Method for portable PLC configurations

• US 7,310,720 B2
• Filed: 06/02/2005
• Issued: 12/18/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens Industry Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens Energy & Automation Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Cornett, James W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Elmore; Stephen C.
• Application Number:
  US11/143,817
• Publication Number:
  US 20050270063A1
• Time in Patent Office: 929 Days
• Field of Search: 711/170, 711/115, 711/154, 711/165
• US Class Current: 711/170
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/056 Programming the PLC
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/13161 Easily exchangable rom, eprom cassette, earom
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/15012 Configuration software for networks

Abstract

Certain exemplary embodiments can comprise a method, comprising: recognizing, by a PLC, that a memory device has been connected to the PLC; and configuring the PLC via a PLC executable software program resident on the memory device. Certain exemplary embodiments can comprise a method, comprising: via a PLC network interface: presenting a PLC network as a namespace shell extension of an operating system of a non-PLC information device; and rendering, to a user of the non-PLC information device, the PLC network as a node of a network. Certain exemplary embodiments can comprise a method, comprising: via a PLC network interface: presenting a PLC network as a namespace shell extension of an operating system of a non-PLC information device; and searching the PLC network for at least one item corresponding to one or more search parameters.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

automatically recognizing, by a programmable logic controller (PLC), that a memory device has been connected to the PLC, the memory device having a Profibus or Point to Point Interface (PPI) PLC network address, the recognition module adapted to automatically identify a plurality of folder items stored on the memory device, the PLC adapted to provide a hierarchical file structure of the folder items to a non-PLC information device via a browser; and

automatically configuring the PLC via a PLC executable software program resident on the memory device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving the memory device.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

automatically reading the memory device.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

automatically selecting the PLC executable software program from a plurality of software programs resident on the memory device.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

automatically selecting the PLC executable software program from a plurality of PLC executable software programs resident on the memory device.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

automatically executing the PLC executable software program.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

automatically determining parameters associated with the PLC.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

automatically identifying values for one or more parameters associated with the PLC.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

automatically setting values for one or more parameters associated with the PLC.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the memory device comprises a plurality of electronic files.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the memory device is adapted to be connected to any one of a plurality of PLC'"'"'s.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the memory device comprises a plurality of electronic files, the plurality of electronic files comprising at least one of a:

program block, data block, system block, recipe, data log, and user log.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the PLC executable software program is a PLC configuration program.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the memory device comprises at least one electronically erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM).

15. A machine-readable medium storing a plurality of instructions for activities comprising:

automatically recognizing, by a programmable logic controller (PLC), that a memory device has been connected to the PLC, the memory device having a Profibus or Point to Point Interface (PPI) PLC network address, the recognition module adapted to automatically identify a plurality of folder items stored on the memory device, the PLC adapted to provide a hierarchical file structure of the folder items to a non-PLC information device via a browser; and

automatically configuring the PLC via a PLC executable software program resident on the memory device.