Virtual machine programming system

Claim 1

A computer programming method for implementation by a computer for generating an instruction set, the method comprising the steps of: a. storing a plurality of first computer instruction sets, each first computer instruction set instructing a computer to execute a separate first sequence of operations; b. displaying on a screen a plurality of first virtual front panels, each representing a separate one of said first computer instruction sets and each indicating a value of at least one parameter utilized by a first sequence of operations during computer execution thereof as instructed by the represented first computer instruction set; c. creating a second computer instruction set instructing a computer to execute a second sequence of operations wherein said operations of said second sequence are determined by operator selection of ones of said first computer instruction sets; and d. displaying on the screen a second virtual front panel representing said second computer instruction set and indicating a value of at least one parameter utilized by said second sequence of operations during computer execution thereof as instructed by the second computer instruction set.

Claim 8

An apparatus for generating a set of instructions for a computer for performing selected operations comprising: a plurality of software implemented virtual machines each for controlling performance of a separate one of said operations and each virtual machine providing as output first computer instructions representing its own operation; means for selecting ones of said virtual machines including means responsive to operator selective designation of input and output parameters utilized by at least ones of said machines; and means for generating a first computer instruction set from said first computer instructions for performing a selected set of operations including operation of selected virtual machines.

Claim 9

An apparatus for generating a set of instructions for a computer for performing selected operations comprising: a plurality of software implemented virtual machines each for controlling performance of a separate one of said operations and each virtual machine providing as output first computer instructions representing its own operation; means for selecting ones of said virtual machines including means responsive to operator selective designation of input and output parameters utilized by at least ones of said machines; and means for generating a first computer instruction set from said first computer instructions for performing a selected set of operations including operation of selected virtual machines.

Claim 14

A method for generating a set of instructions for a computer for controlling a selected set of operations comprising: creating a plurality of software implemented virtual machines, each virtual machine controlling the performance of a separate one of said operations and providing as output first computer instructions representing its own operation; and generating a computer instruction set from said first computer instructions provided by operator selected ones of said virtual machines for controlling performance of said set of operations.

Claim 15

A method for generating a set of instructions for a computer for controlling a selected set of operations comprising: creating a plurality of software implemented virtual machines, each virtual machine controlling the performance of a separate one of said operations and providing as output first computer instructions representing its own operation; and generating a computer instruction set from said first computer instructions provided by operator selected ones of said virtual machines for controlling performance of said set of operations.

Claim 19

A method implemented by a computer for generating software sending and receiving parameter values to and from a sequence of operations performed by the computer and for controlling a display of the parameter values, the method comprising the steps of: storing software implementing a plurality of first virtual machines, each virtual machine sending a receiving parameter values to and from a separate one of a plurality of operations performed by the computer, each first virtual machine controlling a display of a separate first virtual front panel including a representation of a value of a parameter utilized by said computer in performing an operation, and each first virtual machine producing as output computer instructions impelmenting functions of said first virtual machine; obtaining input from a user indicating selection of particular first virtual machines from among said plurality of first virtual machines and indicating selection of a particular parameter having a value represented by a first virtual front panel displayed under control of one of the particular first virtual machines; executing the stored software implementing the particular first virtual machines such that each particular first virtual machines produces computer instructions as output; and combining output computer instructions produced by said particular first virtual machines to form computer software implementing a second vitual machine controlling performance by the computer of a sequence of operations, said second virtual machine additionally controlling display of a second virtual front panel including a representation of a value of said particular parameter.

Claim 20

A method implemented by a computer for generating software sending and receiving parameter values to and from a sequence of operations performed by the computer and for controlling a display of the parameter values, the method comprising the steps of: storing software implementing a plurality of first virtual machines, each virtual machine sending a receiving parameter values to and from a separate one of a plurality of operations performed by the computer, each first virtual machine controlling a display of a separate first virtual front panel including a representation of a value of a parameter utilized by said computer in performing an operation, and each first virtual machine producing as output computer instructions impelmenting functions of said first virtual machine; obtaining input from a user indicating selection of particular first virtual machines from among said plurality of first virtual machines and indicating selection of a particular parameter having a value represented by a first virtual front panel displayed under control of one of the particular first virtual machines; executing the stored software implementing the particular first virtual machines such that each particular first virtual machines produces computer instructions as output; and combining output computer instructions produced by said particular first virtual machines to form computer software implementing a second vitual machine controlling performance by the computer of a sequence of operations, said second virtual machine additionally controlling display of a second virtual front panel including a representation of a value of said particular parameter.

Claim 22

A method implemented by a computer for generating software that controls and monitors performance by the computer of a sequence of operations, the method comprising the steps of: storing software implementing a plurality of first virtual machines, each first virtual machine controlling performance by the computer of a separate operation in accordance with a value of an input parameter, and monitoring a value of an output parameter produced by the computer as a result of performing the separate operation, each first virtual machine including means for controlling a display of a separate first virtual front panel including representations of parameter values and for adjusting an input parameter value according to user input, each first virtual machine producing as output computer instructions implementing functions of said first virtual machine; obtaining input from a user indicating selection of particular first virtual machines from among said plurality of first virtual machines and indicating selection of at least one particular parameter having a value represented by a first virtual front panel having display controlled by one of the particular first virtual machines; executing the stored software implementing the particular first virtual machines such that each particular first virtual machine produces computer instructions as output; and combining and altering computer instructions produced by said particular first virtual machines to generate computer software implementing a second virtual machine, said second virtual machine controlling and monitoring performance by the computer of a sequence of operations, said second virtual machine controlling display of a second virtual front panel including representations of values of said particular input and output parameters.

Claim 23

A method implemented by a computer for generating software that controls and monitors performance by the computer of a sequence of operations, the method comprising the steps of: storing software implementing a plurality of first virtual machines, each first virtual machine controlling performance by the computer of a separate operation in accordance with a value of an input parameter, and monitoring a value of an output parameter produced by the computer as a result of performing the separate operation, each first virtual machine including means for controlling a display of a separate first virtual front panel including representations of parameter values and for adjusting an input parameter value according to user input, each first virtual machine producing as output computer instructions implementing functions of said first virtual machine; obtaining input from a user indicating selection of particular first virtual machines from among said plurality of first virtual machines and indicating selection of at least one particular parameter having a value represented by a first virtual front panel having display controlled by one of the particular first virtual machines; executing the stored software implementing the particular first virtual machines such that each particular first virtual machine produces computer instructions as output; and combining and altering computer instructions produced by said particular first virtual machines to generate computer software implementing a second virtual machine, said second virtual machine controlling and monitoring performance by the computer of a sequence of operations, said second virtual machine controlling display of a second virtual front panel including representations of values of said particular input and output parameters.

Claim 24

An apparatus for generating software controlling passing of parameter values to and from a sequence of operations performed by a computer and controlling a display of the parameter values, the apparatus comprising: means storing computer software implementing a plurality of first virtual machines for passing parameter values to and receiving parameter values from associated operations performed by the computer, each first virtual machine controlling a display of an associated first virtual front panel including a representation of a value of a parameter passed between the first virtual machine and an associated operation performed by the computer, and each first virtual machine producing as output computer instructions similar to stored software implementing said first virtual machine; means for obtaining input from a user indicating selection of particular first virtual machines from among said plurality of first virtual machines and indicating selection of a particular parameter having a value represented by a first virtual front panel having display controlled by one of the particular first virtual machines; and means for executing the stored software implementing the paricular first virtual machines such that each particular first virtual machine produces computer instructions as output, and for combining output computer instructions produced by said particular first virtual machines to form computer software implementing a second virtual machine controlling performance by the computer of a sequence of operations, said second virtual machine controlling display of a second virtual front panel including a representation of a value of said particular parameter.

Claim 25

An apparatus for generating software controlling passing of parameter values to and from a sequence of operations performed by a computer and controlling a display of the parameter values, the apparatus comprising: means storing computer software implementing a plurality of first virtual machines for passing parameter values to and receiving parameter values from associated operations performed by the computer, each first virtual machine controlling a display of an associated first virtual front panel including a representation of a value of a parameter passed between the first virtual machine and an associated operation performed by the computer, and each first virtual machine producing as output computer instructions similar to stored software implementing said first virtual machine; means for obtaining input from a user indicating selection of particular first virtual machines from among said plurality of first virtual machines and indicating selection of a particular parameter having a value represented by a first virtual front panel having display controlled by one of the particular first virtual machines; and means for executing the stored software implementing the paricular first virtual machines such that each particular first virtual machine produces computer instructions as output, and for combining output computer instructions produced by said particular first virtual machines to form computer software implementing a second virtual machine controlling performance by the computer of a sequence of operations, said second virtual machine controlling display of a second virtual front panel including a representation of a value of said particular parameter.

Claim 26

An apparatus responsive to user input for creating computer software that controls and monitors performance by a computer of a sequence of operations, the apparatus comprising: a plurality of software implemented first virtual machines, each first virtual machine controlling performance by the computer of a separate operation in accordance with a value of an input parameter and monitoring a value of an output parameter produced by the computer as a result of performing said separate operation, each first virtual machine including means for controlling a display of a separate first virtual front panel that includes a representation of an input or output parameter value of the operation controlled, the plurality of first virtual machines including instruction generation means for producing computer instructions for implementing functions of said first virtual machines; means for displaying said first virtual front panels; means responsive to user input indicating selection of particular virtual front panels from among said plurality of first virtual front panels and indicating selection of particular input and output parameter values represented by the user selected first virtual front panels, for obtaining computer instructions produced by said instruction generation means for implementing functions of said particular first virtual machines controlling the user selected first virtual front panels, and for combining and altering the computer instructions to produce computer software for implementing a second virtual machine, said second virtual machine controlling and monitoring performance by the computer of a sequence of operations, said second virtual machine controlling display of a second virtual front panel that includes a representation of said particular input and output parameter values.

Claim 27

An apparatus responsive to user input for creating computer software that controls and monitors performance by a computer of a sequence of operations, the apparatus comprising: a plurality of software implemented first virtual machines, each first virtual machine controlling performance by the computer of a separate operation in accordance with a value of an input parameter and monitoring a value of an output parameter produced by the computer as a result of performing said separate operation, each first virtual machine including means for controlling a display of a separate first virtual front panel that includes a representation of an input or output parameter value of the operation controlled, the plurality of first virtual machines including instruction generation means for producing computer instructions for implementing functions of said first virtual machines; means for displaying said first virtual front panels; means responsive to user input indicating selection of particular virtual front panels from among said plurality of first virtual front panels and indicating selection of particular input and output parameter values represented by the user selected first virtual front panels, for obtaining computer instructions produced by said instruction generation means for implementing functions of said particular first virtual machines controlling the user selected first virtual front panels, and for combining and altering the computer instructions to produce computer software for implementing a second virtual machine, said second virtual machine controlling and monitoring performance by the computer of a sequence of operations, said second virtual machine controlling display of a second virtual front panel that includes a representation of said particular input and output parameter values.