JPH0498531A - Automatic program generating device with block diagram processing function - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To extremely improve the working efficiency for generation of a program by providing a program generating means, a block diagram program generating means, and a variable attribute control means. CONSTITUTION:A block diagram program generating means 4 analyzes the contents shown by the block diagram form system specifications 7 in accordance with the program generation goal received from a program generation control means 12. Then the means 4 decides the name of the variable to be used in a part program that is generated thereafter so that the same name is given to the variable having the same meaning as the variable that is used in another part program after generating a variable attribute deciding pattern based on an internal knowledge base of its own and sending the pattern to a variable attribute control means 5. Thus a desired part program is obtained. As a result, the reduction of labor and the working efficiency can be more improved for generation of a program.

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 matches the system specifications of a target system such as a process control system. In particular, it relates to an automatic program generation device with a block diagram processing function, which has a function of generating a target program by directly using a block diagram format system specification expressed in a block diagram showing speed standards for operating a controlled object, etc. .

(Prior art) In general, multiple partial programs are collected into one integrated program by collectively managing each variable used within multiple partial programs and unifying the names of variables that have the same meaning. I am trying to generate . An automatic program generation device for creating such an integrated program is configured as shown in FIG. 7, for example.

That is, this automatic program generation device 1 is roughly divided into a program generation control means 2, a plurality of program generation means 3, and a variable attribute management means 5, and when a system specification 6 is input from the outside, this system specification 6 is Based on this, a program 8 that conforms to the contents shown in the system specifications 6 is automatically generated.

Then, the program generation means 2 determines the configuration of the integrated program to generate the program 8 based on the contents of the input system specifications 6, and selects the program generation means 3 for generating the corresponding partial program for each partial program. It has the function of controlling the entire program generation.

Furthermore, each program generation means 3 receives information about what purpose a partial program should be generated from the program generation control means 2, that is, [program generation goal], and generates a partial program according to the purpose. . As a specific method, a component synthesis method is mainly adopted in which each component of a program is searched and expanded according to the purpose of the program to generate a partial program.

Further, the variable attribute management means 5 includes each program generation means 3.
When generating a partial program, a variable attribute determination pattern representing the meaning of variables used in the partial program is received, and variable names that match the meanings indicated by the variable attribute determination pattern are generated for the corresponding program. Reply to method 3.

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

In other words, when designing a program for a programmable controller used for plant control, etc., as described above, in addition to system specifications that express detailed information on various devices used for control, the system specifications shown in Figure 8 are usually used. , a block diagram format specification is used that shows how to provide speed standards when the equipment operates. However, the conventional program automatic generation device 1 based on component synthesis shown in FIG. 7 is capable of automatically generating programs based on detailed information of various devices; There was a problem in that the automatic program generation did not work properly for the specifications.

In such a case, it was necessary for the designer to rewrite the specification in the block diagram format shown in FIG. 8 into a system specification expressed in a normal format, and then input it to the automatic program generation device 1. However, since the work of rewriting the system specifications in the normal format is very complicated, there is a problem that the efficiency of the program creation work is reduced. Furthermore, there are variables that cannot be rewritten accurately to the system specifications, and it may not be possible to generate a highly accurate program. Furthermore, there is a concern that the text may be rewritten incorrectly.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) As described above, in the conventional automatic program generation apparatus, there is a problem that automatic program generation cannot be performed smoothly for specifications in the block diagram format.

The present invention has been made in view of these circumstances, and while taking advantage of the features of conventional program generation means such as program component synthesis, it is also possible to directly generate a program even when a block diagram format specification is input. It is an object of the present invention to provide an automatic program generation device with a block diagram processing function, which can greatly improve work efficiency of program generation and obtain even higher program accuracy.

[Structure of the Invention] (Means for Solving the Problems) In order to solve the above problems, in the automatic program generation device with a block diagram processing function of the present invention, system specifications expressed in a normal format input from an external Based on the block diagram format system specifications expressed in block diagram format, the configuration of an integrated program consisting of multiple partial programs is determined, and a program generation goal indicating the purpose and conditions for generating each partial program is output. program generation control means for generating a target partial program based on a program generation goal output from the program generation control means and input system specifications; block diagram program generation means that generates a target partial program by referring to the program generation goal output from the means, the input block diagram format system specifications, and the system specifications as necessary;
When the block diagram program generation means and the program generation means respectively generate partial programs, the variable names used in each generated partial program are collectively managed based on the meanings of the variables, and the meanings of the given variables are The variable attribute management means for sending a variable name corresponding to the variable name to the block diagram program generation means and the program generation means.

(Operation) The types of system specifications that can be input to the automatic program generation device with block diagram processing function of the present invention configured as described above are conventional system specifications expressed in a normal format and blocks expressed in a block diagram format. There are two types: diagram format 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 programs the program. Information indicating what purpose a partial program should be generated (ie, program generation goal) is sent to the generation means to prompt each program generation means to generate each partial program.

The program generation means utilizes the functions of each program generation means to generate a target partial program according to the program generation goal inputted from the program generation control means. At this time, when determining the names of variables (or constants) to be used within the partial program, the program generation means sends the variable attribute determination pattern to the variable attribute management means so that it can be used in other partial programs. Variable names are determined so that the same name is given to variables that have the same meaning as the existing variable.

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 program configuration. A program generation goal representing information about what purpose a partial program should be generated is sent to the block diagram program generation means to prompt generation of the partial program.

The block diagram program generation means analyzes the contents expressed in the block diagram format system specifications according to the program generation goal inputted from the program generation control means, and generates a target partial program. At this time, when determining the names of variables used within the partial program, the block diagram program generation means generates a variable attribute determination pattern based on the knowledge of the block diagram program generation means, and sends the variable attribute determination pattern to the variable attribute management means. Variable names are determined so that the same name is given to variables that have the same meaning as variables that are sent and used in other partial programs.

When the variable attribute management means receives a variable attribute determination pattern representing the meaning of a variable from each program generation means, if a variable name matching the meaning has already been defined, it returns that variable name and determines whether it is still defined. If not, a new variable name is defined and the variable name is returned to the corresponding program generation means.

In this manner, the automatic program generation device according to the present invention can automatically generate a program that is semantically integrated as a whole based on the input system specifications and the block diagram format system specifications.

(Example) An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an automatic program generation device with a block diagram processing function according to an embodiment. Components having the same functions as those in FIG. 7 are designated by the same reference numerals and detailed explanations will be omitted.

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

Each of the n system specifications 6, numbered from 1 to n, contains various specifications required when designing a process control system, etc., and is used by the designer to use the keyboard or input characters. This includes data input by means, etc., and data converted from input into a predetermined data format by various conversion means.

In addition, the block diagram format system specification 7, as shown in Figure 2, is a block diagram format specification that shows how to give speed standards for the operation of various devices that make up the plant. The data may be input by a person through various input means, or the input may be converted into a predetermined data format by a 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 consisting of a plurality of partial programs based on the contents of the input system specifications 6 and block diagram format system specifications 7, and generates a corresponding partial program for each partial program. It selects and decides which of the means 3 and the block diagram program generation means 4 to generate, and provides the selected generation means with a program generation goal indicating information about what purpose the partial program should be generated. It sends out an instruction to the corresponding program generation means 3 or 4 to generate the corresponding partial program.

Each program generation means 3 includes a program generation control means 1
According to the program generation goal received from 2, the variable attribute management means 5 utilizes its own functions to determine the names of variables (or constants) used inside the partial program to be generated, and the variable attribute determination pattern. The target partial program is generated by assigning the same name to variables that have the same meaning as variables used in other partial programs.

Further, the block diagram program generation means 4 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. Generates a variable attribute determination pattern for the names of variables used internally based on the knowledge base it has internally, sends it to the variable attribute management means 5, and uses it in other partial programs in the same way as described above. A target partial program is generated by assigning the same name to a variable that has the same meaning as a variable.

Further, the variable attribute management means 5 includes the program generation means 3
When a variable attribute determination pattern is received from the block diagram program generation means 4, if a variable name matching the meaning has already been defined, the variable name is sent back to the corresponding program generation means 3.4. On the other hand, if a variable name matching the meaning of the received variable attribute determination pattern has not yet been defined, a new variable name is defined and the variable name is returned to the corresponding program generating means 3, 4.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a procedure when a designer inputs a block diagram format specification and obtains a block diagram format system specification 7 in a predetermined data format using a converting means.

In other words, the program designer uses an input means such as a mouse, keyboard, or stylus pen to input the block diagram 7.
Enter 1. This input block diagram 71 is one that expresses the properties of elements corresponding to variables used in the final program as symbols and character information, or that is expressed as operators in the final program, or
Their combination is expressed as a block 72, and the flow of data between the blocks is expressed as a connection 73.

For example, the block diagram 71 in FIG. 2 is composed of six blocks 72 from ■ to ■.
, 1 machine name, etc.

Information such as a function such as [low speed], a block type expressed by a symbol, and a connection relationship indicated by a connection line 73 is included.

When the block diagram 71 is input, the converting means 74 translates information on each block 72 and each connection line 73 indicating the connection between the blocks 72 and obtains a block diagram format system specification 7.

Block diagram format system specification 7 shows individual blocks 72
The block information 75 is composed of a set of block information 75 expressing information corresponding to the block 72 and information indicating the connections 73 attached before and after the block 72. And, like each block 72 described above, each block information 75 includes device type information such as [input, output, gate, addition], (2, 1), etc.
Contains connection information such as (1, 1), machine name, function, etc.

FIG. 3 shows that when the block diagram format system specification 7 is input to the automatic program generation device 11, the following information is generated between the program generation control means 12, the block diagram program generation means 4, and the variable attribute management means 5. It is a schematic diagram showing whether there is a delivery or 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 that conforms to the input block diagram format system specification 7, and It is sent to the program generation means 4. At this time, if the block information 75 included in the input block diagram format system specification 7 is divided into several sets, a program generation goal 14 is generated for each set of necessary block information 75, Block diagram program generation means 4
Send to.

The block diagram program generation means 4 includes a variable determination section 41, a block structure analysis section 42, and a program generation section 43. Further, in the variable determining unit 41, a variable attribute determining pattern selection intelligence base 44 and a template 45 of variable determining patterns are stored.

When the program generation goal 14 is received from the program generation control means 12, the program generation process is started while referring to the contents of the program generation goal 14 and the block diagram format system specification 7. That is, first,
The variable determining section 41 generates a variable attribute determining pattern 16 according to the variable attribute determining pattern selection knowledge base 44 that the determining section 41 has, and sends it to the variable attribute managing means 5.

The variable attribute management means 5 normally has a variable management database that stores variable names and their attributes, and when the variable attribute determination pattern 16 described above is sent from the block diagram program generation means 4, Using the information expressed in this variable attribute determination pattern 16, a variable with the same meaning is searched from the variable management database, and if a variable exists, its name is returned to the block diagram program generation means 4 as a variable name 13. do. On the other hand, if the variable does not exist, a new name is given to the variable and registered in the variable management database together with the attribute shown in the variable attribute determination pattern 16, and the new name is used as the variable name 13 by the block diagram program generation means. Reply to 4.

In this way, the variable determining unit 41 assigns variable names 13 to all block information 75 corresponding to variables among the individual block information in the block diagram format system specifications 7 via the variable attribute management means 5. decide.

When the above-described variable name 13 determination processing is completed, the block structure analysis unit 42 analyzes the individual block information 75,
Based on the mutual connection information, the block structure is analyzed and the program skeleton is formed.

Finally, in the program generation section 43, the variable determination section 4
The variable name 13 determined in step 1 and the block structure analysis unit 4
By combining the program skeletons obtained in step 2, a partial program 15 shown in FIG. 6, for example, is generated and sent to the program generation control means 12.

Next, the above-described creation process of the partial program 15 in the block diagram program generation means 4 will be explained in more detail using the flowchart of FIG.

When the flowchart starts, in step C1, the variable determining means 41 determines whether or not the processing of all the block information 75 shown in FIG. 2 that is the object of processing at that point has been completed. If the process has not been completed, unprocessed block information 75 is extracted in step P1. Then, in step C2, block information 7 for which variable names 13 are to be determined for each unprocessed block information 75 taken out.
5 or not. If the block information 75 for which the variable name 13 is to be determined is present, a template 45 of the variable attribute determination pattern is selected in accordance with the variable attribute determination pattern selection knowledge base 44 in step P2.

Furthermore, the model 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. Variable attribute determination pattern 16 generated in step P4
is sent to the variable attribute management means 5 to obtain a variable name 13 having a meaning corresponding to the corresponding pattern.

After the block information 75 to be processed has been processed, in step P5, the block structure analysis unit 42 analyzes connections between the block information 75 to obtain a program skeleton, and the program generation unit 43 The variable name 13 determined by the variable determination unit 41 is embedded, and the sixth
A partial program 15 shown in the figure is generated.

Furthermore, as an example, the detailed processing operation in the variable determining unit 41 until the variable name 13 of the corresponding block 72 is determined based on the block information 75 of the block 72 shown in FIG. explain. Note that this processing operation is performed in steps P2, P3, and P4 in the flowchart of FIG.
corresponds to

In FIG. 5, block information 75 has the meaning of block 72, and the variable name 13 is determined based on this block information 75. In the variable determination unit 41, first, each block 7 is determined from the block information 75.
A template 45 of a variable attribute determination pattern is selected according to a variable attribute determination pattern selection knowledge base 44 that is knowledge for selecting a template for generating a variable attribute determination pattern 16 for 2. In other words, in the case of the block information 75 indicated by ■ in the figure, rule-1, [block-type] in the variable attribute determination pattern selection knowledge base 44
is gate-a or gate-b, and functi
If on is a term expressing speed, then the model variable attribute determination pattern is b I k-gate-1. ], blk-gate-1 is selected as the template 45 of the variable attribute determination pattern.

Next, the variable attribute determination pattern 16 is generated while referring to the selected variable attribute determination pattern template 45 and the block information 45. That is, the referenced block information 75 or, as shown in FIG. 2, BLKOOL-4 block-type: gate-amachin
e: NO, 1 Machine function: High speed, the condition of template 45 of variable attribute determination pattern is (Ima
Chine? t) (runction?f)
'), so here, 7m - NO, 1 machine, ? r - high speed, and from this condition the template [(! (machine 7m) (ru
nc? f) From (sensel operation command), variable attribute determination pattern 16, [! (machine NO, 1 machine) (fu
nc high speed) (sensel operation command) is generated.

Further, the variable determining unit 41 sends the generated variable attribute determination pattern 16 to the variable attribute management means 5 to determine the variable name 1B [lMCH3PC0M].

FIG. 6 shows, for example, a block diagram 71 input by the designer as a specification and a partial program 1 generated by the block diagram program generation means 4 based on the block diagram 71.
5 is a diagram showing a comparison with No. 5. FIG.

With an automatic program generation device with a block diagram processing function configured in this way, a designer can automatically create an integrated program that satisfies each system specification based on a large number of system specifications. inside,
In addition to the normal system specification 6 expressed in the normal format, even if there is a mixture of the block diagram format system specification 7 expressed in the block diagram format as shown in FIG. 2, the block diagram format system specification 7 is There is no need to rewrite system specifications 6, and they can be input in the same way as normal system specifications. Then, an integrated program consisting of a plurality of partial programs specified by the block diagram format system specification 7 and each normal system specification 6 is automatically generated.

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

Also, when designing programs such as process control,
Since the speed standards etc. for each device's operation can be entered directly in block format, minute errors that occur when rewriting to normal system specifications can be eliminated, allowing the creation of programs that are more faithful to system specifications 6 and 7. can do.

Note that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above. In the embodiment, a case has been described in which a program for use in a process control system is automatically generated. However, the present invention is not limited to process control systems in particular, and can be applied to all information processing systems whose system specifications can be expressed in a block diagram format. Needless to say.

Further, the number of installed block diagram program generation means 4 can be changed as necessary.

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, according to the automatic program generation device with block diagram processing function of the present invention, in addition to the system specifications expressed in the normal format, even when specifications in the block diagram format are input, The program is automatically generated. I wanted to,
It is possible to provide specifications in the form of a block diagram, such as how to provide speed standards when equipment operates, which are used when designing programs such as plant control. Therefore,
It is possible to further improve the labor saving and efficiency of program generation work. Furthermore, generated blocks FIG. 1 to FIG. 6 show an automatic program generation device with a block diagram processing function according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration, and FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the generation process of a block diagram format system specification; FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the exchange of various data between the program generation control means, the block diagram program generation means, and the variable attribute management means; and FIG. The figure is a flowchart showing the operation of the block diagram program generation means, FIG. FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a conventional automatic program generation device, and FIG. 8 is a general block diagram format. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing system specifications.

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... Program, 11... Program automatic generation device, 12... Program generation control means, 13... Variable name, 14... Program generation goal, 15...
Partial program, 16... Variable attribute determination pattern, 4
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Variable determination unit, 42... Pro-tsuk structure analysis unit, 43... Program generation unit, 44... Variable attribute determination, <turn selection knowledge base, 45... Variable attribute determination unit. Turn template, 71...Block diagram, 72...
- Pro Tsuk, 73... Connection, 74... Conversion means, 7
5... Pro Tsuku information.

Claims (1)

[Claims] The configuration of an integrated program consisting of a plurality of partial programs is determined based on a system specification expressed in a normal format and a block diagram system specification expressed in a block diagram format input from the outside. , a program generation control means for controlling program generation by outputting a program generation goal indicating the purpose and conditions for generating each partial program; and a program generation goal output from the program generation control means and the input system. a program generation unit that generates a target partial program based on specifications; and a program generation goal output from the program generation control unit, the input block diagram format system specification, and reference to the system specification as necessary. A block diagram program generation means that generates a target partial program, and when this block diagram program generation means and the program generation means each generate a partial program, variable names used in each generated partial program, A program with a block diagram processing function, comprising variable attribute management means for collectively managing variables based on their meanings and sending variable names corresponding to the meanings of given variables to the block diagram program generation means and program generation means. Automatic generation device.