Graphical Modeling Class Hierarchy for System Variant Inheritance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional graphical modeling environments require users to create separate models for each member of a family of related systems or include complex conditional logic, leading to duplication of effort and error-prone models that are difficult to maintain and create.
Innovation Solution
A graphical modeling environment that allows users to define a hierarchy of user-defined classes of graphical objects, enabling inheritance, modification, and polymorphism to simplify the creation and simulation of complex systems by capturing common features and variations in a single model.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate models are created for each member of a family of related systems, then each system can be modeled independently, but considerable duplication of effort occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a parent class model that can serve multiple child systems simultaneously. The parent class contains common elements, parameters, and behavior that are inherited by multiple child classes, allowing a single model to fulfill multiple functions for different system variants.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a hierarchical structure where child class models are nested within the parent class framework. The parent class acts as a container that holds shared resources and definitions, while child classes extend or specialize specific aspects, creating a nested organizational structure.
2Adaptability or versatility
If complex conditional logic is included in a model to account for variations in behavior among related systems, then system variations can be represented, but the model becomes complex and error-prone
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the model into distinct hierarchical levels: a parent class containing common elements and child classes containing specific variations. This segmentation allows system variations to be represented through class structure rather than conditional logic within a single monolithic model.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a hierarchical dimension to the model organization, moving from a single-level model with conditional logic to a multi-level class hierarchy. This dimensional change allows variations to be managed through inheritance relationships rather than temporal or spatial conditions.
3Ease of manufacture
If separate models are created for each system variant, then each model can be simple and maintainable, but duplication of effort increases and maintenance becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a copying mechanism where child classes automatically inherit elements from the parent class. This allows the parent model to serve as a template that is copied and specialized for each child system, reducing the need to manually recreate common elements for each variant.
Solution Approach 2:
The parent class model is designed to be universal, serving as the foundation for multiple child systems. By making the parent class multi-functional and highly configurable, the need to maintain separate models for each variant is reduced, as changes to common behavior can be made in a single location.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention allows a user to graphically define a hierarchy of user-defined, executable classes of graphical objects that can be implemented in a graphical model. The present invention supports the features of inheritance, abstraction and polymorphism. Further, descendant classes of graphical objects can graphically extend the behavior and/or structure of ancestor classes of graphical objects.