Determining comprehensibility of a graphical model in a graphical modeling environment

• US 8,572,504 B1
• Filed: 12/09/2010
• Issued: 10/29/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The MathWorks, Inc.
• Original Assignee: The MathWorks, Inc.
• Inventors: Forstot, Dave Aaron, Wolff, Gregory Thomas, Chapple, Jeffrey Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Tuyetlien
• Assistant Examiner(s): HIGGS, STELLA EUN
• Application Number:
  US12/964,277
• Time in Patent Office: 1,055 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 715/764
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/048 Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/20 Software design
• CPC Class Codes: G06N 5/02 Knowledge representation; Symbolic representation

Abstract

In an embodiment, degree of comprehensibility of a graphical representation of a model is identified. The model is provided in a graphical modeling environment. The degree of comprehensibility of the graphical representation of model is identified based at least in part on one or more visual characteristics of one or more elements in the model. The one or more elements in the model include at least one of entities in the model, or relationships in the model. The degree of comprehensibility assigned to the model is communicated, for example, to a user.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for determining a comprehensibility score of an executable graphical model generated in a graphical modeling environment, the method comprising:

analyzing, using a computer, the executable graphical model to identify one or more visual characteristics of one or more elements in the executable graphical model;

determining, using the computer, the comprehensibility score of the executable graphical model based on the analyzing, the determining comprising;

representing an ergonomic complexity of the executable graphical model using the comprehensibility score,

where;

the comprehensibility score is a function of the identified one or more visual characteristics of the one or more elements in the executable graphical model,

the one or more elements represent;

one or more entities in the executable graphical model, or

one or more relationships in the executable graphical model,

the comprehensibility score is based on a syntactic complexity of the executable graphical model, and

the syntactic complexity includes;

a visual complexity created by a presence of the one or more entities in the executable graphical model, and

a modeling complexity created by a functionality or a data structure of the one or more entities in the executable graphical model; and

displaying, using the computer, the comprehensibility score of the executable graphical model.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining, using the computing device, the syntactic complexity of the executable graphical model using one or more syntax rules associated with the executable graphical model.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the syntactic complexity depends on a presence of one or more of a block, a function-call subsystem, a sequential logic block, a graphical function, a line, a crossing of lines, a bend of line, a state crossing, a wormhole, a multiplexor block, a demultiplexor block, a data store block and a non-local goto block.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the syntactic complexity includes an abstract component and a concrete component.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the concrete component of the syntactic complexity represents the visual complexity, and the abstract component of the syntactic complexity represents the modeling complexity.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the executable graphical model executes in a time domain or an event domain.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining that the executable graphical model can be stored in a storage if the comprehensibility score of the executable graphical model satisfies a pre-determined criteria; and

storing the executable graphical model in the storage when the comprehensibility score of the executable graphical model satisfies the pre-determined criteria.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

preventing one or more additional entities or relationships from being incorporated into the executable graphical model if the comprehensibility score of the executable graphical model fails to satisfy a pre-determined criteria.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

providing one or more modeling recommendations that improve the comprehensibility score of the executable graphical model.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the executable graphical model includes one or more hierarchical levels, and the method further comprising:

assigning one or more comprehensibility scores to the one or more hierarchical levels of the executable graphical model, wherein the comprehensibility score of the executable graphical model is based on the one or more comprehensibility scores assigned to the one or more hierarchical levels of the executable graphical model.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the comprehensibility score of the executable graphical model is indicated in the graphical representation of the executable graphical model using one or more visual cues, the one or more visual cues including one or more of text, color, shading and texture.

12. One or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media storing instructions for execution on a processor, the media storing one or more instructions for:

analyzing an executable graphical model to identify one or more visual characteristics of one or more elements in the executable graphical model;

determining a comprehensibility score of the executable graphical model based on the analyzing, the determining comprising;

representing an ergonomic complexity of the executable graphical model using the comprehensibility score,

where;

the comprehensibility score is a function of the identified one or more visual characteristics of the one or more elements in the executable graphical model,

the one or more elements represent;

one or more entities in the executable graphical model, or

one or more relationships in the executable graphical model,

the comprehensibility score is based on a syntactic complexity of the executable graphical model, and

the syntactic complexity includes;

a visual complexity created by a presence of the one or more entities in the executable graphical model, and

a modeling complexity created by a functionality or a data structure of the one or more entities in the executable graphical model; and

displaying the comprehensibility score of executable graphical model.

13. The media of claim 12, further storing one or more instructions for:

determining the syntactic complexity of the executable graphical model using one or more syntax rules associated with the executable graphical model, wherein;

the syntactic complexity includes an abstract component and a concrete component.

14. The media of claim 13, wherein the concrete component of the syntactic complexity represents the visual complexity, and the abstract component of the syntactic complexity represents the modeling complexity.

15. The media of claim 12 further storing one or more instructions for:

determining that the executable graphical model can be stored in a storage if the comprehensibility score of the executable graphical model satisfies a pre-determined criteria; and

storing the executable graphical model in the storage when the comprehensibility score of the executable graphical model satisfies the pre-determined criteria.

16. The media of claim 12 further storing one or more instructions for:

preventing one or more additional entities or relationships from being incorporated into the executable graphical model if the comprehensibility score of the executable graphical model fails to satisfy a pre-determined criteria.

17. A system comprising:

a processor for;

analyzing an executable graphical model to identify one or more visual characteristics of one or more elements in the executable graphical model;

determining a comprehensibility score of the executable graphical model, the determining comprising;

representing an ergonomic complexity of the executable graphical model using the comprehensibility score,

where;

the comprehensibility score is a function of the identified one or more visual characteristics of the one or more elements in the executable graphical model,

the one or more elements represent;

one or more entities in the executable graphical model, or

one or more relationships in the executable graphical model,

the comprehensibility score is based on a syntactic complexity of the executable graphical model, and

the syntactic complexity includes;

a visual complexity created by a presence of the one or more entities in the executable graphical model, and

a modeling complexity created by a functionality or a data structure of the one or more entities in the executable graphical model; and

a display device for displaying the comprehensibility score of the executable graphical model.