JPH0721042A - Flow control system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To realize flexible task flow control by enabling operations even when a part of modules is not connected, and reducing the change of a system as much as possible after the module is connected. CONSTITUTION:In the task flow control system performing a series of tasks by time-ordering respective modules through an atomic task 3 issuing operational instructions to plural modules 1, when any module corresponding to the atomic task 3 is not existent, a virtual atomic task 4 performing previously decided processing and outputting data to the atomic task on the next stage based on a prescribed interface is replaced with the atomic task 3.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a control system used in an operation system in the communication field, a production system in the production field and the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional technique will be described with reference to FIG. Task T ₁ includes modules M ₁ , M ₂ ,
It is assumed that the flow control unit 2 is used in the order of M ₃ , M ₄ , and M ₅ to use each module to perform a series of integrated work. Further, the task T ₂ has modules M ₁ , M ₂ , M ₄ , and M _3.
Each module shall be used in the order of. The flow control unit 2 may be hardware or software. Here, the module 1 may be a hardware device that performs a certain cohesive task, or may be software.

An atomic task (elementary task) for issuing an operation instruction to each module M _i is defined as m _i . Think of a task as a time-ordered set of atomic tasks 3. By creating the atomic task m _i , the task T ₁ and its modification T ₂ can be easily configured. The reason is,
This is because T ₂ uses the existing atomic tasks m ₁ to m ₅ and only changes the order thereof. Thus, the task flow can be easily changed by using the atomic task.

[0004]

However, the above technique has the following drawbacks. That is, the atomic task m _i corresponds to the module M _i . Therefore, if the module M _i is not connected (for example,
If the operating instructions do not complete the device for automatically measuring a quantity), it is necessary to manually measure this quantity. At this time, there is a problem that the configuration shown in FIG. 1 cannot be taken and the advantage of the atomic task cannot be exhibited. The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and can operate even when some modules are not connected, reduce the change of the system as much as possible after the modules are connected, and improve flexibility. The purpose is to realize some task flow control.

[0005]

In order to solve the above problems, according to the present invention, a flow of a task for performing a series of tasks by time-ordering each module through an atomic task for issuing an operation instruction to a plurality of modules. In the control method, when the module corresponding to the atomic task does not exist, the virtual atomic task that performs predetermined processing and outputs data to the next atomic task based on a predetermined interface is replaced with the atomic task. It is characterized by that.

[0006]

According to the present invention, when the module corresponding to the atomic task does not exist, the virtual atomic task is executed instead of the atomic task.
Therefore, the influence of another module, another atomic task, or software or hardware rework on the atomic task is reduced.

[0007]

EXAMPLES A. First, the outline of one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In FIG. 2, the atomic task 3 sends an operation instruction (command) to the module M. On the other hand, in this embodiment, the virtual atomic task 4 is created. The virtual atomic task 4 is an atomic task that does not send a command to the module M as shown in the figure.

At this time, as shown in FIG. 3, the atomic task 3 and the virtual atomic task 4 have the same interface (in this figure, the input data group and the output data group of the atomic task 3 and the virtual atomic task 4 are the same). To create. In the figure, the input and output of the atomic task 3 (virtual atomic task 4) are both described as a data group, but the same applies to other means such as a picture.

By configuring the atomic task 3 and the virtual atomic task 4 with the same interface, the task can be easily changed before and after the module M _i (M _{2 in} this figure) is connected as shown in FIG. . That is, before the connection of M ₂ , the operation is performed according to the upper flow of FIG. At this time, the virtual atomic task m ₂ performs other predetermined work instead of sending a command to the module. When the module M ₂ is introduced and connected to the flow control unit 2, it operates according to the lower flow of FIG. This allows other modules,
Other atomic tasks, and even the tasks themselves, are affected by the reworking of software and hardware, enabling a smooth transition.

B. Configuration of Embodiment Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In FIG. 5, it is assumed that a program executing in the order of atomic tasks m _{1 to} m ₅ is running on process 0. The atomic task m ₁ sends a command by interprocess communication to the process 1 that executes the software module M ₁ to execute the command. The atomic task m ₂ is a virtual atomic task, and when the module M ₂ is connected (this is assumed to be M _{2 of} hardware, but the same is true of M _{2 of} software), as shown in FIG. Command is sent, but not in the case of FIG.

Process 5 controls the software module M ₅ with commands from m ₅ . Module M ₂
5 is connected before is connected, and FIG. 6 is displayed after connected. The virtual atomic task needs to perform a predetermined task in order to retain the same interface as the atomic task and perform the same task. FIG. 7 shows an example of the work. The virtual atomic task m ₂ displays the input data group on the GUI (graphic user interface) screen on the process 0. The result of manually processing this data is input from the processing data input on the GUI screen. This activates m ₃ .

In the example of FIG. 3, the input data group is A and B, and the processed data input is C and D. After the module M ₂ is connected (FIG. 6), the module M ₂ is activated by the command of m ₂ and automatically performs processing. FIG. 8 shows an example of a flowchart for explaining the operation of FIGS. In this example, first, it is determined whether or not the atomic task itself is virtual. If “YES” is determined here, the input data group is displayed on the predetermined GUI screen. Then, after a predetermined manual input is made on this screen, the process proceeds to the next atomic task (or virtual atomic task).

On the other hand, when it is determined that the atomic task is not the virtual atomic task, a predetermined command is output to the process i. Then, when a response is received from the process i within a predetermined time, the process proceeds to the next atomic task. On the other hand, if there is no response within the predetermined time, the process is stopped as a timeout.

C. Modifications The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, but various modifications are possible. For example, in the above embodiment, each atomic task m _i corresponds to process i, but it does not have to be independent. That is, m ₁ and m ₃
Sends a command to process 1, and M ₁ and M ₃ may be controlled by process 1.

Further, in the above embodiment, the virtual atomic task is displayed on the GUI, and the processing is performed by manual input. However, the processing of the virtual atomic task is not limited to the manual input shown in this example, and selection input from the menu screen on the GUI as shown in FIG. 9 can be considered.

It is also possible to input a command in text format instead of GUI. The gist of the present invention is to give data to the next atomic task (data of C and D in FIG. 3) by the virtual atomic task, similarly to the atomic task. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 10, the virtual atomic task m ₂ can also provide predetermined default data. At this time, there is no input to the virtual atomic task m ₂ . Furthermore, in FIGS. 5-10, atomic tasks,
The operation of the virtual atomic task or module has been described as a plurality of processes, but it is also possible to carry out the operations in one process.

[0017]

As described above, according to the present invention, a task is performed by an atomic task (primary task) that gives an operation instruction to each module and a virtual atomic task (provisional elementary task) that does not give an operation instruction to each module. The advantage of the atomic task that the task flow can be easily changed is configured even if the module that actually processes the atomic task is not connected. Further, even when the modules are actually connected, there is no need to recreate software and hardware, and a smooth transition is possible.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a conventional technique.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating the present invention.

FIG. 8 is an example of a flowchart for explaining the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 module 2 flow control unit 3 atomic task 4 virtual atomic task

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A flow control method of a task in which each module is time-ordered to perform a series of tasks through an atomic task that issues an operation instruction to a plurality of modules, and when a module corresponding to the atomic task does not exist, A flow control method, wherein a virtual atomic task that performs predetermined processing and outputs data to a next atomic task based on a predetermined interface is replaced with the atomic task.