Graphically representing timing in a graphical program

• US 8,397,205 B2
• Filed: 07/16/2004
• Issued: 03/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/07/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: National Instruments Corporation (Emerson Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: National Instruments Corporation (Emerson Electric Company)
• Inventors: Kornerup, Jacob, Kodosky, Jeffrey L., Andrade, Hugo A., Shah, Biren, Vrancic, Aljosa, Santori, Michael L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Zhen, Li B
• Assistant Examiner(s): BODDEN, EVRAL E
• Application Number:
  US10/893,745
• Publication Number:
  US 20050055666A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,161 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 717/100
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/323 Visualisation of programs or trace data
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/34 Graphical or visual programming

Abstract

A system and method for specifying timing relationships among nodes in a graphical program. User input specifying desired timing of a first node with respect to timing of a second node may be received. In various embodiments, any kind of timing relationship or timing constraint between the first node and the second node may be specified. Timing information may be displayed on the display to visually indicate the timing of the first node with respect to timing of the second node. In one embodiment, displaying the timing information may comprise displaying a timing wire between the first node and the second node. The graphical program may be executed in such a way that the visually indicated timing of the first node with respect to timing of the second node is satisfied.

Claims

1. A non-transitory memory medium configured for creating a graphical program, the non-transitory memory medium storing program instructions executable to:

arrange a plurality of nodes in a block diagram of a graphical program on a display in response to user input;

interconnect the plurality of nodes in response to user input, wherein the plurality of interconnected nodes visually indicates functionality of the graphical program, wherein the plurality of interconnected nodes comprise a plurality of wires connecting the nodes, wherein the plurality of wires indicate data flow between the nodes in the block diagram; and

display timing information in the block diagram with the plurality of interconnected nodes, wherein displaying the timing information in the block diagram comprises;

displaying a first numerical time value in the block diagram indicating timing of execution of a first node at a first point in time with respect to execution of a second node at a second point in time during execution of the graphical program, wherein the first numerical time value indicates a time interval between the execution of the first node and the execution of the second node; and

displaying a first wire in the block diagram between the first node and the second node in response to user input, wherein the first wire configures the graphical program according to the first numerical time value, thereby configuring the timing of the execution of the first node at the first point in time with respect to the execution of the second node at the second point in time during the execution of the graphical program.

2. The non-transitory memory medium of claim 1,

wherein said displaying the timing information is performed in response to user input specifying desired timing of the execution of the first node with respect to the execution of the second node during the execution of the graphical program.

3. The non-transitory memory medium of claim 1, wherein the program instructions are further executable to:

receive user input specifying the first wire;

wherein the timing information is displayed in the block diagram in response to the user input specifying the first wire.

4. The non-transitory memory medium of claim 1,

wherein the first numerical time value indicates timing of an execution point of the first node with respect to an execution point of the second node.

5. The non-transitory memory medium of claim 4,

wherein the execution point of the first node is one of:

a point at which the execution of the first node begins;

a point at which an execution side effect of the first node occurs;

a point at which the execution of the first node ends.

6. The non-transitory memory medium of claim 5,

wherein the execution point of the second node is one of:

a point at which the execution of the second node begins;

a point at which an execution side effect of the second node occurs;

a point at which the execution of the second node ends.

7. The non-transitory memory medium of claim 4,

wherein the first numerical time value indicates a time constraint between the execution point of the first node and the execution point of the second node.

8. The non-transitory memory medium of claim 4,

wherein the first numerical time value indicates a time interval between the execution point of the first node and the execution point of the second node.

9. The non-transitory memory medium of claim 4, wherein the first numerical time value indicates a time maximum between the execution point of the first node and the execution point of the second node.

10. The non-transitory memory medium of claim 4,

wherein the first numerical time value indicates a time minimum between the execution point of the first node and the execution point of the second node.

11. The non-transitory memory medium of claim 1,

wherein the first numerical time value indicates a time interval between a first time when the execution of the first node begins and a second time when the execution of the second node begins.

12. The non-transitory memory medium of claim 1,

wherein the first numerical time value indicates a time interval between a first time when the execution of the first node begins and a second time when the execution of the second node ends.

13. The non-transitory memory medium of claim 1,

wherein the first numerical time value indicates a time interval between a first time when the execution of the first node begins and a second time when an execution side effect of the second node occurs.

14. The non-transitory memory medium of claim 1,

wherein the first numerical time value indicates a time interval between a first time when the execution of the first node ends and a second time when the execution of the second node ends.

15. The non-transitory memory medium of claim 1,

wherein the first numerical time value indicates a time interval between a first time when the execution of the first node ends and a second time when an execution side effect of the second node occurs.

16. The non-transitory memory medium of claim 1,

wherein the first numerical time value indicates a time interval between a first time when an execution side effect of the first node occurs and a second time when an execution side effect of the second node occurs.

17. The non-transitory memory medium of claim 1,

wherein the timing information is displayed in the block diagram before the execution of the graphical program;

wherein the program instructions are further executable to control the execution of the first node and the execution of the second node during the execution of the graphical program to cause the indicated timing to be satisfied.

18. The non-transitory memory medium of claim 1,

wherein the first numerical time value indicates a time constraint between the execution of the first node and the execution of the second node.

19. The non-transitory memory medium of claim 1,

wherein the first wire does not indicate data flow between the first node and the second node.

20. The non-transitory memory medium of claim 1,

wherein the first node has a plurality of points configured to accept connection of the first wire, wherein each point corresponds to a different execution point of the first node;

wherein said displaying the first wire comprises displaying the first wire connected to a first point of the plurality of points on the first node in order to visually indicate that the first numerical time value relates to a particular execution point to which the first point corresponds.

21. The non-transitory memory medium of claim 1, wherein displaying the first wire comprises:

displaying the first wire connected to a first point on the first node, wherein the first point corresponds to a time at which the execution of the first node begins; and

displaying the first wire connected to a second point on the second node, wherein the second point corresponds to a time at which the execution of the second node ends.

22. The non-transitory memory medium of claim 1,

wherein displaying the first wire comprises displaying the first wire connected to a point on the left side of the first node to visually indicate that the first numerical time value relates to a time at which the execution of the first node begins.

23. The non-transitory memory medium of claim 1,

wherein displaying the first wire comprises displaying the first wire connected to a point on the right side of the first node to visually indicate that the first numerical time value relates to a time at which the execution of the first node ends.

24. The non-transitory memory medium of claim 1,

wherein displaying the first wire comprises displaying the first wire connected to a point on a middle portion of the first node to visually indicate that the first numerical time value relates to a time at which an execution side effect of the first node occurs.

25. The non-transitory memory medium of claim 1, wherein the program instructions are further executable to:

automatically analyze the plurality of interconnected nodes to determine timing of the execution of the first node with respect to the execution of the second node, wherein said analyzing automatically determines the first numerical value;

wherein displaying the timing information comprises displaying the timing information in response to said automatically analyzing the plurality of interconnected nodes.

26. The non-transitory memory medium of claim 1,

wherein the graphical program includes a loop;

wherein the first node and the second node are performed in the loop;

wherein the first numerical time value indicates timing of the execution of the first node with respect to the execution of the second node during iterations of the loop.

27. The non-transitory memory medium of claim 26,

wherein the timing information is displayed in the block diagram before the execution of the graphical program;

wherein the program instructions are further executable to control the execution of the first node and the second node during execution of the loop to cause the indicated timing to be satisfied for one or more iterations of the loop.

28. A non-transitory memory medium configured for creating a graphical program, the non-transitory memory medium storing program instructions executable to:

arrange a plurality of nodes in a block diagram of a graphical program on a display in response to user input;

interconnect the plurality of nodes in response to user input, wherein the plurality of interconnected nodes visually indicates functionality of the graphical program, wherein the plurality of interconnected nodes comprise a plurality of wires connecting the nodes, wherein the plurality of wires indicate data flow between the nodes in the block diagram; and

display timing information in the block diagram with the plurality of interconnected nodes, wherein displaying the timing information in the block diagram comprises;

displaying a first numerical time value in the block diagram indicating a time interval between a first point in time when execution of a first node begins and a second point in time when execution of a second node ends; and

displaying a first wire between the first node and the second node in response to user input, wherein the first wire configures the graphical program according to the first numerical time value, thereby configuring the timing of the beginning of execution of the first node at the first point in time with respect to the end of execution of the second node at the second point in time during the execution of the graphical program.

29. A non-transitory memory medium configured for creating a graphical program, the non-transitory memory medium storing program instructions executable to:

arrange a plurality of nodes in a block diagram of a graphical program on a display in response to user input;

interconnect the plurality of nodes in response to user input, wherein the plurality of interconnected nodes visually indicates functionality of the graphical program, wherein the plurality of interconnected nodes comprise a plurality of wires connecting the nodes, wherein the plurality of wires indicate data flow between the nodes in the block diagram; and

display timing information in the block diagram with the plurality of interconnected nodes, wherein displaying the timing information in the block diagram comprises;

displaying a first numerical time value in the block diagram indicating a time interval between a first point in time when execution of a first node begins and a second point in time when an execution side effect of a second node occurs; and

displaying a first wire between the first node and the second node in response to user input, wherein the first wire configures the graphical program according to the first numerical time value, thereby configuring the timing of the beginning of execution of the first node at the first point in time with respect to the execution side effect of the second node at the second point in time during the execution of the graphical program.

30. The non-transitory memory medium of claim 29,

wherein the execution side effect of the second node comprises an input/output operation.

31. A non-transitory memory medium configured for creating a graphical program, the non-transitory memory medium storing program instructions executable to:

arrange a plurality of nodes in a block diagram of a graphical program on a display in response to user input;

interconnect the plurality of nodes in response to user input, wherein the plurality of interconnected nodes visually indicates functionality of the graphical program, wherein the plurality of interconnected nodes comprise a plurality of wires connecting the nodes, wherein the plurality of wires indicate data flow between the nodes in the block diagram; and

display timing information in the block diagram with the plurality of interconnected nodes, wherein displaying the timing information in the block diagram comprises;

displaying a first numerical time value in the block diagram indicating a time interval between a first point in time when execution of a first node ends and a second point in time when execution of a second node ends; and

displaying a first wire between the first node and the second node in response to user input, wherein the first wire configures the graphical program according to the first numerical time value, thereby configuring the timing of the end of execution of the first node at the first point in time with respect to the end of execution of the second node at the second point in time during the execution of the graphical program.

32. A non-transitory memory medium configured for creating a graphical program, the non-transitory memory medium storing program instructions executable to:

arrange a plurality of nodes in a block diagram of a graphical program on a display in response to user input;

interconnect the plurality of nodes in response to user input, wherein the plurality of interconnected nodes visually indicates functionality of the graphical program, wherein the plurality of interconnected nodes comprise a plurality of wires connecting the nodes, wherein the plurality of wires indicate data flow between the nodes in the block diagram; and

display timing information in the block diagram with the plurality of interconnected nodes, wherein displaying the timing information in the block diagram comprises;

displaying a first numerical time value in the block diagram indicating a time interval between a first point in time when execution of a first node ends and a second point in time when an execution side effect of a second node occurs; and

displaying a first wire between the first node and the second node in response to user input, wherein the first wire configures the graphical program according to the first numerical time value, thereby configuring the timing of the end of execution of the first node at the first point in time with respect to the execution side effect of the second node at the second point in time during the execution of the graphical program.

33. A non-transitory memory medium configured for creating a graphical program, the non-transitory memory medium storing program instructions executable to:

arrange a plurality of nodes in a block diagram of a graphical program on a display in response to user input;

interconnect the plurality of nodes in response to user input, wherein the plurality of interconnected nodes visually indicates functionality of the graphical program, wherein the plurality of interconnected nodes comprise a plurality of wires connecting the nodes, wherein the plurality of wires indicate data flow between the nodes in the block diagram; and

display timing information in the block diagram with the plurality of interconnected nodes, wherein displaying the timing information in the block diagram comprises;

displaying a first numerical time value in the block diagram indicating a time interval between a first point in time when an execution side effect of a first node occurs and a second point in time when an execution side effect of a second node occurs; and

displaying a first wire in the block diagram between the first node and the second node in response to user input, wherein the first wire configures the graphical program according to the first numerical time value, thereby configuring the timing of the execution side effect of the first node at the first point in time with respect to the execution side effect of the second node at the second point in time during the execution of the graphical program.

34. A non-transitory memory medium configured for creating a graphical program, the non-transitory memory medium storing program instructions executable to:

display a first loop in a graphical program block diagram on a display;

display a plurality of interconnected nodes in the first loop, wherein the plurality of interconnected nodes are connected via a plurality of wires that indicate data flow between the nodes, wherein the plurality of interconnected nodes visually indicates functionality performed during iterations of the first loop during execution of the graphical program, wherein the plurality of interconnected nodes includes a first node and a second node; and

display timing information in the block diagram with the loop, wherein displaying the timing information in the block diagram comprises;

displaying a first numerical time value in the block diagram indicating timing of execution of the first node at a first point in time with respect to execution of the second node at a second point in time during iterations of the first loop, wherein the first numerical time value indicates a time interval between the execution of the first node and the execution of the second node; and

displaying a first wire in the block diagram between the first node and the second node in response to user input, wherein the first wire configures the graphical program according to the first numerical time value, thereby configuring the timing of the execution of the first node at the first point in time with respect to the execution of the second node at the second point in time during iterations of the first loop during the execution of the graphical program.

35. The non-transitory memory medium of claim 34, wherein the program instructions are further executable to:

execute the graphical program so that the indicated timing of the execution of the first node with respect to the execution of the second node is satisfied for one or more iterations of the first loop.

36. A non-transitory memory medium configured for creating a graphical program, the non-transitory memory medium storing program instructions executable to:

display a first loop in a graphical program block diagram on a display;

display a plurality of interconnected nodes in the first loop, wherein the plurality of interconnected nodes are connected via a plurality of wires that indicate data flow between nodes, wherein the plurality of interconnected nodes visually indicates functionality performed during iterations of the first loop during execution of the graphical program, wherein the plurality of interconnected nodes includes a first node; and

display timing information in the block diagram with the loop, wherein displaying the timing information in the block diagram comprises;

displaying a first numerical time value in the block diagram indicating a time interval between a first point in time when execution of the loop begins and a second point in time when execution of the first node begins; and

displaying a first wire between the first node and the loop in response to user input, wherein the first wire configures the graphical program according to the first numerical time value, thereby configuring the timing of the beginning of execution of the first node at the second point in time with respect to the beginning of execution of the loop at the first point in time during the execution of the graphical program.