SYSTEM, METHOD, AND APPARATUS FOR SOFTWARE MAINTENANCE OF SENSOR AND CONTROL SYSTEMS

• US 20120079470A1
• Filed: 09/29/2010
• Published: 03/29/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
• Original Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
• Inventors: FUKATSU, Noriyasu
• Granted Patent: US 8,806,470 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 717/168
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/056 Programming the PLC
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/65 Updates security arrangements therefor G06F21/57

Abstract

A system and method for performing software maintenance of a programmable logic controller are provided. The system includes a programming tool and a controller. The programming tool is operable to update an execution environment of the controller and includes a controller type determination unit for reading a controller type of the controller and version information of an operating system thereof, an update information determination unit for reading update information corresponding to the controller type and the version information, an update area determination unit for determining a part of the execution environment to be updated based on the update information, and an updating unit for updating the determined part of the execution environment.

Claims

1. A method of updating an execution environment of a programmable logic controller, the method comprising:

reading a controller type of the controller and version information of an operating system thereof;

reading update information corresponding to the controller type and the version information;

determining a part of the execution environment to be updated based on the update information; and

updating the determined part of the execution environment.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the update information specifies a part of the execution environment to be updated.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the update information specifies an upgrade function list, the upgrade function list including information on functions included in the execution environment that are to be updated.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

determining whether the functions included in the execution environment are used by a user of the controller, by reading an operating system execution parameter, and

applying an update to only those functions of the execution environment that are being used by the user.

5. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

providing an option to the user to select whether to update a function from the upgrade function list; and

updating only those functions selected by the user.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the update information specifies a plurality of instructions to be updated.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

determining whether a user application program is using an instruction from the plurality of instructions; and

updating the user application program if determined that the user application program is using at least one of the plurality of instructions.

8. A system for performing software maintenance of a programmable logic controller, the system comprising:

a programming tool; and

a controller,

wherein the programming tool is operable to update an execution environment of the controller and includes;

a controller type determination unit for reading a controller type of the controller and version information of an operating system thereof;

an update information determination unit for reading update information corresponding to the controller type and the version information;

an update area determination unit for determining a part of the execution environment to be updated based on the update information; and

an updating unit for updating the determined part of the execution environment.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the update information specifies a part of the execution environment to be updated.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the update information specifies an upgrade function list, the upgrade function list including information on functions included in the execution environment that are to be updated.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the update area determination unit determines whether the functions included in the execution environment are used by a user of the controller, by reading an operating system execution parameter, and the updating unit applies an update to only those functions of the execution environment that are being used by the user.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein an option is provided to the user to select whether to update a function from the upgrade function list, and the updating unit updates only those functions selected by the user.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein the update information specifies a plurality of instructions to be updated.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the update area determination unit determines whether a user application program is using an instruction from the plurality of instructions and the updating unit updates the user application program if it is determined that the user application program is using at least one of the plurality of instructions.

15. A computer-readable storage medium for storing instructions for enabling a computer to perform a method of updating an execution environment of a programmable logic controller, the method comprising:

reading a controller type of the controller and version information of an operating system thereof;

reading update information corresponding to the controller type and the version information;

determining a part of the execution environment to be updated based on the update information; and

updating the determined part of the execution environment.

16. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the update information specifies a part of the execution environment to be updated.

17. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the update information specifies an upgrade function list, the upgrade function list including information on functions included in the execution environment that are to be updated.

18. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the method further comprises:

determining whether the functions included in the execution environment are used by a user of the controller, by reading an operating system execution parameter, and

applying an update to only those functions of the execution environment that are being used by the user.

19. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the method further comprises:

providing an option to the user to select whether to update a function from the upgrade function list; and

updating only those functions selected by the user.

20. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the update information specifies a plurality of instructions to be updated.

21. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 20, wherein the method further comprises:

determining whether a user application program is using an instruction from the plurality of instructions; and

updating the user application program if determined that the user application program is using at least one of the plurality of instructions.