Method of graphically linking multiple disjoint models

• US 9,176,640 B1
• Filed: 05/29/2014
• Issued: 11/03/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The MathWorks, Inc.
• Original Assignee: The MathWorks, Inc.
• Inventors: Behboodian, Ali
• Primary Examiner(s): Rivas, Omar Fernandez
• Assistant Examiner(s): CALLE, ANGEL J.
• Application Number:
  US14/290,252
• Time in Patent Office: 523 Days
• Field of Search: 703/2, 703/24, 703/26, 703/27, 715/201, 715/826, 717/106
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/22 Indexing; Data structures therefor; Storage structures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2117/08 HW-SW co-design, e.g. HW-SW partitioning
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 30/20 Design optimisation, verification or simulation optimisation, verification or simulation of circuit designs G06F30/30
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/34 Graphical or visual programming
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/455 Emulation; Interpretation; Software simulation, e.g. virtualisation or emulation of application or operating system execution engines

Abstract

The disclosed methods, mechanisms, and system provide the ability to associate one or more disjointed models such that a second model can be accessed from a first model thereby allowing easier navigation between models. A graphical link to a second model is provided as part of a first model. Activating the graphical link opens the second model for viewing or editing. Links between additional models may also be provided. Thus, by using the provided graphical links, a user may quickly and easily navigate between all the associated models.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving information associated with a first model,

the first model representing a first part of a system, and

the receiving being performed by a computing device;

receiving information associated with a second model,

the second model representing a second part of the system, and

the receiving the information associated with the second model being performed by the computing device;

generating a graphical link to the second model,

the generating being performed by the computing device;

associating the graphical link with the first model,

the associating being performed by the computing device;

providing, for presentation based on associating the graphical link with the first model and without providing the second model, the first model and the graphical link,

the graphical link being located within the first model, and

the providing for presentation being performed by the computing device;

receiving an activation of the graphical link,

the receiving the activation being performed by the computing device; and

providing, for presentation, the second model,

the second model being provided for presentation based on receiving the activation of the graphical link, and

the providing for presentation the second model being performed by the computing device.

2. The method of claim 1, where the first model is functionally independent from the second model.

3. The method of claim 1, where, when providing for presentation the second model, the method includes:

providing, for presentation, the second model while providing, for presentation, the first model.

4. The method of claim 3, where

the first model is provided, for presentation, in a first window, and

the second model is provided, for presentation, in a second window.

5. The method of claim 1, where, when providing for presentation the second model, the method includes:

providing, for presentation, the second model without providing, for presentation, the first model.

6. The method of claim 1, where

when providing for presentation the second model, the method includes:

providing, for presentation, the second model and a graphical link to the first model, and

the method further includes;

receiving an activation of the graphical link to the first model; and

providing, for presentation and based on receiving the activation of the graphical link to the first model, the first model.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing, for presentation, a graphical link to a third model,

the third model being different than the first model and being different than the second model; and

providing, for presentation and based on receiving the activation of the graphical link to the third model, the third model.

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

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

receive information associated with a first model;

receive information associated with a second model;

generate a graphical link to the second model;

associate the graphical link with the first model;

provide, for presentation based on associating the graphical link with the first model and without providing the second model, the first model and the graphical link,

the graphical link being located within the first model;

receive an activation of the graphical link; and

provide, for presentation, the second model,

the second model being provided for presentation based on receiving the activation of the graphical link.

9. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8, where the first model is functionally independent from the second model.

10. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8, where the one or more instructions to provide for presentation the second model, include:

one or more instructions to provide, for presentation, the second model while providing, for presentation, the first model.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 10, where

the first model is provided, for presentation, in a first window, and

the second model is provided, for presentation, in a second window.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8, where the one or more instructions to provide for presentation the second model, include:

one or more instructions to provide, for presentation, the second model without providing, for presentation, the first model.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8, where

one or more instructions to provide for presentation the second model include:

one or more instructions to provide, for presentation, the second model and a graphical link to the first model, and

the instructions further include;

one or more instructions to receive an activation of the graphical link to the first model; and

one or more instructions to provide, for presentation and based on receiving the activation of the graphical link to the first model, the first model.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8, where the instructions further include:

one or more instructions to provide, for presentation, a graphical link to a third model,

the third model being different than the first model and being different than the second model; and

one or more instructions to provide, for presentation and based on receiving the activation of the graphical link to the third model, the third model.

15. A device comprising:

a memory to store instructions; and

a processor to execute the instructions to;

receive information associated with a first model;

receive information associated with a second model;

generate a graphical link to the second model;

associate the graphical link with the first model;

provide, for presentation based on associating the graphical link with the first model and without providing the second model, the first model and the graphical link,

the graphical link being located within the first model;

receive an activation of the graphical link; and

provide, for presentation and based on receiving the activation of the graphical link, the second model,

the second model being provided for presentation based on receiving the activation of the graphical link.

16. The device of claim 15, where the first model is functionally independent from the second model.

17. The device of claim 15, where the processor, when providing for presentation the second model, is further to:

provide, for presentation, the second model while providing, for presentation, the first model,

the first model being provided, for presentation, in a first window, and

the second model being provided, for presentation, in a second window.

18. The device of claim 15, where the processor, when providing for presentation the second model, is further to:

provide, for presentation, the second model without providing, for presentation, the first model.

19. The device of claim 15, where

the processor, when providing for presentation the second model, is further to:

provide, for presentation, the second model and a graphical link to the first model, and

the processor is further to;

receive an activation of the graphical link to the first model; and

provide, for presentation and based on receiving the activation of the graphical link to the first model, the first model.

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

provide, for presentation, a graphical link to a third model,

the third model being different than the first model and being different than the second model; and

provide, for presentation and based on receiving the activation of the graphical link to the third model, the third model.