Multiversion model versioning system and method

• US 9,047,165 B1
• Filed: 03/13/2013
• Issued: 06/02/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/08/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The MathWorks, Inc.
• Original Assignee: The MathWorks, Inc.
• Inventors: Mosterman, Pieter J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, Don
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lee, Marina
• Application Number:
  US13/800,877
• Time in Patent Office: 811 Days
• Field of Search: 717/105
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/35 model driven
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/71 Version control security arrangements therefor G06F21/57; Configuration management

Abstract

A version control unit may maintain separate version numbers for multiple traits of a single model. In particular, a number of model traits may be identified, such as a model behavior trait, a software architecture trait, a simulation trait and a code generation trait. Version information for each trait may be maintained separately for the single model. Groups of elements of the model, such as graphical objects, relationships among the objects, object parameters, model parameters, etc., may be mapped to the model traits. The version control unit may determine what model elements are changed since a prior version, and identify the model traits to which the changed model elements are mapped. Version numbers for these traits may be incremented, while version numbers for the other traits may be left unchanged.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

establishing a plurality of separate and independent version numbers for a graphical model having executable semantics, where;

the graphical model includes objects, object relationships, object parameters and model parameters, and

the plurality of version numbers are associated with respective ones of a plurality of model traits of the graphical model;

providing associations between one or more of the objects, object relationships, object parameters and model parameters and the plurality of model traits;

storing the associations between the one or more of the objects, object relationships, object parameters and model parameters and the plurality of model traits in a memory;

for at least one of the plurality of model traits, storing a plurality of different versions;

identifying one or more of the objects, object relationships, object parameters and model parameters of the graphical model that have changed as compared to a prior version of the graphical model;

determining, by a processor coupled to the memory, at least one model trait associated with the one or more objects, object relationships, object parameters and model parameters identified as having changed;

updating the version number associated with the at least one model trait determined to be associated with the one or more objects, object relationships, object parameters and model parameters identified as having changed; and

presenting, on a display coupled to the processor, one or more graphical affordances, the one or more graphical affordances configured to present at least some of the plurality of version numbers of the graphical model.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the plurality of model traits includes two or more of:

a behavior trait;

a software architecture trait;

a model simulation trait;

a code generation trait;

a hardware implementation trait;

a model requirements trait;

a visual representation trait;

a verification trait;

a requirements trait;

a diagnostics trait; and

a testing trait.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein

the graphical model further includes visual depiction information, and

the plurality of model traits further includes a visual representation trait.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving the graphical model at a version control unit.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising saving at least part of the graphical model having a plurality of separate and independent version numbers in a single storage object at a repository coupled to the version control unit.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the storage object is a file.

7. The method of claim 5 further comprising:

receiving selected version numbers for at least some of the plurality of model traits; and

retrieving from the repository the graphical model according to the selected version numbers for the at least some of the plurality of model traits.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the association between a selected object, object relationship, object parameter or model parameter and a selected model trait is user-settable.

9. A method comprising:

establishing a plurality of separate and independent version numbers for a graphical model having executable semantics, the graphical model including model characteristics, model configuration preferences, and block parameters that are modifiable;

organizing the model characteristics, model configuration preferences, and block parameters into groups where each group includes a set of model characteristics, model configuration preferences, and block parameters that, when one or more are modified, affect a respective model trait of the graphical model;

storing, for at least one model trait of the graphical model, a plurality of different versions;

identifying at least one set of model characteristics, model configuration preferences, and block parameters that have changed as compared to a prior version of the graphical model;

automatically determining, by a processor, a model trait of the graphical model affected by the change of the at least one set of model characteristics, model configuration preferences, and block parameters;

updating the version number associated with the model trait of the graphical model determined to be affected by the change;

storing, by a processor coupled to the memory, the updated version; and

presenting, on a display coupled to the processor, one or more graphical affordances, the one or more graphical affordances configured to present at least some of the plurality of version numbers of the graphical model.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the groups consist of disjoint sets of the model characteristics, model configuration preferences, and block parameters.

11. An apparatus comprising:

a display;

a memory configured to store

a graphical model having executable semantics, the graphical model including objects, object relationships, object parameters and model parameters,

an association between a plurality of model traits and selected combinations of the objects, object relationships, object parameters and model parameters, and

a plurality of separate and independent version numbers for the plurality of model traits of the graphical model,

a plurality of different versions for at least one of the plurality of model traits; and

a processor coupled to the memory and the display, the processor configured to

detect a change to the graphical model, where the detected change involves at least one of the objects, object relationships, object parameters and model parameters,

identify at least one model trait that is associated with the at least one of the objects, object relationships, object parameters and model parameters involved in the detected change,

update the version number associated with the at least one model trait, and

present, on the display, one or more graphical affordances, the one or more graphical affordances configured to present at least some of the plurality of version numbers of the graphical model.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 further comprising:

the processor is further configured to present the updated version number on the display.

13. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the plurality of model traits includes two or more of:

a behavior trait;

a software architecture trait;

a model simulation trait;

a code generation trait;

a hardware implementation trait;

a model requirements trait;

a visual representation trait;

a verification trait;

a diagnostic trait;

a requirements trait; and

a testing trait.

14. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the processor is further configured to store, for a given model trait, a current version of the graphical model and a prior version of the graphical model.

15. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising program instructions, the program instructions when executed by a processing element operable to:

establish a plurality of separate and independent version numbers for a graphical model having executable semantics, the graphical model including model characteristics, model configuration preferences, and block parameters, the plurality of version numbers associated with respective ones of a plurality of model traits of the graphical model;

store an association of sets of the model characteristics, model configuration preferences, and block parameters to the plurality of model traits;

store a plurality of different versions for at least one of the plurality of model traits;

identify one or more of the model characteristics, model configuration preferences, and block parameters that is changed as compared to a prior version of the graphical model;

identify, by a processor, at least one model trait associated with the one or more model characteristics, model configuration preferences, and block parameters identified as having changed;

update the version number associated with the at least one model trait identified as associated with the one or more model characteristics, model configuration preferences, and block parameters identified as having changed; and

present, on a display coupled to the processor, one or more graphical affordances, the one or more graphical affordances configured to present at least some of the plurality of version numbers of the graphical model.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 15 wherein the plurality of model traits includes two or more of:

a behavior trait;

a software architecture trait;

a model simulation trait;

a code generation trait;

a hardware implementation trait;

a model requirements trait;

a visual representation trait;

a verification trait;

a diagnostics trait;

a requirements trait; and

a testing trait.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 15 further comprising program instructions to:

save at least part of the graphical model having the plurality of separate and independent version numbers in a single storage object at a repository coupled to a version control unit.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 17 wherein the storage object is a file.