JP2724240B2 - Automatic program generator with block diagram processing function - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Object of the Invention] (Industrial application field) The present invention relates to an automatic program generation device that automatically generates a program that meets system specifications in a target system such as a process control system. Especially,
The present invention relates to an automatic program generation device with a block diagram processing function having a function of generating a target program by using a block diagram format system specification expressed in a block diagram indicating a speed reference for operating a control target and the like as it is.

(Prior Art) Generally, variables used in a plurality of partial programs are collectively managed and unified into names of variables having the same meaning, so that a plurality of partial programs are aggregated into one integrated program. Is generated. An automatic program generating apparatus for generating such an integrated program is configured as shown in FIG. 7, for example.

That is, the automatic program generation device 1 is roughly composed of a program generation control unit 2, a plurality of program generation units 3, and a variable attribute management unit 5, and when a system specification 6 is input from outside, the system specification 6 Automatically generates a program 8 that conforms to the contents shown in the system specifications 6 based on.

Then, the program generating means 2 determines the configuration of the integrated program to generate the program 8 based on the contents of the input system specification 6, and selects the program generating means 3 for generating the corresponding partial program for each partial program. Then, it has a function of controlling the entire program generation. Further, each program generating means 3 receives from the program generation control means 2 information on what purpose a partial program should be generated, that is, [program generation goal], and generates a partial program according to the purpose. As a specific method, a component synthesizing method of searching each part of a program, developing the program according to the purpose of the program and generating a partial program, or the like is mainly employed.

Also, when each program generating means 3 generates a partial program, the variable attribute managing means 5 receives a variable attribute determining pattern representing the meaning of a variable used in the partial program, and uses the variable attribute determining pattern as the variable attribute determining pattern. A variable name conforming to the indicated meaning is returned to the corresponding program generating means 3.

However, the program automatic generation device 1 as shown in FIG. 7 has the following problems to be improved.

That is, when designing a program of a programmable controller used for control of a plant or the like as described above, usually, in addition to a system specification expressing detailed information of various devices used for control, as shown in FIG. A specification in the form of a block diagram showing how to give a speed reference when the device operates is used. However, in the automatic program generation apparatus 1 based on the conventional component synthesis shown in FIG.
Although automatic generation of a program based on detailed information of various devices can be handled, there is a problem that automatic generation of a program is not properly performed with respect to a specification in a block diagram format as shown in FIG. .

In such a case, it is necessary for the designer to rewrite the specifications in the block diagram format shown in FIG. 8 into the system specifications expressed in the normal format, and then input the system specifications to the automatic program generation device 1. However, since the work of rewriting to the normal system specifications is very complicated, there has been a problem that the efficiency of the program creation work is reduced. In addition, there are variables and the like that cannot be accurately rewritten in the system specifications, and a high-accuracy program cannot be generated in some cases. In addition, there are concerns about rewriting incorrectly.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) As described above, the conventional automatic program generation device has a problem that automatic program generation is not smoothly performed with respect to specifications in a block diagram format.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances,
While making use of the features of the conventional program generation means such as component synthesis of programs, even when specifications in block diagram format are input, the program can be generated as it is, and the work efficiency of program generation can be greatly improved, and even higher It is an object of the present invention to provide a program automatic generation device with a block diagram processing function that can obtain program accuracy.

[Structure of the Invention] (Means for Solving the Problems) In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a system for automatically generating a program with a block diagram processing function according to the present invention uses a system represented in a normal format input from the outside. Generates each partial program by determining the configuration of an integrated program consisting of a plurality of partial programs based on a block diagram format system specification expressed in a block diagram format including specifications and block information including connection information on each block. Program generation control means for outputting a program generation goal indicating the purpose and condition when the program is generated, and controlling program generation, and an object based on the program generation goal output from the program generation control means and the input system specifications. Program generation means for generating a partial program, and a program generation system A block diagram program generating means for generating a target partial program by referring to the program generation goal output from the means, the input block diagram format system specification and, if necessary, the system specification; and When the program generation means generates each partial program, the variable names used in each generated partial program are collectively managed based on the meaning of the variables, and the variable names corresponding to the meanings of the given variables are blocked. It comprises a program generation means and a variable attribute management means to be sent to the program generation means.

Here, specifically, the block diagram program generating means analyzes a block structure based on block information including connection information on each block in the block diagram format system specification, and forms a block structure of a program. An analysis unit; and a program generation unit that generates a partial program by combining a skeleton of the program formed by the block structure analysis unit and a variable name obtained by the variable attribute management unit.

(Operation) The types of system specifications that can be input to the program automatic generation device with a block diagram processing function of the present invention configured as described above include the conventional system specifications expressed in a normal format and the block specifications expressed in a block diagram format. There are two types: diagram system specifications.

Then, the program generation control means determines the overall configuration of the integrated program to be generated based on the contents of each input system specification, selects a program generation means suitable for generating each partial program, and selects the program Information on what purpose the partial program should be generated (that is, the program generation goal) is sent to the generating means to urge each program generating means to generate each partial program.

The program generation means generates a target partial program by utilizing the functions of the respective program generation means according to the program generation goal input from the program generation control means. At this time, when determining the name of the variable (or constant) used in the partial program, the program generation means sends the variable attribute determination pattern to the variable attribute management means and uses it in another partial program. The variable name is determined so that the same name is assigned to a variable having the same meaning as the variable that is present.

Furthermore, the program generation control means refers to the input block diagram format system specifications, and, if necessary, the contents of the system specifications, and uses the block diagram format system specifications for the determined overall configuration of the program,
A program generation goal indicating information on what purpose the partial program should be generated is sent to the block diagram program generating means to urge the generation of the partial program.

In the block diagram program generation means, according to the program generation goal input from the program generation control means,
The contents expressed in the block diagram format system specifications are analyzed to form a program skeleton, and a target partial program is generated by combining the program skeleton and variable names. At this time, the block diagram program generation means generates a variable attribute determination pattern based on the knowledge possessed by the block diagram program generation means when deciding the name of the variable used in the partial program, and sends it to the variable attribute management means. The variable name is determined so that the same name is given to a variable having the same meaning as a variable used in another partial program.

In the variable attribute management unit, upon receiving a variable attribute determination pattern representing the meaning of the variable from each program generation unit,
If a variable name that matches the meaning is already defined,
The variable name is returned, and if not already defined, a new variable name is defined, and the variable name is returned to the corresponding program generating means.

As described above, the automatic program generation device according to the present invention can automatically generate a program whose whole is semantically integrated based on the input system specifications and the block diagram format system specifications.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an automatic program generation apparatus with a block diagram processing function according to an embodiment. Seventh
Parts having the same functions as those in the drawings are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description is omitted.

The program automatic generation device 11 of this embodiment is roughly divided into a program generation control unit 12, m program generation units 3 numbered from 1 to m, and one block diagram program generation unit. 4 and a variable attribute management means 5. When a system specification 6 or a block diagram format system specification 7 is input from the outside, the system specification 6 and the block diagram format system specification 7 are used. A program 8 conforming to the contents shown in the format system specification 7 is automatically generated.

For example, various specifications necessary for designing a process control system or the like are stored in n system specifications 6 numbered from 1 to n. This includes those input by means or the like, and those converted into a predetermined data format by various conversion means.

Also, as shown in FIG. 2, the block diagram format system specification 7 represents a block diagram format specification indicating how to give a speed reference when various devices constituting the plant operate. Is input by the user through various input means, or is converted into a predetermined data format by the conversion means.

These system specifications 6 and block diagram format system specifications 7 are input to the automatic program generation device 11.

The program generation control means 12 determines the configuration of an integrated program including a plurality of partial programs based on the contents of the input system specifications 6 and block diagram system specifications 7, and generates a corresponding partial program for each partial program. Means 3 and a block diagram program generation means 4 to determine whether to generate the program, and for the selected generation means, a program generation goal indicating information on what purpose a partial program should be generated. The command is sent to instruct the corresponding program generating means 3 or 4 to generate the relevant partial program.

Each program generation means 3 is a program generation control means
In accordance with the program generation goal received from step 12, each function utilizes its own functions, names the variables (or constants) used in the generated partial program, and sets the variable attribute determination pattern to the variable attribute management means 5. A target partial program is generated by making a determination so that the same name is given to a variable having the same meaning as a variable transmitted and used in another partial program.

The block diagram program generation means 4 also analyzes the contents expressed in the block diagram format system specification 7 according to the program generation goal similarly received from the program generation control means 12, and generates a partial program to be generated from now on. A variable attribute determination pattern is generated based on the knowledge base contained in itself and sent to the variable attribute management means 5, and the names of the variables used in the same are used in other partial programs in the same manner as described above. By making a determination so that the same name is given to a variable having the same meaning as the existing variable, a target partial program is generated.

Further, when the variable attribute management unit 5 receives the variable attribute determination pattern from the program generation unit 3 and the block diagram program generation unit 4, if a variable name suitable for the meaning is already defined, the variable attribute management unit 5 Reply to generating means 3 and 4. On the other hand, if a variable name conforming to the meaning of the received variable attribute determination pattern has not been defined yet, a new variable name is defined, and the variable name is returned to the corresponding program generation means 3, 4.

FIG. 2 shows a case where a designer inputs a specification in block diagram form,
FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing a procedure for obtaining a block diagram format system specification 7 in a predetermined data format by a conversion unit.

That is, the program designer uses a block diagram using input means such as a mouse, a keyboard, and a stylus pen.
Enter 71. The input block diagram 71 is a representation of the properties of the elements corresponding to the variables used in the final program as symbols and character information, those represented as operators in the final program, or a combination thereof. The result is expressed as a block 72, and the flow of data between the blocks 72 is expressed as a connection 73.

For example, the block diagram 71 shown in FIG. 2 is composed of six blocks 72 to 72. In each block 71, a machine name such as [NO.1 machine], a function such as [low speed], and a symbol Block type (type) and connection indicated by
Information such as a connection relationship indicated by 72 is included.

When the block diagram 71 is input, the conversion means 74 translates the information of each block 72 and each connection 73 indicating the connection between the blocks 72, and converts the block diagram format system specification 7
Get.

The block diagram format system specification 7 describes the individual blocks 72
And a set of block information 75 expressing information indicating a connection 73 attached before and after the block 72. Each block information 75 includes [input], [output], and [gate] as in the case of each block 72 described above.
Includes device type information such as [Addition], connection information such as (2,1) (1,1), and information such as machine names and functions.

FIG. 3 shows what kind of information is transmitted between the program generation control means 12, the block diagram program generation means 4 and the variable attribute management means 5 when the block diagram format system specification 7 is input to the automatic program generation device 11. It is a schematic diagram which shows whether there is delivery.

That is, when the block diagram format system specification 7 is input, the program generation control means 12 generates a program generation goal 14 for generating a partial program conforming to the input block diagram format system specification 7, and It is sent to the program generation means 4. At this time, if the input block information 75 included in the block diagram format system specification 7 is divided into several sets, the program generation goal 14
Is generated and sent to the block diagram program generating means 4.

The block diagram program generation means 4 has a variable determination unit 41, a block structure analysis unit 42, and a program generation unit 43. Further, in the variable determination unit 41, a variable attribute determination pattern selection knowledge base 44 and a variable determination pattern template 45 are stored.

When the program generation goal 14 is received from the program generation control means 12, the program generation goal 14
The program generation process is started with reference to the contents of the above and the block diagram format system specification 7. That is, first, in the variable determining unit 41, the variable attribute determining pattern
16 is generated and sent to the variable attribute management means 5.

The variable attribute management means 5 usually has a variable management database storing the names of the variables and their attributes. When the variable attribute determination pattern 16 described above is sent from the block diagram program generation means 4, Using the information expressed in the variable attribute determination pattern 16, a variable having the same meaning is searched from the variable management database, and if a variable exists, its name is returned to the block diagram program generating means 4 as a variable name 13. I do. On the other hand, if the variable does not exist, a new name is given to the variable, registered in the variable management database together with the attribute shown in the variable attribute determination pattern 16, and the new name is set as the variable name 13 in the block diagram program generation means. Reply to 4.

In this way, the variable deciding unit 41 assigns the variable name 13 to all the block information 75 corresponding to the variable among the individual block information in the block diagram format system specification 7 through the variable attribute management means 5. decide.

When the process of determining the variable name 13 is completed, the block structure analysis unit 42 analyzes the block structure based on the individual block information 75 and the connection information between them,
Form the skeleton of the program.

Finally, in the program generation unit 43, the variable determination unit 41
By combining the variable name 13 determined in the above with the skeleton of the program obtained in the block structure analysis unit 42, for example,
A partial program 15 shown in the figure is generated and transmitted to the program generation control means 12.

Next, the above-described process of creating the partial program 15 in the block diagram program generating means 4 will be described in more detail with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

When the flowchart starts, in step C1, the variable determining means 41 determines whether or not the processing of all block information 75 shown in FIG. 2 which is currently being processed is completed. If not finished, in step P1, unprocessed block information 75 is extracted. Then, in step C2, it is determined whether or not the extracted unprocessed block information 75 is block information 75 for which the variable name 13 should be determined. If the variable name 13 is the block information 75 to be determined, in step P2, the model 45 of the variable attribute determination pattern is selected according to the variable attribute determination pattern selection knowledge base 44. Further, the template 45 of the variable attribute determination pattern selected in step P3 is expanded based on the block information 75 being processed to generate the variable attribute determination pattern 16. In step P4, the generated variable attribute determination pattern 16 is sent to the variable attribute management means 5, and a variable name 13 having a meaning corresponding to the pattern is obtained.

When the processing of the block information 75 to be processed is completed, in Step P5, the block structure analysis unit 42
The connection between the block information 75 is analyzed to determine the skeleton of the program.
The variable program 13 shown in FIG. 6 is embedded to generate the partial program 15 shown in FIG.

Further, as an example, based on the block information 75 of the block 72 shown in FIG.
The detailed processing operation in the variable determination unit 41 until is determined will be described with reference to FIG. This processing operation is performed in the fourth step.
This corresponds to steps P2, P3, and P4 in the flowchart of the figure.

In FIG. 5, the block information 75 has the meaning of the block 72, and the variable name 13 is determined based on the block information 75. In the variable determining unit 41, first,
For the block information 75, a variable attribute determination pattern selection knowledge base that is knowledge for selecting a template for generating the variable attribute determination pattern 16 for each block 72
According to 44, a template 45 of the variable attribute determination pattern is selected. That is, in the case of the block information 75 shown in the figure, rule-1 in the variable attribute determination pattern selection knowledge base 44, [block-type is gate-a or gate-b, and functio
If n is a term representing speed, the model of the variable attribute determination pattern is blk-gate-1. ], Blk-gate-1 is selected as the template 45 of the variable attribute determination pattern.

Next, the template of the selected variable attribute determination pattern 45
Then, the variable attribute determination pattern 16 is generated with reference to the block information 45. That is, as shown in FIG. 2, the block information 75 referred to is BLK001-4 block-type: gate-a machine: NO.1 machine function: high-speed and the condition of the template 45 of the variable attribute determination pattern. Is (machine? M) (function? F), so? M = NO.1 machine,? F = high speed, and from this condition, the model [(! (Machine? M) (func? F) (Sensel operation command)], the variable attribute determination pattern 16, [! (Machine NO.1 machine) (fenc high speed) (sensel operation command)] is generated.

Further, the variable deciding section 41 sends the generated variable attribute decision pattern 16 to the variable attribute management means 5, and
13 Have [1MCHSPCOM] determined.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing, by way of example, a comparison between a block diagram 71 input by a designer as a specification and a partial program 15 generated by the block diagram program generation means 4 based on the block diagram 71.

With the automatic program generation device with the block diagram processing function configured as described above, when a designer automatically creates an integrated program that satisfies each system specification based on many system specifications, the Even if, for example, the block diagram format system specification 7 shown in the block diagram format shown in FIG. 2 is mixed in addition to the normal system specification 6 expressed in the normal format, the block diagram format system specification 7 Need not be rewritten into the normal system specification 6, and can be input in the same manner as the normal system specification. Then, an integrated program including a plurality of partial programs specified by the block diagram format system specifications 7 and the normal system specifications 6 is automatically generated.

Therefore, the designer does not need to rewrite the block diagram format system specifications into the normal system specifications, so that the program creation work efficiency can be greatly improved.

Further, when designing a program for process control or the like, the speed reference and the like when each device operates can be directly input in the form of a block, so that a minute error or the like that occurs when rewriting to a normal system specification can be eliminated. Therefore, a program more faithful to the system specifications 6 and 7 can be created.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above. In the embodiment, the case where the program used for the process control system is automatically generated has been described.
It is not particularly limited to process control systems,
It goes without saying that the system specifications can be applied to all information processing systems that can be expressed in a block diagram format.

In addition, the number of the block diagram program generating means 4 can be appropriately changed as needed.

[Effect of the Invention] As described above, according to the program automatic generation device with a block diagram processing function of the present invention, in addition to the system specifications expressed in the normal format, even when the specifications in the block diagram format are input, A program is automatically generated. Therefore, it is possible to give, as a block diagram specification, how to give a speed reference at the time of operation of the equipment, which is used when designing a program for plant control or the like. Therefore, the labor saving and efficiency of the program generation operation can be further improved. Further, the accuracy of the generated program can be improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

1 to 6 show an automatic program generating apparatus with a block diagram processing function according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram type system. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a specification generation process, FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining exchange of various data between a program generation control unit, a block diagram program generation unit, and a variable attribute management unit, and FIG. 4 is a block diagram program generation process. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the means, FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a specific example of data reference relationship in the variable determination unit and data transfer between the variable attribute management means, and FIG. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a comparison with a partial program generated on the basis of FIG. 7, FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a conventional program automatic generation device, and FIG. It illustrates. 3 ... program generation means, 4 ... block diagram program generation means, 5 ... variable attribute management means, 6 ... system specifications, 7 ... block diagram format system specifications, 8 ... programs, 11 ... program automatic generation Apparatus, 12: Program generation control means, 13: Variable name, 14: Program generation goal, 15: Partial program, 16: Variable attribute determination pattern, 41: Variable determination unit, 42: Block structure analysis Unit, 43: Program generation unit, 44: Variable attribute determination pattern selection knowledge base, 45: Model of variable attribute determination pattern, 71: Block diagram, 72: Block, 73: Connection, 74: Conversion Means, 75 ... Block information.

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. An integrated program comprising a plurality of partial programs, based on a system specification represented in a normal format and a block diagram format comprising block information including connection information on each block, which are respectively input from the outside. Program generation control means for controlling the program generation by determining a configuration and outputting a program generation goal indicating the purpose and condition when each partial program is generated; and a program generation goal output from the program generation control means; A program generation means for generating a target partial program based on the input system specifications; a program generation goal output from the program generation control means; and the input block diagram format system specifications and, if necessary, Refer to the system specifications A block diagram program generating means for generating a minute program; and a variable name used in each of the generated partial programs when the block diagram program generating means and the program generating means respectively generate the partial programs. And a variable attribute management unit for sending a variable name corresponding to the meaning of a given variable to the block diagram program generation unit and the program generation unit. A block structure analysis unit configured to analyze a block structure based on block information including connection information regarding each block in the block diagram format system specification to form a skeleton of a program; Formed by the block structure analysis unit Block diagram processing function automatic program generating apparatus characterized by comprising a program generation unit for generating the partial programs by combining the variable names obtained by skeleton and the variable attribute management means programs.