System and method for universal extensibility that supports a plurality of programmable logic controllers
First Claim
1. A method of providing an open development kit, comprising the steps of:
- sending a specific formatted load application request message from a programmable logic controller (PLC) to an open development kit (ODK) subsystem;
converting the specific formatted load application request message to a generic formatted load application request message;
sending the generic formatted load application request message from the ODK subsystem to an application for requesting an extension to be loaded; and
requesting execution of the application.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and system is provided for creating applications for one or more types of programmable logic controllers (PLCs). A open development kit (OKD) is provided that permits dynamic link libraries to be created and interfaced to a user application software and also to the interface layers of the various types of PLCs. The types of PLCs may include soft PLCs, slot PLCs, and hard PLCs and interface via slots of a personal computer platform. The ODK provides generic interfacing to the various types of PLCs and establishes the necessary operating environment structure to implement processing in either a non-real time and a real time mode. A single application package may then control and manage the various types of PLCs. Communication paths are provided from the PLCs to the ODK subsystem to the user application so that the application software is essentially indifferent to type of PLC involved.
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Citations
38 Claims
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1. A method of providing an open development kit, comprising the steps of:
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sending a specific formatted load application request message from a programmable logic controller (PLC) to an open development kit (ODK) subsystem;
converting the specific formatted load application request message to a generic formatted load application request message;
sending the generic formatted load application request message from the ODK subsystem to an application for requesting an extension to be loaded; and
requesting execution of the application. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A system for open development, comprising:
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one or more extensions adapted for use in a real-time operating environment; and
a virtual CPU adapted to execute a programmable logic controller (PLC) application program in the real-time operating environment and adapted to execute the one or more extensions, wherein the one or more extensions provide access into the scan cycle of the PLC and to provide replaceable functionality to the operation of the PLC. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
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20. A system for providing an open development kit, the system comprising:
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a means for sending a specific format load application request message from a programmable logic controller (PLC) to an open development kit (ODK) subsystem;
a means for converting the specific format load application request to a generic format load application request message by the ODK subsystem;
a means for sending the generic load request from the ODK subsystem to an application requesting an extension to be loaded; and
a means for requesting execution of the application. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A kit for open development, comprising:
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a means for receiving a specific formatted message from a programmable logic controller (PLC);
a means for converting the specific formatted message to a generic formatted message; and
a means for sending the generic formatted message to an application for execution. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37)
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38. A computer program product comprising a computer usable medium having readable program code embodied in the medium, the computer program product includes:
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a first computer program code to send a specific formatted load application request message from a programmable logic controller (PLC) to an open development kit (ODK) subsystem;
a second computer program code to convert the specific formatted load application request message to a generic formatted load application request message;
a third computer program code to send the generic formatted load application request message from the ODK subsystem to an application for requesting an extension to be loaded; and
a fourth computer program code to request execution of the application.
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Specification