Graphical method for programming a virtual instrument

• US 5,301,336 A
• Filed: 07/12/1989
• Issued: 04/05/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/1986
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: National Instruments Corporation (Emerson Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: National Instruments Corporation (Emerson Electric Company)
• Inventors: Truchard, James J., Kodosky, Jeffrey L., MacCrisken, John E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Harrell, Robert B.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Pan, Daniel H.
• Application Number:
  US07/380,329
• Time in Patent Office: 1,728 Days
• Field of Search: 364/200 MS File, 364/900 MS File, 364/300, 364/221.1, 364/521, 364/578, 364/478, 364/147, 364/DIG.1, 364/DIG. 2, 379/368, 371/19, 371/23, 340/172.5, 235/153, 395/500, 395/800, 395/400, 395/725, 395/775, 395/425, 395/325, 395/200, 395/550, 395/575
• US Class Current: 715/846
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/31912 Tester/user interface
• 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: G09B 9/00 Simulators for teaching or training purposes for the use of weapons F41; computing aspects G06; protocols for games, networked simulations or virtual reality H04L67/131
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 715/967 Visual or iconic programming
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 715/97 Instrumentation and component modelling, e.g. interactive control panel

Abstract

A method for programming a computer to execute a procedure, is based on a graphical interface which utilizes data flow diagrams to represent the procedure. The method stores a plurality of executable functions, scheduling functions, and data types. A data flow diagram is assembled in response to the user input utilizing icons which correspond to the respective executable functions, scheduling functions, and data types which are interconnected by arcs on the screen. A panel, representative of an instrument front panel having input and output formats is likewise assembled for the data flow diagram. An executable program is generated in response to the data flow diagram and the panel utilizing the executable functions, scheduling functions, and data types stored in the memory. Furthermore, the executable functions may include user defined functions that have been generated using the method for programming. In this manner, a hierarchy of procedures is implemented, each represented by a data flow diagram.

Claims

1. A method for programming a computer to execute a procedure, the computer including memory, a display, user input means, and a data processor, the method comprising the steps of:

storing in the memory a plurality of executable functions and a plurality of data types;

assembling a first data flow diagram on the display in response to user input to specify a first process, the first data flow diagram including function-icons corresponding to respective ones of the plurality of executable functions, variable-icons corresponding to respective ones of the plurality of data types, and arcs interconnecting the function-icons and variable-icons;

assembling a second data flow diagram on the display in response to user input to specify a second process, the second data flow diagram including function-icons corresponding to respective ones of the plurality of executable functions, variable-icons corresponding to respective ones of the plurality of data types, a procedure-icon corresponding to the first data flow diagram, and arcs interconnecting the function-icons, variable-icons and the procedure-icon;

assembling a panel on the display in response to user input, the panel including input variable-icons and output variable-icons for assigning input values and displaying output values, respectively, to variable-icons in the second data flow diagram; and

generating an executable program in response to the first and second data flow diagrams and the panel including interconnected executable functions and data types as indicated by the first and second data flow diagrams, for receiving input values indicated in the panel and executing a procedure including the first and second processes to generate output values for display in the panel.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the output variable-icons for displaying output values include a strip chart for displaying a history of output values.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the input variable-icons for supplying input values in the panel includes an input control having a range of possible values, and the executable program includes a function for detecting values falling outside of the range.

4. The method of claim 1, further including:

assembling a panel on the display in response to user input corresponding to the first data flow diagram, the panel corresponding to the first data flow diagram including input variable-icons and output variable-icons for assigning input values and displaying output values, respectively, to variable-icons in the first data flow diagram; and

wherein the step of generating is further responsive to the panel corresponding to the first data flow diagram in generating the executable program to receive input values for the first process and supply output values of the first process for use in the second process.

5. The method of claim 1, further including;

storing in the memory a plurality of scheduling functions for controlling scheduling of data flow among executable functions in a process; and

at least one of the steps of assembling the first and second data flow diagrams includes placing a scheduler-icon, coupled with at least one function-icon corresponding to one of the plurality of scheduling functions in a data flow diagram being assembled; and

wherein

the step of generating an executable program is responsive to the scheduling function indicated by the scheduler-icon.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the procedure performs real time data analysis.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the procedure emulates an instrument for performing real time data analysis.

8. A method for programming a computer to execute a procedure, the computer including memory, a display, user input means, and a data processor, the method comprising the steps of:

storing in the memory a plurality of executable functions and a plurality of data types;

assembling a plurality of data flow diagrams on the display in response to user input, the data flow diagrams in the plurality specifying respective processes, the data flow diagrams in the plurality including a subset of a set of function-icons corresponding to respective ones of the plurality of executable functions, procedure-icons corresponding to user defined data flow diagrams, and variable-icons corresponding to respective ones of the plurality of data types, and including arcs interconnecting the subset of function-icons, procedure-icons and variable-icons;

assembling a plurality of panels on the display in response to user input, the panels including input variable-icons and output variable-icons for assigning input values and displaying output values, respectively, to variable-icons in respective data flow diagrams in the plurality; and

generating an executable program in response to a selected data flow diagram and a corresponding selected panel, including interconnected executable functions and data types as indicated by the selected data flow diagram, for receiving input values indicated in the selected panel and executing a procedure including the process specified in the selected data flow diagram to generate output values for display in the selected panel.

9. The method of claim 8, further including the step of:

assigning execution states to the respective processes specified by the plurality of data flow diagrams, including at least;

a first state in which the respective process is being executed,

a second state in which the respective process is specified as a subset of a process in the first state, and

a third state in which the respective process is not in the first or second states; and

controlling execution of the executable program in response to the execution states.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the execution states further include:

a fourth state in which the respective process is suspended and during which input and output values of a function or another process within the data flow diagram of the respective process can be assigned independent of the step of generating.

11. The method of claim 8, further including:

wherein the step of generating is further responsive to another panel corresponding to another data flow diagram in generating the executable program to receive input values for the process specified by the other data flow diagram and supply output values of the other process for use in the selected process.

12. The method of claim 8, further including;

storing in the memory a plurality of scheduling functions for controlling data flow among processes; and

at least one of the plurality of data flow diagrams includes a scheduler-icon corresponding to one of the plurality of scheduling functions; and

wherein

the step of generating an executable program is responsive to the scheduling function indicated by the scheduler-icon.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the procedure performs real time data analysis.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein the procedure emulates an instrument for performing real time data analysis.

15. The method of claim 8, wherein the output variable-icons for displaying output values include a strip chart for displaying a history of output values.

16. The method of claim 8, wherein at least one input variable-icon for supplying input values in one of the plurality of panels includes an input control having a range of possible values, and the executable program includes a function for detecting values falling outside of the range.

17. A method for programming a computer to execute a procedure, the computer including memory, a display, user input means, and a data processor, the method comprising the steps of:

storing in the memory a plurality of executable functions and a plurality of data types;

assembling a data flow diagram on the display in response to user input, the data flow diagram including function-icons corresponding to respective ones of the plurality of executable functions, variable-icons corresponding to respective ones of the plurality of data types, and arcs interconnecting the function-icons and variable-icons;

assembling a panel on the display in response to user input, the panel including input variable-icons and output variable-icons for assigning input values and displaying output values, respectively, to variable-icons in the data flow diagram;

generating an executable program in response to the data flow diagram and the panel including interconnected executable functions and data types as indicated by the data flow diagram, for receiving input values indicated in the panel and executing a procedure to generate output values for display in the panel; and

defining a relational database in response to the panel for storing input values and output values indicated by the panel for respective executions of the procedure.

18. The method of claim 17, further including:

providing a function for logging the input values and output values in the relational database automatically upon successful execution of the procedure.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the procedure performs real time data analysis.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the procedure emulates an instrument for performing real time data analysis.

21. A method for programming a computer to execute a procedure, the computer including memory, a display, user input means, and a data processor, the method comprising the steps of:

storing in the memory a plurality of executable functions and a plurality of data types;

storing in the memory a plurality of scheduling functions for controlling data flow among executable functions;

assembling a plurality data flow diagrams on the display in response to user input, the data flow diagrams in the plurality specifying respective processes, the data flow diagrams including a subset of a set of function-icons corresponding to respective ones of the plurality of executable functions, procedure-icons corresponding to user defined data flow diagrams, scheduler-icons coupled with at least one function-icon and corresponding to respective ones of the plurality of scheduling functions, and variable-icons corresponding to respective ones of the plurality of data types, and including arcs interconnecting the subset of function-icons, procedure-icons, and variable-icons;

assembling a plurality of panels on the display in response to user input, the panels including input variable-icons and output variable-icons for assigning input values and displaying output values, respectively, to variable-icons in respective data flow diagrams;

generating an executable program in response to the data flow diagrams and the panels, including interconnected executable functions, scheduling functions and data types as indicated by a selected data flow diagram, for receiving input values indicated in a selected panel and executing a procedure including the process specified in the selected data flow diagram to generate output values for display in the selected panel;

assigning execution states to the respective processes specified by the plurality of data flow diagrams, including at least;

a first state in which the respective process is being executed,

a second state in which the respective process is specified as a subset of a process in the first state, and

a third state in which the respective process is not in the first or second states; and

controlling execution of the executable programs in response to the execution states.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the execution states further include:

a fourth state in which the respective process is suspended and during which input and output values of a function or another process within the data flow diagram of the respective process can be assigned independent of the step of generating.

23. The method of claim 21, further including:

wherein the step of generating is further responsive to another panel corresponding to another data flow diagram in generating the executable program to receive input values for the process specified by the other data flow diagram and supply output values of the other process for use in the selected process.

24. The method of claim 21, further including:

defining a relational database in response to at least one selected panel for storing input values and output values indicated by the selected panel for respective executions of the procedure.

25. The method of claim 24, further including:

logging the input values and output values in the relational database automatically upon successful execution of the procedure.

26. The method of claim 21, wherein the procedure performs real time data analysis.

27. The method of claim 21, wherein the procedure emulates an instrument for performing real time data analysis.

28. The method of claim 21, wherein the output variable-icons for displaying output values include a strip chart for displaying a history of output values.

29. The method of claim 21, wherein at least one input variable-icon for supplying input values in one of the plurality of panels includes an input control having a range of possible values, and the executable program includes a function for detecting values falling outside of the range and for causing a state change in response to a detected out-of-range value.

30. A method for programming a computer to execute a procedure, the computer including memory, a display, user input means, and a data processor, the method comprising the steps of:

storing in the memory a plurality of executable functions and a plurality of data types;

assembling a data flow diagram on the display in response to user input, the data flow diagram including function-icons corresponding to respective ones of the plurality of executable functions, variable-icons corresponding to respective ones of the plurality of data types, and arcs interconnecting the function-icons and variable-icons;

assembling a panel on the display in response to user input, the panel including input variable-icons and output variable-icons for assigning input values and displaying output values, respectively, to variable-icons in the data flow diagram; and

generating an executable program in response to the data flow diagram and the panel including interconnected executable functions and data types as indicated by the data flow diagram, for receiving input values indicated in the panel and executing a procedure to generate output values for display in the panel;

wherein at least one input variable-icon for supplying input values in the panel includes an input control having a range of possible values, and the executable program includes a function for detecting values falling outside of the range.

31. The method of claim 30, further including;

storing in the memory a plurality of scheduling functions for controlling data flow among executable functions; and

at least one of the plurality of data flow diagrams includes a scheduler-icon coupled with at least one function-icon and corresponding to one of the plurality of scheduling functions; and

wherein

the step of generating an executable program is responsive to the scheduling function indicated by the scheduler-icon.

32. The method of claim 30, wherein the procedure performs real time data analysis.

33. The method of claim 30, wherein the procedure emulates an instrument for performing real time data analysis.