Graphical program nodes for implementing a measurement state model

• US 20030093239A1
• Filed: 09/30/2002
• Published: 05/15/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: National Instruments Corporation (Emerson Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: National Instruments Corporation (Emerson Electric Company)
• Inventors: Schmit, Geoffrey C.
• Granted Patent: US 7,512,931 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/127
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23258 GUI graphical user interface, icon, function bloc editor, labview
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23291 Process, graphic programming of a process, text and images
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2656 Instrumentation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/71 Version control security arrangements therefor G06F21/57; Configuration management

Abstract

Graphical program node using a state model, e.g., a task state model, to perform measurement tasks. The node is executable in a graphical program to perform a task operation requiring measurement resources and/or the task to be in a first state. The node is executable to determine state transitions for the resources and/or task from a current state to the first state, perform the determined state transitions to put the resources and/or task in the first state, transitioning through zero or more intermediate states, and perform the operation. The node may be a control node, receiving input specifying a transition, then performing the transition; start node, transitioning the resources and/or task to an Executing state; read node, reading data from a DAQ device; write node, writing data to a signal-generating device, then transitioning the resources and/or task to the Executing state; or stop node, terminating an operation and transitioning the resources and/or task to a specified state.

Claims

1. A node in a graphical program,

wherein the graphical program is executable to perform a measurement task using a task state model, and wherein the task state model comprises a sequence of task states, each task state corresponding to a status of the measurement task;

and

wherein the node is executable in the graphical program to perform a measurement task operation, wherein the operation requires the measurement task to be in a first task state;

wherein the node is further executable in the graphical program to;

determine one or more task state transitions for transitioning the measurement task from a current task state in the sequence of task states to the first task state in the sequence of task states;

perform the one or more task state transitions after said determining, wherein after said performing, the measurement task is in the first task state; and

perform the measurement task operation.

2. The node of claim 1,

wherein, in said performing the one or more task state transitions, the node is executable to programmatically transition the measurement task from the current task state through one or more intermediate task states of the plurality of task states to the first task state.

3. The node of claim 1,

wherein the node is operable to receive input specifying a target task state in the sequence of task states;

and

wherein, in said performing the measurement task operation, the node is executable to;

perform an explicit state transition of the measurement task from the first task state to the target task state.

4. The node of claim 1,

wherein, in said performing the measurement task operation, the node is executable to:

perform an explicit state transition of the measurement task from the first task state to an Executing task state.

5. The node of claim 1,

wherein the measurement task comprises a data acquisition (DAQ) task;

and

wherein, in said performing the measurement task operation, the node is executable to;

perform a read operation, wherein the read operation reads data from a DAQ device.

6. The node of claim 5, wherein the first task state comprises an Executing state.

7. The node of claim 1,

wherein the measurement task comprises a signal generation task;

and

wherein, in said performing the measurement task operation, the node is executable to;

perform a write operation, wherein the write operation writes data to a signal generation device.

8. The node of claim 7,

wherein the node is operable to receive input specifying a transition to a target task state in the sequence of task states;

and

wherein, after said performing the measurement task operation, the node is executable to;

perform an explicit state transition of the measurement task from the first task state to the target task state according to said specifying.

9. The node of claim 8, wherein the first task state comprises a Committed state, and wherein the target task state comprises an Executing state.

10. The node of claim 9, wherein said input specifying a transition to the target state comprises a Boolean parameter indicating whether to perform said explicit state transition to the Executing state.

11. A stop node in a graphical program,

wherein the graphical program is executable to perform a measurement task using a task state model, and wherein the task state model comprises a sequence of task states, each task state corresponding to a status of the measurement task;

wherein the graphical program is executable to;

transition the measurement task from a first task state to an Executing state of the sequence of task states; and

perform a measurement task operation; and

wherein the stop node is executable in the graphical program to;

transition the measurement task from the Executing task state in the sequence of task states to a second task state in the sequence of task states, thereby terminating operation of the measurement task operation;

determine zero or more task state transitions for transitioning the measurement task from the second task state in the sequence of task states to the first task state in the sequence of task states; and

transition the measurement task from the second task state to the first task state in accordance with said determining.

12. A node in a graphical program,

wherein the graphical program is executable to perform a measurement task using a task state model, and wherein the task state model comprises a sequence of task states, each task state corresponding to a status of the measurement task;

and

wherein the node is executable in the graphical program to perform a measurement task operation, wherein the operation requires the measurement task to be in a first task state;

wherein the node is further executable in the graphical program to;

implicitly transition the measurement task from a current task state in the sequence of task states to the first task state in the sequence of task states; and

perform the measurement task operation in response to said implicitly transitioning the measurement task from the current task state to the first task state.

13. The node of claim 12,

wherein, in said implicitly transitioning the measurement task from a current task state in the sequence of task states to a first task state in the sequence of task states, the node is executable to transition the measurement task from the current task state through one or more intermediate task states of the sequence of task states to the first task state.

14. A measurement system, comprising:

a computer system, comprising;

a processor; and

a memory medium coupled to the processor, wherein the memory medium stores;

a graphical program executable to perform a measurement task; and

a task state model, wherein the task state model comprises a sequence of task states, wherein each of the task states corresponds to a status of the measurement task; and

one or more measurement resources coupled to the computer system, wherein the program instructions are executable to perform the measurement task using the one or more measurement resources;

wherein the graphical program comprises one or more graphical program nodes which are executable to perform transitions among said plurality of task states in performing the measurement task.

15. The system of claim 14,

wherein at least one node of the one or more nodes is executable in the graphical program to perform a measurement task operation, wherein the operation requires the measurement task to be in a first task state;

wherein the at least one node is executable in the graphical program to;

determine one or more task state transitions for transitioning the measurement task from a current task state in the sequence of task states to the first task state in the sequence of task states;

perform the one or more task state transitions after said determining, wherein after said performing, the measurement task is in the first task state; and

perform the measurement task operation.

16. The system of claim 15,

wherein, in said performing the one or more task state transitions, the node is executable to programmatically transition the measurement task from the current task state through one or more intermediate task states of the plurality of task states to the first task state.

17. A method for performing a measurement task, the method comprising:

creating a graphical program, wherein the graphical program is executable to perform a measurement task using a task state model, and wherein the task state model comprises a sequence of task states, each task state corresponding to a status of the measurement task;

wherein said creating the graphical program includes displaying a node in the graphical program;

wherein the node is executable in the graphical program to perform a measurement task operation, wherein the operation requires the measurement task to be in a first task state;

executing the graphical program, wherein said executing comprises executing the node, wherein said executing the node comprises;

determining one or more task state transitions for transitioning the measurement task from a current task state in the sequence of task states to the first task state in the sequence of task states;

performing the one or more task state transitions after said determining, wherein, after said performing, the measurement task is in the first task state; and

performing the measurement task operation.

18. The method of claim 17,

wherein, said performing the one or more task state transitions comprises programmatically transitioning the measurement task from the current task state through one or more intermediate task states of the plurality of task states to the first task state.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

the node receiving input specifying a target task state in the sequence of task states;

wherein said performing the measurement task operation comprises;

performing an explicit state transition of the measurement task from the first task state to the target task state.

20. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

during execution of the graphical program, the node receiving user input specifying a target task state in the sequence of task states;

wherein said performing the measurement task operation comprises;

performing an explicit state transition of the measurement task from the first task state to the target task state in accordance with said user input.

21. The method of claim 17, wherein said performing the measurement task operation comprises:

performing an explicit state transition of the measurement task from the first task state to an Executing task state.

22. The method of claim 17,

wherein the measurement task comprises a data acquisition (DAQ) task;

and

wherein said performing the measurement task operation comprises;

the node performing a read operation, wherein the read operation reads data from a DAQ device.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the first task state comprises an Executing state.

24. The method of claim 17,

wherein the measurement task comprises a signal generation task;

and

wherein said performing the measurement task operation comprises;

the node performing a write operation, wherein the write operation writes data to a signal generation device.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising:

the node receiving input specifying a transition to a target task state in the sequence of task states; and

after said performing the measurement task operation, the node performing an explicit state transition of the measurement task from the first task state to the target task state according to said specifying.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the first task state comprises a Committed state, and wherein the target task state comprises an Executing state.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein said input specifying a transition to the target state comprises a Boolean parameter indicating whether to perform said explicit state transition to the Executing state.

28. A method for performing a measurement task, the method comprising:

creating a graphical program, wherein the graphical program is executable to perform a measurement task using a task state model, and wherein the task state model comprises a sequence of task states, each task state corresponding to a status of the measurement task;

wherein said creating the graphical program includes displaying a node in the graphical program;

executing the graphical program, wherein said executing comprises;

transitioning the measurement task from a first task state to an Executing state of the sequence of task states;

performing a measurement task operation; and

executing the node, wherein said executing the node comprises;

the node transitioning the measurement task from the Executing task state in the sequence of task states to a second task state in the sequence of task states, thereby terminating operation of the measurement task operation;

the node determining zero or more task state transitions for transitioning the measurement task from the second task state in the sequence of task states to the first task state in the sequence of task states; and

the node transitioning the measurement task from the second task state to the first task state in accordance with said determining.

29. A method for performing a measurement task, the method comprising:

creating a graphical program, wherein said creating the graphical program includes displaying a node in the graphical program;

wherein the graphical program is executable to perform a measurement task using a task state model, and wherein the task state model comprises a sequence of task states, each task state corresponding to a status of the measurement task;

wherein the node is executable in the graphical program to perform a measurement task operation, wherein the operation requires the measurement task to be in a first task state;

executing the graphical program, wherein said executing comprises;

determining one or more task state transitions for transitioning the measurement task from a current task state in the sequence of task states to the first task state in the sequence of task states;

performing the one or more task state transitions after said determining, wherein, after said performing, the measurement task is in the first task state;

executing the node to perform the measurement task operation after said performing the one or more task state transitions.

30. A carrier medium which stores program instructions for performing a measurement task, wherein the program instructions implement a state model comprising a sequence of three or more states, wherein the program instructions are executable to perform:

creating a graphical program, wherein the graphical program is executable to perform a measurement task using a task state model, and wherein the task state model comprises a sequence of task states, each task state corresponding to a status of the measurement task;

wherein said creating the graphical program includes displaying a node in the graphical program;

wherein the node is executable in the graphical program to perform a measurement task operation, wherein the operation requires the measurement task to be in a first task state;

executing the graphical program, wherein said executing comprises executing the node, wherein said executing the node comprises;

,

determining one or more task state transitions for transitioning the measurement task from a current task state in the sequence of task states to the first task state in the sequence of task states;

programmatically transitioning the measurement task from the current task state through one or more intermediate task states of the plurality of task states to the first task state after said determining, wherein, after said performing, the measurement task is in the first task state; and

performing the measurement task operation.

31. A node in a graphical program,

wherein the graphical program is executable to perform a measurement task using a state model, and wherein the state model comprises a sequence of states, each state corresponding to a status of measurement resources used to perform the measurement task;

and

wherein the node is executable in the graphical program to perform a measurement task operation, wherein the operation requires the measurement resources to be in a first state;

wherein the node is further executable in the graphical program to;

implicitly transition the measurement resources from a current state in the sequence of states to the first state in the sequence of states; and

perform the measurement task operation in response to said implicitly transitioning the measurement resources from the current state to the first state.

32. The node of claim 31,

wherein, in said implicitly transitioning the measurement resources from a current state in the sequence of states to a first state in the sequence of states, the node is executable to transition the measurement resources from the current state through one or more intermediate states of the sequence of states to the first state.

33. A method for performing a measurement task, the method comprising:

creating a graphical program, wherein the graphical program is executable to perform a measurement task using a state model, and wherein the state model comprises a sequence of states, each state corresponding to a status of measurement resources used to perform the measurement task;

wherein said creating the graphical program includes displaying a node in the graphical program;

wherein the node is executable in the graphical program to perform a measurement task operation, wherein the operation requires the measurement resources to be in a first state;

executing the graphical program, wherein said executing comprises executing the node, wherein said executing the node comprises;

determining one or more state transitions for transitioning the measurement resources from a current state in the sequence of states to the first state in the sequence of states;

performing the one or more state transitions after said determining, wherein, after said performing, the measurement resources are in the first state; and

performing the measurement task operation.

wherein, said performing the one or more state transitions comprises programmatically transitioning the measurement resources from the current state through one or more intermediate states of the plurality of states to the first state.

34. A carrier medium which stores program instructions for performing a measurement task, wherein the program instructions implement a state model comprising a sequence of three or more states, wherein the program instructions are executable to perform:

creating a graphical program, wherein the graphical program is executable to perform a measurement task using a state model, and wherein the state model comprises a sequence of states, each state corresponding to a status of measurement resources used to perform the measurement task;

wherein said creating the graphical program includes displaying a node in the graphical program;

wherein the node is executable in the graphical program to perform a measurement task operation, wherein the operation requires the measurement resources to be in a first task state;

executing the graphical program, wherein said executing comprises executing the node, wherein said executing the node comprises;

determining one or more state transitions for transitioning the measurement resources from a current state in the sequence of states to the first state in the sequence of states;

programmatically transitioning the measurement resources from the current state through one or more intermediate states of the plurality of states to the first state after said determining, wherein, after said performing, the measurement resources are in the first state; and

performing the measurement task operation.