GATE - Move values across a gap, so they are not destroyed by killing of input Gate.gif (16798 bytes)

The format of the GATE External function is:

GATE( Input?, Solve@, Kill@, Initial?)

The function provides a way of storing and remembering information from one cycle to the next, and normally obtains its timing information from a looping function like WHILE.
In normal programming terms, the operation of a loop may be visualised as follows (the example is a WHILE loop, a FOR loop would be similar): 

        a := initial_value
        WHILE a < 9
            DO a := a + 3

In a knowledge network, a := a + 3 is not a valid statement as the variable "a" can have only one value at a time, and in changing its value, the old value is lost.

The GATE Function is provided to handle the storing of a value under control of timing signals. The function is usually used in conjunction with a loop function such as FOR or WHILE, which provides the necessary phasing of the Solve@ and Kill@ signals.

The parameters of the GATE Function are:

Input?
Value to be used for next cycle of loop.
Solve@
Logical Output - searching forces resolution of output to input path
Kill@
Logical Input - state determines whether Initial? value or stored value used.
Initial?
If Kill@ is TRUE, this value is provided to output

In operation, searching comes in on link 3 (Solve@), linked to the Test@ pin of a WHILE function.
What happens next is:

  1. Search for logical state for Kill@. If not TRUE or FALSE, return UKE
  2. Search for Input?, which will usually lead to search for value of function, Output?
  3. If searching for function value and Kill@ is TRUE (first cycle), return value of Initial? as function value, otherwise return the value in the holding area
  4. The returning value for Input? is copied into a holding area in the function, so it will not be destroyed when the function loses its value as a result of Kill@ being reset
  5. Kill@ is reset by the Run@ pin of the WHILE function, killing Solve@ and the value of the function

Copying of the Input? value involves creating constants to represent the Input information in a similar way to the EVAL function, but these constants are not destroyed when the input list is destroyed.

GATE is not suitable for moving values through an undo, as with GENERATE - all its stored values will be undone.

Related Functions

LATCH