Patent ID: 7369977

Claim:
In a graphical discrete event execution environment representing an engineered system by a block diagram model, a computer implemented method of providing regional timeout functionality for a region comprising a plurality of blocks and using ports for communication between blocks, said method comprising the steps of: providing a discrete event model for the region of blocks and ports having at least one entity holding at least one value of arbitrary data type, the at least one entity passing through at least one of the blocks in the region; initiating a timeout function associated with the entity upon occurrence of a start condition in the region of blocks and ports within the discrete event model, the timeout function expiring after a selected time period; terminating or resetting the timeout function upon occurrence of an end condition in the region of blocks and ports within the discrete event model; initiating timeout processing on the entity upon expiration of the timeout function, the timeout processing comprising at least one of directing the entity to a predetermined location, removing the entity from the discrete event model, ending execution of the discrete event model and altering entity generation characteristics within the discrete event model; and storing timeout processing results on a storage device.