Function specific property nodes for graphical programs

#The present invention relates to the field of graphical programming, and more particularly to function specific graphical program property nodes in a graphical programming language. A palette for displaying these nodes is also described.

#Traditionally, high level text-based programming languages have been used by programmers in writing application programs. Many different high level text-based programming languages exist, including BASIC, C, C++, Java, FORTRAN, Pascal, COBOL, ADA, APL, etc. Programs written in these high level text-based languages are translated to the machine language level by translators known as compilers or interpreters. The high level text-based programming languages in this level, as well as the assembly language level, are referred to herein as text-based programming environments.

#Increasingly, computers are required to be used and programmed by those who are not highly trained in computer programming techniques. When traditional text-based programming environments are used, the user's programming skills and ability to interact with the computer system often become a limiting factor in the achievement of optimal utilization of the computer system.

#A better understanding of the present invention can be obtained when the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment is considered in conjunction with the following drawings, in which:

#FIG. 1A illustrates a computer system operable to execute a graphical program according to an embodiment of the present invention;

#FIG. 1B illustrates a network system comprising two or more computer systems that may implement an embodiment of the present invention;

#While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof are shown by way of example in the drawings and are herein described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the drawings and detailed description thereto are not intended to limit the invention to the particular form disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

#The following references are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety as though fully and completely set forth herein: U.S. Pat. No. 4,914,568 titled “Graphical System for Modeling a Process and Associated Method,” issued on Apr. 3, 1990. U.S. Pat. No. 5,481,741 titled “Method and Apparatus for Providing Attribute Nodes in a Graphical Data Flow Environment”. U.S. Pat. No. 6,173,438 titled “Embedded Graphical Programming System” filed Aug. 18, 1997. U.S. Pat. No. 6,219,628 titled “System and Method for Configuring an Instrument to Perform Measurement Functions Utilizing Conversion of Graphical Programs into Hardware Implementations,” filed Aug. 18, 1997. U.S. Pat. No. 7,210,117, published as Publication No. 20010020291 (Ser. No. 09/745,023) titled “System and Method for Programmatically Generating a Graphical Program in Response to Program Information,” filed Dec. 20, 2000. U.S. Pat. No. 7,120,876, filed as application Ser. No. 09/886,455 titled “System and Method for Programmatically Generating a Graphical Program in Response to User Input,” filed Jun. 20, 2001. U.S. Pat. No. 6,879,926, filed as application Ser. No. 10/008,792 titled “Measurement System Software Architecture for Easily Creating High-Performance Measurement Applications,” filed Nov. 13, 2001. U.S. Pat. No. 7,162,387, filed as application Ser. No. 10/128,843 titled “Measurement System Graphical User Interface for Easily Configuring Measurement Applications,” filed Apr. 24, 2002. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/602,553 titled “Function Specific Graphical Program Property Nodes,” filed Jun. 24, 2003. U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/471,058 titled “Task Based Polymorphic Graphical Program Function Nodes, Function Specific Graphical Program Property Nodes, and Palette Of Graphical Program Nodes,” filed May 16, 2003.

#The following is a glossary of terms used in the present application: