SYSTEM FOR GRAPHICALLY GENERATING LOGIC FOR A CAUSE AND EFFECTS MATRIX

The present invention provides a system and method for graphically generating logic for a cause and effects matrix. The present invention includes creating a matrix for defining the elements of the system that require monitoring, the responses to changes in the monitored elements and the relationship between the elements and the responses and automatically creating logic to implement the matrix. The system includes a general purpose digital computer that incorporates a matrix programming tool to input data defining the matrix and generate a matrix database. The tool also transfers the matrix database to a programmable logic controller. The programmable logic controller includes a matrix functional unit. The matrix functional unit includes several predefined, configurable functional units for establishing the logic pathways to implement the matrix. The predefined, configurable functional units include a cause functional unit, an effects functional unit and an intersection functional unit. Once the predefined functional units receives the matrix database information from the computer the logic pathways to implement the matrix are automatically established.