Specifying portions of a graphical program for respective execution by a processor and a programmable hardware element

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

• receiving user input specifying first and second portions of a graphical program, wherein the graphical program comprises a plurality of interconnected icons visually representing functionality of a procedure;
• compiling the first portion of the graphical program into executable code for execution by a processor and storing the executable code in a memory;
• generating a hardware description based on the second portion of the graphical program, wherein the hardware description describes a hardware implementation of the second portion of the graphical program;
• 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 the hardware implementation of the second portion of the graphical program;
• wherein the processor and the configured hardware element are operable to perform the procedure.

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 graphical program implementing a procedure, wherein the graphical program comprises a plurality of interconnected icons visually representing functionality of a procedure;
• wherein the memory further stores program instructions executable by the processor to:
• receive user input specifying first and second portions of the graphical program;
• compile the first portion of the graphical program into executable code for execution by a processor and storing the executable code in a memory;
• generate a hardware description based on the second portion of the graphical program, wherein the hardware description describes a hardware implementation of the second portion of the graphical program;
• 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 the hardware implementation of the second portion of the graphical program;
• wherein the processor and the configured hardware element are operable to perform the procedure.

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

• means for receiving user input specifying first and second portions of a graphical program, wherein the graphical program comprises a plurality of interconnected icons visually representing functionality of a procedure;
• means for compiling the first portion of the graphical program into executable code for execution by a processor and storing the executable code in a memory;
• means for generating a hardware description based on the second portion of the graphical program, wherein the hardware description describes a hardware implementation of the second portion of the graphical program;
• 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 the hardware implementation of the second portion of the graphical program;
• wherein the processor and the configured hardware element are operable to perform the procedure.

A memory medium which stores:

• a graphical program, wherein the graphical program specifies a procedure, wherein the graphical program comprises a plurality of interconnected icons representing functionality implementing the procedure;
• program instructions for receiving user input specifying first and second portions of the graphical program, wherein the first portion is specified for execution by a processor, and wherein the second portion is specified for execution on a programmable hardware element;
• a hardware description, wherein the hardware description is created based on the second portion of the graphical program, wherein the hardware description describes a hardware implementation of the second portion of the graphical program;
• executable code, wherein the executable code is created based on the first portion of the graphical program;
• wherein the hardware description is deployable to a programmable hardware element in a device to configure the programmable hardware element in the device;
• wherein the executable code is executable by a processor.

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 to perform:

• receiving user input specifying a first portion of a graphical program and a second portion of the graphical program, wherein the graphical program specifies a procedure, wherein the graphical program includes a plurality of interconnected icons representing functionality implementing the procedure, wherein the first portion specifies a corresponding first portion of the procedure, wherein the first portion is specified for execution by a processor, wherein the second portion specifies a corresponding second portion of the procedure, and wherein the second portion is specified for execution on a programmable hardware element;
• generating a hardware description based on the second portion of the graphical program, wherein the hardware description describes a hardware implementation of the second portion of the graphical program;
• configuring the programmable hardware element in the device utilizing the hardware description to produce a configured hardware element, wherein the configured hardware element implements the hardware implementation of the second portion of the graphical program;
• and
• compiling the first portion of the graphical program into executable code for execution by the processor and storing the executable code in a memory;
• wherein the configured hardware element is operable to perform the second portion of the procedure in conjunction with the processor executing the executable code to perform the first portion of the procedure.

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 to perform:

• receiving user input specifying first and second portions of a block diagram, wherein the block diagram comprises a plurality of interconnected icons visually representing functionality of a procedure;
• compiling the first portion of the block diagram into executable code for execution by a processor and storing the executable code in a memory;
• generating a hardware description based on the second portion of the block diagram, wherein the hardware description describes a hardware implementation of the second portion of the block diagram;
• 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 the hardware implementation of the second portion of the block diagram;
• wherein the processor and the configured hardware element are operable to perform the procedure.