National Instruments Corporation

John Robert Breyer

David W Fuller, Iii

Jeffrey N Correll

Timothy J Hayles

Jacob Kornerup

Jeffrey L Kodosky

Darshan K Shah

Aljosa Vrancic

Joseph Albert Savage

Brian M Johnson

Paul F Austin

Ryan Hamilton Brown

Christopher Frederick Graf

Kosta Ilic

Haider Ali Khan

Matthew John Koenn

Siddharth Sethi

Jacob Komerup

Christopher Scott Green

Configuring wires/icons in a diagram. The diagram may be an executable diagram such as a graphical program or a system diagram. The diagram may include a plurality of icons that are connected by wires, and the icons may visually represent functionality of the diagram. The diagram may be executable to perform the functionality. Displaying the diagram may include displaying a first wire in the diagram, where the first wire connects a first icon and a second icon. Data transfer functionality may be specified for the first wire and/or the first or second icon in the diagram. The data transfer functionality may be visually indicated in the diagram, e.g., by appearances of the first icon, the second icon, the first wire, and/or icons displayed proximate to these components of the diagram.

Automatically determining data transfer functionality for wires in a graphical diagram

Transferring data between devices utilizing state data. The devices may include a writer device and a reader device, each coupled to a common bus. A host device may create a transfer session between the devices. Each of the host device, the writer device, and the reader device may maintain state data of the transfer session. The host device may notify at least one of the reader device or the writer device of a state change from a disabled state to an enabled state. After enabling, data may be transferred directly between the writer device and the reader device without involving the host device. Finally, the host device may notify at least one of the reader device or the writer device of a state change from the enabled state to the disabled state. After disabling, the direct transfer of data between the writer device and the reader device may be stopped.

Data transfer between devices maintaining state data

Graphical diagram which automatically determines a data transport mechanism for wires based on configured policies

System and method for distributed execution of a graphical program. A graphical program is displayed on a display of a computer system. Targeted execution of a first graphical program portion of the graphical program on an execution target is graphically specified. The graphical specification includes displaying a visual indication of the specified targeted execution on the display of the graphical program. During execution of the graphical program, the first graphical program portion executes on the specified execution target and a remainder of the graphical program executes on a default execution target.

Graphically specifying and indicating targeted execution in a graphical program

System and method for configuring a wire appearance in a graphical programming environment. A first data type (or class), or communication functionality between nodes, e.g., timing, or data transfer, e.g., data transfer semantics, mechanism, or medium, in a graphical program is specified in response to user input. A first wire appearance denoting the first data type or specified functionality is created in response to user input, including, e.g., a specified wire pattern, thickness, shape, color(s), portion of the wire to be configured with the first wire appearance, wire label and/or wire icon to be displayed on or near the wire. A graphical program including a first icon and a second icon is created, including connecting the first icon to the second icon in response to user input, and displaying a wire between the first icon and the second icon in response, where the wire has the first wire appearance.

User defined wire appearance indicating communication functionality in a graphical programming environment

Diagram with configurable wires

Graphical diagram wires whose appearance represents configured semantics

Data transfer indicator icon in a diagram

System and method for communicating between graphical programs executing on respective devices, e.g., a programmable hardware element (PHE) and a controller. The system includes a first node representing a first in, first out (FIFO) structure, and a second node providing a controller interface to the FIFO structure. A first portion of the FIFO is implemented on the PHE, and a second portion of the FIFO is implemented in memory of the controller. The first and second nodes are operable to be included respectively in first and second graphical programs, where the first graphical program is deployable to the PHE, where the second graphical program is deployable to the controller, and where the graphical programs communicate via the FIFO in cooperatively performing a specified task. The FIFO may implement a Direct Memory Access (DMA) FIFO, where at least part of a DMA controller is implemented on or coupled to the PHE.

Graphical programs with FIFO structure for controller/FPGA communications

System and method for distributed execution of a graphical program. First and second icons associated with respective execution targets are displayed on a display. Each icon has an interior and specifies execution of a respective graphical program portion positioned in the interior of the icon on the respective execution target. First and second graphical program portions are respectively displayed in the interiors of the first and second icons, where each graphical program portion comprises a respective one or more interconnected nodes that visually indicate functionality of the graphical program portion. One or more wires connecting the first graphical program portion and the second graphical program portion are display. During execution of the graphical program, the first and second graphical program portions execute respectively on the first and second execution targets, and the first graphical program portion and the second graphical program portion communicate as specified by the one or more wires.

Diagram that visually indicates targeted execution

A system and method for communicating between graphical programs executing on respective devices, e.g., a programmable hardware element and a controller. The system includes a first node representing a direct memory access structure, e.g., a first in, first out data structure (DMA FIFO), and a second node providing a controller interface to the DMA FIFO. A first portion of the DMA FIFO is implemented on the programmable hardware element, and a second portion of the DMA FIFO is implemented in memory of the controller. The first and second nodes are operable to be included respectively in first and second graphical programs, where the first graphical program, including the first node, is deployable to the programmable hardware element, where the second graphical program, including the second node, is deployable to the controller, and where the first and second graphical programs communicate via the DMA FIFO in cooperatively performing a specified task.

Graphical programs with direct memory access FIFO for controller/FPGA communications

System and method for designing a circuit. At least one graphical program comprising a plurality of interconnected nodes that visually indicate functionality of the graphical program is selected in response to user input. At least one pre-defined hardware configuration program (HCP) is selected from a plurality of pre-defined HCPs in response to user input, where the selected at least one pre-defined HCP specifies a fixed functionality, including interface functionality for communicating with the at least one graphical program when implemented on the circuit. At least a portion of a netlist is generated based on the at least one graphical program and the at least one selected pre-defined HCP, where the netlist is usable to configure a circuit, wherein a first portion of the circuit implements the functionality of the graphical program and a second portion of the circuit implements the fixed functionality.

Integration of pre-defined functionality and a graphical program in a circuit

System and method for using a graphical user interface (GUI) to generate a measurement task specification (MTS) for performing a measurement task. The measurement task includes measurement and/or signal generation. A measurement task specifier presents a GUI which guides a user in specifying the measurement task. The GUI presents a plurality of GUI elements, e.g., panels, for specifying a plurality of parameters for the measurement task, including measurement type, devices, channels, timing, and/or triggering. The GUI receives user input indicating values for the parameters, and may provide default values for at least some of the parameters. The GUI stores the parameter values in a memory, analyzes the parameter values, and generates the MTS in response to the analyzing. The MTS is then useable to produce a program which implements the measurement task. The specifier may programmatically generate the program, e.g., a graphical program, which is executable to perform the task.

Graphical user interface for easily configuring measurement applications

Measurement system graphical user interface for easily configuring measurement applications

A video capture system and method which includes improved software control of image acquisition and processing. The method comprises first creating an image application using one or more objects. Acquired data is preferably stored in an image object, and one or more objects, e.g., a viewer object or image processing object, are configured to share the image object, i.e., to dynamically bind to or communicate with the image object during program execution. When the application begins execution, the computer system acquires image data and stores the image data in an image object. A first object then dynamically binds to the image object, i.e., communicates with the image object, to access the image data contained in the image object and process the image data in response to the binding. This dynamic binding or communication, as well as the subsequent processing of the image data, occurs without user intervention. When the image data comprised in the image object changes, the image object automatically notifies one or more first objects which are bound to the image object, and each first object automatically accesses the changed image data and processes the changed image data.

Growing community of inventors

Austin, TX, United States of America

John Robert Breyer