Merging graphical programs

• US 20060190105A1
• Filed: 01/12/2006
• Published: 08/24/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/13/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: National Instruments Corporation (Emerson Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: National Instruments Corporation (Emerson Electric Company)
• Inventors: Shah, Mohammed Kamran, Guo, Yixin, Hudson, Duncan, Fournie, Jonathan P., Hsu, Ray
• Granted Patent: US 7,703,027 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/86
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/34 Graphical or visual programming

Abstract

System and method for merging differences between graphical programs. Information is received regarding matches and differences, e.g., in hardware, software, configuration, and/or connectivity, between first and second graphical programs, each comprising respective pluralities of interconnected nodes. The information is analyzed to merge differences between the first and second graphical programs, e.g., for each difference: removing all non-common nodes and connections thereto in the second sub-graph from the second graphical program, adding all common nodes and connections thereto in the first sub-graph to the second graphical program, determining all edges in the first sub-graph that connect common nodes to non-common nodes; and for each determined edge, adding to the second graphical program an edge that connects a corresponding common node in the second sub-graph with a corresponding non-common node added from the first sub-graph. A merged graphical program is displayed on a display, e.g., graphically indicating the merged matches and/or differences.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for merging graphical programs, the method comprising:

receiving information regarding a first graphical program and a second graphical program, wherein the first graphical program comprises a first plurality of interconnected nodes that visually indicate functionality of the first graphical program, and wherein the second graphical program comprises a second plurality of interconnected nodes that visually indicate functionality of the second graphical program;

analyzing the information to determine matches and differences between the first graphical program and the second graphical program;

merging the first graphical program and the second graphical program based on the determined matches and differences, thereby generating a merged graphical program; and

displaying the merged graphical program on a display device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second graphical programs comprise respective first and second graphs, wherein each determined difference comprises a respective first sub-graph comprising one or more nodes and zero or more edges in the first graph, and a respective second sub-graph comprising one or more nodes and zero or more edges in the second graph, wherein nodes common to the first and second graphical programs comprise anchor nodes, and wherein said merging the first graphical program and the second graphical program based on the determined matches and differences comprises:

for each determined difference;

removing all non-anchor nodes and connections thereto in the second sub-graph from the second graphical program;

adding all non-anchor nodes and connections thereto in the first sub-graph to the second graphical program;

determining all edges in the first sub-graph that connect anchor nodes to non-anchor nodes; and

for each determined edge, adding to the second graphical program an edge that connects a corresponding anchor node in the second sub-graph with a corresponding non-anchor node added from the first sub-graph.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the first and second graphical programs comprise respective first and second graphs, wherein each determined difference comprises a respective first sub-graph comprising one or more nodes and zero or more edges in the first graph, and a respective second sub-graph comprising one or more nodes and zero or more edges in the second graph, wherein nodes common to the first and second graphical programs comprise anchor nodes, and wherein said merging the first graphical program and the second graphical program based on the determined matches and differences comprises:

for each determined difference;

receiving user input specifying one of the first and second graphical programs as a target graphical program, thereby specifying a corresponding one of the first and second sub-graphs as a target sub-graph and the other of the first and second sub-graphs as a source sub-graph;

removing all non-anchor nodes and connections thereto in the target sub-graph from the target graphical program;

adding all non-anchor nodes and connections thereto in the source sub-graph to the target graphical program;

determining all edges in the source sub-graph that connect anchor nodes to non-anchor nodes; and

for each determined edge, adding to the target graphical program an edge that connects a corresponding anchor node in the target sub-graph with a corresponding non-anchor node added from the source sub-graph.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said displaying comprises graphically indicating the matches and differences between the first and second graphical programs in the merged graphical program.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said graphically indicating the matches and differences between the first and second graphical programs in the merged graphical program comprises one or more of:

highlighting the differences between the first and second graphical programs in the merged graphical program;

displaying the matches and differences between the first and second graphical programs in the merged graphical program using a plurality of colors;

indicating the matches and differences between the first and second graphical programs in the merged graphical program using a plurality of line styles; and

indicating the matches and differences between the first and second graphical programs in the merged graphical program via moving dashed lines.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said generating the merged graphical program comprises one or more of:

modifying the first graphical program to generate the merged graphical program;

modifying the second graphical program to generate the merged graphical program; and

creating a new graphical program comprising at least a partial union of the first and second graphical programs.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the merged graphical program comprises a first merged graphical program, and wherein said generating the merged graphical program comprises generating the first merged graphical program and a second merged graphical program, comprising one or more of:

modifying the first and second graphical programs to generate the first and second merged graphical programs, respectively; and

creating the first and second merged graphical programs as new graphical programs.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the matches and differences between the first graphical program and the second graphical program comprise matches and differences between one or more of:

nodes comprised in the first and second graphical programs;

deployment of nodes in the first and second graphical programs;

implementation code comprised in the first and second graphical programs;

configuration data comprised in the first and second graphical programs; and

hardware devices associated with nodes comprised in the first and second graphical programs.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the hardware devices associated with nodes comprised in the first and second graphical programs comprise target devices for deployment of the nodes.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein said matches and differences between nodes comprised in the first and second graphical programs comprise matches and differences in one or more of:

number and types of the nodes;

versions of the nodes;

configuration of the nodes.

source code of the nodes;

sub-nodes of the nodes; and

deployment of the nodes.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the matches and differences between the first graphical program and the second graphical program further comprise:

matches and differences in interconnectivity of nodes comprised in the first and second graphical programs.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said matches and differences in interconnectivity of nodes comprised in the first and second graphical programs comprise matches and differences in one or more of:

data flow between nodes;

signal flow between nodes;

control flow between nodes;

dependencies between nodes;

calling relationships between nodes; and

physical connectivity between hardware devices associated with nodes.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the information regarding the first and second graphical programs comprises one or more of:

the first and/or second graphical programs;

a graph of the first and/or second graphical programs;

a description of the first and/or second graphical programs; and

a data structure specifying the first and/or second graphical programs.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein said displaying the merged graphical program further comprises:

displaying a textual description of matches and differences between the first and second graphical programs.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein said analyzing the information to determine matches and differences between the first graphical program and the second graphical program comprises:

traversing the first and second graphical programs to determine matches and differences between the first graphical program and the second graphical program.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein said analyzing comprises:

creating one or more data structures which include information regarding said first plurality of interconnected nodes in the first graphical program and the second plurality of interconnected nodes in the second graphical program; and

comparing the one or more data structures to determine the matches and differences.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the one or more data structures each comprise directed graphs comprising a plurality of vertices connected by edges, wherein each of the vertices represents one of the nodes in a respective one of the first and second graphical programs.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein said analyzing the first and second information to determine differences and/or matches between the first and second graphical programs is performed in accordance with specified difference and/or match criteria.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein specified difference and/or match criteria comprise one or more of:

tolerance;

category;

cost; and

performance.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

receiving user input specifying the difference and/or match criteria.

21. The method of claim 20,

wherein the user input specifying the difference and/or match criteria comprises user input specifying respective portions of the graphical programs for analysis;

and

wherein said analyzing and said merging are performed with respect to the specified portions of the graphical programs.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

receiving user input initiating said analyzing and said merging, wherein said analyzing and said merging are performed in response to said initiating.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising:

storing diff/merge information for each of a plurality of actions performed by the user and/or by the method; and

receiving user input invoking one or more undo operations based on the stored diff/merge information, wherein the one or more undo operations correspond respectively to one or more of the plurality of actions.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising:

receiving user input invoking one or more redo operations based on the stored diff/merge information, wherein the one or more redo operations correspond respectively to one or more of the one or more undo operations.

25. The method of claim 1, wherein the determined differences comprise one or more components represented in the first graphical program but missing from the second graphical program, the method further comprising:

searching for the one or more components based on the determined differences, wherein the one or more components are operable to be included in the second graphical program.

26. The method of claim 25, further comprising:

indicating the one or more components on the display device.

27. The method of claim 25, further comprising:

initiating acquisition of the one or more components.

28. The method of claim 27, further comprising:

receiving payment information for purchase of the one or more components.

29. The method of claim 27, wherein said initiating acquisition of the one or more components is performed:

automatically;

or

in response to user input requesting purchase of the one or more components.

30. The method of claim 27, further comprising:

downloading one or more software components to a client computer system for deployment to the second graphical program.

31. The method of claim 30, further comprising:

automatically deploying the one or more software components to the second graphical program.

32. The method of claim 27, further comprising:

automatically arranging delivery of the one or more components for inclusion in the second graphical program.

33. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving user input specifying the generation of the merged graphical program.

34. The method of claim 1, wherein the first graphical program and the second graphical program each comprises one or more of:

an industrial automation system;

a process control system; and

a test and measurement system.

35. A system for merging graphical programs, the system comprising:

a processor; and

a memory medium coupled to the processor; and

a display device;

wherein the memory stores program instructions executable by the processor to;

receive information regarding a first graphical program and a second graphical program, wherein the first graphical program comprises a first plurality of interconnected nodes that visually indicate functionality of the first graphical program, and wherein the second graphical program comprises a second plurality of interconnected nodes that visually indicate functionality of the second graphical program;

analyze the information to determine matches and differences between the first graphical program and the second graphical program;

merge the first graphical program and the second graphical program based on the determined matches and differences, thereby generating a merged graphical program; and

display the merged graphical program on a display device.

36. A system for merging graphical programs, the system comprising:

means for receiving information regarding a first graphical program and a second graphical program, wherein the first graphical program comprises a first plurality of interconnected nodes that visually indicate functionality of the first graphical program, and wherein the second graphical program comprises a second plurality of interconnected nodes that visually indicate functionality of the second graphical program;

means for analyzing the information to determine matches and differences between the first graphical program and the second graphical program;

means for merging the first graphical program and the second graphical program based on the determined matches and differences, thereby generating a merged graphical program; and

means for displaying the merged graphical program on a display device.

37. A medium storing program instructions for merging graphical programs, wherein the program instructions are executable by a processor to perform:

receiving information regarding a first graphical program and a second graphical program, wherein the first graphical program comprises a first plurality of interconnected nodes that visually indicate functionality of the first graphical program, and wherein the second graphical program comprises a second plurality of interconnected nodes that visually indicate functionality of the second graphical program;

analyzing the information to determine matches and differences between the first graphical program and the second graphical program;

merging the first graphical program and the second graphical program based on the determined matches and differences, thereby generating a merged graphical program; and

displaying the merged graphical program on a display device.