Graphical programming system with block diagram execution and distributed user interface display

• US 8,533,670 B2
• Filed: 02/05/2004
• Issued: 09/10/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: National Instruments Corporation (Emerson Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: National Instruments Corporation (Emerson Electric Company)
• Inventors: Dye, Robert E., Shah, Darshan, Rogers, Steve, Richardson, Greg, Luick, Dean A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chen, Qing
• Application Number:
  US10/772,518
• Publication Number:
  US 20040158812A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,505 Days
• Field of Search: 717104-113, 709201-203, 715/733, 715/740
• US Class Current: 717/113
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/34 Graphical or visual programming
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/44505 Configuring for program initiating, e.g. using registry, configuration files
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/454 Multi-language systems; Localisation; Internationalisation

Abstract

System and method for executing a graphical program on a first computer and providing a user interface of the graphical program on a second computer, where the graphical program includes a plurality of interconnected function icons representing graphical data flow of a function. Information indicating a plurality of graphical programs on the first computer, e.g., a list, may be displayed on the second computer, and user input specifying the graphical program on the first computer received to the second computer, e.g., selecting the graphical program from the list of graphical programs. The graphical program is executed on the first computer, and information describing the user interface of the graphical program is provided to the second computer during execution. The user interface of the graphical program is displayed on the second computer, facilitating interaction between a user of the second computer and the graphical program executing on the first computer.

Claims

1. A non-transitory computer accessible memory medium that stores program instructions executable to:

establish a network connection with a client computer system over a network;

receive user input from the client computer system indicating a graphical program for execution;

execute the graphical program, wherein the graphical program includes a block diagram that comprises a plurality of interconnected function icons representing graphical data flow of a desired function, wherein the plurality of interconnected function icons visually indicate functionality of the graphical program, and wherein said executing the graphical program comprises executing the plurality of interconnected function icons of the block diagram of the graphical program;

send information describing a user interface of the graphical program over the network to the client computer system after establishing the network connection with the client computer system, wherein the information describing the user interface of the graphical program is useable by the client computer system to display the user interface of the graphical program on the client computer system; and

send information describing data updates of the block diagram of the graphical program over the network to the client computer system after establishing the network connection with the client computer system, wherein the information describing the data updates of the block diagram of the graphical program is useable by the client computer system to update the display of the block diagram of the graphical program on a display of the client computer system during said executing to reflect the execution of the graphical program in real-time;

wherein the user interface of the graphical program is operable to facilitate interaction between a user and the graphical program over the network.

2. The non-transitory computer accessible memory medium of claim 1, wherein the program instructions are further executable to:

provide information indicating a plurality of graphical programs to the client computer system over the network, wherein the information indicating a plurality of graphical programs is usable by the client computer system to display information indicating the plurality of graphical programs;

wherein, in indicating the graphical program for execution, the user input selects the graphical program from the plurality of graphical programs.

3. The non-transitory computer accessible memory medium of claim 1, wherein the program instructions are further executable to:

receive user input to the graphical program from the client computer system over the network; and

provide the user input to the graphical program;

wherein the graphical program is operable to respond to the user input.

4. The non-transitory computer accessible memory medium of claim 1,

wherein the graphical program produces a first output state;

and

wherein said sending information describing a user interface of the graphical program comprises sending information indicative of the first output state.

5. The non-transitory computer accessible memory medium of claim 4,

wherein the graphical program produces a second output state after the graphical program produces the first output state;

and

wherein the program instructions are further executable to send a user interface update indicating the second output state to the client computer system.

6. The non-transitory computer accessible memory medium of claim 1, wherein the program instructions are further executable to:

establish a network connection with each of a plurality of client computer systems; and

send information describing a user interface of the graphical program over the network to each of the plurality of client computer systems after establishing the network connection with each of the plurality of client computer systems.

7. The non-transitory computer accessible memory medium of claim 6, wherein the program instructions are further executable to:

send information describing the block diagram of the graphical program over the network to each of the plurality of client computer systems after establishing the network connection with each of the plurality of client computer systems, wherein the information describing the block diagram of the graphical program is useable by each of the plurality of client computer systems to display the block diagram of the graphical program.

8. The non-transitory computer accessible memory medium of claim 1,

wherein the graphical program executes to perform a measurement or automation function.

9. The non-transitory computer accessible memory medium of claim 1, wherein the network is the Internet.

10. The non-transitory computer accessible memory medium of claim 1,

wherein the information describing the user interface of the graphical program is useable by the client computer system to display the user interface of the graphical program on a web browser;

and

wherein the information describing the block diagram of the graphical program is useable by the client computer system to display the block diagram of the graphical program on the web browser.

11. The non-transitory computer accessible memory medium of claim 1, wherein the program instructions are further executable to:

receive user input specifying an edit to the block diagram of the graphical program from the client computer system over the network; and

edit the block diagram of the graphical program according to the user input specifying the edit.

12. The non-transitory computer accessible memory medium of claim 1,

wherein the user interface of the graphical program comprises at least one input variable icon for providing inputs to the block diagram of the graphical program and at least one output variable icon for displaying outputs produced by the block diagram of the graphical program.

13. The non-transitory computer accessible memory medium of claim 1, wherein the program instructions are further executable to:

receive input of at least one input variable from the client computer system over the network;

the block diagram of the graphical program executing using the input of the at least one input variable;

the block diagram of the graphical program generating an output of at least one output variable; and

providing the output of the at least one output variable to the client computer system over the network for display.

14. The non-transitory computer accessible memory medium of claim 1,

wherein the graphical program implements a virtual instrument;

and

wherein the user interface of the graphical program comprises a front panel of the virtual instrument.

15. A method for executing a graphical program on a first computer and providing a user interface of the graphical program for display on a second computer, the method comprising:

executing the graphical program on the first computer, wherein the graphical program includes a block diagram that comprises a plurality of interconnected function icons representing graphical data flow of a desired function, wherein the plurality of interconnected function icons visually indicate functionality of the graphical program, wherein the first computer and the second computer are connected over a network, and wherein said executing the graphical program comprises executing the plurality of interconnected function icons of the block diagram of the graphical program;

providing information describing the user interface of the graphical program to the second computer during said executing, wherein said providing comprises the first computer providing the information describing the user interface of the graphical program over the network to the second computer, and wherein the information describing the user interface of the graphical program is useable by the second computer to display the user interface of the graphical program on the second computer; and

providing information describing data updates of the block diagram of the graphical program to the second computer over the network, wherein said providing comprises the first computer providing the information describing the data updates of the block diagram of the graphical program over the network to the second computer; and

wherein the information describing the data updates of the block diagram of the graphical program is useable by the second computer to update the display of the block diagram of the graphical program on a display of the second computer during said executing to reflect the execution of the graphical program on the first computer in real-time;

wherein the user interface of the graphical program facilitates interaction between a user of the second computer and the graphical program executing on the first computer.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

providing information describing the user interface of the graphical program to a plurality of computers over the network during said executing, wherein the information describing the user interface of the graphical program is useable by each of the plurality of computers to display the user interface of the graphical program.

17. The method of claim 15,

wherein the information describing the user interface of the graphical program is useable by the second computer to display the user interface of the graphical program on a web browser of the second computer;

and

wherein the information describing the block diagram of the graphical program is useable by the second computer to display the block diagram of the graphical program on the web browser of the second computer.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

the graphical program executing on the first computer responding to user input received to the graphical program via the user interface of the graphical program displayed on the second computer, wherein the user input is provided to the first computer over the network.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the graphical program produces a second output state after the graphical program produces a first output state, the method further comprising:

providing a user interface update over the network indicating the second output state, wherein the user interface update is useable by the second computer to update the user interface of the graphical program displayed on the second computer.

20. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

receiving user input specifying an edit to the block diagram of the graphical program to the first computer from the second computer over the network; and

editing the block diagram of the graphical program according to the user input specifying the edit, wherein said editing is performed by the first computer.

21. The method of claim 15, wherein the user interface of the graphical program comprises at least one input variable icon for providing inputs to the block diagram of the graphical program and at least one output variable icon for displaying outputs produced by the block diagram of the graphical program, the method further comprising:

receiving input of at least one input variable to the first computer from the second computer over the network;

the block diagram of the graphical program executing using the input of the at least one input variable;

the block diagram of the graphical program generating an output of at least one output variable; and

providing the output of the at least one output variable to the second computer over the network, wherein the output is displayable on the second computer.

22. The method of claim 15,

wherein the graphical program implements a virtual instrument;

and

wherein the user interface of the graphical program comprises a front panel of the virtual instrument.

23. A system for executing a graphical program, the system comprising:

a first computer, comprising;

a processor; and

a memory, coupled to the processor;

wherein the first computer is operable to couple to a network;

wherein the memory stores a graphical program, wherein the graphical program includes a block diagram that comprises a plurality of interconnected function icons representing graphical data flow of a desired function, and wherein the plurality of interconnected function icons visually indicate functionality of the graphical program;

wherein the first computer is operable to execute the graphical program and provide information describing a user interface of the graphical program over the network to a second computer during said executing, and wherein said executing the graphical program comprises executing the plurality of interconnected function icons of the block diagram of the graphical program;

wherein the information describing the user interface of the graphical program provided over the network is useable by the second computer to display the user interface of the graphical program;

wherein the user interface of the graphical program facilitates interaction between a user of the second computer and the graphical program executing on the first computer; and

wherein the first computer is operable to provide information describing data updates of the block diagram of the graphical program over the network to the second computer, and wherein the information describing the data updates of the block diagram of the graphical program is useable by the second computer to update the display of the block diagram of the graphical program on a display of the second computer during said executing to reflect the execution of the graphical program on the first computer in real-time.

24. A non-transitory computer accessible memory medium that stores program instructions executable to:

receive user input at a first computer indicating a graphical program, wherein the graphical program is stored on a server computer, wherein the graphical program includes a block diagram that comprises a plurality of interconnected function icons representing graphical data flow of a desired function, and wherein the plurality of interconnected function icons visually indicate functionality of the graphical program;

provide the user input indicating the graphical program over a network to the server computer;

receive information describing a user interface of the graphical program from the server computer over the network during execution of the graphical program on the server computer, wherein said execution of the graphical program comprises execution of the plurality of interconnected function icons of the block diagram of the graphical program;

receive information describing data updates of the block diagram of the graphical program from the server computer over the network;

display the user interface of the graphical program at the first computer based on the information describing the user interface of the graphical program; and

display the block diagram of the graphical program at the first computer based on the information describing the data updates of the block diagram of the graphical program, including updating the display of the block diagram of the graphical program on a display of the first computer during said execution to reflect the execution of the graphical program on the server computer in real-time;

wherein the user interface of the graphical program facilitates interaction between a user and the graphical program executing on the server computer.

25. The non-transitory computer accessible memory medium of claim 24,

wherein the graphical program executes to perform a measurement or automation function.

26. The non-transitory computer accessible memory medium of claim 24, wherein the program instructions are further executable to:

establish a network connection with the server computer over the network after said receiving user input indicating the graphical program;

wherein said receiving information describing the user interface of the graphical program and said receiving information describing the block diagram of the graphical program are performed after said receiving user input indicating the graphical program and after said establishing a network connection.

27. The non-transitory computer accessible memory medium of claim 26,

wherein the graphical program is already executing on the server computer when said establishing a network connection occurs.

28. The non-transitory computer accessible memory medium of claim 24,

wherein to display the user interface of the graphical program, the program instructions are executable to display the user interface of the graphical program on a web browser.

29. The non-transitory computer accessible memory medium of claim 24, wherein the program instructions are further executable to:

receive user input to the graphical program via the displayed user interface of the graphical program; and

provide the user input to the server computer over the network for input to the graphical program executing on the server computer.

30. The non-transitory computer accessible memory medium of claim 24,

wherein the graphical program produces a first output state;

and

wherein said displaying the user interface of the graphical program includes displaying the user interface of the graphical program illustrating the first output state.

31. The non-transitory computer accessible memory medium of claim 24, wherein the graphical program produces a second output state after the graphical program produces a first output state, and wherein the program instructions are further executable to:

receive a user interface update over the network indicating the second output state; and

update the user interface of the graphical program in response to the user interface update.

32. The non-transitory computer accessible memory medium of claim 24, wherein the program instructions are further executable to:

receive user input specifying an edit to the block diagram of the graphical program; and

provide the user input specifying the edit to the server computer over the network;

wherein the first computer is operable to edit the block diagram of the graphical program according to the user input specifying the edit.

33. The non-transitory computer accessible memory medium of claim 24,

wherein said indicating the graphical program comprises providing a uniform resource locator (URL).

34. The non-transitory computer accessible memory medium of claim 24, wherein the program instructions are further executable to:

display information indicating a plurality of graphical programs on the first computer;

wherein, in indicating the graphical program on the first computer, the user input selects the graphical program from the plurality of graphical programs.

35. The non-transitory computer accessible memory medium of claim 24,

wherein the user interface of the graphical program comprises at least one input variable icon for providing inputs to the block diagram of the graphical program and at least one output variable icon for displaying outputs produced by the block diagram of the graphical program.

36. The non-transitory computer accessible memory medium of claim 24, wherein the program instructions are further executable to:

receive user input manipulating input of at least one input variable;

provide the user input manipulating input of the at least one input variable to the server computer over the network;

receive output of at least one output variable from the server computer over the network, wherein the output is generated by the block diagram of the graphical program executing using the manipulated input of the at least one input variable; and

display the output of the at least one output variable.

37. The non-transitory computer accessible memory medium of claim 24,

wherein the graphical program implements a virtual instrument;

and

wherein the user interface of the graphical program comprises a front panel of the virtual instrument.

38. A method for displaying a graphical user interface and block diagram of a graphical program on a second computer in response to execution of the graphical program on a first computer, the method comprising:

receiving user input to the second computer, wherein the user input indicates the graphical program on the first computer, wherein the graphical program includes a block diagram that comprises a plurality of interconnected function icons representing graphical data flow of a desired function, wherein the plurality of interconnected function icons visually indicate functionality of the graphical program, and wherein the first computer and the second computer are connected over a network;

receiving information describing a graphical user interface of the graphical program at the second computer from the first computer over the network during execution of the graphical program on the first computer, wherein said execution of the graphical program comprises execution of the plurality of interconnected function icons of the block diagram of the graphical program;

receiving information describing data updates of the block diagram of the graphical program at the second computer from the first computer over the network;

displaying the graphical user interface of the graphical program on the second computer based on the information describing the graphical user interface of the graphical program; and

displaying the block diagram of the graphical program on a display of the second computer using the information describing the data updates of the block diagram of the graphical program, including updating the display of the block diagram of the graphical program during said execution to reflect the execution of the graphical program on the first computer in real-time;

wherein the graphical user interface of the graphical program facilitates interaction between a user of the second computer and the graphical program executing on the first computer.

39. The method of claim 38, further comprising:

establishing a network connection with the first computer over the network after said receiving user input indicating the graphical program;

wherein said receiving information describing the graphical user interface of the graphical program and said receiving information describing the block diagram of the graphical program are performed after said receiving user input indicating the graphical program and after said establishing a network connection.

40. The method of claim 38,

wherein said displaying the graphical user interface of the graphical program comprises displaying the graphical user interface of the graphical program on a web browser.

41. The method of claim 38, further comprising:

receiving user input to the graphical program via the displayed graphical user interface of the graphical program; and

providing the user input to the first computer over the network for input to the graphical program executing on the first computer.

42. The method of claim 38, further comprising:

receiving user input specifying an edit to the block diagram of the graphical program; and

providing the user input specifying the edit to the first computer over the network;

wherein the user input specifying the edit is useable by the first computer to edit the graphical program.

43. The method of claim 38,

wherein the graphical user interface of the graphical program comprises at least one input variable icon for providing inputs to the block diagram of the graphical program and at least one output variable icon for displaying outputs produced by the block diagram of the graphical program.

44. The method of claim 38, further comprising:

receiving user input manipulating input of at least one input variable;

providing the user input manipulating input of the at least one input variable to the first computer over the network;

receiving output of at least one output variable from the first computer, wherein the output is generated by the block diagram of the graphical program executing using the manipulated input of the at least one input variable; and

displaying the output of the at least one output variable on the second computer.

45. The method of claim 38,

wherein the graphical program implements a virtual instrument;

and

wherein the graphical user interface of the graphical program comprises a front panel of the virtual instrument.

46. A system, comprising:

a processor;

a memory, coupled to the processor; and

a network port operable to couple to a network;

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

receive user input specifying a graphical program, wherein the graphical program includes a block diagram that comprises a plurality of interconnected function icons representing graphical data flow of a desired function, and wherein the plurality of interconnected function icons visually indicate functionality of the graphical program;

provide the user input specifying the graphical program over a network to a server computer;

receive information describing a user interface of the graphical program from the server computer over the network during execution of the graphical program on the server computer, wherein said execution of the graphical program comprises execution of the plurality of interconnected function icons of the block diagram of the graphical program;

receive information describing data updates of the block diagram of the graphical program from the server computer over the network;

display the user interface of the graphical program based on the information describing the user interface of the graphical program; and

display the block diagram of the graphical program on a display based on the information describing the data updates of the block diagram of the graphical program, including updating the display of the block diagram of the graphical program during said execution to reflect the execution of the graphical program on the server computer in real-time;

wherein the user interface of the graphical program facilitates interaction between a user and the graphical program executing on the server computer.