Abstract:
An automatic layout method for performing an automatic layout of components on a diagram, the automatic layout method includes: generating a layout engine control object based on an operation of an application program; selecting at least one layout engine object from a plurality of layout engine objects for calculating coordinates of the components by different algorithms, at least one layout engine object being selected based on an instruction of the application program by the layout engine control object; and creating the diagram by the application program based on the coordinates calculated by the selected layout engine object.

Description:
[0001]     This application claims foreign priority based on Japanese Patent application No. 2005-302512, filed Oct. 18, 2005, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0003]     The present invention relates to an automatic layout method and an automatic layout device for laying out components of a diagram when the diagram showing a graphic structure such as a network block diagram is created.  
         [0004]     2. Description of the Related Art  
         [0005]     Diagrams, including a network configuration diagram, configured with components (nodes) and connections for connecting the components have been frequently used. When the diagram has many nodes or connections, it becomes difficult to lay out the diagram manually, so that the diagram is drawn by using some layout function.  
         [0006]     In such an automatic layout, various kinds of algorithms have been known. For instance, a spring model, a magnetic spring model or a circle method is exemplified (for instance, see “Automatic layout of object diagram based on object oriented methodology”, Nakajima et al., Journal of Information Processing Society of Japan, Vol. 39, No. 12, pp. 3282, 1998).  
         [0007]      FIG. 4  is a block diagram showing one example of an automatic layout device of a related art.  
         [0008]     In  FIG. 4 , a computer  4  is an ordinary type and includes at least a central processing unit (CPU)  41 , an input section (a keyboard, a touch panel or the like)  42 , a display section (CRT: Cathode-Ray Tube., LCD: Liquid Crystal Display, or the like)  43 , and a storing section (a hard disk, a memory or the like)  44 .  
         [0009]     In the storing section  44 , node data  441 , a layout calculating section  442  and an application section  443  are stored. In the node data  441 , data necessary for calculating an automatic layout including positions of nodes, connecting relation between the nodes, shapes, colors and sizes of the nodes are stored. The layout calculating section  442  is a program for calculating coordinates of the nodes by using one of prescribed algorithms on the basis of these node data. The application section  443  is a program for displaying a desired configuration diagram on the display section on the basis of the calculated result. The node data is previously inputted from the input section by a user.  
         [0010]     The program sections shown in the storing section  44  in  FIG. 4  are respectively operated by the CPU  41  as a program executing section.  
         [0011]     As described above, in the automatic layout method and the automatic layout device of the related art, a designer employs a specific algorithm that is most suitable for a system (a configuration diagram desired to be displayed), and directly mounts it on the device. Accordingly, a problem arises that it is difficult to change a drawing method (algorithm for calculating layout).  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0012]     The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and provides an automatic layout method and an automatic layout device in which a drawing algorithm can be changed.  
         [0013]     In some implementations, an automatic layout method of the invention for performing an automatic layout of components on a diagram, the automatic layout method comprising:  
         [0014]     generating a layout engine control object based on an operation of an application program;  
         [0015]     selecting at least one layout engine object from a plurality of layout engine objects for calculating coordinates of the components by different algorithms, said at least one layout engine object being selected based on an instruction of the application program by the layout engine control object; and  
         [0016]     creating the diagram by the application program based on the coordinates calculated by the selected layout engine object.  
         [0017]     The automatic layout method of the invention further comprising:  
         [0018]     generating a layout engine factory object when the layout engine control object determines that the layout engine object to be selected based on the instruction of the application program does not exist in the plurality of layout engine objects, and generating the layout engine object to be selected by the layout engine factory object.  
         [0019]     In some implementations, an automatic layout device of the invention for performing an automatic layout of components on a diagram, the automatic layout device comprising:  
         [0020]     an application executing section for operating an application program;  
         [0021]     a plurality of layout calculating sections for calculating coordinates of the components by different algorithms; and  
         [0022]     a control section for selecting at least one layout calculating section from the plurality of layout calculating section based on an instruction of the application program,  
         [0023]     wherein the diagram is created based on the coordinates calculated by the selected layout calculating section.  
         [0024]     The automatic layout device of the invention further comprising:  
         [0025]     a generating section for, when the control section determines that the layout calculating section to be selected based on the instruction of the application program does not exist in the plurality of layout calculating sections, generating the layout calculating section to be selected.  
         [0026]     According to the present invention, since a part for calculating the layout is implemented in a library format to realize generalization, and a new drawing method (algorithm) can be added to the library, when the layout is calculated, the algorithm can be changed to the algorithm that is most suitable for a system (a configuration diagram desired to be displayed). 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0027]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram showing one embodiment of an automatic layout device according to an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0028]      FIG. 2  is an explanatory view for explaining a detailed structure and an operation of the automatic layout device according to an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0029]      FIG. 3  is an explanatory view showing a flow of processes of an automatic layout method according to an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0030]      FIG. 4  is a block diagram showing one example of an automatic layout device of a related art. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0031]     Now, by referring to the drawings, the present invention will be described below in detail.  FIG. 1  is a block diagram showing one example of an automatic layout device according to an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0032]     In  FIG. 1 , a computer  1  is an ordinary type and includes at least a central processing unit (CPU)  11 , an input section (a keyboard, a touch panel or the like)  12 , a display section (CRT, LCD or the like)  13  and a storing section (a hard disk, a memory or the like)  14 .  
         [0033]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram for explaining a schematic structure. In the storing section  14 , node data  141 , layout calculating sections  142   a,    142   b  and  142   c,  an application section  143  and a layout interface section  144  are shown.  
         [0034]     The node data  141  is data necessary for automatically calculating a layout including positions of nodes, connecting relation between the nodes, and shapes, colors and sizes of the nodes.  
         [0035]     The layout calculating sections  142   a,    142   b  and  142   c  are a plurality of programs that respectively calculate the layouts by different algorithms on the basis of the node data.  
         [0036]     The application section  143  is a previously loaded program for transmitting the node data to any of the layout calculating sections  142   a,    142   b  and  142   c,  and displaying a desired configuration diagram on the display section  13  in accordance with the calculated result of any of the layout calculating sections  142   a,    142   b  and  142   c.    
         [0037]     The layout interface section  144  is a program for transmitting and receiving data between the application section  143  and the layout calculating sections  142   a,    142   b  and  142   c.    
         [0038]     The node data is previously inputted from the input section  12  by a user.  
         [0039]      FIG. 2  is an explanatory view for explaining a detailed structure and operations of respective sections of the automatic layout device according to the embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 2  shows only the structure of the storing section  14  in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0040]     In  FIG. 2 , the layout interface section  144  shown in  FIG. 1 , layout engines  142   a,    142   b  and  142   c  (corresponding to the layout calculating sections shown in  FIG. 1 ), a below-described layout engine control section  147  and an engine factory section  146  are referred to as a layout library. Generation and operation of the layout library will be described by referring to  FIG. 2 .  
         [0041]     The generation means loading a program for performing a relevant duty in the storing section  14  and executing the program. As the program to be loaded, a program present in other computer connected to a network (not shown) may be loaded therefrom, or a program may be previously stored in the storing section  14  of the computer  1 .  
         [0042]     A layout factory section  145  is a previously loaded program, and as an operation, generates the layout interface section  144  in accordance with a request to generate a library of the application section  143 .  
         [0043]     The layout interface section  144  is the program loaded by the layout factory section  145  to transmit and receive data to and from the application section  143  as an operation. The layout interface section  144  transmits a layout request (a request to change the layout engine) of the application section  143  to the layout engine control section  147 . The layout request (including designating information of the layout engine) of the application section  143  is generated in accordance with an instruction from the input section  12  by the user.  
         [0044]     The layout engine control section  147  is a program loaded by the layout interface section  144 . As an operation, the layout engine control section  147  controls a plurality of layout engines and transmits the layout request at least one of the layout engines in accordance with the layout request from the application section  143  supplied through the layout interface section  144 .  
         [0045]     The engine factory section  146  is a program for generating the layout engines. When a designated layout engine does not exist, the engine factory section  146  is loaded by the operation of the layout engine control section  147 , and the layout engine factory section  146  operates to load and generate the layout engine as a plug-in program having a predetermined interface.  
         [0046]     Any of the layout engines  142   a,    142   b  and  142   c  operates to perform the layout calculation in accordance with a layout request of the layout engine control section  147  to calculate the coordinates of the nodes, and transmit the calculated result to the application section  143  through the layout interface section  144 .  
         [0047]     In this embodiment, an example having three layout engines is described, however, the present invention is not limited thereto.  
         [0048]     The programs shown in the storing section  14  illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2  are respectively operated by the CPU  11 . These programs form an application executing section, a layout calculating section, a control section for controlling the layout calculating section, a generating section for generating the layout calculating section, and a layout interface section.  
         [0049]     The above-described layout library is written by an object oriented language, and the sections of the storing section  14  respectively correspond to objects. The engine factory section  146  (object) can add a layout method (algorithm) during an operation by dynamically class-loading the layout engines (objects).  
         [0050]      FIG. 3  is an explanatory view showing a flow of processes of an automatic layout method according to the embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0051]      FIG. 3  is a sequence diagram representing communication between the objects with time as a reference, in accordance with notation of UML (Unified Modeling Language). Now, the flow of the processes will be described below correspondingly to signs showing a communication sequence shown in  FIG. 3 . 
    (S1) An application allows a layout factory to generate the layout library. The layout factory generates a layout interface. The layout interface generates a layout engine control and an engine factory.     (S2) The application requests the layout interface of the layout of the nodes. For the request, position, size and connecting information of the nodes are supplied to the layout interface. A message (request) from the application is asynchronously carried out. Accordingly, the operation of the application can be prevented from being blocked by the processes of the layout interface or the layout engines or the like.     (S3) The layout interface transfers the layout request to the layout engine control. When the designated layout engine does not exist, the layout engine control requests the engine factory to generate the layout engine.     (S4) The engine factory generates the designated layout engine. At this time, a class-loading operation is dynamically carried out by using a function of the object oriented language.     (S5) The layout engine control requests the layout engine for the layout. The layout result shows the coordinates of the nodes.     (S6) The layout interface informs the application of the layout result as an event. The coordinates of the nodes as the layout result are all included in the event.      
         [0058]     As described above, since the layout engines are generated by the class-loading operation, a layout function can be used for a general purpose.  
         [0059]     Further, the algorithm of the layout can be dynamically switched to calculate the layout that is most suitable for a system (a configuration diagram desired to be displayed).  
         [0060]     The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment and further includes many changes and deformations within a scope without departing the gist thereof.  
         [0061]     For instance, when a state in which various kinds of small devices are installed in a field by using a radio LAN (Local Area Network) is considered, it is expected that such devices can be dynamically added to or deleted from a network. When the present invention is applied thereto, even if the devices are added or deleted, a layout on a control screen can be easily made so that a screen that is always easily viewed by a user can be achieved.  
         [0062]     It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the described preferred embodiments of the present invention without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, it is intended that the present invention cover all modifications and variations of this invention consistent with the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.