JPH0675937A - Simulation model generating device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To independently generate/edit a model by means of different expression and to convert the generation/editing of the model from certain expression into the expression of the other model so as to reflect it. CONSTITUTION:A simulation model generation device which interactively generates or edits the simulation model is provided with plural editing means 2-1 to 2-n having a model alteration indication part 2-1 a analyzing input on model editing and converting an indication into that on the generation/editing of the model and a model expression system conversion part 2-2b converting the alteration of the model into the expression system of oneself, and consisting of different model expression system and with a management means 1 receiving the indication on the generation/editing of the model from the editing means 2-r to 2-n, updating the model and informing the other editing means of a processing content when a generation or editing processing is executed. The generation/editing of the model from certain expression is converted into the other model expression and it is reflected. Thus, the simulation model is interactively generated/edited by different expression.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a simulation model creating apparatus for interactively creating / editing a simulation model represented by a set of mathematical expressions.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a simulation apparatus that expresses a model with mathematical expressions, a model is usually created by sequentially adding and editing mathematical expressions in accordance with a specific grammar. For example, in a spreadsheet device (spreadsheet), a simulation model is created by describing the relationship between each cell and other cells as a mathematical formula (Japanese Patent Application No. 2-1704).
48), and in particular, some have editors to facilitate entering mathematical expressions. However, the model expression by the mathematical formula has a problem that it is difficult to grasp the relation between variables such as which variables directly influence the value of a certain variable.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and it is possible to independently create / edit a model by different expressions such as mathematical expressions and graph expressions.
An object of the present invention is to provide a simulation model creation device capable of converting / reflecting a model creation / editing from a certain expression to another model expression so that a model can be created / edited by a convenient expression for a user. And

[0004]

As shown in FIG. 1, a simulation model creating apparatus of the present invention analyzes a model editing input in a simulation model creating apparatus for interactively creating or editing a simulation model, Model change instructing section 2-1a, 2-2a ... 2-na for converting to creation / editing instruction, and model expression format converting section 2-1b, 2-2b for converting model change into its own expression format. ... A plurality of editing means 2-1 with different model representation formats having 2-nb, 2-1 ...
2 -n and management for receiving an instruction regarding model creation / editing from the editing means, updating the model, and notifying other editing means of the processing contents when the model creation / editing processing is performed Means for converting / reflecting model creation / editing from one expression into another model expression, and interactively creating / editing a simulation model with different expressions.

[0005]

The present invention uses editing means having different expression formats such as a formula editing editor and a graph editing editor,
Upon receiving a creation / editing command from a user in a certain expression format, the editing content is analyzed and converted into a model change instruction. If the input is incorrect, for example if the formula doesn't match the syntax or you try to link variables together,
Error message is displayed. The model management unit rewrites the model structure according to the model editing instruction from each editing unit, and updates the display of the editing unit other than the input editing unit according to the new model according to the new model. The execution is notified, the result is changed to the new model representation, and the input editing means updates the display when the editing work is performed. In this way, the model is sequentially edited, and the model update is automatically reflected in the editing means of other expression formats.

[0006]

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an apparatus configuration corresponding to the functional block diagram of the present invention shown in FIG. 1. The model managing means 1, the editing means 2-1 and 2-2 ... n is a model management unit 10a and an editing unit 10b of the CPU 10 in FIG.
-1, 10b-2 ... 10b-n, and the data required for editing is the data 11a stored in the main memory 11.
In addition, the input necessary for editing is performed through the input unit 13 including a keyboard, a mouse, etc., and the editing result is displayed on the display 12. The external memory 14 is an auxiliary storage device such as a magnetic disk.

Below, a simple system implemented using Smalltalk-80 will be described as an example. In the following example, we will explain an example of using the formula edit editor that expresses and edits the model in the formula format and the graph edit editor that expresses and edits the model in the graph structure.
You may make it add the edit editor by another expression form further.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the formula editing editor. The formula edit editor is an editor that displays the simulation model after converting it into a formula format. It analyzes the user's input for editing the formula according to the syntax, converts it into instructions for creating / editing the model, and converts it into ordinary text. It is designed to be editable.

When the editor is selected from the menu by editing the formula, the window 20 is opened. In the mathematical expression display area 21, when selecting addition, deletion, or modification of a mathematical expression from the menu, a window for editing opens, and the text is edited in the same manner as the text.
When input, the syntax of the mathematical expression is analyzed and converted into a model edit instruction. In this way, the editing related to the mathematical formula is executed by the menu selection of each window, and basically, the editing / editing is performed by inputting / changing in the manner of editing the text. An example of parsing will be described. As shown in FIG. 4, a factor is a simple factor or a simple factor with an operator (−, ∂) (FIG. 4 (a)), or a term is an operator between factors or factors. Whether they are joined by (*, /) (Fig. 4
(B)), in the simple mathematical expression, the term itself or the term is an operator (+,
-) Is connected (Fig. 4 (c)), or the formula is a simple formula or a combination of simple formulas with operators (=, ∝ +, ∝-) (Fig. 4 (d)). For example, a simple expression and a simple expression are not combined,
If you try to link variables together, an error message will be displayed.

The window 20 has a variable display area 22.
The variables are added and deleted in this area.
When a variable is selected and the variable has a value, the value is displayed in the value display area 23, and the value of the displayed variable can be changed. In the figure, “A + B = C−D *
Two expressions, "E" and "∂ (B + C) ∝ + A / E" are displayed.

The simulation model is internally expressed and transmitted as a tree structure as described later. Further, in the present embodiment, a part of the mathematical expression is changed by “deleting” the original mathematical expression and “adding” a new mathematical expression.

5 and 6 are diagrams for explaining the graph editing editor. The graph editing editor is an editor for converting a simulation model into a graph structure and displaying the graph structure. The graph editing editor analyzes inputs of a user's graph structure (a graph having variables / operators as nodes) and relates to creation / editing of a simulation model. Convert to instructions. However, since the position information necessary for displaying the graph is not included in the input in the formula edit editor, it is arranged by the layout algorithm of the graph edit editor, and the position of the node can be moved by mouse operation. The existing links are also rewritten according to the new position of the node. Also, the graph structure can be automatically laid out.

When the graph edit editor is selected from the menu, the window 30 opens. The operator type is displayed in the window 30 by the operator node 31. Also,
It is displayed that the nodes are connected by the link 32, and the variable name and the value are displayed in the variable node 33. In FIG. 5, "A + B = C-D", which is the same as the formula editor,
* E ”and“ ∂ (B + C) ∝ + A / E ”are displayed, and variable 33 (A, B, C, D, E)
Are linked by an operator node 31 by a link 32. For example, variables A and B are linked and combined at the operator node (+) (A +
B), on the other hand, variables C, D, and E are connected by an operator node (-, *) (C-D * E), and these are connected by a binary operator node (=), and A + B = C-D *. The mathematical expression E is expressed.

The node editing template is, for example, as shown in FIG. 6, and is opened by double-clicking the mouse on a node representing an operator or a variable name. The operator node template shown in FIG. 6A is for addition / subtraction operators (+, −), multiplication / division operators (*, /), time differential unary operator “∂”, and binary operation. Child (=, "∝
+ ”(“ ∝ − ”)) etc. The binary operator “∝ +” (“∝−”) represents monotonic increase and monotonic decrease. As shown in FIG. 6B, the variable node template displays variable names and values. When a variable is selected, the selected variable is displayed in the variable name column, and the value is also displayed in the value column. , This template allows you to change variables and values.

The node is edited by double-clicking the mouse on the node to open the template for editing, changing the variable name and value, and specifying / changing the operator type. Add / delete variables and operators by adding nodes on the graph /
This is done by deleting. Links can be edited by adding / deleting links between variable nodes and operator nodes to edit the graph structure corresponding to mathematical expressions. Also, the line indicating the link can be moved by dragging, for example, the operator. Node (+)
And the variable node A can be specified and moved to link the operator node (+) and the variable node C.

The editing performed by each editor as described above is transmitted to the model and executed as the following combination of model editing.

"Add" a model expression corresponding to a "mathematical expression". -"Delete" the model expression corresponding to the "mathematical formula". -"Add" a model expression corresponding to a "variable". -"Delete" the model expression corresponding to the "variable". -Rewrite "variable value". The executed model update result is transmitted to an editor other than the input editor, and the model expression is updated.

Note that the present invention may be connected with the representation format of the spreadsheet. The spreadsheet is a simulation device, and also has a function of registering mathematical expressions and variables, an editor for substituting variable values, and a function of expressing simulation results. The spreadsheet is also based on the input of mathematical formulas, and the construction of the conversion / display function between the editor and the model is the same as that of the present embodiment, except that the simulation device is integrated with the editor. Is the simulation result, that is,
By determining the value of the variable by changing the model, the display can be grasped as in the present invention. However, in the expression of the spreadsheet, it is necessary to make a formula correspond to each cell. Therefore, when inputting from a model editor other than the spreadsheet, in addition to the input as described in this embodiment, a certain variable or formula is used. You need to enter which cell corresponds to. In that case, it suffices that the information necessary for the model be associated with each editor. In this embodiment as well, in order to reflect the input from the formula editor in the graph, position information on the graph is required, and the internal algorithm is used. It corresponds by arranging according to.

FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining the internal representation of the simulation model, which is "A + B = C-D * E", "∂".
(B + C) ∝ + A / E ”shows the internal representation. The simulation model in the model management unit is represented by a tree structure as shown in FIG. 7, and the model management unit has the following information in addition to the information on the tree structure itself. That is, the node that is the root of the tree structure corresponding to one mathematical expression (in the figure, it has node1 and node5 as root nodes, and in the mathematical model assumed in this embodiment, a node that represents an equal sign. And only a node representing monotonous increase / monotonic decrease can be the root node.)-Information on which node is an operator or a variable-Number of variable nodes included in all mathematical expressions (that is, the entire tree structure) ( For example, in the case of the figure, since two nodes 9 and 10 are included, the number is 2, and since there is only one node 12, the number is 1, and when this number becomes 0, the variable is used in any expression. It is not present and is deleted from the tree structure, that is, this information is information for sharing a variable with the same name in multiple mathematical expressions.) ・ Variable name of variable node (Text) and its value-Label of operator node (ie "+", "*",
“=”, Etc.) Next, the flow of the editing process will be described. FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining the flow of the entire editing process. When the editing process is started, the editing input to the mathematical expression editing editor or the graph editing editor is received, the edited contents are analyzed and converted into a model change instruction (steps 101 and 102). Then, the user's input is checked whether it matches the syntax (step 103), and if the input is incorrect (it does not match the formula or the syntax, trying to link variables, etc.), an error message is displayed. End (step 10)
4).

When the input matches the syntax, the model management unit rewrites the model structure according to the model editing instruction from the editor, and updates the display to the editor other than the input editor according to the new model. Is instructed to be executed (steps 105 and 106). By this instruction, in the case of the formula editing editor, the model is converted into the formula and the display structure is updated, and in the case of the graph editing editor, the model is converted into the graph structure / spatial layout to display the display structure. Update (step 107).
Then, the edited new model representation is displayed to the user (step 108).

Next, the conversion process from the editing instruction in the editor to the model change instruction will be described. FIG. 9 is a flow chart for explaining the conversion process in the formula editing editor. In the present embodiment, in order to simplify the algorithm, a certain mathematical expression is edited by deleting the tree structure corresponding to the original mathematical expression and adding the tree structure corresponding to the new mathematical expression.

For example, "A + B = C-D * E" becomes "A +
When edited to “B = C−D / E”, instead of changing the “*” operator to the “/” operator, the mathematical expression “A + B = C−” is used.
“D * E” is deleted and a new formula “A + B = C−D / E” is added.
To add. Therefore, the formula editing editor holds a pointer to the root node (FIG. 7) of the tree structure corresponding to each formula. In addition, as described above, it has a simple parsing function that creates a tree structure from the text in which mathematical expressions are described.When editing, the root node of the tree structure to be deleted and the tree structure to be newly added are calculated. Inform the model management department. Further, when the value of the variable is substituted / changed by the editor, the variable name and the new value are transmitted to the model management unit.

In FIG. 9, when a user's editing instruction to the editor is received, information on which mathematical expression is to be edited and text relating to the new mathematical expression is obtained from the editing instruction, and the new text is parsed to create a tree structure ( Steps 111, 112, 113). If the parsing is not successful, an error message is displayed and the process ends (steps 114 and 115). If the parsing is successful, the root node of the tree structure represented by the edited previous mathematical expression is searched,
The searched root node and the created tree structure are transmitted to the model management unit (steps 116 and 117). Note that this processing flow is omitted when simple mathematical expressions are added, deleted, and variable values are substituted / changed. ) FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining the processing flow of the graph editing editor.
In the present embodiment, also in the graph editing editor, the editing of the graph corresponding to a certain mathematical expression is supported by deleting the tree structure corresponding to the original mathematical expression and adding the tree structure corresponding to the new mathematical expression. Therefore, the information transmitted to the model management unit is the root node of the tree structure to be deleted and the tree structure to be newly added, as in the formula editing editor.

The mathematical expression editing editor of this embodiment holds the mathematical expression as text and performs the above-described syntax analysis in order to convert it into a tree structure. In the graph editing editor, the tree structure of the internal representation (Fig. 7) is visualized as a graph, and the correspondence between the graph structure and the tree structure (corresponding to the graph structure from the graph structure, and from the graph structure to the tree structure is shown). Is easy to create). Further, it is not necessary to hold the correspondence between the graph structure and the tree structure for all the nodes and links, but it is sufficient to hold the correspondence between the root nodes. The basic editing operations in the graph editing editor are node addition, deletion, link addition, and deletion, but in this editing process, an incomplete mathematical expression is generated. Therefore, in this embodiment, in order not to generate such an incomplete internal expression of the mathematical formula, the graph is transmitted to the model management unit when the graph corresponding to the complete mathematical formula is created in the graph editing. In addition, when adding a node, a new node expression is added to the graph structure, the operation related to the internal expression is not performed, and when trying to link variable nodes to each other,
If you try to add more links than the maximum number of operator node links, an error will occur. Further, like the formula editor, the value of the variable can be substituted / changed, and in this case, the variable name and the new value are transmitted to the model management unit.

In FIG. 10, when a user's editing instruction to the editor is received, it is judged by syntax analysis whether or not the operation is correct (steps 121 and 122). If the syntax analysis is not successful, an error message is displayed and the processing ends. (Step 123), if the syntactic analysis is successful, it is determined whether the link / node is deleted. If it is deleted, the link / node is deleted.
The node is deleted (steps 124 and 125), and if the link is not deleted, it is determined whether or not the link is added. If the link is added, the link is added (steps 126 and 127). If the link is not added, the node expression is graphed. Add to structure (step 128).

FIG. 11 is a view for explaining the flow of processing for deleting links and nodes in the graph editing editor. To delete a link or node, the deleted link / node is traced to the root of the graph structure, and the root node of the tree structure corresponding to the root is registered as the one to be deleted. If the corresponding root node does not exist, the corresponding tree structure has not been added yet, so the registration is not performed. Variables may be included in multiple formulas,
If such a variable node is deleted, multiple root nodes will be registered. Also, if you delete a node, the links from it will also disappear.

In FIG. 11, the graph structure is traced from the link / node to be deleted to the root (step 13
1) The root node of the tree structure to which the root node corresponds is searched (step 132), and if there is a corresponding root node, it is registered in the list (step 133). Then, if the deletion is a link, the link expression is deleted from the graph structure (steps 134 and 135), and if the link is not deleted, that is, if the node is deleted, the link expression output from the node is first deleted. From the graph structure (step 13).
6, 137).

FIG. 12 is a diagram for explaining the link addition processing flow. To add a link, follow the graph structure from the added link and check if the graph from the root is a perfect mathematical formula. If perfect, a tree structure is created from the graph structure from that root, and if there is a root node to be deleted, it is sent to the model management unit together. Checking for perfection is performed by checking that the number of links of all operator nodes is necessary and sufficient. That is, the binary operator has two links and the ternary operator has three links.

In FIG. 12, a link expression is added to the graph structure, the graph structure is traced from the link to the root node, and the graph structure is traced from the root node (steps 141, 142, 143). As a result, if the operator nodes have insufficient links, the process ends, and if the number of links is sufficient, the tree structure is created from the graph structure that has the subordinate organization of the root node, provided that all of them have been followed. , (Step 156), if the tree structure and the root node are registered in the list, both are transmitted to the model management unit (step 157).

Next, the conversion of the display format will be explained. In the formula editing editor, the tree structure is received, converted into text according to the syntax, and the conversion reverse to the conversion into the internal representation of the model. In the graph editor,
Takes a tree structure and transforms it into a graph structure.
Converting a tree structure to a graph is easy because the structures are similar. In any case, when deleting and adding, it is instructed by a pair of two mathematical expressions. Therefore, by holding the correspondence of the formula, the formula editor keeps the line of the edited formula unchanged. That is, when the formula edited by the graph editing editor is the formula on the third line in the formula editing editor, the formula added after the formula is deleted is inserted on the third line. In the graph editor, a new graph may be arranged after the deleted graph, and in this embodiment, a new mathematical expression is inserted at a different position.

Since the model change in the model management section treats the editing of the mathematical expression as the deletion / addition of the entire mathematical expression, the instruction received / sent by the model management section is for deleting the mathematical expression: Receive a node. -Delete the tree structure that is the substructure of the root node. -Remove the root node from the registration. -Subtract the number whose variable node is included in all formulas by one.・ If it becomes 0, delete the registration of the variable name and its value.
And in the case of adding a mathematical expression: -Receive a tree structure. -Add a tree structure to the internal representation. -Register the root node. Add one to the number contained in all formulas of the new variable node. -Register the variable name and value of the new variable node. And
In the case of assigning a value to a variable: • Receive the variable name and new value. -Register a new value as the value corresponding to the variable name.

In this embodiment, the editing of the mathematical expression is treated as the deletion / addition of the entire mathematical expression, but if it can be translated into the format of editing the tree structure, it is possible to give detailed instructions according to the editing operation of the editor.

[0033]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to create / edit a simulation model with different expression formats, and the creation / editing of a certain expression format is reflected in the editing means of another expression format. , It is possible to freely create / edit a model with an expression convenient for the user.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of a simulation model creation device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a device configuration of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a mathematical expression editing editor.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of syntax analysis.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a graph edit editor.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a template.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an internal representation of a simulation model.

FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining the flow of the entire editing process.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a conversion process in a mathematical expression editing editor.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a processing flow of a graph editing editor.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a link / node deletion processing flow.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a link addition processing flow.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Management means, 2-1, 2-2 ... 2-n ... Editing means,
3-1, 3-2 ... 3-n ... Expression conversion means, 20 ... Formula editing editor window, 21 ... Formula display area, 22
... variable display area, 23 ... variable value display area, 30 ... graph edit editor window, 31 ... operator node, 32
... Link, 33 ... Variable node.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A simulation model creation device for interactively creating or editing a simulation model, which analyzes a model editing input and converts it into a model creation / editing instruction, and a model modification instruction itself. A plurality of editing means of different model expression formats having a model expression format conversion section for converting the model expression format, and receiving instructions from the editing means concerning model creation / editing, updating the model, and creating / editing the model Management means for notifying the other processing means of the processing contents when the processing is performed, converting / reflecting model creation / editing from one expression to another model expression, and interactively simulating with different expressions. A simulation model creation device characterized by creating / editing a model.