Automatic Renaming of Graphical Model Elements

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Solution Overview

Problem

Manual renaming of elements in graphical modeling environments is slow and error-prone, as dependent elements often fail to update to the new name, leading to errors and inefficiencies.

Innovation Solution

A renaming tool that allows users to input a new name for a selected element and automatically updates related elements using a mechanism like Shift+Enter, ensuring all semantically related elements are renamed consistently.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If manual renaming of elements is performed, then the user can change the name of a selected element, but the dependent elements are not automatically updated leading to errors and inefficiencies

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccuracy of renamingVSAvoidspeed of renaming

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary identification of all dependent elements before the renaming operation is finalized. When a user initiates renaming, the system proactively searches for and marks all elements that reference the selected element, preparing them for automatic updates before the user confirms the rename action.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system provides feedback to the user by displaying a list of identified dependent elements that will be affected by the renaming operation. This feedback mechanism allows the user to review which elements will be updated and provides an opportunity to cancel or modify the renaming if unexpected dependencies are found.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If manual renaming of each dependent element is performed, then all elements can be updated to the new name, but the process becomes time-consuming and slow

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecompleteness of renamingVSAvoidtime required for renaming

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system merges the renaming operation into a single unified action that simultaneously updates the selected element and all its dependent elements. Instead of requiring separate manual renaming operations for each dependent element, the system combines them into one automated process triggered by a single user action.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables self-service renaming by automatically identifying and updating all dependent elements without requiring user intervention for each individual update. Once the user initiates the rename operation, the system autonomously traverses the model, finds all references to the renamed element, and updates them automatically.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Productivity

If automated renaming is implemented, then the renaming process becomes faster and more efficient, but the system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveefficiency of renamingVSAvoidcomplexity of renaming tool

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The renaming tool is designed with universal functionality that automatically adapts to different types of elements and their dependencies. Rather than requiring separate tools or complex configuration for each element type, the system provides a unified renaming mechanism that works across blocks, variables, signals, and other model elements through a single interface.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system introduces an intermediary dependency analysis layer that mediates between the user's renaming request and the actual model elements. This intermediary layer automatically resolves the complexity of tracking dependencies by implementing a standardized search and update mechanism that handles different element types uniformly without exposing complexity to the user.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Stability of the object's composition

If the system updates all dependent elements automatically, then consistency is maintained across the model, but the initial setup and detection mechanism becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconsistency of element namesVSAvoidcomplexity of dependency detection

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system addresses dependency detection by transitioning to a different dimensional approach - using a global search mechanism that scans the entire model structure rather than maintaining complex bidirectional relationship graphs. This dimensional shift from tracking relationships to pattern-matching references simplifies the detection mechanism while achieving the same consistency goal.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentUS10534603B1Automatic renaming of elements of a graphical modeling environment

Publication Date: 2020.01.14 MATHWORKS INC

AI summary

A device may receive input to perform a renaming operation in a graphical modeling environment. The device may identify a selected element, included in the graphical modeling environment, based on the input. The device may determine an element indicator associated with the selected element. The element indicator may be used to identify a relationship between the selected element and a related element included in the graphical modeling environment. The device may identify, based on the element indicator, the related element associated with the selected element. The device may modify the element indicator based on receiving the input to perform the renaming operation, and may modify a corresponding element indicator corresponding to the related element.