METHOD FOR REPRODUCING THE SEQUENCE OF A PROGRAM IN AN AUTOMATION DEVICE

• US 20150120013A1
• Filed: 10/21/2014
• Published: 04/30/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens AG
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: GROSCH, Thomas, LAFORSCH, Jrgen, RENSCHLER, Albert
• Granted Patent: US 9,927,791 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/86
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/056 Programming the PLC
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/13152 Modification of program
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/14 Error detection or correction of the data by redundancy in operation G06F11/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3476 Data logging G06F11/14, G06F11/2205 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3636 by tracing the execution of the program
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/366 using diagnostics G06F11/0703 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3664 Environments for testing or debugging software

Abstract

A method for reproducing the sequence of a program provided for process control in an automation device, wherein a program that corresponds to the program in the automation device with regard to process control is provided for processing using a backup device, where suitable measures can be used to image the complete history of the automation device and to reproduce the sequence of the program so that with regard to the processing of the program, it becomes possible to subsequently and repeatedly approach any desired time in the past and to reproduce all associated data.

Claims

1. A method for reproducing a sequence of a program provided for process control in an automation device, comprising:

providing a backup program which corresponds to the program in the automation device with regard to process control for processing using a backup device;

utilizing the automation device to store an image in a backup memory at at least one predefined or predefinable time during process control, the image representing an internal state of the automation device at this time;

utilizing the automation device to store releases and process input values in the backup memory during the process control, the releases indicating which processing sections of the program have already been processed by the automation device;

utilizing the backup device to read the image as well as the releases and the process input values from the backup memory; and

utilizing the backup device to process processing sections of the backup program, which correspond to those processing sections of the program in the automation device which have already been processed, based on the releases and the process input values taking into account the image.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the backup device is utilized to process the backup program during the processing of the program in the automation device.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the backup device is utilized to process the backup program after the processing of the program in the automation device.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the automation device is utilized to produce an initial image at a first time during the processing of the program in the automation device.

5. The method as claimed in claim 4, wherein the backup device is utilized to produce intermediate images at further times during the processing of the backup program and to store the produced intermediate images in the backup memory.

6. The method as claimed in claim 4, wherein the automation device is utilized to produce intermediate images at further times and to store the produced intermediate images in the backup memory.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of (I) the automation device, (ii) the backup device, and (iii) the backup memory are interconnected via a global network.

14. The arrangement as claimed in claim 7, wherein at least one of (i) the automation device, (ii) the backup device, and (iii) the backup memory are interconnected via a global network.

8. An arrangement comprising:

an automation device; and

a backup device;

a backup memory;

a program stored in the automation device for providing process control; and

a backup program which corresponds with regard to process control being provided for processing using the backup device;

wherein the automation device is configured to store an image of its internal state in the backup memory at at least one predefined or predefinable time during process control;

wherein the automation device is further configured to store releases and process input values in the backup memory during process control, the releases indicating which processing sections of the program have already been processed by the automation device;

wherein the backup device is configured to read the image and the releases and the process input values from the backup memory; and

wherein the backup device is further configured to process processing sections of its backup program, which correspond to those processing sections of the program in the automation device which have already been processed, based on the releases and the process input values taking into account the stored image.

9. The arrangement as claimed in claim 8, wherein the backup device is further configured to process the backup program during the processing of the program in the automation device.

10. The arrangement as claimed in claim 8, wherein the backup device is further configured to process the backup program after the processing of the program in the automation device.

11. The arrangement as claimed in claim 8, wherein the automation device is further configured to produce an initial image at a first time during the processing of its program.

12. The arrangement as claimed in claim 11, wherein the backup device is further configured to produce intermediate images at further times during the processing of its backup program.

13. The arrangement as claimed in claim 11, wherein the automation device is further configured to produce intermediate images at further times.

15. A backup device for an arrangement including an automation device configured to store an image of its internal state in the backup memory at at least one predefined or predefinable time during process control and configured to store releases and process input values in the backup memory during process control, the releases indicating which processing sections of the program have already been processed by the automation device, a backup memory, and a program stored in the automation device for providing process control;

the backup device comprising;

a program which corresponds with regard to the process control of the program in the automation device for processing for the backup device;

wherein the backup device is configured to read the image as well as the releases and the process input values from the backup memory; and

wherein the backup device is further configured to process processing sections of its backup program, which correspond to those processing sections of the program in the automation device which have already been processed, based on the releases and the process input values taking into account the stored image.

16. The backup device as claimed in claim 15, wherein the backup device is further configured to process the backup program during the processing of the program in the automation device.

17. The backup device as claimed in claim 15, wherein the backup device is further configured to process the backup program after the processing of the program in the automation device.

18. The backup device as claimed in claim 15, wherein the backup device is further configured to produce the intermediate images at the further times during the processing of the backup program and to store them in the backup memory.

19. An automation device for an arrangement including a backup device configured to read the image and the releases and the process input values from the backup memory and configured to process processing sections of its backup program, which correspond to those processing sections of the program in the automation device which have already been processed, based on the releases and the process input values taking into account the stored image, a backup memory, and a backup program which corresponds with regard to process control being provided for processing using the backup device, the automation device comprising:

a program stored in the automation device for process control;

wherein the automation device is configured to store an image of its internal state in the backup memory at at least one predefined or predefinable time during process control; and

wherein the automation device is further configured to store the releases and the process input values in the backup memory during process control, the releases indicating which processing sections of the program have already been processed by the automation device.

20. The automation device as claimed in claim 19, wherein the automation device is further configured to produce the initial image at the first time during the processing of its program.

21. The automation device as claimed in claim 20, wherein the automation device is further configured to produce the intermediate images at the further times during the processing of its program.