Data processing: software development – installation – and managem – Software program development tool – Translation of code
Reexamination Certificate
1998-02-17
2001-06-05
Powell, Mark R. (Department: 2122)
Data processing: software development, installation, and managem
Software program development tool
Translation of code
C717S152000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06243857
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The subject invention relates to a computerized machine control system which displays a flowchart of a machine control process based upon operator input and automatically generates software code from the flowchart to implement the machine control process.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The U.S. Pat. No. 4,852,047 shows an improved machine programming and control system including the utilization of a continuous, multiple-block, flowchart or charts, all or a portion of which is displayed. Each entered flowchart is executed without conversion to other languages, such that machines are controlled in accordance with the flowcharts that are displayed. Multiple flowcharts may be entered each to separately control different machines or different parts of the same machine. The flowcharts are displayed in a multiple-block presentation and a block numbering system permits rapid on-screen generation of flowcharts, editing of the flowcharts, and debugging of the flowcharts through the utilization of an interrupt. A uniquely improved debugging system, active on an execution interrupt, permits rapid value changing for selected displayed flowchart blocks and permits a single-scan program rerun for verification. Upon run-time interruption, either the number of the flowchart block being executed at the time of interruption is automatically displayed or the block is highlighted so that a flowchart or charts may be edited and corrected on-the-fly. A new formatting system, inserts a block number format entry in the object program which is the output of the compiler, which entry is skipped by Executive program during run-time execution, but which is retrievable upon a debugging cycle.
In the U.S. Pat. No. 4,956,773, using a display terminal for conversation, a module structure diagram (schemata expressive of the connectional relations among respective program modules) is created, and a processing flow diagram (a kind of processing flowchart), an internal data definition diagram (schemata for specifying the formats etc. of arguments, common data between the modules, etc.) are created for each module, the created contents being stored in a memory. Further, the schematic information items of the module structure diagram, processing flow diagram, internal data definition diagram and interface data definition diagram are read out from the memory for each module and have stereotyped sentences and symbols added thereto, to generate the individual sentences of a source program. These sentences are edited according to the rules of a language, to complete the source program. If necessary, the various diagrams are printed out and utilized as program specifications.
The U.S. Pat. No. 5,327,568 shows an apparatus for supporting development of a graphic data driven program including a data driven mechanism enabling instructions of the data driven program to be executed whenever all input data necessary for executing the instructions is available. The apparatus includes a terminal device for inputting and displaying a graphic data driven program, an input transforming section for transforming the inputted graphic data driven program into an intermediate file by referring to an instruction information data base, a wiring table transforming section for transforming the inputted graphic data driven program into a wiring table of instructions expressed in text which is independent of a target machine by referring to the intermediate file, a compile section for transforming the wiring table into an instruction template described with a language depending on the target machine, an instruction execution section for executing the instruction template, an instruction execution displaying section for displaying results of executing the instruction template superposed on the displayed graphic data driven program, and an instruction information tracing section for comparing actual results of execution the instruction template stored in a traced information file with correct results of executing the instruction template stored in a correct data base.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION AND ADVANTAGES
The present invention concerns a machine programming and control system including means for editing and generating a continuous multi-block flowchart representing a program for controlling the operations of a machine, means for displaying the flowchart, continuous and contiguous portions of the flowchart containing more than one flowchart block being displayed, means for directly compiling the program from the flowchart, and means for executing the compiled program represented by the flowchart such that the machine is controlled in accordance with a displayed flowchart. A computer in the system includes the means for editing and generating connected to the machine and the display means connected to the means for editing and generating and including a screen divided into a plurality of columns and rows for displaying the flowchart with each block of a plurality of blocks being positioned at an associated intersection of one of the columns and one of the rows.
A method of machine programming and control according to the present invention includes editing and generating a continuous multi-block flowchart representing a program for controlling the operations of a machine, displaying the flowchart, continuous and contiguous portions of the flowchart containing more than one flowchart block being displayed, directly compiling the program from the flowchart, and executing the compiled program represented by the flowchart such that the machine is controlled in accordance with a displayed flowchart. The method further includes the steps of: providing the computer including the means for editing and generating a continuous multi-block flowchart representing a program for controlling the operations of the machine connected to the computer; providing the display means connected to the means for editing and generating; and displaying the screen on the display means divided into a plurality of columns and rows for displaying the flowchart with each block of a plurality of blocks being positioned at an associated intersection of one of the columns and one of the rows.
It is an object of the present invention to reduce the costs associated with machine control systems by reducing overall life cycle costs of automation equipment and by optimizing productivity.
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Microsoft, The Windows Interface Guidelines for Software Design, Microsoft Press, pp. 103-119, Mar. 1995.
Achesinski Jeffrey M.
Bunch Kenneth W.
Davis Teddy Martin
Logan, III Frank G.
Howard & Howard
NemaSoft, Inc.
Nguyen-Ba Hoang-Vu Anthony
Powell Mark R.
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