Information technology integration with automation systems

• US 20070079028A1
• Filed: 09/30/2005
• Published: 04/05/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies Incorporated (Allen-Bradley Co., Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies Incorporated (Allen-Bradley Co., Inc.)
• Inventors: Hall, Kenwood
• Granted Patent: US 7,716,403 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 710/62
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/4186 by protocol, e.g. MAP, TOP
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31369 Translation, conversion of protocol between two layers, networks
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/02 Total factory control, e.g. smart factories, flexible manufacturing systems [FMS] or integrated manufacturing systems [IMS]

Abstract

The subject disclosure pertains to transparent communications in an industrial automation environment amongst automation system components and IT systems. Systems and methods are provided that send and receive data to, from and amongst automation devices and transactional based IT systems. The system is viewed as a control system to the automation device and as a transactional system to the IT system. Accordingly, it is not necessary to provide a custom interface between automation devices and the IT systems.

Claims

1. An industrial control module communication system, comprising:

a send component that sends control data from a serial based module to a transactional based remote system;

a receive component that receives control data from the transactional based remote system; and

a transaction component that configures and controls the send and receive components.

2. The system of claim 1, the send component splits the control data into one or more fragments.

3. The system of claim 1, the receive component joins one or more fragments to assemble the control data.

4. The system of claim 1, the remote system is at least one of a control module, a database, a web service, and a transaction management server.

5. The system of claim 1 further comprising a data buffer independent from a module data table.

6. The system of claim 5, the control data is copied from the data table to the buffer prior to being transmitted.

7. The system of claim 6, the send component transmits the data from the buffer.

8. The system of claim 5, the receive component places captured data into the buffer.

9. The system of claim 8, the data is copied from the buffer into the data table after fully received.

10. The system of claim 1, the send component broadcasts control data to a plurality of select remote systems.

11. The system of claim 1, the receive component receives control data from more than one transactional remote system.

12. An industrial controller communication system, comprising:

a first interface component that obtains controller data from a serial based control module;

a translator component that converts the data from a serial control module protocol to transactional remote system protocol; and

a second interface component that transmits the data to a transaction based remote system.

13. The system of claim 12, the control module protocol is CIP.

14. The system of claim 12, the remote system is at least one of a control module, a database, a web service, and a transaction management server.

15. The system of claim 12, the remote system protocol is at least one of ODBC, JDBC, CIP, SOAP, MQ messaging, and TCP/IP.

16. The system of claim 12 further comprises a send component associated with the control module, the send component transmits controller data to the first interface component via a control module protocol.

17. An industrial controller communication system, comprising:

a first interface component that receives data from a transaction based remote system;

a translator component that converts the data from a transactional remote system protocol to a serial control module protocol; and

a second interface component that transmits the data to a serial based control module.

18. The system of claim 17, the control module protocol is CIP.

19. The system of claim 17, the remote system is at least one of a control module, a database, a web service, and a transaction management server.

20. The system of claim 17, the remote system protocol is at least one of ODBC, JDBC, CIP, SOAP, MQ messaging, and TCP/IP.

21. The system of claim 17 further comprises a receive component associated with the control module, the receive component obtains controller data from the second interface component via a control module protocol.

22. A method for sending data from a controller module comprising:

copying data from a control module data into a buffer upon receipt of a send instruction;

formatting the buffer data as a transaction; and

transmitting the transaction in one or more data fragments.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising blocking data modification while data is copied into the buffer.

24. The method of claim 23, transmitting the transaction comprises transmitting the transaction to one or more remote systems.

25. The method of claim 24, the remote system is a transactional IT system.

26. A computer readable medium having stored thereon computer executable instruction for carrying out the method of claim 22.

27. A method for receiving data in a controller module comprising:

receiving a transmission of one or more data fragments;

assembling the fragments in a buffer; and

copying the buffer to one or more controller locations.

28. The method of claim 27, the transmission is a transaction sent by a remote system.

29. The method of claim 28, further comprising receiving a receive instruction prior to or in conjunction with receiving the transmission.

30. The method of claim 27 further comprising, translating the transmission from a remote system protocol to a controller module protocol.

31. The method of claim 27 further comprising, blocking data modification while data is copied from the buffer into the one or more locations.

32. A computer readable medium having stored thereon computer executable instructions for carrying out the method of claim 27.