Invalidity dossier
US 5301301
Polymorphic dataflow block diagram system and method for programming a computer
Current assignee: National Instruments Corp
Added 9/17/2026, 2:40:47 PM
Active provider: DeepSeek · deepseek-flash
Patent summary
Title, assignee, inventors, filing/issue dates, abstract, and a plain-language overview of the claims.
Patent Overview: US 5,301,301 A
Title: "Polymorphic dataflow block diagram system and method for programming a computer"
Patent number: US 5,301,301 A (application US 07/647,785)
Inventors: Jeffrey L. Kodosky, James J. Truchard, John E. MacCrisken
Original assignee / current assignee (as listed): National Instruments Corporation
Priority/filing date: 1991-01-30
Publication (grant) date: 1994-04-05
Legal status (as listed): Expired – Lifetime; anticipated expiration 2011-04-05
Purpose and plain-language scope: The patent describes a graphical, dataflow-based way to program a computer, identified in the excerpt with "LabVIEW." A user builds a dataflow block diagram from function icons; the diagram specifies the connections and, by dataflow rules, the execution sequence of built-in primitive icons and user-specified functions called "virtual instruments" (VIs), producing a hierarchical system.
The central feature is polymorphism: function icons accept more than one input type. As examples, an ADD icon can add integers or floating-point numbers, add a scalar to each array element or to each numeric cluster component, add two numeric clusters component by component, or add a cluster to an array of clusters. Output types are determined by input types before diagram execution. Where precisions differ, automatic conversions occur (the lesser precision is extended), and such conversions are indicated to the user because of memory/time implications.
The excerpt also covers: an icon "connection diagram" with labeled connection points, input/output names shown beside icons, a two-dimensional palette automatically constructed from a directory of user-constructed icons, a hierarchy diagram showing icon usage and users, and front-panel features such as placing controls as constants, hiding controls, locking diagrams while allowing execution and front-panel operation, and hiding dataflow diagrams for security.
What the excerpt does not establish: It does not provide the full claims, a complete description, prosecution history, validity analysis, litigation, ownership transfers, or substantive prior-art comparison. It mentions U.S. Pat. No. 4,914,568 as incorporated but does not detail it.
Generated 10/1/2026, 10:03:04 PM
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PTAB challenges
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Assignment history
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Prior art
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