Graphical system for modelling a process and associated method

A method for programming a computer system including display means for displaying images to control at least one of a virtual instrument and an instrument, the method comprising the steps of:

• displaying on the screen at least one first function-icon that references at least one first control means for controlling at least one first function;
• displaying on the screen at least one second function-icon that references at least one second control means for controlling at least one second function;
• displaying on the screen at least one conditional-icon that references conditional control means for controlling conditional branching of data flow;
• displaying on the screen at least one first input variable-icon that references at least one first input variable;
• displaying on the screen at least one first output variable-icon that references at least one first output variable;
• and
• assembling on the screen a first acyclic data flow diagram including the at least one first function-icon and the at least one second function-icon and the at least one conditional-icon and the at least one first input variable-icon and the at least one first output variable-icon, such that the diagram displays a first procedure for producing at least one value for the at least one first output variable-icon from at least one value for the at least one first input variable-icon, and such that the at least one conditional-icon in the diagram indicates a conditional branching of data flow to at least one of the at least one first function and the at least one second function in the course of the first procedure.

A method for programming a computer system including means for displaying images to control at least one of a virtual instrument and an instrument, the method comprising the steps of:

• displaying on the screen at least one first function-icon that references at least one first control means for controlling at least one first function;
• displaying on the screen at least one second function-icon that references at least one second control means for controlling at least one second function;
• displaying on the screen at least one sequence-icon that references sequence control means for controlling sequencing of data flow;
• displaying on the screen at least one first input variable-icon that references at least one first input variable;
• displaying on the screen at least one first output variable-icon that references at least one first output variable;
• and
• assembling on the screen a first acyclic data flow diagram including the at least one first function-icon and the at least one second function-icon and the at least one sequence-icon and the at least one first input variable-icon and the at least one first output variable-icon, such that the diagram displays a first procedure for producing at least one value for the at least one first output variable-icon from at least one value for the at least one first input variable-icon and such that the at least one sequence-icon in the diagram indicates a sequencing of the at least one first function and the at least one second function in the course of the first procedure.

A method for programming a computer system including display means for displaying images to control at least one of a virtual instrument and an instrument, the method comprising the steps of:

• displaying on the screen at least one first function-icon that references at least one first control means for controlling at least one first function;
• displaying on the screen at least one iteration-icon that references iteration control means for controlling multiple iterations of data flow;
• displaying on the screen at least one feedback-icon that references feedback control means for controlling feedback of data;
• displaying on the screen at least one first input variable-icon that references at least one first input variable;
• displaying on the screen at least one first output variable-icon that references at least one first output variable;
• assembling on the screen at least one first acyclic data flow diagram including the at least one first function-icon and the at least one iteration-icon and the at least one feedback-icon and the at least one first input variable-icon and the at least one first output variable icon, such that the diagram displays a first procedure for producing at least one value for the at least one first output variable-icon from at least one value for the at least one first input variable-icon and such that the at least one iteration-icon in the diagram indicates multiple iterations of the at least one first function and such that the at least one feedback-icon in the diagram indicates that in the course of the multiple iterations, at least one value for the at least one first output variable-icon produced in at least one iteration of the at least one first function is used in a subsequent iteration of the at least one first function to produce at least one subsequent value for the at least one first output variable-icon.

A method for programming a computer system including display means for displaying images to control at least one of a virtual instrument and an instrument, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing a function class of respective function-icons that respectively reference respective control means for controlling respective functions;
• providing a scheduling class of respective scheduling-icons that respectively reference scheduling control means for scheduling of data flow, wherein the class of respective scheduling icons includes,
• (i) an iteration-icon that references iteration control means for controlling multiple iterations of data flow, and
• (ii) a conditional-icon that references conditional control means for controlling conditional branching of data flow;
• providing a variable class of respective variable-icons that respectively reference respective variables,
• selecting at least one first function-icon from the function class, the selected at least one first function-icon referencing at least one first control means;
• selecting at least one scheduling-icon from the scheduling class, the selected at least one scheduling-icon referencing at least one scheduling control means;
• selecting at least one first input variable-icon from the variable class;
• selecting at least one first output variable-icon from the variable class;
• and
• assembling on the screen a first acyclic data flow diagram including the selected at least one first function-icon and the selected at least one scheduling-icon and the at least one first input variable-icon and the at least one first output variable-icon, such that the diagram displays a first procedure for producing at least one value for the at least one first output variable-icon from at least one value for the at least one first input variable-icon and such that the selected scheduling-icon in the diagram indicates scheduling of the at least one first function in the course of the first procedure.

A method for programming a computer system including means for displaying images on a screen to control at least one of a virtual instrument and an instrument, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing a class of respective function-icons that reference respective control means for controlling respective functions;
• selecting from the class of function-icons at least one first function-icon that references at least one first control means for controlling a first function;
• providing a class of respective variable-icons wherein each respective variable-icon references a respective variable;
• selecting at least one first input variable-icon from the class of variable-icons;
• selecting at least one first output variable-icon from the class of variable-icons;
• assembling on the screen a first front panel including the at least one first input variable-icon and the at least one first output variable-icon;
• and
• assembling on the screen a first data flow diagram including the at least one first function-icon and the at least one first input variable-icon and the at least one first output variable-icon, wherein the first diagram displays a first procedure for producing at least one value for the at least one first output variable-icon from at least one value for the at least one first input variable-icon.