Patent ID: 8392878

Claim:
A computer-implemented method, comprising: utilizing a computer to perform: receiving input specifying a graphical program, wherein the graphical program comprises a plurality of interconnected nodes which visually represents the graphical program, wherein said receiving input specifying the graphical program comprises: receiving first input including a graphical structure in the graphical program, wherein the graphical structure comprises an interior portion, and wherein the graphical structure comprises an input terminal and an output terminal for communicating with nodes of the graphical program outside the graphical structure; displaying the graphical structure in the graphical program in response to the first input; wherein said receiving input further comprises: receiving second input including at least one graphical program node within the interior portion of the graphical structure; displaying the at least one graphical program node within the interior portion of the graphical structure in response to the second input, wherein the at least one graphical program node is configured to receive input data via the input terminal, process the input data, and provide output data to the output terminal, wherein the input terminal and the output terminal share data memory, thereby reducing memory usage of the graphical program during execution; and storing the graphical program in a memory.