Dynamic synchronization in a target system having multiple programmable hardware elements

• US 8,799,853 B2
• Filed: 06/19/2012
• Issued: 08/05/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: National Instruments Corporation (Emerson Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: National Instruments Corporation (Emerson Electric Company)
• Inventors: Brown, Ryan H., Graf, Christopher F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Das, Chameli
• Application Number:
  US13/527,247
• Publication Number:
  US 20130219355A1
• Time in Patent Office: 777 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 717/106
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/05 Programmable logic controllers, e.g. simulating logic interconnections of signals according to ladder diagrams or function charts
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3696 Methods or tools to render software testable
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/34 Graphical or visual programming
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/71 Version control security arrangements therefor G06F21/57; Configuration management

Abstract

Customizing a target system. The target system may include a first device with a first programmable hardware element (PHE) and a second device with a second PHE. Synchronization modules may be provided for implementation on the first and second PHEs. The synchronization modules may provide a standard interface for interacting with other code. A user may specify user-created code for the first and second PHEs which utilizes the synchronization modules. The user-created code may interact with the synchronization modules using the standard interface. Accordingly, hardware descriptions may be generated for the first and second PHEs of the target system. Different modules may be used for different interconnects. Additionally, multiple synchronization modules may be used, e.g., dynamically, during operation of the target system.

Claims

1. A method for configuring dynamic synchronization of a function on a target platform, the method comprising:

receiving user input specifying a first synchronization module for a program, wherein the first synchronization module comprises code for implementation on a programmable hardware element (PHE) of the target platform, wherein the first synchronization module provides a standard interface for interacting with other code of the program, wherein the first synchronization module is configured to perform a first type of synchronization;

receiving user input specifying a second synchronization module for the program, wherein the second synchronization module comprises code for implementation on the PHE of the target platform, wherein the second synchronization module provides the standard interface for interacting with other code of the program, wherein the second synchronization module is configured to perform a second type of synchronization;

receiving user input creating selection code which dynamically selects one of the first synchronization module or the second synchronization module based on run-time operation of the target platform, wherein the selection code is executable to dynamically select by;

obtaining information regarding run-time operation under the first and second types of synchronization; and

dynamically selecting the first type of synchronization or the second type of synchronization based on the information regarding run-time operation under the first and second types of synchronization and based on the selection code;

generating a hardware description for implementation on the PHE based on the first synchronization module, the second synchronization module, and the selection code, wherein the hardware description is configured to dynamically implement a type of synchronization of the function during execution.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving user input specifying first user-created code which performs the function.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the first user-created code interfaces with the standard interface of the first or second synchronization module via the selection code.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said obtaining information and dynamically selecting comprises:

obtaining first results for the first type of synchronization;

obtaining second results for the second type of synchronization;

comparing the first and second results; and

selecting the first type of synchronization or the second type of synchronization based on said comparing.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first synchronization module, the second synchronization module, and the selection code are specified as one or more graphical programs.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the function is performed using a plurality of devices, wherein the first synchronization module is implemented across the plurality of devices, wherein the second synchronization module is implemented across the plurality of devices.

7. A non-transitory, computer accessible memory medium storing program instructions for configuring dynamic synchronization of a function on a target platform, wherein the program instructions are executable to:

receive user input specifying a first synchronization module for a program, wherein the first synchronization module comprises code for implementation on a programmable hardware element (PHE) of the target platform, wherein the first synchronization module provides a standard interface for interacting with other code of the program, wherein the first synchronization module is configured to perform a first type of synchronization;

receive user input specifying a second synchronization module for the program, wherein the second synchronization module comprises code for implementation on the PHE of the target platform, wherein the second synchronization module provides the standard interface for interacting with other code of the program, wherein the second synchronization module is configured to perform a second type of synchronization;

receive user input creating selection code which dynamically selects one of the first synchronization module or the second synchronization module based on run-time operation of the target platform, wherein the selection code is executable to dynamically select by;

obtaining information regarding run-time operation under the first and second types of synchronization; and

dynamically selecting the first type of synchronization or the second type of synchronization based on the information regarding run-time operation under the first and second types of synchronization and based on the selection code;

generate a hardware description for implementation on the PHE based on the first synchronization module, the second synchronization module, and the selection code, wherein the hardware description is configured to dynamically implement a type of synchronization of the function during execution.

8. The non-transitory computer accessible memory medium of claim 7, wherein the program instructions are further executable to:

receive user input creating first user-created code which performs the function.

9. The non-transitory computer accessible memory medium of claim 8, wherein the first user-created code interfaces with the standard interface of the first or second synchronization module via the selection code.

10. The non-transitory computer accessible memory medium of claim 7, wherein said obtaining information and dynamically selecting comprises:

obtaining first results for the first type of synchronization;

obtaining second results for the second type of synchronization;

comparing the first and second results; and

selecting the first type of synchronization or the second type of synchronization based on said comparing.

11. The non-transitory computer accessible memory medium of claim 7, wherein the first synchronization module, the second synchronization module, and the selection code are specified as one or more graphical programs.

12. The non-transitory computer accessible memory medium of claim 7, wherein the function is performed using a plurality of devices, wherein the first synchronization module is implemented across the plurality of devices, wherein the second synchronization module is implemented across the plurality of devices.

13. A system, comprising:

a first device, wherein the first device comprises a first programmable hardware element (PHE);

a second device, wherein the second device comprises a second PHE;

a bus coupling the first device to the second device;

wherein the first and second devices are configured to execute according to user-created code to perform a function;

wherein the first PHE is configured according to a first synchronization module and the second PHE is configured according to a second synchronization module, wherein the first and second synchronization modules are configured for synchronizing execution of the user-created code across the first and second devices, wherein the first and second synchronization modules are configured to perform synchronization according to a first type of synchronization;

wherein the first PHE is configured according to a third synchronization module and the second PHE is configured according to a fourth synchronization module, wherein the third and fourth synchronization modules are configured for synchronizing execution of the user-created code across the first and second devices, wherein the third and fourth synchronization modules are configured to perform synchronization according to a second type of synchronization;

wherein the first and second PHEs are also configured according to selection code which dynamically selects one of the types of synchronization based on run-time operation of the target platform, wherein, to dynamically select, the selection code is executable to;

obtain information regarding run-time operation under the first and second types of synchronization; and

dynamically select the first type of synchronization or the second type of synchronization based on the information regarding run-time operation under the first and second types of synchronization and based on the selection code;

wherein, during operation, the first and second PHEs are configured to dynamically implement a type of synchronization using the synchronization code.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the first, second, third, and fourth synchronization modules provide a standard interface for interacting with the user-created code.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the first user-created code interfaces with the standard interface of the first or second synchronization module via the selection code.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the first, second, third, and fourth synchronization modules and the selection code are specified as one or more graphical programs.

17. The system of claim 13, wherein said obtaining information and dynamically selecting comprises:

obtaining first results for the first type of synchronization;

obtaining second results for the second type of synchronization;

comparing the first and second results; and

selecting the first type of synchronization or the second type of synchronization based on said comparing.