Combination structure nodes for a graphical program
View Patent ↗A combination structure node is provided by a graphical programming development environment for use in a graphical program, where the combination structure node is operable to perform two or more control flow functions. For example, the combination structure node may be operable to perform two or more of: iteration, looping, conditional branching, sequencing, timed execution, event-driven execution, or other control flow functions. A user may include the combination structure node in a graphical program and associate a graphical code portion with the combination structure node. During execution of the graphical program, the combination structure node is operable to cause the associated graphical code portion to execute according to the two or more control flow functions performed by the combination structure node.
1. A computer-accessible memory medium for creating a graphical program, the memory medium comprising program instructions executable to:
include a first node in the graphical program, wherein the first node is configured to perform two or more control flow functions prior to association of graphical code with the first node, wherein the first node is a single node selected by a user via a graphical user interface (GUI), wherein the first node has an appearance that visually indicates the capability to perform two or more control flow functions and an identification of the two or more control flow functions, and wherein the two or more control flow functions comprise two or more of: iteration, looping, conditional branching, sequencing, timed execution, and event-driven execution; and
associate a first graphical code portion with the first node in response to input by a user via a GUI;
wherein the first node causes the first graphical code portion to execute according to the two or more control flow functions during execution of the graphical program.
2. The memory medium of claim 1 ,
wherein the two or more control flow functions comprise two or more of: iteration, looping, conditional branching, sequencing, timed execution, and event-driven execution;
wherein the first node causes the first graphical code portion to execute according to the two or more of: iteration, looping, conditional branching, sequencing, timed execution, and event-driven execution.
3. The memory medium of claim 1 ,
wherein the two or more control flow functions comprise iteration and sequencing;
wherein the first node causes the first graphical code portion to execute according to iteration and sequencing.
4. The memory medium of claim 1 ,
wherein the first graphical code portion comprises a plurality of interconnected nodes that visually indicate functionality of the first graphical code portion.
5. The memory medium of claim 1 ,
wherein the first node includes an interior portion;
wherein said associating the first graphical code portion with the first node comprises placing the first graphical code portion in the interior portion of the first node.
6. The memory medium of claim 1 ,
wherein the two or more control flow functions include a first control flow function and a second control flow function;
wherein the graphical program is associated with a graphical programming development environment;
wherein the graphical programming development environment provides a second node operable to perform the first control flow function and a third node operable to perform the second control flow function;
wherein the first node combines functionality of the second node and the third node into a single node.
7. The memory medium of claim 1 , wherein the program instructions are further executable to:
display a graphical user interface (GUI) for configuring the first node; and
receive user input to the GUI to configure the first node, wherein said configuring the first node comprises configuring one or more of the control flow functions performed by the first node.
8. A computer-accessible memory medium for creating a graphical program, the memory medium comprising program instructions executable to:
display a first node in the graphical program, wherein the first node specifies two or more control flow functions prior to association of graphical code with the first node, wherein the first node is a single node selected by a user via a graphical user interface (GUI), wherein the first node has an appearance that visually indicates the capability to perform two or more control flow functions and an identification of the two or more control flow functions, and wherein the two or more control flow functions comprise two or more of: iteration, looping, conditional branching, sequencing, timed execution, and event-driven execution; and
associate a first graphical code portion with the first node in response to input by a user via a GUI;
wherein during execution of the graphical program, the first node causes the first graphical code portion to execute according to the two or more control flow functions.
9. The memory medium of claim 8 ,
wherein the first node specifies iteration and sequencing of the first graphical code portion.
10. A computer accessible memory medium storing a node for use in a graphical program, the node comprising:
an icon that is displayed on a display of a computer system, the icon comprising:
a border visually indicating the control flow function of iteration;
two or more frames for receiving different respective graphical code portions, wherein the frames define a sequential order of execution for the different respective graphical code portions;
wherein the memory medium further stores program instructions configured to cause the graphical code portions to execute for a plurality of iterations, wherein for each iteration, the graphical code portions execute in the sequential order defined by the frames;
wherein the node is configured to perform the iterations and the sequential order prior to association of graphical code portions, wherein the node is associated with the graphical code portions in response to input by a user via a graphical user interface (GUI) wherein the node is selected by a user via a GUI, and wherein the node has an appearance that visually indicates the capability to perform two or more control flow functions and an identification of the two or more control flow functions, and wherein the two or more control flow functions comprise two or more of: iteration, looping, conditional branching, sequencing, timed execution, and event-driven execution.
11. A computer-implemented method for creating a graphical program, the method comprising:
including a first node in the graphical program, wherein the first node is configured to perform two or more control flow functions prior to association of graphical code with the first node, wherein the first node is a single node selected by a user via a graphical user interface (GUI), and wherein the first node has an appearance that visually indicates the capability to perform two or more control flow functions and an identification of the two or more control flow functions, and wherein the two or more control flow functions comprise two or more of: iteration, looping, conditional branching, sequencing, timed execution and event-driven execution; and
associating a first graphical code portion with the first node in response to input by a user via a GUI;
wherein the first node causes the first graphical code portion to execute according to the two or more control flow functions during execution of the graphical program.
12. The method of claim 11 ,
wherein the two or more control flow functions comprise two or more of: iteration, looping, conditional branching, sequencing, timed execution, and event-driven execution;
wherein the first node causes the first graphical code portion to execute according to the two or more of: iteration, looping, conditional branching, sequencing, timed execution, and event-driven execution.
13. The method of claim 11 ,
wherein the two or more control flow functions comprise iteration and sequencing;
wherein the first node causes the first graphical code portion to execute according to iteration and sequencing.
14. The method of claim 11 ,
wherein the first node includes an interior portion;
wherein said associating the first graphical code portion with the first node comprises placing the first graphical code portion in the interior portion of the first node.
15. The method of claim 11 ,
wherein the two or more control flow functions include a first control flow function and a second control flow function;
wherein the graphical program is associated with a graphical programming development environment;
wherein the graphical programming development environment provides a second node operable to perform the first control flow function and a third node operable to perform the second control flow function;
wherein the first node combines functionality of the second node and the third node into a single node.
16. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
displaying a graphical user interface (GUI) for configuring the first node; and
receiving user input to the GUI to configure the first node, wherein said configuring the first node comprises configuring one or more of the control flow functions performed by the first node.