METHOD FOR CONSISTENT STORAGE OF DATA IN AN INDUSTRIAL CONTROLLER

• US 20110225216A1
• Filed: 05/25/2011
• Published: 09/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies Incorporated (Rockwell Automation, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies Incorporated (Rockwell Automation, Inc.)
• Inventors: Urdaneta, Shelly Lynn, Johnston, David Allen, Siegel, Stuart Blair, Kay, James J.
• Granted Patent: US 9,495,368 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/822
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/042 using digital processors G05B19/05 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/056 Programming the PLC
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/13076 Interprete in pc a ladder diagram, use of sequence engine
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/15101 Personal computer pc and plc, slot plc, same kernel
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/15115 Pc serves as plc, programming panel, monitoring panel
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23301 Load program from file system of a controller
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31457 Factory remote control, monitoring through internet
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/34279 Pc, personal computer as controller
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/119 Details of migration of file systems migration mechanisms in storage systems G06F3/0647
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/182 Distributed file systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/01 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1097 for distributed storage of data in networks, e.g. transport arrangements for network file system [NFS], storage area networks [SAN] or network attached storage [NAS]

Abstract

A system and method for employing a file system and file system services on the industrial controller. The file system allows industrial control programs to implement many functions previously performed within the industrial control program and stored in the same memory as the industrial control program. An execution engine is provided that interprets instructions included in an industrial control program. The instructions utilize services in the file system for including user defined routine files loaded from local or remote locations, to load and unload recipe files from local and remote locations, to log and retrieve measured data and trend data to files at local or remote locations, to select different operating systems and to select a running program from a plurality of running programs utilizing the file system.

Claims

1. An industrial controller comprising:

a memory adapted to store a first industrial control program;

a file system storable in the memory and including a plurality of file system services;

a file comprising an operating system and a second industrial control program adapted to execute with the operating system; and

an execution engine storable in the memory and adapted to process an instruction of the first industrial control program that utilizes at least one of the plurality of file system services to load the operating system for execution of the second industrial control program.

2. The industrial controller of claim 1, wherein the file is storable in the memory.

3. The industrial controller of claim 1, wherein the file is storable in a second memory of the industrial controller.

4. The industrial controller of claim 3, wherein the second memory is removable from the industrial controller.

5. The industrial controller of claim 1, wherein the file is storable in a second memory remote from the industrial controller.

6. A method of executing an industrial control program in an industrial controller comprising:

storing a first industrial control program in a memory;

storing a file system in the memory, the file system including a plurality of file system services;

providing a file comprising an operating system and a second industrial control program adapted to execute with the operating system; and

storing an execution engine in the memory, the execution engine adapted to process an instruction of the industrial control program that utilizes at least one of the plurality of file system services to load the operating system for execution of the second industrial control program.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the providing a file includes storing the file in the memory.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the providing a file includes storing the file in a second memory of the industrial controller.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the providing a file includes storing the file in a second memory removable from the industrial controller.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein the providing a file includes storing the file in a second memory remote from the industrial controller.

11. The method of claim 6, wherein the providing a file includes storing the file in a second memory associated with a server adapted to communicate with the industrial controller across a network.

12. An industrial controller comprising:

a processor;

a first industrial control program adapted to execute on the processor by a first operating system;

a file system including a plurality of file system services;

a second industrial control program adapted to execute on the processor by a second operating system; and

an execution engine adapted to process an instruction of the first industrial control program that invokes at least one of the plurality of file system services to load the second operating system for execution of the second industrial control program.

13. The industrial controller of claim 12, where the second industrial control program and second operating system are associated with a file stored in a memory of the industrial controller.

14. The industrial controller of claim 13, wherein the memory is removable from the industrial controller.

15. The industrial controller of claim 12, where the second industrial control program and second operating system are associated with a file stored in a memory remote from the industrial controller.

16. The industrial controller of claim 12, wherein the second industrial control program and second operating system are associated with a file stored in a server adapted to communicate with the industrial controller across a network.

17. The industrial controller of claim 12, wherein at least one of the second industrial control program and the second operating system are stored in a memory remote from the industrial controller.

18. The industrial controller of claim 12, wherein at least one of the second industrial control program and the second operating system are stored in a memory removable from the industrial controller.

19. The industrial controller of claim 12, wherein at least one of the second industrial control program and second operating system are stored in a server adapted to communicate with the industrial controller across a network.

20. An industrial control device comprising:

a memory;

a file system storable in the memory and including at least one file system service; and

an execution engine storable in the memory and adapted to process an instruction of an industrial control program that utilizes the at least one file system service to load an operating system from a file for execution of the industrial control program.