Patents by Inventor John Ciolfi

John Ciolfi has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 7861217
    Abstract: Graphical programming or modeling environments, such as a block diagram environment, are disclosed in which dependencies that influence how a model executes are defined without altering the visual representation of the model. In the graphical modeling or programming environment, users create a model that describes how the system is to execute. The users can then augment the model with non-graphical dependencies that provide general execution goals or specific dependencies between blocks. The user can augment the graphical model with dependency constraints specifying how the model should execute. The constraints are coupled to the model and can be optionally displayed on the model in a debugging/analysis mode to provide further insight into how the model executes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: The MathWorks, Inc.
    Inventor: John Ciolfi
  • Publication number: 20100241409
    Abstract: This invention allows users to build, manipulate, and finally deploy various model configurations with little performance overhead, better syntactic clarity and configuration flexibility.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2010
    Publication date: September 23, 2010
    Applicant: THE MATHWORKS, INC.
    Inventors: John CIOLFI, Yang GUO, Ramamurthy MANI
  • Patent number: 7774172
    Abstract: A system and method of exposing debugging information in a graphical modeling and execution environment is disclosed. The present invention allows a user to view debugging information in the same window as the graphical view of the model being executed. Debugging data is associated with relevant components of the model displayed in the graphical view. A separate execution list view shows the methods called during the execution of the block diagram in the current time step up until the current point in execution. User-set breakpoints and conditional breakpoints may be set in both the model view and the execution list view. Values may be obtained for all of the displayed methods. The debugging tool may be implemented by using it in conjunction with a graphical modeling and execution environment, such as a block diagram environment or state diagram environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: The MathWorks, Inc.
    Inventors: Mehmet Yunt, Murali Yeddanapudi, Sanjai Singh, John Ciolfi
  • Patent number: 7765529
    Abstract: In a graphical modeling environment, one of a selection of transformation operations is performed on a graphical object by first selecting the graphical object. A user may select a particular transformation operation to be executed on the graphical object from a list of transformation operations displayed to the user. A transformed graphical object derived from the selected graphical object may be then automatically created without retrieving the transformed graphical object from a library or other source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2010
    Assignee: The MathWorks, Inc.
    Inventors: Sanjai Singh, John Ciolfi
  • Patent number: 7742903
    Abstract: This invention allows users to build, manipulate, and finally deploy various model configurations with little performance overhead, better syntactic clarity and configuration flexibility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2010
    Assignee: The MathWorks, Inc.
    Inventors: John Ciolfi, Yang Guo, Ramamurthy Mani
  • Patent number: 7681151
    Abstract: A method is provided that includes pattern-matching portions of a block diagram model as being equivalent, and creation of a common set of instructions in place of the occurrences of the pattern-matched portions to enhance the efficiency of simulation or generated code for the block diagram model, such as by a reduced image size. Diagnostics are also available to provide information on the execution structure of the block diagram and guidance on how to modify block of the block diagram to obtain reduced image size by increasing the amount of matching patterns. Also, automatically generated hierarchical structures, a tool to control the function signature and the ability for a user to control file packaging which all provide flexible control over the generated code for block diagrams, are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignee: The Math Works, Inc.
    Inventors: John Ciolfi, Michael David Tocci, Mojdeh Shakeri, Murali Yeddanapudi, Kai Tuschner, Ramamurthy Mani
  • Patent number: 7599823
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for resolving artificial algebraic loops in model executions include providing a model of an executable process having a plurality of functions. An analysis step identifies whether the process includes at least one potential artificial algebraic loop. If at least one potential artificial algebraic loop exists in the process, an artificial algebraic loop solution manipulates the order or manner by which the functions are executed to eliminate or otherwise resolve the artificial algebraic loop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2009
    Assignee: The MathWorks, Inc.
    Inventors: Pieter J. Mosterman, John Ciolfi
  • Patent number: 7493619
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for providing a rate transition block in a graphical modeling environment that is programmable by a user to specify data integrity during a data transfer operation between two operations operating in an asynchronous manner or between an operation operating in an asynchronous manner having a first priority and an operation operating in a synchronous manner having a second priority. The rate transition block is a multi-rate transition block generating code that is portable. The multi-rate transition block has more than one operation operating at more than one operating rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2009
    Assignee: The MathWorks, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Englehart, John Ciolfi
  • Publication number: 20090012757
    Abstract: A remote auxiliary tool is created in a graphical model having at least one of a signal or a block. The remote auxiliary tool is non-intrusively attached to one of the signal or the block. The graphical model and the remote auxiliary tool are executed synchronously. At least one of an execution result or a remote auxiliary tool result is output to at least one of a display device, a storage device or a destination device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2007
    Publication date: January 8, 2009
    Applicant: The MathWorks, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald Paul Orofino, II, Ramamurthy Mani, Howard Taitel, John Ciolfi
  • Publication number: 20090012754
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for resolving artificial algebraic loops in model executions include providing a model of an executable process having a plurality of functions. An analysis step identifies whether the process includes at least one potential artificial algebraic loop. If at least one potential artificial algebraic loop exists in the process, an artificial algebraic loop solution manipulates the order or manner by which the functions are executed to eliminate or otherwise resolve the artificial algebraic loop.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2006
    Publication date: January 8, 2009
    Applicant: The MathWorks, Inc.
    Inventors: Pieter J. Mosterman, John Ciolfi
  • Patent number: 7464373
    Abstract: A system and method of exposing debugging information in a graphical modeling and execution environment is disclosed. The present invention allows a user to view debugging information in the same window as the graphical view of the model being executed. Debugging data is associated with relevant components of the model displayed in the graphical view. A separate execution list view shows the methods called during the execution of the block diagram in the current time step up until the current point in execution. User-set breakpoints and conditional breakpoints may be set in both the model view and the execution list view. Values may be obtained for all of the displayed methods. The debugging tool may be implemented by using it in conjunction with a graphical modeling and execution environment, such as a block diagram environment or state diagram environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2008
    Assignee: The MathWorks, Inc.
    Inventors: Mehmet Yunt, Murali Yeddanapudi, Sanjai Singh, John Ciolfi
  • Publication number: 20080059739
    Abstract: A method of saving portions of a simulation or execution engine image at various points in a simulation or execution is disclosed. The saving of the simulation or execution context in addition to the more traditional saving of the system state information enables the restoration of a simulation or execution that is capable of producing, in a subsequent simulation or execution of a block diagram continuing from the point of the saved simulation or execution, results that are identical to those of the initial simulation or execution. The ability to restore more than just system state variables enables a user to run multiple variations of a simulation from a given point without having to replicate the simulation up until the point of the saved initial simulation, and the ability to run multiple iterations of a block diagram execution in a non-simulation execution from a given point without having to replicate the execution of the block diagram up until that point.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2007
    Publication date: March 6, 2008
    Applicant: The Mathworks, Inc.
    Inventors: John Ciolfi, Pieter Mosterman
  • Patent number: 7313449
    Abstract: Graphical programming or modeling environments, such as a block diagram environment, are disclosed in which graphical programs or models are configured using handshaking communication between entities of the graphical programs or models. The graphical programming or modeling environments provide mechanisms for the handshaking configuration of graphical programs/models before the graphical programs/models are executed in the graphical programming/modeling environments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: The MathWorks, Inc.
    Inventors: John Ciolfi, Haihua Feng
  • Publication number: 20070294074
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for modeling a multiprocessor system in a graphical modeling environment. The multiprocessor system may include multiple processing units that carry out one or more processes, such as programs and sets of instructions. Each of the processing units may be represented as a node at the top level of the model for the multiprocessor system. The nodes representing the processing units of the multiprocessor system may be interconnected to each other via a communication channel. The nodes may include at least one read element for reading data from the communication channel into the nodes. The node may also include at least one write element for writing data from the nodes into the communication channel. Each of the processing unit can communicate with other processing unit via the communication channel using the read and write elements. Code may be generated to simulate each node and communication channel in the modeled multiprocessor system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2007
    Publication date: December 20, 2007
    Applicant: The MathWorks, Inc.
    Inventor: John Ciolfi
  • Publication number: 20070271499
    Abstract: A system and method that includes line connection navigation in a block diagram by highlighting connections through navigable blocks in the diagram, edit-time label propagation along connections and through navigable blocks that can propagate labels through their ports, API to define navigability between block ports, and displaying implied connections between blocks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2007
    Publication date: November 22, 2007
    Applicant: The MathWorks, Inc.
    Inventors: Haihua Feng, Ramamurthy Mani, John Ciolfi, Donald Orofino
  • Publication number: 20070157138
    Abstract: A method is provided that includes pattern-matching portions of a block diagram model as being equivalent, and creation of a common set of instructions in place of the occurrences of the pattern-matched portions to enhance the efficiency of simulation or generated code for the block diagram model, such as by a reduced image size. Diagnostics are also available to provide information on the execution structure of the block diagram and guidance on how to modify block of the block diagram to obtain reduced image size by increasing the amount of matching patterns. Also, automatically generated hierarchical structures, a tool to control the function signature and the ability for a user to control file packaging which all provide flexible control over the generated code for block diagrams, are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2007
    Publication date: July 5, 2007
    Applicant: The MathWorks, Inc.
    Inventors: John Ciolfi, Michael Tocci, Mojdeh Shakeri, Murali Yeddanapudi, Kai Tuschner, Ramamurthy Mani
  • Publication number: 20070157162
    Abstract: Graphical programming or modeling environments, such as a block diagram environment, are disclosed in which dependencies that influence how a model executes are defined without altering the visual representation of the model. In the graphical modeling or programming environment, users create a model that describes how the system is to execute. The users can then augment the model with non-graphical dependencies that provide general execution goals or specific dependencies between blocks. The user can augment the graphical model with dependency constraints specifying how the model should execute. The constraints are coupled to the model and can be optionally displayed on the model in a debugging/analysis mode to provide further insight into how the model executes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2005
    Publication date: July 5, 2007
    Applicant: The MathWorks, Inc.
    Inventor: John Ciolfi
  • Publication number: 20060282252
    Abstract: Methods and systems for modeling a multiprocessor system in a graphical modeling environment are disclosed. The multiprocessor system may include multiple processing units that carry out one or more processes, such as programs and sets of instructions. Each of the processing units may be represented as a node at the top level of the model for the multiprocessor system. The nodes representing the processing units of the multiprocessor system may be interconnected to each other via a communication channel. The nodes may include at least one read element for reading data from the communication channel into the nodes. The node may also include at least one write element for writing data from the nodes into the communication channel. Each of the processing unit can communicate with other processing unit via the communication channel using the read and write elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2005
    Publication date: December 14, 2006
    Applicant: The MathWorks, Inc.
    Inventor: John Ciolfi
  • Publication number: 20060129371
    Abstract: Remote auxiliary tools are provided for non-intrusively and synchronously interacting with graphical models. The remote auxiliary tools are non-intrusively connected to the graphical model without requiring the addition of components to the model definition. The remote auxiliary tool can operate in an observer mode, a bypass mode, and/or a generator mode. In these modes, the remote auxiliary tool can synchronously read, modify, and/or generate data, respectively, in response to events within the executing block diagram.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2004
    Publication date: June 15, 2006
    Applicant: The MathWorks, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald Orofino, Ramamurthy Mani, Howard Taitel, John Ciolfi
  • Publication number: 20050278162
    Abstract: This invention allows users to build, manipulate, and finally deploy various model configurations with little performance overhead, better syntactic clarity and configuration flexibility.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2004
    Publication date: December 15, 2005
    Applicant: The MathWorks, Inc.
    Inventors: John Ciolfi, Yang Guo, Ramamurthy Mani