portions, using the first physical processing element, the second physical processing element or a third physical processing element, wherein each model portion operates in one of the at least two different analysis frameworks, and wherein at least two of the model portions operating in a same analysis framework are topologically separated by one model portion operating in an analysis framework different from the at least two model portions operating in the same analysis framework; and

means for transforming the one model portion, which represents at least a part of the physical device, operating in the analysis framework different from the at least two model portions operating in the same analysis framework to operate in the same analysis framework as the at least two model portions operating in the same analysis framework, using the first physical processing element, the second physical processing element, the third physical processing element or a fourth physical processing element;

wherein the same analysis framework is not an executable block diagram.

37. In a graphical modeling environment on a computational device having at least one physical processing element coupled to a memory, a method of processing a graphical model having at least two different analysis frameworks operating therein, the method comprising:

storing the graphical model formed of a plurality of model components and at least one demarcating block in the memory, each model component of the plurality of model components operating within one of the at least two different analysis frameworks, wherein each analysis framework relies upon a different dedicated algorithm from other of the analysis frameworks to derive solutions during processing;

automatically identifying a plurality of model parts of the graphical model, using a first physical processing element, each of the plurality of model parts being formed of at least one of the plurality of model components, at least one of the model parts identified by recognizing the at least one demarcating block within the graphical model, the at least one demarcating block connecting the at least one model part being identified to a second model part and indicating a boundary of the at least one model part;

identifying the analysis framework corresponding with each of the plurality of model parts, using the first physical processing element or a second physical processing element;

automatically grouping each of the plurality of model parts together to form a plurality of model portions, using the first physical processing element, the second physical processing element or a third physical processing element, wherein each model portion operates in one of the at least two different analysis frameworks, and wherein at least two of the model portions operating in a same analysis framework are topologically separated by one model portion operating in an analysis framework different from the at least two model portions operating in the same analysis framework; and

transforming the one model portion, which represents at least a part of the physical device, operating in the analysis framework different from the at least two model portions operating in the same analysis framework to operate in the same analysis framework as the at least two model portions operating in the same analysis framework, using the first physical processing element, the second physical processing element, the third physical processing element or a fourth physical processing element;

wherein

the same analysis framework is not an executable block diagram,

each model component forming the graphical model has a type,

the types of model components include a mechanical body type, a control signal type, and a rotating machine type, and

the identifying a plurality of model parts of the graphical model comprises recognizing directly connected model components having the same type.