JP2012022425A - Device and method for automatically generating program and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a device and a method for automatically generating a program and a program insusceptible to restriction of resources and operating time in program development for built-in uses in which the restriction is tight.SOLUTION: A specification is described by a user using a control block diagram (S1). Next, connection information is extracted based on the control block diagram in which the specification is described (S2). Then, it is detected whether a feedback loop is contained in the connection information (S3). If a feedback loop is not contained in the connection information in the check, a control processing code in normal correspondence is automatically generated (S4). Or, if a feedback loop is contained, a control processing code in FB correspondence is automatically generated (S5-S7). If a control processing code is extracted for every piece of the connection information, this processing proceeds to a step S9, or otherwise this processing goes back to the step S3. The control processing code generated by FB correspondence control processing code generation processing and the normal correspondence control processing code are combined to be output (S9).

Description

  The present invention relates to an automatic program generation apparatus, an automatic generation method, and a program for automatically generating program source code in accordance with a diagram format specification created by a developer or a user.

  Conventionally, a technique for automatically generating a program source code based on a program specification described in the form of a block diagram has been widely used as a visual programming technique in general in program development in the control field or the like. Among them, with regard to code generation of a block diagram including a feedback loop, for example, Patent Document 1 below proposes a method for determining an operation order.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a conventional solution when the control block diagram includes a feedback loop. In FIG. 8, as shown in Patent Document 1, when the feedback control block (priority block D) is included in the control block diagram to be automatically generated, the calculation order cannot be determined correctly (desired by the developer). When the block calculation order A → B → D → C is automatically generated as A → D → B → C), the block creation order is set as shown in the lower right part of FIG. The operation order of blocks is set.

  In this case, assuming that the correct calculation order A → B → D → C is determined by the conventional solution shown in Patent Document 1, the source code of the generated program is a general high-level programming language such as C language. In general, the notation is as shown in FIG.

JP 2010-66847 A

  However, when the code of FIG. 9 is actually executed, the “output of D” indicated by the underline in FIG. 9 indicates that the operation B () is executed before the operation D () is executed and the value is actually determined. There is a problem that "output of D" is referred to in execution of.

  Since the control operation described in the control block diagram is usually executed repeatedly at a constant cycle to realize continuous control, if "D output" is retained even after the processing ends, operation B ( The “D output” referred to in () is a value determined by the calculation D () at the time of the previous processing execution, so that the control calculation is established although there is a control delay. However, for this purpose, it is necessary to generate code so that all operation outputs are stored in different storage areas, which makes it impossible to use high-speed temporary storage means (such as CPU general-purpose registers). As a result, there are disadvantages in terms of cost performance when developing programs for embedded applications with severe constraints on memory resources and computation time.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an automatic program generation apparatus, an automatic generation method, and a program that are less susceptible to restrictions in the development of embedded applications that have severe resource and computation time restrictions.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention provides a control block diagram specification that describes the specification of a program in the form of a control block diagram that represents the flow of control processing by connecting variable input / output terminal elements and operator elements by lines. Program automatic generation having description means and control processing code automatic generation means for automatically generating compilable source code satisfying the specification of the program expressed in the control block diagram based on information indicating the connection relationship of the control block diagram In the apparatus, the control processing code automatic generation means searches the output side for information indicating the connection relationship of the described control block diagram from the output side, and outputs the calculation result output on the output side to the information indicating the connection relationship. Connection information extracting means for detecting whether or not a feedback loop directly connected to the input of the operation on the input side is included, and the connection information When the output means detects that the feedback loop is not included in the information indicating the connection relationship, the control processing code is automatically generated by setting the calculation order in one direction from the input side to the output side. When the normal response control processing code generation unit and the connection information extraction unit detect that the feedback loop is included in the information indicating the connection relationship, the information corresponding to the detected connection relationship is handled. Automatic generation of previous value variable definition means for automatically generating the previous value variable definition code to be saved, automatic saving code for substituting the calculation result on the output side of the feedback loop for the defined previous value variable into the previous value variable Automatic previous value storage code generation means to generate, and automatic previous value input code to assign the value of the previous value variable to one of the feedback loop inputs Feedback corresponding control processing code generating means having previous value input code automatic generating means to be formed; definition code of previous value variable automatically generated by the feedback corresponding control processing code generating means, previous value storage code, and previous value input code And the normal correspondence control processing code generated by the normal correspondence control processing code generation means when the feedback relationship is not included in the information indicating the connection relation, and the control block Control information code synthesizing means for automatically generating source code that satisfies the program specifications even when a feedback loop is included in the information indicating the connection relationship in the figure.

The present invention also describes the specification of a program in the form of a control block diagram that represents the flow of control processing by connecting variable input / output terminal elements and operator elements with lines, and shows the connection relationship between the control block diagrams. In the program automatic generation method for automatically generating compilable source code that satisfies the specifications of the program expressed in the control block diagram based on the information, information indicating the connection relationship of the control block diagram described above is input from the output side Information indicating the connection relationship by detecting whether or not the information indicating the connection relationship includes a feedback loop in which the output calculation result output is directly connected to the input of the input calculation. If it is detected that the feedback loop is not included in the input, the calculation sequence is set in one direction from the input side to the output side to automatically When the information indicating the connection relationship includes the feedback loop, the definition code of the corresponding previous value variable is automatically generated for the information indicating the detected connection relationship. Then, a storage code for automatically substituting the calculation result on the output side of the feedback loop for the defined previous value variable is substituted for the previous value variable, and the previous value variable is input to one of the feedback loop inputs. Automatically generate the previous value input code to assign the value of
When the feedback loop is included in the information indicating the connection relation, the automatically generated previous value variable definition code, the previous value storage code and the previous value input code, and the feedback to the information indicating the connection relation Even when a loop is not included, the normal correspondence control processing code that is automatically generated is received and synthesized, and even when a feedback loop is included in the information indicating the connection relationship of the control block diagram, It is characterized by automatically generating source code that satisfies the program specifications.

  The present invention also describes the specification of a program in the form of a control block diagram that represents the flow of control processing by connecting variable input / output terminal elements and operator elements with lines, and shows the connection relationship between the control block diagrams. In a program automatic generation program that automatically generates compilable source code that satisfies the specifications of the program expressed in the control block diagram based on the information, information indicating the connection relationship of the described control block diagram is output to the computer A function of searching from the input side to the input side and detecting whether or not the information indicating the connection relation includes a feedback loop in which the output side operation result output is directly connected to the input side operation input, the connection When it is detected that the feedback loop is not included in the information indicating the relationship, the calculation order is unidirectional from the input side to the output side. A function for setting and automatically generating a control processing code, and when detecting that the feedback loop is included in the information indicating the connection relationship, corresponds to the information indicating the detected connection relationship A definition code for the previous value variable is automatically generated, and then a storage code for substituting the operation result on the output side of the feedback loop for the defined previous value variable is automatically generated for the previous value variable. A function of automatically generating a previous value input code for substituting the value of the previous value variable into one of the loop inputs, and the previous value variable automatically generated when the feedback loop is included in the information indicating the connection relationship The definition code, the previous value storage code, the previous value input code, and the information indicating the connection relation do not include the feedback loop. Each of the automatically generated normal correspondence control processing codes, and even if the information indicating the connection relationship in the control block diagram includes a feedback loop, the program specifications are automatically A function of generating a source code satisfying the above condition is realized.

  According to the automatic program generation device according to the present invention, even in a control block diagram including a feedback loop that does not perform correct operation unless the output variables of all operations are held in the conventional method, It is possible to generate a control processing code that detects a feedback loop and holds only the calculation result of that part as a previous value variable, and processes a part that does not detect the remaining feedback loop using a primary variable. It has a special advantage in program development in the embedded field.

It is a block diagram which shows the system processing function of the program automatic generation apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the hardware constitutions of the program automatic generation apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart for demonstrating operation | movement of the program automatic generation apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of the control block diagram (when a feedback loop is not included) described with the program automatic generation apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of the source code produced | generated when the feedback loop is not included in the automatic program generation apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of the control block diagram (when a feedback loop is included) described with the program automatic generation apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of the source code produced | generated when the feedback loop is included in the program automatic generation apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the conventional solution method in case a feedback loop is included in a control block diagram. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of the conventional solution shown in FIG. 8 expressed as source code using a general high-level programming language.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a system functional configuration of an automatic program generation device according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, the flow of control is indicated by white arrows, and the flow of information is indicated by dashed arrows.

  A user (user) who operates the input device 20 can describe a control block diagram using the automatic program generation device 1200. The automatic program generator 1200 automatically generates a program source code from the described control block diagram. More specifically, in FIG. 1, the user activates the automatic program generation device 1200 from the input device 20, operates the control block diagram specification description means 1210, and uses the control block diagram specification description means 1210 to execute the program. Is described in the control block diagram. The control block diagram here is, for example, as shown in FIG. 4, starting from a variable input terminal element (in_x) 101 and a variable input terminal element (in_y) 102, several calculation elements (Op1 calculation shown in FIG. 4). This is expressed by connecting the processing flow from the element 103 and the addition element 104) to the variable output terminal element (out_a) 105 by a line.

  The control block diagram specification description means 1210 has in advance description means such as variable input terminal elements, variable output terminal elements, and arithmetic elements as shown in FIG. 4, and the user inputs these description means to the input device. By arranging and connecting on the 20 monitor screens, the specification of the program is described and the control block diagram is completed. The specification of the program described in the control block diagram is sent to the control processing code automatic generation means 2200, where information indicating connection relations starting from the variable reference expressed by the variable input terminal element (hereinafter simply “ In a general high-level programming language, a series of processes until the results of sequential execution of operator element operations according to connection information are assigned to variables represented by variable output terminal elements However, the source code is output as a function or subroutine. The output source code is represented in a code format as shown in FIG. 5, for example, when the C language which is one of general high-level programming languages is used.

  Here, the hardware configuration of the automatic program generation device according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of the automatic program generation device according to the embodiment of the present invention. The entire automatic program generation device 1100 is controlled by a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 1101. A random access memory (RAM) 1102, a hard disk drive (HDD) 1103, a graphic processing device 1104, and an input interface 1105 are connected to the CPU 1101 via a bus 1106.

  The RAM 1102 temporarily stores at least part of an OS (Operating System) program and application programs to be executed by the CPU 1101. The RAM 1102 stores various data necessary for processing by the CPU 1101. The HDD 1103 stores an OS program and application programs.

  A monitor 21 is connected to the graphic processing device 1104. The graphic processing device 1104 displays an image on the screen of the monitor 21 in accordance with a command from the CPU 1101. A keyboard 22 and a mouse 23 are connected to the input interface 1105. The input interface 1105 transmits a signal sent from the keyboard 22 or the mouse 23 to the CPU 1106 via the bus 1106.

With the hardware configuration described above, the processing functions of the present embodiment as described above or shown below can be realized.
Next, the system processing function of the automatic program generation device according to the embodiment of the present invention will be further described. If the user describes the control block diagram as shown in FIG. 6 using the keyboard 22 and the mouse 23, the automatic program generation apparatus of the present invention includes a feedback loop (hereinafter simply “FB”). The connection information extracting means 2210 checks whether or not “sometimes abbreviated as“ is included). The connection information extraction unit 2210 searches for blocks from the output side to the input side and describes the calculation order from the input side to the output side, as described in paragraphs 0007 and 0008 of Patent Document 1 described above. It tries to set. In that case, a block that is searched from the output side to the input side and the calculation order can be set in one direction from the input side to the output side is a case that does not include a feedback loop (FB). If the calculation order is set in one direction from the input side to the output side in the case where the loop (FB) is included, different source codes are automatically generated.

  Therefore, in the embodiment of the present invention, the connection information extraction means 2210 detects whether or not a feedback loop (FB) is included. In other words, if the FB is not detected, the calculation order can be set in one direction from the input side to the output side with the existing technology described in paragraphs 0007 and 0008 of Patent Document 1 described above. The described control block diagram is passed to the normal correspondence control processing code generation means 2220 to generate a normal control processing code. That is, in the control block diagram that does not include the FB, the flow of processing is as shown in FIG. 4 as an example, and starting from the variable input terminal element (in_x) 101 and the variable input terminal element (in_y) 102, Op1 This is expressed by a line from the calculation element 103 and the addition element 104 to the variable output terminal element (out_a) 105. This is interpreted as a normal control block diagram format, and the normal control processing code generation means 2220 The control processing code is automatically output in the format as shown in FIG. 5 using the existing technology, for example, using C language. In this case, since there is no output from the FB correspondence control processing code generation means 2230 described later, the output from the control processing code synthesis generation means 2240 is the output of the normal correspondence control processing code generation means 2220 as shown in FIG. It will be output in the format.

  Next, when the connection information extraction unit 2210 detects the FB, the control block diagram described in the specification is transferred to the FB correspondence control processing code generation unit 2230. In order to process the connection information including the detected FB, the FB correspondence control processing code generation unit 2230 first automatically generates a variable definition of the previous value in the previous value variable definition automatic generation unit 2231. Next, in the previous value storage code automatic generation means 2232, for the defined previous value variable, a code for substituting the calculation result of the calculation element on the output side of the feedback loop (FB) into the previous value variable is the previous value. Automatically generated as saved code. Then, in the previous value input code automatic generation means 2233, a code for substituting the value of the previous value variable into one of the inputs of the calculation element on the input side of the feedback loop (FB) is automatically generated as the previous value input code. Then, the automatically generated previous value variable definition, previous value storage code, and previous value input code are output to the control processing code composition means 2240. That is, the FB correspondence control processing code generation means 2230 automatically generates the previous value variable definition, the previous value storage code, and the previous value input code to process the connection information including the feedback loop (FB), and controls them. Passed to the code synthesis means 2240.

  The processing in the FB correspondence control processing code generation means will be described based on a specific example. For example, in the case shown in FIG. 6 where connection information including a feedback loop (FB) is extracted in the control block diagram, the output of the Op2 computing element 203 becomes the input of the adding element 201 computed before that. Since the feedback loop (FB) is included, the connection information extraction unit 2210 detects the FB and passes the processing to the FB correspondence control processing code generation unit 2230. In the FB correspondence control processing code generation means 2230, the previous value variable definition automatic generation means 2231 defines the previous value variable b_prev for the detected feedback loop (FB), that is, the connection from the calculation element 203 to the addition element 201. Is automatically generated (see (1) in FIG. 7)). Next, with respect to the previous value variable b_prev defined by the previous value variable definition automatic generation unit 2231, the previous value storage code generation unit 2232 calculates the previous value from the calculation result of the calculation element 203 corresponding to the output side of the feedback loop (FB). A code to be assigned to a variable, that is, a previous value storage code is automatically generated (see (3) in FIG. 7)). Finally, the previous value input code generation means 2233 automatically generates a code for substituting the value of the previous value variable b_rev into one of the inputs of the addition element 201 corresponding to the input side of the feedback loop (FB), that is, the previous value input code. (See (2) in FIG. 7)).

  The control processing code synthesizing means 2240 for the control processing code generated by the above processing finally generates and outputs the source code 30 in the form of functions or subroutines in a general high-level programming language. That is, when a block is searched from the output side to the input side and a feedback loop (FB) that can set the calculation order in one direction from the input side to the output side is not included, the normal handling control process Based on the control processing code output by the code generation means 2220, a control processing code as shown in FIG. 5 is output, and a block is searched from the output side to the input side, and from the input side to the output side. When a feedback loop (FB) that cannot set the calculation order in one direction is included, the FB correspondence control processing code output by the FB correspondence control processing code generation means 2230 and the normal correspondence control processing code generation means The rest of the feedback loop (FB) output by 2220 is not included, in other words, the control block as shown in FIG. 7 is synthesized with the control processing code for the remaining part to be expressed by, for example, using C language which is one of general high-level programming languages, and the control processing code as shown in FIG. 7 is output. To do.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the automatic program generation device according to the embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 3, the step is abbreviated as “S”. At the start of the operation of the automatic program generation device according to the embodiment of the present invention, first, a specification description using a control block diagram is made by the user (step S1). Next, the automatic program generation device extracts connection information based on the control block diagram described in the specification (step S2). In the process of extracting connection information, it is detected whether the connection information includes a feedback loop (FB) (step S3). If it is detected in the check that the connection information does not include a feedback loop (FB), a control processing code corresponding to normal correspondence is automatically generated (step S4).

  If it is detected in step S3 that the connection information includes a feedback loop (FB), a control processing code corresponding to the feedback loop (FB) is automatically generated (steps S5 to S7). That is, first, a previous value variable definition is automatically generated for connection information in which a feedback loop (FB) is detected (step S5). Next, a previous value storage code is automatically generated from the calculation result of the calculation element corresponding to the output side of the feedback loop (FB) for the defined previous value variable (step S6). Furthermore, a previous value input code for substituting the value of the previous value variable into one of the inputs of the addition element corresponding to the input side of the feedback loop (FB) is automatically generated (step S7).

  In step S8, it is determined whether control processing codes have been extracted for all connection information. As a result, if the control processing code has not been extracted for all connection information, the process returns to step S3, and the control processing code for the remaining connection information is extracted by executing again from step S3 to step S7. If the control processing code is extracted for the connection information, the process proceeds to step S9.

  In step S9, the control processing code generated by the above FB correspondence control processing code generation processing and the normal correspondence control processing code for the remaining portion not including the FB are synthesized and output (step S9). Then, the process of the automatic program generation device is terminated.

20 Input device 21 Monitor 22 Keyboard 23 Mouse
101, 102 Block diagram description element (variable input terminal element)
103, 203 Block diagram description element (arithmetic element)
104, 201 Block diagram description element (addition element)
105 Block diagram description element (variable output terminal element)
202 Block diagram description element (branch element)
1100 Automatic program generator
1101 CPU (Central Processing Unit)
1102 RAM (Random Access Memory)
1103 HDD (Hard Disc Drive)
1104 Graphics processing unit
1105 Input interface
1106 bus
1200 automatic program generator
1210 Control block diagram specification description means
2200 Control processing code automatic generation means
2210 Connection information extraction means
2220 Normal correspondence control processing code generation means
2230 Control processing code generation means for FB
2231 Previous value variable definition automatic generation means
2232 Previous value storage code automatic generation means
2233 Previous value input code automatic generation means
2240 Control processing code synthesis means

Claims (3)

Control block diagram specification description means for describing program specifications in the form of a control block diagram expressing the flow of control processing by connecting variable input / output terminal elements and operator elements with lines, and the connection relationship between the control block diagrams In a program automatic generation device having a control processing code automatic generation means for automatically generating compilable source code that satisfies the specifications of a program expressed in a control block diagram based on information indicating
The control processing code automatic generation means includes:
Search for information indicating the connection relationship in the above described control block diagram from the output side to the input side, and feedback indicating that the operation result output on the output side is directly connected to the input of the operation on the input side in the information indicating the connection relationship Connection information extracting means for detecting whether or not a loop is included;
When the connection information extraction means detects that the feedback loop is not included in the information indicating the connection relationship, the control processing code is automatically set by setting the calculation order in one direction from the input side to the output side. A normal correspondence control processing code generation means for generating
When the connection information extraction unit detects that the feedback loop is included in the information indicating the connection relationship, the definition code of the corresponding previous value variable is automatically set for the information indicating the detected connection relationship. Previous value variable definition automatic generation means for generating the previous value storage code automatic generation means for automatically generating a storage code for substituting the operation result on the output side of the feedback loop for the defined previous value variable into the previous value variable And a feedback corresponding control processing code generation means having a previous value input code automatic generation means for automatically generating a previous value input code for substituting the value of the previous value variable into one of the inputs of the feedback loop;
The definition code of the previous value variable, the previous value storage code and the previous value input code automatically generated by the feedback corresponding control processing code generating means, and the information indicating the connection relation by the normal corresponding control processing code generating means Even when a feedback loop is included in the information indicating the connection relationship in the control block diagram, the normal correspondence control processing code automatically generated when the feedback loop is not included is received and synthesized. Control processing code synthesis means for automatically generating source code that satisfies the program specifications;
An automatic program generation device comprising: Describe program specifications in the form of a control block diagram that represents the flow of control processing by connecting variable I / O terminal elements and operator elements with lines, and based on information that indicates the connection relationship of the control block diagram In a program automatic generation method for automatically generating compilable source code that satisfies the specification of a program expressed in a control block diagram,
Search for information indicating the connection relationship in the above described control block diagram from the output side to the input side, and feedback indicating that the operation result output on the output side is directly connected to the input of the operation on the input side in the information indicating the connection relationship Detect if a loop is included,
When it is detected that the feedback loop is not included in the information indicating the connection relationship, the control processing code is automatically generated by setting the calculation order in one direction from the input side to the output side,
When it is detected that the feedback loop is included in the information indicating the connection relation, a definition code of a previous value variable corresponding to the detected information indicating the connection relation is automatically generated, and then the definition Automatically generates a storage code for substituting the calculation result on the output side of the feedback loop for the previous value variable, and assigns the value of the previous value variable to one of the inputs of the feedback loop. The previous value input code is automatically generated,
When the feedback loop is included in the information indicating the connection relation, the automatically generated previous value variable definition code, the previous value storage code and the previous value input code, and the feedback to the information indicating the connection relation Even when a loop is not included, the normal correspondence control processing code that is automatically generated is received and synthesized, and even when a feedback loop is included in the information indicating the connection relationship of the control block diagram, Automatically generate source code that meets the specifications of the program,
A method for automatically generating a program. Describe program specifications in the form of a control block diagram that represents the flow of control processing by connecting variable I / O terminal elements and operator elements with lines, and based on information that indicates the connection relationship of the control block diagram In an automatic program generation program that automatically generates compilable source code that satisfies the specifications of the program expressed in the control block diagram,
On the computer,
Search for information indicating the connection relationship in the above described control block diagram from the output side to the input side, and feedback indicating that the operation result output on the output side is directly connected to the input of the operation on the input side in the information indicating the connection relationship The ability to detect whether a loop is included,
When it is detected that the feedback loop is not included in the information indicating the connection relationship, a function for automatically generating a control processing code by setting a calculation order in one direction from the input side to the output side;
When it is detected that the feedback loop is included in the information indicating the connection relation, a definition code of a previous value variable corresponding to the detected information indicating the connection relation is automatically generated, and then the definition Automatically generates a storage code for substituting the calculation result on the output side of the feedback loop for the previous value variable, and assigns the value of the previous value variable to one of the inputs of the feedback loop. A function to automatically generate the previous value input code,
When the feedback loop is included in the information indicating the connection relation, the automatically generated previous value variable definition code, the previous value storage code and the previous value input code, and the feedback to the information indicating the connection relation Even when a loop is not included, the normal correspondence control processing code that is automatically generated is received and synthesized, and even when a feedback loop is included in the information indicating the connection relationship of the control block diagram, A function that automatically generates source code that satisfies the program specifications,
A program to realize

Images