PATTERNS EMPLOYED FOR MODULE DESIGN

• US 20080097630A1
• Filed: 09/28/2007
• Published: 04/24/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies Incorporated (Allen-Bradley Co., Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies Incorporated (Allen-Bradley Co., Inc.)
• Inventors: Weatherhead, N. Andrew, Kaufman, Philip John
• Granted Patent: US 7,676,292 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/86
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/0426 Programming the control sequence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/056 Programming the PLC
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/13129 Automatic documentation of program
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23009 Automatic documentation of program
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23261 Use control template library
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23293 Automated assembly of machine control software, reusable software components

Abstract

The claimed subject matter provides systems and/or methods that facilitate constructing automation applications for utilization in an industrial automation environment. A design template component can provide a design template to yield a modular, hierarchical framework for an application. Further, a design pattern table can include a library of design patterns, where the design patterns can be organized according to respective classifications. Moreover, a design pattern component can integrate a selected design pattern from the design pattern table with the design template to construct the application.

Claims

1. A system that enables constructing an automation application for utilization in an industrial automation environment, comprising:

a design template component that provides a design template to yield a modular, hierarchical framework for an application;

a design pattern table that includes a library of design patterns organized according to classifications of each of the design patterns; and

a design pattern component that integrates a selected design pattern from the design pattern table with the design template to construct the application.

2. The system of claim 1, the design template being built from reusable module classes, the reusable module classes being comprised of one or more disparate design templates.

3. The system of claim 1, the design template provides a constant framework that is tailored to create the application.

4. The system of claim 1, the design pattern component automatically selects the design pattern from the design pattern table.

5. The system of claim 1, the design pattern component recommends a particular design pattern from the design pattern table, wherein the particular design pattern is selectable.

6. The system of claim 1, the design pattern component obtains an input pertaining to the selected design pattern.

7. The system of claim 1, each of the design patterns includes attributes related to one or more of a function, a design, testing, and a cost.

8. The system of claim 1, the design pattern table classifies the design patterns based upon process characteristics, design characteristics, and cost characteristics.

9. The system of claim 1, the design pattern table graphically represents classifications of the design patterns.

10. The system of claim 1, the design pattern table graphically represents relationships between the design patterns.

11. The system of claim 1, the selected design pattern is applied to the design template to provide control of associated equipment.

12. The system of claim 1, the design template and each of the design patterns are pre-validated.

13. The system of claim 1, the design template maps to at least one equipment module and at least one control module.

14. The system of claim 1, each of the design patterns maps to a respective process action.

15. A method that facilitates building an automation application for utilization in an industrial automation environment, comprising:

constructing a framework of an automation application based upon a design template;

selecting a particular design pattern from a table that represents classifications of a plurality of design patterns; and

generating the application by integrating the particular design pattern with the framework created from the design template.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

generating a cost estimate for the automation application;

generating a functional specification for the automation application;

generating design documentation for the automation application;

generating a test specification for the automation application; and

generating validation documentation for the automation application.

17. The method of claim 15, the design template being built from reusable module classes.

18. The method of claim 15, the design template maps to at least one equipment module and at least one control module.

19. The method of claim 15, each of the plurality of design patterns describes a fundamental application element.

20. The method of claim 15, further comprising automatically selecting the particular design pattern.

21. The method of claim 15, selecting the particular design pattern further comprises:

recommending the particular design pattern; and

obtaining an input pertaining to a selection of the particular design pattern based upon the recommendation.

22. The method of claim 15, further comprising rendering the table to display relationships between the plurality of design patterns.

23. The method of claim 22, rendering the table further comprising:

classifying the plurality of design patterns according to respective process characteristics and design characteristics;

graphically representing subsets of design patterns classified within each category of process characteristics in the table; and

graphically representing subsets of design patterns classified within each category of design characteristics in the table.

24. The method of claim 22, further comprising obtaining an input related to a manual selection in response to rendering the table.

25. A system that enables constructing an automation application for employment within an industrial automation environment, comprising:

means for building a consistent framework of an application based upon a design template that leverages reusable module classes;

means for identifying a particular design pattern from a table that represents classifications of a plurality of design patterns;

means for incorporating the particular design pattern with the consistent framework to yield the application; and

means for increasing an accuracy of cost estimates to design and build the application.