ELECTRONIC OPERATOR INTERFACE BASED CONTROLLER AND DEVICE AUTOMATIC DOWNLOADS

• US 20100249956A1
• Filed: 03/24/2009
• Published: 09/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies Incorporated (Allen-Bradley Co., Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies Incorporated (Allen-Bradley Co., Inc.)
• Inventors: Oulton, Brian R., Bliss, Ronald E.
• Granted Patent: US 8,489,210 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/47
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/056 Programming the PLC
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/409 characterised by using manual data input [MDI] or by using control panel, e.g. controlling functions with the panel; characterised by control panel details or by setting parameters G05B19/408, G05B19/4093 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/13197 Host and remote version of ladder program, avoid different versions
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31124 Interface between communication network and process control, store, exchange data
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31333 Database to backup and restore factory controllers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1441 Resetting or repowering
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/44 Program or device authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/65 Updates security arrangements therefor G06F21/57

Abstract

The invention relates to systems and/or methodologies for electronic operator interface based controller and device automatic downloads. More particularly, an electronic operator interface can determine if control logic or content used by an industrial controller has been updated, changed, or otherwise modified. If the content has been modified, then the electronic operator interface can automatically obtain the content and store a back-up copy in memory. Additionally or alternatively, the electronic operator interface can periodically update a backup copy of the content. Furthermore, the electronic operator interface can determine if the controller has lost its content, and restore the content from the most recent version saved in memory.

Claims

1. A system for backing up industrial controller content, comprising:

an industrial controller that contains control content; and

an electronic user interface that at least one of dynamically or periodically obtains the control content from the industrial controller, and stores the control content in memory.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the electronic user interface obtains configuration data from at least one of an Input/Output device, or a network device.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the industrial controller executes the control content to control at least one of industrial processes, manufacturing equipment, or factory automation.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the control content includes at least one of a ladder diagram, a function block diagram, a structured text, a sequential function chart, a set of computer executable code, a text file, an instruction list, a general purpose programming language, or a database.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the electronic user interface obtains the control content from the industrial controller via at least one of a local area network, a wireless local area network, a global communication network, an intranet, an Ethernet connection, or a proprietary communication protocol.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the industrial controller is included in the electronic operator interface.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the electronic operator interface determines at least one of a modification of the control content contained in the controller, or an absence of control content in the controller.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the electronic operator interface dynamically obtains the content based on the determination of a modification of the content.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the electronic operator interface downloads the control content from memory to the controller based on a determination of an absence of control content in the controller.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein the electronic operator interface determines the modification of the control content contained in the controller, or the absence of control content in the controller based on a notification acquired from the industrial controller.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the electronic operator interface includes a security component that at least one of provides security credentials to the industrial controller, or obtains security credentials from at least one of the industrial controller or an operator.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the security credentials include at least one of a username, password, or biometric identifier.

13. A system for storing content in an electronic operator interface, comprising:

an audit component that determines a status of data contained in at least one of an industrial controller, Input/Output module, or network device, wherein the data includes control logic in the industrial controller or configuration data in the Input/Output module or the network device; and

a transfer component that acquires the data based at least in part on the status.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the transfer component stores the data in a data store contained in the electronic operator interface.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the status includes at least one of updated data or the nonexistence of data in at least one of the industrial controller, Input/Output module, or network device.

16. The system of claim 14, further comprising a restoration component that downloads the data stored in the data store to at least one of the industrial controller, Input/Output module, or network device where the status is the nonexistence of data.

17. The system of claim 13, wherein the industrial controller executes the control logic to control at least one of industrial processes, manufacturing equipment, or factory automation.

18. The system of claim 13, wherein the electronic user interface communicates with the industrial controller via at least one of a local area network, a wireless local area network, a global communication network, an intra-net, an Ethernet connection, or a proprietary communication protocol.

19. The system of claim 13, wherein the electronic user interface is a component in the electronic operator interface.

20. The system of claim 13, wherein the audit component determines the status based at least in part on a notification obtained from at least one of the industrial controller, Input/Output module, or network device

21. The system of claim 13, further comprising an artificial intelligence component that facilitates automating one or more features of the system.

22. The system of claim 13, further comprising a security component that at least one of provides security credentials to the industrial controller, or obtains security credentials from at least one of the industrial controller or an operator.

23. The system of claim 13, wherein the security credentials include at least one of a username, password, or biometric identifier.

24. A method for dynamic content downloads, comprising:

determining if content stored in a device has been modified;

obtaining the content if it has been modified; and

storing the modified content in memory.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the device includes at least one of a controller, an Input/Output device, or a network device.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the controller is part of an electronic operator interface.

27. The method of claim 24, wherein the content includes at least one of control logic or configuration data.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the control logic includes at least one of a ladder diagram, a function block diagram, a structured text, a sequential function chart, a set of computer executable code, a text file, an instruction list, a general purpose programming language, or a database.

29. The method of claim 24, wherein obtaining the content is accomplished via at least one of a local area network, a wireless local area network, a global communication network, an intra-net, an Ethernet connection, or a proprietary communication protocol.

30. The method of claim 24, further comprising detecting a lack of content stored in the device.

31. The method of claim 30, further comprising transmitting the content stored in memory to the device when a lack of content is detected.

32. A system for dynamic content downloads, comprising:

means for determining if control logic stored in a controller has been at least one of modified or lost;

means for obtaining the control logic from the controller if it has been modified, and storing the modified content in memory; and

means for sending control logic stored in memory to the controller if the control logic has been lost.

33. The system of claim 32, further comprising means for communicating with the controller, including at least one of a local area network, a wireless local area network, a global communication network, an intra-net, an Ethernet connection, or a proprietary communication protocol.

34. The system of claim 32, wherein the control logic includes at least one of a letter diagram, a function block diagram, a structured text, a sequential function chart, a set of computer executable code, a text file, or a database.

35. The system of claim 32, further comprising means for providing at least one security credential to gain access to the controller.