Patent ID: 8176479

Claim:
A computer-implemented method for generating a data flow diagram, comprising: utilizing a computer to perform: receiving input specifying a first case structure in the data flow diagram, wherein the first case structure has associated conditions for each of a plurality of cases; for each case of the first case structure that comprises a respective plurality of input bound data flow nodes, partitioning the respective plurality of input bound data flow nodes into a respective one or more input bound data flow diagram portions, wherein each of the respective one or more input bound data flow diagram portions are mutually independent, wherein, for at least one case of the first case structure, said partitioning produces a plurality of input bound data flow diagram portions; replacing the first case structure with a first conditional structure and one or more second conditional structures, wherein the first conditional structure is configured to select one or more of the plurality of input bound data flow diagram portions in accordance with the conditions of the first case structure, and wherein the one or more second conditional structures are configured to select at least one output from the plurality of input bound data flow diagram portions in accordance with the conditions of the first case structure; wherein said partitioning and said replacing are performed automatically in response to said receiving input and produce an input bound data flow diagram that is executable to perform functionality specified by the first case structure; and storing the input bound data flow diagram.