Type generic graphical programming
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method comprising:
- using a computer to implement;
creating a first graphical data flow program in response to user input, wherein the first graphical data flow program includes a plurality of interconnected nodes, wherein the interconnected nodes visually indicate functionality of the first graphical data flow program, and wherein the first graphical data flow program is a data type-generic graphical data flow program;
wherein each of the nodes comprises at least one of an input or an output, and wherein for at least a first subset of the nodes, input(s) and/or output(s) for the first subset are not restricted to a specific data type;
wherein the first graphical data flow program is executable to perform the functionality for a plurality of different data types; and
wherein the first graphical data flow program comprises one set of graphical code that performs the functionality for the plurality of different data types;
instantiating a plurality of instances of the first graphical data flow program in a second graphical data flow program, wherein each instance is a data type-specific graphical data flow program;
determining if two or more of the instances have same data types; and
in response to determining that two or more of the instances have the same data types, replacing one or more of the instances with a reference to a particular instance of the first graphical data flow program with the same data types.
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Abstract
A system and method for creating and using type generic graphical programs. The method may include storing a first graphical program on a memory medium. The first graphical program may have been created based on user input. The first graphical program may include a plurality of nodes and interconnections between the nodes, and the plurality of nodes and interconnections between the nodes may be type generic. User input may be received specifying one or more data types of at least one input and/or at least one output of the first graphical program. The data types may be associated with the first graphical program in response to said user input specifying the one or more data types.
50 Citations
29 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
- using a computer to implement;
creating a first graphical data flow program in response to user input, wherein the first graphical data flow program includes a plurality of interconnected nodes, wherein the interconnected nodes visually indicate functionality of the first graphical data flow program, and wherein the first graphical data flow program is a data type-generic graphical data flow program;wherein each of the nodes comprises at least one of an input or an output, and wherein for at least a first subset of the nodes, input(s) and/or output(s) for the first subset are not restricted to a specific data type; wherein the first graphical data flow program is executable to perform the functionality for a plurality of different data types; and wherein the first graphical data flow program comprises one set of graphical code that performs the functionality for the plurality of different data types; instantiating a plurality of instances of the first graphical data flow program in a second graphical data flow program, wherein each instance is a data type-specific graphical data flow program; determining if two or more of the instances have same data types; and
in response to determining that two or more of the instances have the same data types, replacing one or more of the instances with a reference to a particular instance of the first graphical data flow program with the same data types. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
- using a computer to implement;
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15. A non-transitory computer readable memory medium which stores:
- a first graphical data flow program, wherein the first graphical data flow program includes a plurality of interconnected nodes, wherein the interconnected nodes visually indicate functionality of the first graphical data flow program, and wherein the first graphical data flow program is a data type generic graphical data flow program;
wherein each of the nodes comprises at least one of an input or an output, and wherein for at least a first subset of the nodes, input(s) and/or output(s) for the first subset are not restricted to a specific data type; and wherein the first graphical data flow program is executable to perform the functionality for a plurality of different data types; and program instructions executable to; instantiate a plurality of instances of the first graphical data flow program in a second graphical data flow program, wherein each instance is a data type-specific graphical data flow program; determine if two or more of the instances have same data types; and
if two or more of the instances have the same data types, replace one or more of the instances with a reference to a particular instance of the first graphical data flow program with the same data types. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
- a first graphical data flow program, wherein the first graphical data flow program includes a plurality of interconnected nodes, wherein the interconnected nodes visually indicate functionality of the first graphical data flow program, and wherein the first graphical data flow program is a data type generic graphical data flow program;
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29. A system, comprising:
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a processor; a memory medium coupled to the processor which stores a first graphical data flow program, wherein the first graphical data flow program includes a plurality of interconnected nodes, wherein the interconnected nodes visually indicate functionality of the first graphical data flow program, and wherein the first graphical data flow program is a data type generic graphical data flow program; wherein each of the nodes comprises at least one of an input or an output, and wherein for at least a first subset of the nodes, input(s) and/or output(s) for the first subset are not restricted to a specific data type; and wherein the first graphical data flow program is executable to perform the functionality for a plurality of different data types; and wherein the memory medium further stores program instructions executable by the processor to; instantiate a plurality of instances of the first graphical data flow program in a second graphical data flow program, wherein each instance is a data type-specific graphical data flow program; determine if two or more of the instances have same data types; and
if two or more of the instances have the same data types, replace one or more of the instances with a reference to a particular instance of the first graphical data flow program with the same data types.
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Specification