Method for the automatic retrieval of engineering data of systems

• US 7,353,221 B1
• Filed: 03/09/2000
• Issued: 04/01/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Siemens AG
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Kramer, Manfred, Lange, Ronald, Schneider, Karsten, Diezel, Matthias, Becker, Norbert, Biehler, Georg, Eckardt, Dieter, Leins, Ralf, Donner, Albrecht, Langkafel, Dirk, Windl, Helmut
• Primary Examiner(s): Breene; John
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ly; Anh
• Application Number:
  US09/914,995
• Time in Patent Office: 2,945 Days
• Field of Search: 707 1- 6, 707/112, 707100-1041, 707200-202 R, 717104-121, 717/1, 717/5, 717/6, 700/8, 700/17, 700/83, 700 96- 97, 700/105, 700/9, 700/104, 700/275, 719/310, 719/331, 711 1- 3
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 17/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/0426 Programming the control sequence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/41835 characterised by programme execution
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/02 Total factory control, e.g. smart factories, flexible manufacturing systems [FMS] or integrated manufacturing systems [IMS]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99944 Object-oriented database structure

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for the automatic retrieval of engineering data from installations. The engineering and runtime objects are described by a uniform object model. This allows the correspondence between engineering objects and runtime objects to be determined at object level and no information is lost as a result of the mapping. In addition, a direct communication between engineering and runtime objects can take place, which can be utilized when the method is carried out.

Claims

1. A method for automatic retrieval, in an automation system, of engineering data from a runtime system for an engineering system, and restoring representatives of the automation objects in the engineering system, the automation system including a multiplicity of individual runtime automation objects in the runtime system, the runtime automation objects have no direct reference to any associated engineering objects in the engineering system, the method comprising:

supplying, by each of the automation objects, an identifying designation of a type of respective representative to the engineering system;

creating, via the engineering system, said representatives for the designated types and, for each of the representatives, entering a reference to the corresponding automation object;

reading out each representative read out engineering information from the object into the representative using the reference; and

restoring each of the representatives by entering said information into itself;

wherein

in a first step for the restoration of device representatives in the engineering system, the method further includes,

supplying, for devices on which the automation objects run, an identifying designation of a type of respective device representative to the engineering system,

creating, via the engineering system, corresponding device representatives for the designated types and entering, for each of the device representatives, a reference to the device, and

having, based upon the reference, each device representative read out engineering information from the device, and

in a second step for the restoration of representatives of the automation objects in the engineering system, the method further comprises,

supplying, via the automation objects, an identifying designation of a type of respective representative to the engineering system,

creating, via the engineering system, corresponding representatives for the designated types and, for each of the representatives, entering a reference to the automation object, and

having, based upon the reference, each representative read out engineering information from the automation object.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein, in a third step for the restoration of communication relationships between the representatives of the automation objects in the engineering system, the method further comprises:

supplying, via the devices, lists with communication relationships to the engineering system,

converting, in the engineering system, entries of the lists into references to inputs and outputs of the representatives of the automation objects and, subsequently, setting up corresponding connections up in the engineering system.

3. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein entries in the lists with communication relationships contain sources and drains of the communication relationships, the sources and drains in each case being described by a triple from an identifier of the device, an identifier of the automation object and an identifier of the input or output.

4. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein both the objects of the engineering system and the objects of the automation system are described by a uniform, executable object model and a direct communication at model level is possible between the objects of the engineering system and the objects of the automation system.

5. The method as claimed in claim 4, wherein entries in the lists with communication relationships contain sources and drains of the communication relationships, the sources and drains in each case being described by a triple from an identifier of the device, an identifier of the automation object and an identifier of the input or output.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein both the objects of the engineering system and the objects of the automation system are described by a uniform, executable object model and a direct communication at model level is possible between the objects of the engineering system and the objects of the automation system.

7. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein entries in the lists with communication relationships contain sources and drains of the communication relationships, the sources and drains in each case being described by a triple from an identifier of the device, an identifier of the automation object and an identifier of the input or output.

8. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the objects of the automation system have no direct reference to the associated objects of the engineering system, to make it possible for the engineering system and automation system to be separated.

9. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein, the method is used for the updating of already existing engineering information as a delta method.

10. The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein both the objects of the engineering system and the objects of the automation system are described by a uniform, executable object model and a direct communication at model level is possible between the objects of the engineering system and the objects of the automation system.

11. The method as claimed in claim 10, wherein entries in the lists with communication relationships contain sources and drains of the communication relationships, the sources and drains in each case being described by a triple from an identifier of the device, an identifier of the automation object and an identifier of the input or output.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the first step for the restoration of device representatives in the engineering system is initiated from a software system.