Information processing method for generating and modifying an application for driving at least one of actuator and a heater

1 . An information processing method executed by a computer system, the information processing method comprising:

(a) selecting M blocks as M selected blocks from among N blocks for driving at least one of an actuator or a heater included in a device to be controlled, in accordance with an input operation performed by an operator, where N is an integer greater than or equal to two, and Mis an integer greater than or equal to one and less than or equal to N;

(b) generating an application including at least the M selected blocks by setting an order in which each of the at least M selected blocks is executed in accordance with an input operation performed by the operator;

(c) consulting a rule that when one block included in two or more given blocks is executed, prohibits at least one of remaining blocks included in the two or more given blocks from not being executed, and modifying the application when the rule applies to the M selected blocks included in the application; and

(d) driving the at least one of the actuator or the heater based on the modified application.

2 . The information processing method according to claim 1 , wherein

in (c), the application is modified by (1) adding a new block to the M selected blocks, (2) changing the order of the M selected blocks, or (3) removing any block included in the M selected blocks.

3 . The information processing method according to claim 2 , wherein

the two or more given blocks include a first block and a second block,

the rule prohibits the first block from not being executed before the second block is executed, and

in (c), when the application includes the second block and does not include the first block before the second block, the application is modified by adding the first block before the second block.

4 . The information processing method according to claim 2 , wherein

the two or more given blocks include a first block and a second block,

the rule prohibits the first block from not being executed before the second block is executed, and

in (c), when the application includes the first block and the second block, and does not include the first block before the second block, the application is modified by reordering the first block to come before the second block.

5 . The information processing method according to claim 2 , wherein

the two or more given blocks include a first block and a second block,

the rule prohibits the first block from not being executed before the second block is executed, and

in (c), when the application includes the second block and does not include the first block before the second block, the application is modified by removing the second block.

6 . The information processing method according to claim 3 , wherein

the rule prohibits the first block from not being executed in a period from a start of the application to before the second block is executed.

7 . The information processing method according to claim 6 , wherein

the first block is for establishing an executable environment for the second block.

8 . The information processing method according to claim 2 , wherein

the two or more given blocks include a second block and a third block,

the rule prohibits the third block from not being executed after the second block is executed, and

in (c), when the application includes the second block and does not include the third block after the second block, the application is modified by adding the third block after the second block.

9 . The information processing method according to claim 2 , wherein

the two or more given blocks include a second block and a third block,

the rule prohibits the third block from not being executed after the second block is executed, and

in (c), when the application includes the second block and the third block, and does not include the third block after the second block, the application is modified by reordering the third block to come after the second block.

10 . The information processing method according to claim 2 , wherein

the two or more given blocks include a second block and a third block,

the rule prohibits the third block from not being executed after the second block is executed, and

in (c), when the application includes the second block and does not include the third block after the second block, the application is modified by removing the second block.

11 . The information processing method according to claim 8 , wherein

the rule prohibits the third block from not being executed in a period from after the second block is executed to an end of the application.

12 . The information processing method according to claim 11 , wherein

the third block is for restoring an environment changed by execution of the second block to an environment before the execution of the second block.

13 . The information processing method according to claim 1 , wherein

the rule is for ensuring that the two or more given blocks are executed in combination to prevent the at least one of the actuator or the heater from reaching a maximum withstand temperature.

14 . The information processing method according to claim 1 , wherein

the device to be controlled includes an enclosure including an interior space, and

the rule is for ensuring that the two or more given blocks are executed in combination to prevent the interior space from reaching a maximum withstand temperature.

15 . The information processing method according to claim 1 , wherein

(c) includes:

determining whether the application generated is an application dedicated to the device to be controlled or a general-purpose application applicable to the device to be controlled and a device other than the device to be controlled; and

consulting, as the rule, a rule candidate that corresponds to a result of the determining of the application, from among a plurality of rule candidates that when one block included in two or more given blocks is executed, prohibits at least one of remaining blocks included in the two or more given blocks from not being executed.

16 . The information processing method according to claim 1 , wherein

the rule prohibits the at least one of the actuator or the heater from being in a situation where safe driving of the at least one of the actuator or the heater is difficult due to increased load or elevated temperature.

17 . An information processing method executed by a computer system, the information processing method comprising:

(a) selecting M blocks as M selected blocks from among N blocks for driving at least one of an actuator or a heater included in a device to be controlled, in accordance with an input operation performed by an operator, where N is an integer greater than or equal to two, and Mis an integer greater than or equal to one and less than or equal to N;

(b) generating an application including at least the M selected blocks by setting an order in which each of the at least M selected blocks is executed in accordance with an input operation performed by the operator;

(c) consulting a rule that when one block included in two or more given blocks is executed, prohibits at least one of remaining blocks included in the two or more given blocks from not being executed, and presenting an error to the operator when the rule applies to the M selected blocks included in the application;

(d) modifying the application in accordance with an input operation performed by the operator presented with the error; and

(e) driving the at least one of the actuator or the heater based on the modified application.

18 . The information processing method according to claim 17 , wherein

(c) further includes presenting a plurality of solutions for handling the error, and

in (d), the application is modified in accordance with an input operation performed by the operator presented with the error and the plurality of solutions.

19 . The information processing method according to claim 18 , wherein

the plurality of solutions include at least two of the following:

a first solution of adding a new block to the M selected blocks;

a second solution of changing the order of the M selected blocks; and

a third solution of removing any block included in the M selected blocks.

20 . The information processing method according to claim 18 , wherein

(c) further includes presenting, for each of the plurality of solutions, an effect of the solution, when performed, on an object acted upon by driving of the actuator or the heater, or an effect of the solution, when performed, on the application.

21 . The information processing method according to claim 17 , wherein

after (d), execution of (c) and (d) is repeated, and

the information processing method further comprises (f) presenting a plurality of solutions for handling the error when the error has been presented K or more times, where K is an integer greater than or equal to two.

22 . An information processing method executed by a computer system, the information processing method comprising:

generating an application including one or more blocks for driving at least one of an actuator or a heater included in a device to be controlled;

identifying a creator of the application;

identifying a manufacturer of the device to be controlled;

determining whether the creator of the application and the manufacturer of the device to be controlled match;

(a) when the creator of the application and the manufacturer of the device to be controlled do not match,

obtaining a rule related to the one or more blocks included in the application,

modifying the application according to the rule, and

driving the at least one of the actuator or the heater based on the modified application; and

(b) when the creator of the application and the manufacturer of the device to be controlled do match,

driving the at least one of the actuator or the heater without applying the rule to the application.

23 . The information processing method according to claim 22 , wherein

(b) further includes:

performing an appending process of appending, to the application, first append information and at least one of second append information or third append information; and

in the outputting, the application processed by the appending process is output, wherein

the first append information is information indicating that the rule has not been applied to the application,

the second append information is information indicating when the application was generated, and

the third append information is information for identifying the manufacturer when the creator of the application and the manufacturer of the device are the same.

24 . An information processing apparatus comprising:

a processor; and

memory coupled to the processor, wherein

using the memory, the processor executes:

(a) selecting M blocks as M selected blocks from among N blocks for driving at least one of an actuator or a heater included in a device to be controlled, in accordance with an input operation performed by an operator, where N is an integer greater than or equal to two, and M is an integer greater than or equal to one and less than or equal to N;

(b) generating an application including at least the M selected blocks by setting an order in which each of the at least M selected blocks is executed in accordance with an input operation performed by the operator;

(c) consulting a rule that when one block included in two or more given blocks is executed, prohibits at least one of remaining blocks included in the two or more given blocks from not being executed, and modifying the application when the rule applies to the M selected blocks included in the application; and

(d) driving the at least one of the actuator or the heater based on the modified application.

25 . An information processing apparatus comprising:

a processor; and

memory coupled to the processor, wherein

using the memory, the processor executes:

(a) selecting M blocks as M selected blocks from among N blocks for driving at least one of an actuator or a heater included in a device to be controlled, in accordance with an input operation performed by an operator, where N is an integer greater than or equal to two, and M is an integer greater than or equal to one and less than or equal to N;

(b) generating an application including at least the M selected blocks by setting an order in which each of the at least M selected blocks is executed in accordance with an input operation performed by the operator;

(c) consulting a rule that when one block included in two or more given blocks is executed, prohibits at least one of remaining blocks included in the two or more given blocks from not being executed, and presenting an error to the operator when the rule applies to the M selected blocks included in the application;

(d) modifying the application in accordance with an input operation performed by the operator presented with the error; and

(e) driving the at least one of the actuator or the heater based on the modified application.

26 . An information processing apparatus comprising:

a processor; and

memory coupled to the processor, wherein

using the memory, the processor executes:

generating an application including one or more blocks for driving at least one of an actuator or a heater included in a device to be controlled;

identifying a creator of the application;

identifying a manufacturer of the device to be controlled;

determining whether the creator of the application and the manufacturer of the device to be controlled match;

(a) when the creator of the application and the manufacturer of the device to be controlled do not match,

obtaining a rule related to the one or more blocks included in the application,

modifying the application according to the rule, and

driving the at least one of the actuator or the heater based on the modified application,

(b) when the creator of the application and the manufacturer of the device to be controlled do match,

driving the at least one of the actuator or the heater without applying the rule to the application.

27 . The information processing apparatus according to claim 26 , wherein

(b) further includes:

performing an appending process of appending, to the application, first append information and at least one of second append information or third append information; and

in the outputting, the application processed by the appending process is output, wherein

the first append information is information indicating that the rule has not been applied to the application,

the second append information is information indicating when the application was generated, and

the third append information is information for identifying the manufacturer when the creator of the application and the manufacturer of the device are the same.