Graphical model preparation for embedded deployment

• US 8,667,407 B1
• Filed: 06/04/2010
• Issued: 03/04/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The MathWorks, Inc.
• Original Assignee: The MathWorks, Inc.
• Inventors: Szpak, Peter, Erkkinen, Thomas J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chow, Doon
• Assistant Examiner(s): Pham, Linh K
• Application Number:
  US12/794,154
• Time in Patent Office: 1,369 Days
• Field of Search: 715/764, 717/105, 717/106, 717/109
• US Class Current: 715/764
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/10 Requirements analysis; Specification techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/34 Graphical or visual programming
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 715/964 CAD or CAM, e.g. interactive design tools

Abstract

A computer implemented method for generating embedded code from a graphical model which includes: acquiring at least one condition related to at least one code generation goal, the at least one code generation goal being used to generate embedded code from the graphical model in a graphical modeling environment, the at least one code generation goal relating to a characteristic of the code to be generated from the graphical model, the graphical model representing a dynamic system having time-changing behavior modeled with differential, difference, and/or algebraic equations, the graphical model being capable of simulation based on the equations; and identifying, using a microprocessor, conditions that are inconsistent with the at least one code generation goal.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method for generating embedded code from a graphical model in a graphical modeling environment, the method comprising:

identifying, by at least one processor, a block diagram for execution, the block diagram containing one or more objects of the graphical model, the graphical model representing a dynamic system having time-changing behavior modeled with differential, difference, or algebraic equations, the graphical model being capable of simulation based on the equations;

acquiring, by the at least one processor, at least one general condition related to at least one general code generation goal for the graphical model, the at least one general code generation goal being used with the block diagram to generate embedded code from the graphical model, the at least one general code generation goal relating to one or more characteristics of the code to be generated from the graphical model;

configuring, by the at least one processor, one or more parameters within the graphical model based on the at least one general condition related to at least one general code generation goal;

identifying, using the at least one processor, at least one object of the graphical model that has parameters that are inconsistent with the at least one general condition related to the at least one general code generation goal;

modifying, using the at least one processor, the inconsistent parameters of the graphical model to comply with the at least one general condition;

presenting, by the at least one processor, one or more configuration options for specifying at least one detailed code generation goal for the graphical model, wherein the detailed code generation goal configuration options for the graphical model are generated based on the at least one general condition related to the at least one general code generation goal, the at least one detailed code generation goal comprises configuration options based on at least one of;

target environment, block diagram optimizations, data, parameters, signals, traceability, reporting, validation, or model interfaces; and

generating, by the at least one processor, embedded code in accordance with the at least one detailed code generation goal.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying information on the at least one object of the graphical model that has one or more parameters that are inconsistent with the at least one general condition related to the at least one general code generation goal.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one general condition is acquired from a user specifying the at least one general condition through a user interface.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the user interface displays a plurality of general conditions to be checked, and prompts the user to select one or more of the general conditions.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying a hyperlink that links the at least one general condition to the at least one object of the graphical model, the at least one object having inconsistent parameters.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

modifying the at least one object of the graphical model that has inconsistent parameters.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

generating embedded code in accordance with the at least one general code generation goal.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

generating a report with the generated code.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

prompting a user to manually modify the inconsistent parameters of the graphical model to comply with the at least one general condition.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

automatically modifying the inconsistent parameters of the graphical model to comply with the at least one general condition.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

acquiring a selection of the one or more configuration options for specifying at least one detailed code generation goal.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

reconfiguring the graphical model to comply with the at least one detailed code generation goal.

13. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium with an executable program stored thereon, wherein the program instructs at least one processor to perform the following steps in a graphical modeling environment:

one or more instructions for identifying, by the at least one processor, a block diagram for execution, the block diagram containing one or more objects of a graphical model, the graphical model representing a dynamic system having time-changing behavior modeled with differential, difference, or algebraic equations, the graphical model being capable of simulation based on the equations;

one or more instructions for acquiring, by the at least one processor, at least one general condition related to at least one general code generation goal for the graphical model, the acquired at least one general code generation goal being used with the block diagram to generate embedded code from the graphical model, the acquired at least one general code generation goal relating to one or more characteristics of the code to be generated from the graphical model;

one or more instructions for configuring, by the at least one processor, one or more parameters within the graphical model based on the at least one general condition related to at least one general code generation goal;

one or more instructions for identifying, by the at least one processor, at least one object of the graphical model that has parameters that are inconsistent with the at least one general condition related to at least one general code generation goal;

one or more instructions for modifying the inconsistent parameters of the graphical model to comply with the at least one general condition;

one or more instructions for presenting, by the at least one processor, one or more configuration options for specifying at least one detailed code generation goal for the graphical model, wherein the detailed code generation goal configuration options for the graphical model are generated based on the at least one general condition related to the at least one general code generation goal, the at least one detailed code generation goal comprises configuration options based on at least one of;

target environment, block diagram optimizations, data, parameters, signals, traceability, reporting, validation, or model interfaces; and

one or more instructions for generating embedded code in accordance with the at least one detailed code generation goal.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 13, further comprising:

one or more instructions for displaying information on the at least one object of the graphical model that has parameters that are inconsistent with the at least one general condition related to the at least one general code generation goal.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 13 further comprising:

one or more instructions for displaying a hyperlink that links the at least one general condition to the at least one object of the graphical model that has inconsistent parameters.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 13, further comprising:

one or more instructions for modifying the at least one object of the graphical model that has inconsistent parameters.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 13, further comprising:

one or more instructions for prompting a user to manually modify inconsistent parameters of the graphical model to comply with the at least one general condition.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 13, further comprising:

one or more instructions for automatically modifying inconsistent parameters of the graphical model to comply with the at least one general condition.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 16, further comprising:

one or more instructions for generating embedded code in accordance with the at least one general code generation goal.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 19, further comprising:

one or more instructions for generating a report with the generated code.

21. An apparatus comprising:

at least one processor;

a memory coupled to the at least one processor; and

a computer program residing in the memory and being executed by the at least one processor, wherein the computer program includes one or more instructions for;

identifying a block diagram for execution, the block diagram containing one or more objects of a graphical model, the graphical model representing a dynamic system having time-changing behavior modeled with differential, difference, or algebraic equations, the graphical model being capable of simulation based on the equations,

acquiring at least one general condition related to at least one general code generation goal for the graphical model, the at least one general code generation goal being used with the block diagram to generate embedded code from the graphical model, the at least one general code generation goal relating to one or more characteristics of the code to be generated from the graphical model,

configuring one or more parameters within the graphical model based on the at least one general condition related to at least one general code generation goal,

identifying at least one object of the graphical model that has parameters that are inconsistent with the at least one general condition related to the at least one general code generation goal,

modifying the inconsistent parameters of the graphical model to comply with the at least one general condition,

presenting one or more configuration options for specifying at least one detailed code generation goal for the graphical model, wherein the detailed code generation goal configuration options for the graphical model are generated based on the at least one general condition related to the at least one general code generation goal, the at least one detailed code generation goal comprises configuration options based on at least one of;

target environment, block diagram optimizations, data, parameters, signals, traceability, reporting, validation, or model interfaces; and

generating embedded code in accordance with the at least one detailed code generation goal.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the computer program includes additional instructions for modifying the at least one object of the graphical model that has inconsistent parameters.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the computer program includes additional instructions for generating embedded code in accordance with the at least one general code generation goal.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the computer program includes additional instructions for a wizard for guiding a user through a process for preparing the graphical model.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the wizard displays information on the at least one object of the graphical model that has one or more parameters that are inconsistent with the at least one general condition related to the at least one general code generation goal.

26. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the wizard identifies inconsistent objects by displaying a hyperlink that links the at least one general condition to at least one object of the graphical model, the at least one object having inconsistent parameters.

27. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the wizard modifies the at least one object by prompting a user to manually modify the inconsistent parameters of the graphical model to comply with the at least one general condition.

28. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the wizard modifies the object by automatically modifying a parameter of the graphical model to comply with the at least one general condition.

29. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the wizard further generates a report with the generated embedded code.