Parameter Promotion in Block Diagram Modeling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional approaches to building complex systems in Simulink models suffer from syntactic clarity issues, runtime performance problems, added complexity, and poor error checking, making it difficult to control and abstract reusable components effectively.
Innovation Solution
The introduction of a 'promote' mask parameter type that allows parameter promotion across different levels, enabling component designers to create a custom user interface that controls multiple parameters hierarchically and locks down options, ensuring a flexible and integrated interface with automated updates.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If conventional approaches are used to build complex systems in Simulink models, then the models can be constructed using basic blocks, but syntactic clarity deteriorates and runtime performance problems occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments complex systems into reusable components with promoted parameters that can be independently configured and reused across multiple blocks. This segmentation allows the system to maintain runtime performance by separating parameter promotion logic from individual block operations, enabling efficient parameter inheritance without recalculating entire system graphs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements nested parameter promotion where parameters can be promoted from child blocks to parent blocks, and further to mask parameters. This nested structure allows hierarchical parameter management where lower-level parameters are contained within higher-level parameters, enabling efficient inheritance chains that maintain runtime performance through selective parameter updates.
2Ease of manufacture
If conventional approaches are used, then basic functionality is achieved, but syntactic clarity and error checking deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms through parameter promotion that automatically track and propagate parameter changes through the hierarchy. When a parameter is promoted, the system establishes feedback loops that monitor modifications and automatically update dependent blocks, providing real-time error detection and validation without requiring manual checking of each block connection.
3Ease of operation
If parameter promotion is implemented across different levels, then control of multiple parameters is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates universal mask parameters that can control multiple underlying parameters across different block levels simultaneously. A single promoted parameter serves multiple functions by inheriting and coordinating changes across the entire parameter hierarchy, reducing the complexity of controlling multiple parameters individually while maintaining comprehensive control capability.
4Adaptability or versatility
If custom masked blocks are created with promoted parameters, then adaptability is improved, but ease of manufacture deteriorates due to additional complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables copying of parameter promotion configurations from existing mask parameters to create new custom masked blocks. Users can replicate proven parameter promotion patterns and hierarchies, reducing the effort required to create adaptable custom blocks while maintaining the flexibility and control benefits of parameter promotion without recreating the entire configuration from scratch.
Data Source
AI summary
A computational device receives, from a user, a selection of a block, a subsystem or multiple blocks from a block diagram modeling environment, and presents, to the user, a set of parameters associated with the block, subsystem, or multiple blocks. The computational device receives, from the user, selection of a first subset of parameters from the set of parameters, and creates a customized dialog box by promoting the selected first subset of parameters to the customized dialog box, wherein the customized dialog box permits editing of values associated only with the first subset of parameters.