JPH038085A - Display device for state transition diagram - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain the display of a state transition diagram, for which responsiveness is satisfactory and a picture can be easily observed, by displaying a state block in a designated range out of all the state blocks in the shape of an array for the unit of a regular length in the state transition diagram. CONSTITUTION:For a whole display picture 3, all the state blocks are regularly arranged, synthesized and displayed to one part of a partial display picture 2. A directional branch to link the respective blocks and the data of a text sentence are read out of a picture data storing circuit and the contents of the data are displayed in the background picture of the picture 2. On the other hand, the state block of the picture 2 can be moved by moving a display guide 8 of the picture 3 by using a mouse, etc. At such a time, since the state block of the picture 2 is displayed by a basic length l, the background picture of the picture 2 is practically same even when the guide 8 is moved. Accordingly, it is not necessary to continuously scroll and rewrite the state block every time and the responsiveness is improved for moving the state block on the picture 2.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a state transition diagram display device for designing sequential circuits of large-scale integrated circuits.

(Prior art) Conventionally, large-scale integrated circuits (LSI), ultra-large-scale integrated circuits (
When designing a sequential circuit (VLSI), there is a method using an M-shaped transition diagram, which is a method of functionally describing a circuit.

Computer-aided design (CAD) devices have been used in the past to facilitate such classification.

This CAD device describes and displays on the screen a state transition diagram consisting of a plurality of state blocks, directed edges connecting the state blocks, and text sentences that are the conditions for the transition of the directed edges. , which facilitates the design of large-scale integrated circuits.

The display device in this type of CAD device is intended to facilitate the design of integrated circuits as described above by showing a display screen as shown in FIG. 2 to the designer.

As shown in Figure 2, the state transition diagram display screen includes an entire display screen 3 that can display all state blocks, and a partial range of state blocks displayed on this entire display screen 3. It has a partial display screen 2 and a command/message display section 30 that can display commands and messages.

In FIG. 2, 1 is a state block that displays a certain state, and A to E each indicate a different state.

4 is a directed edge (a line with directionality) indicating the state transition relationship, and consists of directed edges 4B to 4G between multiple state blocks and a directed edge 4A that returns to its own state block; A text sentence 8 is a logical condition for each directed edge to be established, and a display guide 8 represents the range of the state block displayed on the partial display screen 2 on the entire display screen. That is, the display device in the CAD device is configured to be able to write the directed branches 4 and text sentences 7 on both sides, using the state block displayed on the partial display screen 2 as a background screen, and display the written contents on the screen. has been done. The designer writes directed branches and text sentences on the screen while looking at this display screen. Writing of a directed edge is performed by specifying the state blocks that are the starting point and end point of the directed edge, respectively, and connecting these blocks with the directed edge.

When trying to change the status block displayed on a partial display screen, continuously scroll and move the entire screen including the background screen, and write directed edges and text sentences in the moved partial display screen. The display device displays the written content on the screen.

In accordance with the movement of the display position of the partial display screen 2, the display guide of the entire display screen 3 moves.

(Problem to be solved by the invention) When a CAD device capable of displaying the above screen is used,
Although the design of integrated circuits becomes much easier, the following problems also arise.

When changing the display position of the partial display screen 2 by scrolling as described above, it takes time not only for directed edges and text sentences. It is necessary to continuously erase and write graphic data on the background screen, which causes poor responsiveness and requires the designer to follow the continuously scrolling screen with his/her eyes, making the screen difficult to see. there were.

There were also the following issues:

That is, for example, if one state block has a transition relationship with many state blocks, the number of directed edges coming out of that block or the number of directed edges going toward that block will increase, but it is not possible to display them on the same screen. The amount of information to be displayed on such a screen is extremely large, and the screen is extremely difficult to read, making it extremely difficult to create a state transition diagram by looking at this screen.

In order to solve the above problems, the first object of the present invention is to provide a state transition diagram display device that has good responsiveness and an easy-to-read screen even when changing the partial display position. In addition, the present invention provides a state transition diagram display device that makes the screen easy to see even when one state block has a transition relationship with many state blocks, and as a result is convenient for writing the state transition diagram. This is the second purpose.

[Means to solve the problem]

In order to achieve the first object, the invention according to claim (1) provides a plurality of state blocks, directed branches connecting the state blocks, as shown in the basic configuration diagram of FIG. 1(1). ,
and a text sentence that is a condition for the transition indicated by the directed branch to occur, in an apparatus for displaying on a screen a state transition diagram for designing a sequential circuit of a large-scale integrated circuit, from the plurality of state blocks. an overall display means for displaying all the state blocks of a group of state blocks; and an array of regular length units for state blocks in a specified range of all the state blocks displayed by the whole display means. a partial display means for displaying the specified range in a state, a range display means for displaying the specified range, and a movement of the status block displayed by the partial display means on the screen when the specified range is changed; a means for moving in regular length units, a directed edge display means for displaying a directed edge between arbitrary blocks of the state blocks displayed by the partial display means, and a text sentence that is a logical condition. and text sentence display means for displaying the text near the directed branch.

In addition, in order to achieve the above second objective, claim (2)
The invention described above is a state transition diagram display device according to claim (1), as shown in the basic configuration diagram of FIG. 1 (2).
The entire system comprises a plurality of the state block groups, a storage means for storing image data for each state block group, and a selection means for selecting image data of an arbitrary state block group from the storage means. The display means reads the image data of the selected state block group and displays the state block, and furthermore, the display means reads the image data of the selected state block group and displays the state block. The present invention is characterized by comprising a status block display means for displaying the status block.

[Effect]

In the invention of claim (1), the partial display means displays the status block in regular length units, and the moving means:
Since the state block displayed by the partial display means is moved on the screen in this regular length unit, the background screen of the partial display section becomes substantially the same. As a result, when moving the status blocks displayed in the partial display area, there is no need to continuously scroll and rewrite the status blocks displayed in the partial display area one by one, so the background screen is time-consuming because it is graphic data. It is possible to omit erasing and writing of directional edges and text sentences, and only need to erase and write directed edges and text sentences. Therefore, it is possible to provide a state transition diagram display device with good movement responsiveness and an easy-to-read screen.

Further, in the invention as claimed in claim (2), in addition to the above operation, the selection means selects a certain state block group from a plurality of state block groups, and the overall display means displays the state blocks of the selected state block group. Display on screen. The state block display means displays to the designer that a certain state block also exists in other state block groups.
As a result of being able to write and display a directed edge/text sentence for a certain state block across multiple state block groups, for example, even if one state block has a logical relationship with many state blocks, the same Write all directed branches/text sentences on the screen.

Since it does not need to be displayed, the screen becomes easier to see, and therefore,
A state transition diagram display device convenient for creating a state transition diagram can be provided.

〔Example〕

Next, embodiments of the present invention described above will be described.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of a state transition diagram display device.

This device includes a central processing unit 31 that performs processing and calculations for displaying a state transition diagram on a display, a processing program of the central processing unit, and a program for displaying a background image (the contents of which will be described later) on the display. R to remember
An OM 32, a RAM 33 capable of writing and reading data in the middle of processing, a directed edge written on the background screen displayed on the display screen, and an image of a text sentence that is the condition for the transition indicated by the directed edge to occur. The image data storage circuit 34 that stores data, the human/output interface circuit 35, and the input/output interface circuit perform operations for displaying a state transition diagram on the display screen and write text sentences and directed branches. It consists of an operating device 36 (keyboard, mouse, etc.) that can be executed on a screen, a conversion circuit 37 that converts signals from an input/output interface circuit into image signals, and a CRT display 38.

To write the image data of a directed branch/text sentence, for example, specify the state block that is the starting point of the directed branch and the state block that is the end point of the directed branch, and move the cursor or mouse according to the trajectory of the directed branch. This can be done by moving.

Next, the operation of the display device 36 will be explained with reference to FIG. 4 showing the processing procedure of the CPU 31.

First, in step (2), data relating to the background screen is read from the ROM 32, and the process proceeds to step (2), where all state blocks of the state block group are displayed on the overall display screen 3.

Next, the process moves to step ■, where data forming the specified range of status blocks to be displayed on the partial display screen 2 is read, and in step ■, the status blocks in the specified range of all blocks are displayed on the partial display screen 2. indicate. At this time, the specified range is displayed as a display guide 8 within the entire display screen 3.

As a result of the above processing, a background screen as shown in FIG. 5 is displayed on the display 38. Here, partial display screen 2
The state blocks of are displayed in regular units of length P.

In FIG. 5, the entire display screen 3 has all the status blocks arranged in a regular manner, and the entire display screen 3 is synthesized and displayed on a part of the partial display screen 2. Note that it is also possible to display the entire display screen 3 independently of the partial display screen 2 by calling it.

The entire display screen 32 and the partial display screen 2 each divide the information shown to the designer into functions, and the resolution of the display is determined to a size that can fulfill the functions.

In steps (2) and (2), the data of the written directed edge/text sentence is read from the image data storage circuit 34, and the contents are displayed on the background image of the partial display screen 3.

Incidentally, the status block displayed on the partial display screen 2 can be moved by moving the display guide 8 on the entire display screen 3 using a keyboard, a mouse, or the like. At this time, since the status blocks displayed on the partial display screen 2 are displayed in basic units 2, even if the display guide is moved as shown in FIG. As shown, they are substantially identical. Therefore, by independently moving the background image displayed on the partial display section in units of the length p of the regular structure, the state blocks (background screen) displayed on the partial display section can be moved continuously. Erase directed branches and text sentences without having to scroll and rewrite them.

All you have to do is write. As a result, when moving and changing the status block displayed in the partial display section 2, the background screen takes more time to erase and write because it is graphic data, compared to scrolling the entire screen including the background screen. Since the movement of the status block can be omitted, the screen becomes extremely easy to see, and the responsiveness of the movement of the status block displayed on the partial display screen 2 is improved.

Step (2) and subsequent steps are processing operations for moving the status block displayed on the partial display screen, and in step (2), it is determined whether or not the display guide has been moved (presence or absence of a movement request).

If there is a movement request, proceed to step ■, erase the directed edge/text sentence before movement from the screen, read the image data of the directed edge/text sentence on the partial display screen after movement, and move it. Directed branches and text sentences are displayed on the subsequent partial display screen. At this time, the background screen is the same before and after the movement, so there is no movement of the background screen, and the text
Display only the directed branches, then return and repeat steps ① to ②.

By the way, the graphic data for displaying ○, which means a status block, on the screen is more complex than the graphic data for displaying △1 mouth, etc., so it is difficult to display ○ at any position on the screen. It is. This means that
This is also the cause of decreased responsiveness when scrolling and moving the O state block. However, in the above embodiment, since O is always displayed at a fixed position as a background screen,
Such inconvenience can be eliminated.

If it is determined in step ■ that there is no movement request, the process moves to step ■, displays the newly specified range of status blocks in the partial display, and displays the newly written text sentence/directed edge on the display. indicate.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing the relationship between state blocks and directed edges. In FIG. 7(1), block A is block B-1
It is a state transition diagram connected by directed edges.

Such a state transition diagram can be displayed on the screen by connecting adjacent state blocks displayed on the partial display screen 2 on the display with directed edges.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 7(2), when the number of state blocks increases, for example, if the block BL and the block A are connected on the same screen by a directed edge, the screen becomes The problem is that it becomes extremely complicated and difficult to see. Furthermore, as the screen becomes more complex, it becomes difficult to write text sentences near the directed edges, and it becomes impossible to write particularly long text sentences on the screen.

Therefore, as shown in the explanatory diagram of FIG. 8, a plurality of state block groups 40 are prepared and stored in the ROM 32 so that the plurality of state block groups can be selected and read. Then, each block group can be individually displayed on the entire display screen of the display, and the state blocks for each state block group are displayed on the partial display screen 2. This content is shown in the 9th and 10th
This will be explained using figures.

FIG. 9 shows the screen of the display, and the first status block group is displayed on the entire display screen 3. In FIG. 9, *1 displayed on the command display section 30 is a message indicating that the first status block group is currently being displayed on the screen.

After the first state block group is displayed, each state block A-1 is connected with a directed branch, a text sentence is written, and the contents are displayed on the partial display screen 2 (the text sentence is omitted from the illustration). .

At this time, it is difficult to write and display the directed edge/text sentence for the remaining block JL in FIG. 7(2) on the same partial display screen 2 as in FIG. 9. Therefore, writing 2 display of block JL is performed using a group of blocks in other states shown in FIG. FIG. 10 shows a screen of a state transition diagram regarding the remaining state blocks JL.

That is, the directed edges and text sentences between state block A and state block JL are written in the ninth state block group, and the written contents are displayed on partial display screen 2 in FIG. 1O. do. Note that *p is a message indicating that the currently displayed screen is a state M transition diagram in the second state block group. Also, * in Figure 9
P is a message indicating that block A also exists in the 9th state block group, and *1 in Figure 1O indicates that the same state block A exists in the 1st state block group. This is a message indicating that.

Although the case where the state block A exists across two state block groups has been described, the same state block may exist across more state block groups.

Here, it is assumed that a state transition diagram of the first state block group is displayed on the screen as shown in FIG.

At this time, since *p is displayed near state block A, the designer can know that state block A also exists in the ninth state block group. Therefore, when the operator selects the second state block group using the operating device 36, the state block A of the second state pro-v group is displayed on the screen as shown in FIG.

FIG. 11 shows the processing operation of the CPU during the processing shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 above.

Steps ① to ② are the same as the processing operations shown in FIG. 4 above. In FIG. 11, after step (2), the process moves to step (2), and it is determined whether or not another status block group has been selected.

This judgment is made by setting a predetermined flag in the CPU when another state block is selected, and whether this flag is “1” or not.
By determining "0", it is possible to determine whether another state block has been selected.

In step (2), when the predetermined flag is determined to be ``1'', the process moves to step [phase], and all state blocks of the selected state block group are displayed on the overall display screen 3. After that, return to The state blocks of the selected state block group are then displayed in the partial display section 3.
The same process as shown in FIG. 4 is repeated.

In step (2), if the flag is determined to be "0", it is determined that no other status block has been selected, and the process directly proceeds to step (2).

Through such processing, it is possible to display the same state block across a plurality of state block groups, so-called hierarchization. As a result, when it is necessary to connect a large number of state blocks with directed edges, or when a long text sentence is required near a directed edge, text sentences and directed techniques can be connected across multiple state block groups. The amount of information written and displayed on one screen can be set within an appropriate range. Therefore, it becomes extremely easy to write the directed branch/text sentence, and when displaying the written contents, the screen becomes extremely easy to see. Furthermore, since a state transition diagram can be created using a plurality of state block groups, flexibility in creating a state transition diagram is improved.

Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. In this embodiment, only the state blocks displayed on the partial display screen 2 that are the starting and ending points of the directed branch are highlighted (changed in color),
Unused status blocks are left as they are without being highlighted (this is an example). FIG. 12 shows a screen on which such highlighted state blocks are displayed.

In Figure 12, 50 is the highlighted state
51 is an unused state block that is not highlighted, that is, does not serve as either the starting point or the ending point of a directed branch.

According to this embodiment, since used state blocks and unused state blocks can be distinguished at a glance, the screen can be more easily viewed when creating a state transition diagram. As shown in FIG. 13, if the text sentence 7 becomes long and the directed branch must become long for this reason, it is possible to bypass the adjacent state block and form the directed branch. becomes.

Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described.

In this example, when a state transition diagram as shown in FIG. 14 is finally being created, a state transition diagram as shown in FIG. 15 is displayed on the screen, and state block A and state block An attempt is made to connect F with a directed edge. At this time, the path to describe the directed branch starting from state block A can be determined by shifting the display guide further to the right from the current position in Fig. 15, and state block F is displayed in the partial display section. It is necessary to determine how crowded the directed branches are, and then return the display guide 8 to its original position.

In such a case, the partial display screen 2 as shown in FIG.
By increasing the number of status blocks displayed in Figure 15 to make it possible to check how crowded the directed edges are, you can omit the trouble of moving the partial display screen and view the directed edges. Directed branches can be formed while avoiding crowded areas. That is, in FIG. 15, if a directed branch coming out of state block A is written toward the top of state block A, and then a directed branch is formed to the right, the directed branch can be written without moving the partial display screen in advance. Directed branches can be formed while avoiding the crowded area 60.

Therefore, according to this embodiment, since it is not necessary to move the partial display position to check the degree of crowding of the directed branches, the creation of the state transition diagram becomes highly efficient.

In FIG. 15, r L J is the currently displayed screen.
This is a message indicating that the number of status blocks displayed on the partial display section 2 is in the normal status on the L level screen. On the other hand, in Fig. 16, rHJ indicates that the currently displayed screen is an H level screen, and the number of status blocks displayed on partial display screen 2 is larger than usual (wide area display screen). This is a message to show.

Writing directed branches and writing text sentences is the 15th
This is done in the normal state shown in the figure, and the degree of congestion of the directed branches can be checked on the screen in the H level state shown in FIG.

This switching between the L level and the H level can be done at any time according to the designer's choice. Note that by screen division, it is also possible to simultaneously display an L-level image and an H-level image on the same screen.

Next, a fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described.

In the second embodiment, the display of the state block on the partial display screen 2 has a regular structure of length! Since this background screen is all substantially the same, the display of directed branches and text sentences is the length of the regular structure, as shown in FIG. It is possible to display the state blocks of the display guides C1 and G2 at separate positions on the entire display screen 3 on the partial display screen 2 of the same screen. 17th
In the figure, 70 is a partial display screen that displays the status block of the display guide Gl, and 71 is a partial display screen that displays the status block of the display guide G2.

According to this embodiment, it is possible to display status blocks at remote locations without having to move them.

According to this method, state transition diagrams at distant locations can be simultaneously created and displayed.

For example, you can specify the state block that is the starting point of a directed branch and the state block that is the end point of a directed branch between separate state blocks on the same screen, so you can specify There is no need to go around looking for the part you want to see. This makes it extremely easy to trace (track) the directed edges.

In the above embodiment, the state block is represented by an O, but the shape is not limited to this and any shape such as a triangle or a square can be selected.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, according to the invention described in claim (1),
It is possible to provide a state transition diagram display device with good responsiveness and an easy-to-read screen.

Further, according to the invention described in claim (2), in addition to the above-mentioned effects, it is possible to provide a state transition diagram display device that is convenient for describing state transition diagrams.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a claim correspondence diagram of the claimed invention, Fig. 2 is a conventional example of a display screen that displays a state transition diagram of a display device in a CAD device, and Fig. 3 is a block configuration of a display device according to the present invention. Figure 4 is a flowchart showing the processing procedure of the CPU in Figure 3, Figures 5 and 6 are diagrams showing the background screen of the status block displayed on the display in Figure 3, and Figure 7 is a diagram showing the status block. FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing the relationship between space and directed edges, FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing the existence of a plurality of state block groups, and FIGS. 9 and 10 are display screens according to the second embodiment of the present invention. 11 is a flowchart showing the processing operation of CPtJ according to the second embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS. 12 and 13 are line diagrams showing the screen of the display according to the third embodiment of the present invention. Figure 14 is a diagram showing the state transition diagram to be finally created in the fourth embodiment of the present invention, and Figure 15 is the first embodiment of the process of describing the state transition diagram in Figure 14. FIG. 16 is a diagram showing the screen of the display according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 17 is a diagram showing the screen of the display according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention. It is a line diagram showing a screen. In the figure, l indicates a state block, 2 a partial display screen, 3 a full display screen, 4 a directed edge, 7 a text sentence, and 8 a display guide. (2) 1...Collection ``F'Rotsuf 2...Archive now!Short display ratio face 3...-4≧i3mi!hi-speech ro b4...Shirankan 7. -...kko strike sentence 8... A ho sword "ite 30...comad> de, Cuff 0 Fig. 2 Fig. 51, -1\At Hayashi question 1 selection 70, Rough 3 Fig.

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) For designing a sequential circuit of a large-scale integrated circuit, which consists of a plurality of state blocks, directed edges connecting the state blocks, and text sentences that are conditions for the transition indicated by the directed edges to occur. A device for displaying a state transition diagram on a screen, comprising: an overall display means for displaying all state blocks of a state block group made up of the plurality of state blocks; a partial display means for displaying state blocks in a specified range of in an array of regular length units; a range display means for displaying the specified range; and a partial display means for displaying the specified range; , a moving means for moving the state blocks displayed by the partial display means on the screen in regular length units, and a moving means for moving the state blocks displayed by the partial display means between arbitrary blocks among the state blocks displayed by the partial display means. A state transition diagram display device comprising: directed branch display means for displaying a directed branch; and text statement display means for displaying a text sentence that is a logical condition near the directed branch. (2) The state transition diagram display device according to claim (1), which includes a plurality of the state block groups, a storage means for storing image data for each state block group, and a storage means for storing image data for each state block group; selection means for selecting image data of a state block group; the overall display means reads image data of the selected state block group and displays the state block; 1. A state transition diagram display device comprising state block display means for displaying that a certain state block in a group also exists in other state block groups.