National Instruments Corporation

Stephen R Mercer

Matthew E Novacek

Akash B Bhakta

Michael Mendler

Reinhard Von Hanxleden

Owen B O'Brien

Steven W Rogers

System and method for validating a program under a specified model of computation. The model of computation may be related to the synchronous statechart model of computation. A program may be received that specifies a plurality of operations using a variable within a logical tick such that the variable has multiple values within the logical tick. The program may be statically analyzed according to a specified model of computation that specifies program execution based on logical ticks, which may include determining that the program has deterministic semantics that specify deterministic results for each logical tick during execution of the program, including specifying deterministic results of the plurality of operations performed within the logical tick. The program may be validated in accordance with the specified model of computation in response to the determining.

Sequentially constructive model of computation

System and method for validating a program under a specified model of computation. The model of computation may be related to the synchronous statechart model of computation. A program may be received that specifies a plurality of operations using a variable within a logical tick such that the variable has multiple values within the logical tick. The program may be statically analyzed according to a specified model of computation that specifies program execution based on logical ticks, which may include determining that the program has deterministic semantics that specify deterministic results for each logical tick during execution of the program, including specifying deterministic results of the plurality of operations performed within the logical tick. The program may be validated in accordance with the specified model of computation in response to the determining. Such techniques may allow validation of a larger set of programs than conventional models while maintaining deterministic results.

System and method for converting a class oriented data flow program to a structure oriented data flow program. A first data flow program is received, where the first data flow program is an object oriented program comprising instances of one or more classes, and wherein the first data flow program is executable to perform a first function. The first data flow program is automatically converted to a second data flow program, where the second data flow program does not include the instances of the one or more classes, and where the second data flow program is executable to perform the first function. The second data flow program is stored on a computer memory, where the second data flow program is configured to be deployed to a device, e.g., a programmable hardware element, and where the second data flow program is executable on the device to perform the first function.

Conversion of a class oriented data flow program to a structure oriented data flow program with dynamic interpretation of data types

System and method for implicit downcasting at compile time in a data flow program. A first data flow function in an object-oriented dataflow program is identified, where the first function includes an input of a parent data type and an output of the parent data type. The first function is analyzed to determine if the output preserves the run-time data type of the input. A second dataflow function in the object-oriented data flow program is identified, where the second function includes a program element that calls the first function, passing an input parameter of a child data type of the parent data type as input. If the analysis determines that an output parameter returned by the output of the first function will always be of the child data type, the program element is automatically configured at compile time to always downcast the output parameter from the parent data type to the child data type at run-time.

Type propagation for automatic casting of output types in a data flow program

Implementing a class oriented data flow program on a programmable hardware element

Conversion of a class oriented data flow program to a structure oriented data flow program

Conversion of a class oriented data flow program with inheritance to a structure oriented data flow program

System and method for automatic versioning and data mutation for user-defined data types. A program development environment may be operable to: create a first version of a data type definition in response to user input; instantiate and store an object of the first version of the data type, optionally including a version identifier indicating the version of the object; modify the first version of the data type definition in response to user input, thereby creating a second version of the data type definition; load the object from storage; and automatically (without user intervention) modify the object to conform to the second version of the data type definition. Successive modifications of the data type definition may generate successive versions of the data type. Objects instantiated and stored according to a previous version of the data type may be loaded from storage and automatically modified to conform to a specified subsequent version.

Growing community of inventors

Austin, TX, United States of America

Stephen R Mercer