Spreadsheet-Based Graphical User Interface for Dynamic System Modeling and Simulation

1 . A method of modeling a dynamic system comprising a plurality of components, the method comprising:

using a computer to provide a spreadsheet environment;

defining a plurality of shape objects within the spreadsheet environment, the shape objects representing the components of the dynamic system, at least one shape object having a behavioral characteristic that is associated with a physical component of the dynamic system; and

using the spreadsheet environment to define relationships between the components of the dynamic system using connectors that define connections between the shape objects.

2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

defining a plurality of building block objects within the spreadsheet environment, each building block object representing a component of the dynamic system and having an attribute;

using the spreadsheet environment to specify connections between building block objects; and

generating a model description file as a function of the building block objects and the connections between building block objects.

3 . The method of claim 2 , further comprising:

providing at least one worksheet within the spreadsheet environment;

defining at least one first superblock object associated with at least one worksheet, the first superblock object comprising at least one connection point and at least one building block object; and

for each first superblock object, defining at least one relationship between components of the dynamic system using a connector that defines a connection between a first component within the first superblock object and a second component outside the first superblock object.

4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein at least one first superblock object comprises a second superblock object.

5 . The method of claim 3 , further comprising, for each combination of a first superblock object and a second component outside the first superblock object:

identifying at least one connection point of the first superblock object that meets a requirement that an input connection point of the second component must be connected to exactly one output connection point of the first superblock object; and

for each identified connection point, determining whether to define a connection between the identified connection point and one or more connection points of the second component.

6 . The method of claim 2 , further comprising persisting the attributes of the building block objects within shape objects.

7 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving, in the computer, a model description file; and

using the computer to define the plurality of shape objects within the spreadsheet environment and to define the relationships between the components of the dynamic system as a function of the model description file.

8 . A computer readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to model a dynamic system comprising a plurality of components by:

providing a spreadsheet environment;

defining a plurality of shape objects within the spreadsheet environment, the shape objects representing the components of the dynamic system, at least one shape object having a behavioral characteristic that is associated with a physical component of the dynamic system; and

using the spreadsheet environment to define relationships between the components of the dynamic system using connectors that define connections between the shape objects.

9 . The computer readable storage medium of claim 8 , storing further instructions for:

defining a plurality of building block objects within the spreadsheet environment, each building block object representing a component of the dynamic system and having an attribute;

using the spreadsheet environment to specify connections between building block objects; and

generating a model description file as a function of the building block objects and the connections between building block objects.

10 . The computer readable storage medium of claim 9 , storing further instructions for:

providing at least one worksheet within the spreadsheet environment;

defining at least one first superblock object associated with at least one worksheet, the first superblock object comprising at least one connection point and at least one building block object; and

for each first superblock object, defining at least one relationship between components of the dynamic system using a connector that defines a connection between a first component within the first superblock object and a second component outside the first superblock object.

11 . The computer readable storage medium of claim 10 , wherein at least one first superblock object comprises a second superblock object.

12 . The computer readable storage medium of claim 10 , storing further instructions for:

for each combination of a first superblock object and a second component outside the first superblock object:

identifying at least one connection point of the first superblock object that meets a requirement that an input connection point of the second component must be connected to exactly one output connection point of the first superblock object; and

for each identified connection point, determining whether to define a connection between the identified connection point and one or more connection points of the second component.

13 . The computer readable storage medium of claim 9 , storing further instructions for persisting the attributes of the building block objects within shape objects.

14 . The computer readable storage medium of claim 8 , storing further instructions for:

receiving, in the computer, a model description file; and

using the computer to define the plurality of shape objects within the spreadsheet environment and to define the relationships between the components of the dynamic system as a function of the model description file.

15 . A computer system comprising:

a processor configured to receive and to execute processor-executable instructions;

a memory device in communication with the processor and storing processor-executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to model a dynamic system comprising a plurality of components by

providing a spreadsheet environment;

defining a plurality of shape objects within the spreadsheet environment, the shape objects representing the components of the dynamic system, at least one shape object having a behavioral characteristic that is associated with a physical component of the dynamic system; and

using the spreadsheet environment to define relationships between the components of the dynamic system using connectors that define connections between the shape objects.

16 . The computer system of claim 15 , wherein the memory device stores further instructions for:

defining a plurality of building block objects within the spreadsheet environment, each building block object representing a component of the dynamic system and having an attribute;

using the spreadsheet environment to specify connections between building block objects; and

generating a model description file as a function of the building block objects and the connections between building block objects.

17 . The computer system of claim 16 , wherein the memory device stores further instructions for:

providing at least one worksheet within the spreadsheet environment;

defining at least one first superblock object associated with at least one worksheet, the first superblock object comprising at least one connection point and at least one building block object; and

for each first superblock object, defining at least one relationship between components of the dynamic system using a connector that defines a connection between a first component within the first superblock object and a second component outside the first superblock object.

18 . The computer system of claim 16 , wherein the memory device stores further instructions for:

for each combination of a first superblock object and a second component outside the first superblock object:

identifying at least one connection point of the first superblock object that meets a requirement that an input connection point of the second component must be connected to exactly one output connection point of the first superblock object; and

for each identified connection point, determining whether to define a connection between the identified connection point and one or more connection points of the second component.

19 . The computer system of claim 16 , wherein the memory device stores further instructions for persisting the attributes of the building block objects within shape objects.

20 . The computer system of claim 15 , wherein the memory device stores further instructions for:

receiving, in the computer, a model description file; and

using the computer to define the plurality of shape objects within the spreadsheet environment and to define the relationships between the components of the dynamic system as a function of the model description file.