Graphical program with various function icons and method for conversion into a hardware implementation

A computer-implemented method for configuring a device, wherein the device includes a programmable hardware element, the method comprising:

• storing a block diagram, wherein the block diagram specifies a procedure, wherein the block diagram includes a plurality of interconnected icons, including one or more function nodes and one or more icons representing one or more of:
• at least one constant, at least one global variable, at least one control terminal, at least one indicator terminal, at least one structure node, and at least one sub-program node;
• generating a hardware description based on the block diagram, wherein the hardware description describes a hardware implementation of the block diagram, wherein the hardware description incorporates functionality represented by the plurality of interconnected icons;
• and
• configuring the programmable hardware element in the device utilizing the hardware description to produce a configured hardware element, wherein the configured hardware element implements a hardware implementation of the block diagram, wherein the configured hardware element is configured to operate according to the functionality represented by the plurality of interconnected icons.

A system, comprising:

• a computer system comprising a processor, memory and a display;
• and
• a device coupled to the computer system, wherein the device includes a programmable hardware element;
• wherein the memory stores a block diagram, wherein the block diagram specifies a procedure, wherein the block diagram includes a plurality of interconnected icons, including one or more function nodes and one or more icons representing one or more of:
• at least one constant, at least one global variable, at least one control terminal, at least one indicator terminal, at least one structure node, and at least one sub-program node;
• wherein the memory further stores program instructions executable by the processor to:
• generate a hardware description based on the block diagram, wherein the hardware description describes a hardware implementation of the block diagram, wherein the hardware description incorporates functionality represented by the plurality of interconnected icons;
• and
• configure the programmable hardware element in the device utilizing the hardware description to produce a configured hardware element, wherein the configured hardware element implements a hardware implementation of the block diagram, wherein the configured hardware element is configured to operate according to the functionality represented by the plurality of interconnected icons.

A system for configuring a device, wherein the device includes a programmable hardware element, the system comprising:

• means for storing a block diagram, wherein the block diagram specifies a procedure, wherein the block diagram includes a plurality of interconnected icons, including one or more function nodes and one or more icons representing one or more of:
• at least one constant, at least one global variable, at least one control terminal, at least one indicator terminal, at least one structure node, and at least one sub-program node;
• means for generating a hardware description based on the block diagram, wherein the hardware description describes a hardware implementation of the block diagram, wherein the hardware description incorporates functionality represented by the plurality of interconnected icons;
• and
• means for configuring the programmable hardware element in the device utilizing the hardware description to produce a configured hardware element, wherein the configured hardware element implements a hardware implementation of the block diagram, wherein the configured hardware element is configured to operate according to the functionality represented by the plurality of interconnected icons.

A memory medium which stores program instructions for configuring a device, wherein the device includes a programmable hardware element, wherein the program instructions are executable by a processor to perform:

• storing a block diagram, wherein the block diagram specifies a procedure, wherein the block diagram includes a plurality of interconnected icons, including one or more function nodes and at least one constant icon, wherein the at least one constant icon represents a corresponding at least one constant, and wherein the at least one constant icon provides the at least one constant for use by the block diagram in performing the procedure;
• generating a hardware description based on the block diagram, wherein the hardware description describes a hardware implementation of the block diagram, wherein the hardware description incorporates functionality represented by the plurality of interconnected icons;
• and
• configuring the programmable hardware element in the device utilizing the hardware description to produce a configured hardware element, wherein the configured hardware element implements a hardware implementation of the block diagram, wherein the configured hardware element is configured to operate according to the functionality represented by the plurality of interconnected icons.

A memory medium which stores program instructions for configuring a device, wherein the device includes a programmable hardware element, wherein the program instructions are executable by a processor to perform:

• storing a block diagram, wherein the block diagram specifies a procedure, wherein the block diagram includes a plurality of interconnected icons, including one or more function nodes and at least one global variable icon, wherein the at least one global variable icon represents a corresponding at least one global variable, and wherein the at least one global variable icon provides the at least one global variable for use by the block diagram in performing the procedure;
• generating a hardware description based on the block diagram, wherein the hardware description describes a hardware implementation of the block diagram, wherein the hardware description incorporates functionality represented by the plurality of interconnected icons;
• and
• configuring the programmable hardware element in the device utilizing the hardware description to produce a configured hardware element, wherein the configured hardware element implements a hardware implementation of the block diagram, wherein the configured hardware element is configured to operate according to the functionality represented by the plurality of interconnected icons.

A memory medium which stores program instructions for configuring a device, wherein the device includes a programmable hardware element, wherein the program instructions are executable by a processor to perform:

• storing a block diagram, wherein the block diagram specifies a procedure, wherein the block diagram includes a plurality of interconnected icons, including one or more function nodes and at least one control terminal icon, wherein the at least one control terminal icon represents a corresponding at least one control terminal, and wherein the at least one control terminal icon is operable to receive user input from a user interface affecting operation of the block diagram in performing the procedure;
• generating a hardware description based on the block diagram, wherein the hardware description describes a hardware implementation of the block diagram, wherein the hardware description incorporates functionality represented by the plurality of interconnected icons;
• and
• configuring the programmable hardware element in the device utilizing the hardware description to produce a configured hardware element, wherein the configured hardware element implements a hardware implementation of the block diagram, wherein the configured hardware element is configured to operate according to the functionality represented by the plurality of interconnected icons.

A memory medium which stores program instructions for configuring a device, wherein the device includes a programmable hardware element, wherein the program instructions are executable by a processor to perform:

• storing a block diagram, wherein the block diagram specifies a procedure, wherein the block diagram includes a plurality of interconnected icons, including one or more function nodes and at least one indicator terminal icon, wherein the at least one indicator terminal icon represents a corresponding at least one indicator terminal, and wherein the at least one indicator terminal icon is operable to receive a corresponding at least one value from at least one interconnected icon and provide the at least one value for presentation on a display;
• generating a hardware description based on the block diagram, wherein the hardware description describes a hardware implementation of the block diagram, wherein the hardware description incorporates functionality represented by the plurality of interconnected icons;
• and
• configuring the programmable hardware element in the device utilizing the hardware description to produce a configured hardware element, wherein the configured hardware element implements a hardware implementation of the block diagram, wherein the configured hardware element is configured to operate according to the functionality represented by the plurality of interconnected icons.

A memory medium which stores program instructions for configuring a device, wherein the device includes a programmable hardware element, wherein the program instructions are executable by a processor to perform:

• storing a block diagram, wherein the block diagram specifies a procedure, wherein the block diagram includes a plurality of interconnected icons, including one or more function nodes and at least one structure node, wherein the at least one structure node represents a corresponding control function, and wherein the at least one structure node controls execution of at least a subset of the plurality of interconnected icons;
• generating a hardware description based on the block diagram, wherein the hardware description describes a hardware implementation of the block diagram, wherein the hardware description incorporates functionality represented by the plurality of interconnected icons;
• and
• configuring the programmable hardware element in the device utilizing the hardware description to produce a configured hardware element, wherein the configured hardware element implements a hardware implementation of the block diagram, wherein the configured hardware element is configured to operate according to the functionality represented by the plurality of interconnected icons.

A memory medium which stores program instructions for configuring a device, wherein the device includes a programmable hardware element, wherein the program instructions are executable by a processor to perform:

• storing a block diagram, wherein the block diagram specifies a procedure, wherein the block diagram includes a plurality of interconnected icons, including one or more function nodes and at least one sub-program node, wherein the at least one sub-program node represents a corresponding at least one sub-program implementing at least one sub-procedure that performs at least a portion of the procedure;
• generating a hardware description based on the block diagram, wherein the hardware description describes a hardware implementation of the block diagram, wherein the hardware description incorporates functionality represented by the plurality of interconnected icons;
• and
• configuring the programmable hardware element in the device utilizing the hardware description to produce a configured hardware element, wherein the configured hardware element implements a hardware implementation of the block diagram, wherein the configured hardware element is configured to operate according to the functionality represented by the plurality of interconnected icons.

A memory medium which stores program instructions for configuring a device, wherein the device includes a programmable hardware element, wherein the program instructions are executable by a processor to perform:

• storing a graphical program, wherein the graphical program comprises a plurality of interconnected nodes that visually specify a procedure, wherein the nodes comprise one or more function nodes, and one or more icons representing one or more of:
• at least one constant, at least one global variable, at least one control terminal, at least one indicator terminal, at least one structure node, and at least one sub-program node;
• generating a hardware description based on the graphical program, wherein the hardware description describes a hardware implementation of the graphical program, wherein the hardware description incorporates functionality represented by the plurality of interconnected icons;
• and
• configuring the programmable hardware element in the device utilizing the hardware description to produce a configured hardware element, wherein the configured hardware element implements a hardware implementation of the block diagram, wherein the configured hardware element is configured to operate according to the functionality represented by the plurality of interconnected nodes.