Importance

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Abstract

A method and apparatus for converting a set of functions of any software system that does modeling into a corresponding set of parametric functions that, when called, generate not only a resulting model, but also a dependency graph representation of the model. The dependency graph can include directed functions and non-directed constraint relationships, and is used when a change is made to the model so that only affected portions of the model are reevaluated. The dependency graph can be visually presented to a user, and can be created or edited through a visual programming environment. The graph can be modified to change either input values to the model, or the graph elements that represent the functions used in creating the model. When changes to the dependency graph are made, it can be reevaluated to incorporate the changes into the model. When the visual programming environment is used to modify the graph, the environment calls the parametric set of functions. The set of parametric functions is generated by creating wrappers in a standard programming language around the functions of the software system. The dependency graph can also be used to generate a computer program in a standard language that, when executed on the software system, regenerates the model as well as the dependency representation. The computer program can also be edited and then executed on the software system to generate a modified version of the model.

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First Claim