Tools for system-level design environments

• US 8,855,971 B2
• Filed: 08/20/2007
• Issued: 10/07/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The MathWorks, Inc.
• Original Assignee: The MathWorks, Inc.
• Inventors: Orofino, Donald Paul II, Mani, Ramamurthy, Taitel, Howard, Ciolfi, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Rivas, Omar Fernandez
• Assistant Examiner(s): GEBRESILASSIE, KIBROM K
• Application Number:
  US11/841,986
• Publication Number:
  US 20090012757A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,605 Days
• Field of Search: 703/13, 717/104, 717/105, 717/109, 717/125, 717/127
• US Class Current: 703/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/00 Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/34 Graphical or visual programming

Abstract

A remote auxiliary tool is created in a graphical model having at least one of a signal or a block. The remote auxiliary tool is non-intrusively attached to one of the signal or the block. The graphical model and the remote auxiliary tool are executed synchronously. At least one of an execution result or a remote auxiliary tool result is output to at least one of a display device, a storage device or a destination device.

Claims

1. A computer-based method comprising:

causing an execution of an executable graphical model,

causing the execution being performed by a computing device,

the executable graphical model, when executed, simulating a behavior of a dynamic system, and

the executable graphical model including a plurality of model elements;

non-intrusively attaching a remote auxiliary tool to a first model element, of the plurality of model elements, during the execution of the executable graphical model,

non-intrusively attaching the remote auxiliary tool being performed by the computing device, and

as a result of attaching the remote auxiliary tool;

the remote auxiliary tool registering an interest, with the first model element, to be notified of an occurrence of an execution event associated with the first model element,

the remote auxiliary tool being notified of the occurrence of the execution event based on the registered interest, and

the remote auxiliary tool receiving information related to the first model element;

reading, based on receiving the information, data from the first model element using a bypass tool included in the remote auxiliary tool,

reading the data being performed by the computing device;

based on reading the data from the first model element;

changing the data, and

returning the changed data to the executable graphical model using the bypass tool; and

outputting at least one of an execution result or a remote auxiliary tool result to at least one of a display device, a storage device, or a destination device,

outputting the at least one of the execution result or the remote auxiliary tool result being performed by the computing device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving configuration information identifying a configuration of the remote auxiliary tool,

creating, based on the configuration information, the remote auxiliary tool from a block diagram model primitive, and

storing the configuration information in the executable graphical model.

3. The method of claim 1, where the execution of the executable graphical model includes invoking one or more model methods, and

where non-intrusively attaching the remote auxiliary tool includes:

providing at least one of a pre-execution callback, a post-execution callback, or an event associated with one or more model methods, and

synchronizing data transfer between the executable graphical model and the remote auxiliary tool using the at least one of the pre-execution callback, the post-execution callback, or the event.

4. The method of claim 1, where causing the execution of the executable graphical model includes:

translating the executable graphical model into code, and

executing the code.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

generating code based on the executable graphical model,

the code including one or more portions for invoking, during an execution of the code, one or more model methods; and

modifying the code, before and after each of the one or more portions for invoking the one or more model methods, to enable the interest to be registered with one or more model elements associated with the one or more model methods.

6. The method of claim 1, where the remote auxiliary tool includes at least one of:

an observer tool for reading data generated during the execution of the executable graphical model, or

a generator tool for generating data and providing the generated data to the executable graphical model during the execution of the executable graphical model.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

generating at least one of data or a signal with a generator tool; and

providing the at least one of the data or the signal to the executable graphical model during the execution of the executable graphical model.

8. The method of claim 7, where generating the at least one of the data or the signal includes:

generating at least one of a sine wave, a square wave, a pulse, or a user-created function.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

outputting the data to at least one of;

the display device,

a memory device, or

another computing device.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing the data for display via at least one of;

a display scope,

a strip chart recorder,

an oscilloscope,

a spectrum analyzer,

a multi-port network analyzer,

a logic signal display,

a waterfall plot,

a communications constellation plot, or

a video display device.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

debugging the executable graphical model based on returning the changed data location to the executable graphical model.

12. The method of claim 1, where reading the data includes:

reading the data from a memory location associated with the first model element.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

debugging the executable graphical model with the bypass tool.

14. A device, comprising:

a processor to;

start an execution of an executable block diagram model,

the executable block diagram model, when executed, simulating a behavior of a system;

non-intrusively attach a remote auxiliary tool to one of a signal or a block in the executable block diagram model during the execution of the executable block diagram model;

as a result of attaching the remote auxiliary tool, the remote auxiliary tool;

registering an interest with the one of the signal or the block to be notified of an occurrence of an execution event associated with the one of the signal or the block,

being notified of the occurrence of the execution event based on registering the interest, and

receiving identifying related to the one of the signal or the block;

read, based on receiving the information, data from the one of the signal or the block using a bypass tool included in the remote auxiliary tool;

based on reading the data from the one of the signal or the block;

modify the data, and

output the modified data to the executable block diagram model using the bypass tool;

detach the remote auxiliary tool from the one of the signal or the block, and

output a result to at least one of a destination device or a display, the result relating to modifying the data.

15. The device of claim 14, where the processor is further to:

provide at least one of;

a signal selector to display a model hierarchy and to allow selection of model objects that are associated with the remote auxiliary tool,

an object selector to associate the remote auxiliary tool with the one of the signal or the block in the block diagram model, or

a signal and scope manager to manage connections between an observer tool or a generator tool and at least one of the signal or the block.

16. The device of claim 14, where the processor is further to:

provide a context sensitive menu to at least one of;

create a generator tool for generating data used during the execution of the executable block diagram model,

create an observer tool for reading data generated during the execution of the executable block diagram model,

connect at least one of the generator tool or the observer tool to the one of the signal or the block, or

detach at least one of the generator tool or the observer tool to the one of the signal or the block.

17. The device of claim 14, where the processor is further to:

provide a multiple document interface layout for managing and supporting one or more connections between the one of the signal or the block and the remote auxiliary tool.

18. The device of claim 14, where the remote auxiliary tool comprises:

one or more elements, and

a remote connection manager to;

receive, from a user, a selection of the one or more elements, and

track, during the execution of the executable block diagram model, the selected one or more elements via a user interface.

19. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing instructions, the instructions comprising:

one or more instructions which, when executed by a computer system, cause the computer system to;

create a remote auxiliary tool that is associated with an executable graphical model,

the executable graphical model, when executed, simulating a behavior of a dynamic system, and

the executable graphical model including at least one of a signal or a block;

execute the executable graphical model;

non-intrusively attach the remote auxiliary tool to a selected one of the signal or the block during an execution of the executable graphical model,

as a result of attaching the remote auxiliary tool;

the remote auxiliary tool registering an interest with the selected one of the signal or the block to be notified of an occurrence of an execution event associated with the selected one of the signal or the block,

the remote auxiliary tool being notified of the occurrence of the execution event, and

the remote auxiliary tool receiving information related to the selected one of the signal or the block;

read, based on receiving the information, data from the selected one of the signal or the block using a bypass tool included in the remote auxiliary tool;

based on reading the data from the selected one of the signal or the block;

modify the data, and return the modified data to the executable graphical model using the bypass tool; and

output at least one of an execution result or a remote auxiliary tool result to at least one of a display device, a storage device, or a destination device.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 19, where the instructions further comprise:

one or more instructions which, when executed by the computer system, cause the computer system to;

modify the executable graphical model based on the data.