1. In a time-based block diagram environment, a method, comprising the steps of: creating an execution context, said execution context being a data structure associated with at least one element of a time-based block diagram, said data structure controlling execution of said at least one element of said time-based block diagram based on the satisfaction of a pre-condition; identifying at least one element capable of inheriting said execution context in said time-based block diagram; propagating programmatically said execution context to said at least one element capable of inheriting said execution context; and executing said at least one element of said time-based diagram after the fulfillment of said execution context pre-condition.