US4914567A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Design system using visual language
Assignee: MK GLOBAL VENTURES
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Filing: 1988-10-24
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Granted: 1990-04-03
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Expires: 2008-10-24
Abstract
Abstract A computer-based tool, in the form of a computer system and method, for designing, constructing and interacting with any system containing or comprising concurrent asychronous processes, such as a factory operation. In the system according to the invention a variety of development and execution tools are supported. The invention features a highly visual user presentation of a control system, including structure, specification, and operation, offering a user an interactive capability for rapid design, modification, and exploration of the operating characteristics of a control system comprising asynchronous processes. The invention captures a representation of the system (RS) that is equivalent to the actual system (AS)--rather than a simulation of the actual system. This allows the invention to perform tests and modification on RS instead of AS, yet get accurate results. RS and AS are equivalent because AS is generated directly from RS by an automated process. Effectively, pressing a button in the RS environment can "create" the AS version or any selected portion of it, by "downloading" a translation of the RS version that can be executed by a programmable processor in the AS environment. Information can flow both ways between AS and RS. That AS and RS can interact is important. This allows RS to "take on" the "state" of AS whenever desired, through an "uploading" procedure, thereby reflecting accurately the condition of AS at a specific point in time.
Inventors
- 👤 Thomas A. Lipkis
- 👤 William S. Mark
- 👤 Melvin W. Pirtle
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 00:14
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F30/00; G06F30/20
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
268 words
An apparatus for designing and debugging a control system comprising in combination: means for preparing a specification of said control system, including means for developing requirements for said control system and for documenting said control system requirements; means coupled to said preparing means to receive said specification for designing and organizing said control system as an abstraction with abstraction documentation; means coupled to receive said abstraction and said specification for developing said control system including means for implementing said abstraction as a design implementation and means for generating design implementation documentation to produce a developed system; means for simulating and emulating said control system, including means coupled to receive said design implementation for activating said design implementation in an artificial environment to demonstrate control system dynamics; means for debugging said system, including means for isolating and correcting cause of undesired behavior using simulation techniques to anticipate eventual behavior; means coupled to receive said developed system for translating and transferring said developed system into an operational system; means for integrating and checking out said control system in an operating environment, including means coupled to said operational system for verifying that each element of said operational system interacts and cooperates properly with the other ones of said elements; means coupled to said operational system for monitoring and interacting with said operational system; means coupled to said operational system for diagnosing malfunctions of devices and undesired behavior in said operational system; and means coupled to said diagnosing means, to said monitoring means and to said debugging means to receive said specification for modifying said operational system by modification of said specification.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
268 words
An apparatus for designing and debugging a control system comprising in combination: means for preparing a specification of said control system, including means for developing requirements for said control system and for documenting said control system requirements; means coupled to said preparing means to receive said specification for designing and organizing said control system as an abstraction with abstraction documentation; means coupled to receive said abstraction and said specification for developing said control system including means for implementing said abstraction as a design implementation and means for generating design implementation documentation to produce a developed system; means for simulating and emulating said control system, including means coupled to receive said design implementation for activating said design implementation in an artificial environment to demonstrate control system dynamics; means for debugging said system, including means for isolating and correcting cause of undesired behavior using simulation techniques to anticipate eventual behavior; means coupled to receive said developed system for translating and transferring said developed system into an operational system; means for integrating and checking out said control system in an operating environment, including means coupled to said operational system for verifying that each element of said operational system interacts and cooperates properly with the other ones of said elements; means coupled to said operational system for monitoring and interacting with said operational system; means coupled to said operational system for diagnosing malfunctions of devices and undesired behavior in said operational system; and means coupled to said diagnosing means, to said monitoring means and to said debugging means to receive said specification for modifying said operational system by modification of said specification.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus recited in claim 1 further including means for communicating information using the Manufacturing Automation Protocol.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus recited in claim 1 further including a third programming object that provides means for creating visual images of Grafcet objects.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
168 words
An apparatus comprising a computer and a computer program for designing, constructing and interacting with a control system, said control system comprising functional elements running on computer processors, said functional elements capable of operating concurrently and asynchronously, said computer program comprising in combination: means for designing said control system as a combination of objects, including means for creating a visual representation of said control system; means coupled to said designing means for generating actual instructions that implement said control system from said objects; means coupling to said generating means for sending said actual instructions to selected ones of said computer processors; a run time module means for operating on selected ones of said computer processors and for controlling execution of said actual instructions; and means coupled to said computer processors and to said designing means for allowing said run time module means to interact with said objects such that a user interacts with a single representation of said control system for specifying, designing and implementing said control system.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
168 words
An apparatus comprising a computer and a computer program for designing, constructing and interacting with a control system, said control system comprising functional elements running on computer processors, said functional elements capable of operating concurrently and asynchronously, said computer program comprising in combination: means for designing said control system as a combination of objects, including means for creating a visual representation of said control system; means coupled to said designing means for generating actual instructions that implement said control system from said objects; means coupling to said generating means for sending said actual instructions to selected ones of said computer processors; a run time module means for operating on selected ones of said computer processors and for controlling execution of said actual instructions; and means coupled to said computer processors and to said designing means for allowing said run time module means to interact with said objects such that a user interacts with a single representation of said control system for specifying, designing and implementing said control system.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus recited in claim 4 further including means for communicating information using the Manufacturing Automation Protocol.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus recited in claim 4 further including a third programming object that provides means for creating visual images of Grafcet objects.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
129 words
A method for designing, constructing and interacting with a control system, said control system comprising functional elements running on computer processors, said functional elements capable of operating concurrently and asynchronously, comprising the steps of: designing said control system by creating a plurality of interacting objects; generating actual instructions that implement said control system from said objects, thereafter; simulating effects of the actual instructions; sending said actual instructions to selected ones of said computer processors; operating a run time module means on selected ones of said computer processors to control the execution of said actual instructions; and allowing said run time module means to interact with said objects such that a user interacts with a single common representation of said control system for specifying, designing and implementing said control system.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
129 words
A method for designing, constructing and interacting with a control system, said control system comprising functional elements running on computer processors, said functional elements capable of operating concurrently and asynchronously, comprising the steps of: designing said control system by creating a plurality of interacting objects; generating actual instructions that implement said control system from said objects, thereafter; simulating effects of the actual instructions; sending said actual instructions to selected ones of said computer processors; operating a run time module means on selected ones of said computer processors to control the execution of said actual instructions; and allowing said run time module means to interact with said objects such that a user interacts with a single common representation of said control system for specifying, designing and implementing said control system.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
107 words
An apparatus comprising a computer and a computer program, said computer program comprising in combination: a plurality of design objects for designing a control system that includes functional elements that are capable of operating concurrently and asynchronously; first programming objects that provide a means for generating a graphical description of a set of concurrent asynchronous functional elements that comprise an integrated control system; second programming objects that provide means for generating programming code that implements said integrated control system; and a run time module means for managing the execution of a portion of said integrated control system, whereby a complex system can be easily designed and implemented.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
107 words
An apparatus comprising a computer and a computer program, said computer program comprising in combination: a plurality of design objects for designing a control system that includes functional elements that are capable of operating concurrently and asynchronously; first programming objects that provide a means for generating a graphical description of a set of concurrent asynchronous functional elements that comprise an integrated control system; second programming objects that provide means for generating programming code that implements said integrated control system; and a run time module means for managing the execution of a portion of said integrated control system, whereby a complex system can be easily designed and implemented.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus recited in claim 8 further including: programming objects that provide means for generating means for communicating between concurrently operating one of said functional elements.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus recited in claim 9 further including: programming objects that include means for simulating the operation of said integrated control system.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus recited in claim 9 further including: programming objects that include means for presenting visual representations of static structure of said integrated control system.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus recited in claim 9 further including: programming objects that include means for presenting visual representations of dynamic behavior of said system.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus recited in claim 8 further including a third programming object that provides means for creating visual images of Grafcet objects.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus recited in claim 8 further including means for transmitting communication objects for communicating information between said functional elements.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus recited in claim 14 wherein said transmitting means comprises means for communicating information using the Manufacturing Automation Protocol.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4570217A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-04-02 | 1993-10-02 | 1994-04-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-04-02 | 1997-10-02 | 1998-04-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-04-02 | 2001-10-02 | 2002-04-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |