Control server, control terminal, control system, and recording medium storing control communication program

• US 7,953,892 B2
• Filed: 03/09/2006
• Issued: 05/31/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Schneider Electric Japan Holdings Ltd. (Schneider Electric SE)
• Original Assignee: Digital Electronics Corporation (Schneider Electric SE)
• Inventors: Yoshida, Minoru, Yamada, Masaaki, Saito, Masao, Kato, Satoshi, Kegoya, Kentaro, Yagi, Nobuhiro, Tanigawa, Shunu
• Primary Examiner(s): Burgess; Barbara N
• Application Number:
  US11/371,020
• Publication Number:
  US 20060190624A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,909 Days
• Field of Search: 709/203, 709/223, 709/230, 709/243, 709/244, 709/246, 709/217, 709/218, 709/219
• US Class Current: 709/246
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/042 using digital processors G05B19/05 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/05 Programmable logic controllers, e.g. simulating logic interconnections of signals according to ladder diagrams or function charts
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/24084 Remote and local monitoring, local result to remote, remote takes action
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31161 Java programcode or simular active agents, programs, applets
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31186 TCP-IP internet protocol
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31457 Factory remote control, monitoring through internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/56 Provisioning of proxy services store-and-forward switching systems in data switching networks H04L12/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/565 Conversion or adaptation of application format or content adding application control or application functional data H04L67/561
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/08 Protocols for interworking; Protocol conversion

Abstract

Screen data is generated by a screen generating processor (74) of a control host computer (7) and transmitted to a programmable display apparatus (5). In accordance with the screen data, the programmable display apparatus (5) inquires a PLC (3) or the like about a state of a device (21), so as to update the display or transmit a control instruction depending on an input result. On the other hand, a control host computer (7) has a public server section (77) to transmit to a client apparatus (9) via the Internet an applet, which is generated by a compiler (76) compiling the screen data. The client apparatus (9) executes the applet to transmit to the public server section (77) an or the control instruction inquiry similar to those the programmable display apparatus (5) makes. In this way, the display is updated in accordance with a response. This realizes a control system, which allows a display content of the programmable display apparatus (5) to be remotely checked from a remote area remote from the programmable display apparatus (5), without newly generating a display screen.

Claims

1. A control system comprising

a programmable logic controller to which an input apparatus and an output apparatus are connected,

programmable display apparatuses, each of which displays control states of the input apparatus and the output apparatus caused by the programmable logic controller, and each of which gives a control instruction to the programmable logic controller, and each of the programmable display apparatuses communicating with the programmable controller via a designated network in a communication protocol designated to the programmable logic controller,

a host computer provided ranking above the programmable display apparatus, the host computer accumulating data regarding the programmable logic controller by communicating with at least one of the programmable display apparatuses via a common network in a common communication protocol, wherein:

the programmable display apparatus includes;

a protocol converter (53) for converting the communication protocols used in the designated networks and the common communication protocol from one to the other; and

a data delivery section (5e) for delivering to the host computer, a screen for displaying control states of the programmable logic controller, the screen being displayed by the programmable display apparatus when a preset delivery condition is satisfied, symbols as respective change elements, which are corresponded to addresses of the input and the output apparatus in the screen, and which are changed in accordance with data of the control instruction and output data from the programmable logic controller as a result of the control instruction data, and the control instruction data and the output data corresponding to the symbols, and

the host computer includes;

a database (27) for accumulating the screen, the symbols, and the control instruction data and the output data, which are thus delivered, sequentially in time sequence and per the programmable display apparatus;

a database administrator (21b) for consecutively searching and displaying the screen, the symbols and the control instruction data and the output data accumulated in the database;

a compiler (29) for converting, into an execution program executable for a terminal apparatus, the screen searched out by the searching means as requested by the terminal apparatus; and

a public server section (30) for transmitting the execution program, the symbols, and the control instruction data and the output data to the terminal apparatus that executes the execution program, so as to change the symbols in the screen in accordance with the control instruction data and the output data.

2. A data accumulating method, comprising:

accumulating data regarding a programmable logic controller to which an input apparatus and an output apparatus are connected, by communication, via a designated network in a communication protocol designated to the programmable logic controller, between the programmable logic controller and programmable display apparatuses, which display control states of the input and the output apparatus caused by the programmable logic controller, and which give a control instruction to the programmable logic controller, and by communication, via a common network in a common communication protocol, between a host computer provided ranking above the programmable display apparatus, and at least one of the programmable display apparatuses;

causing the programmable display apparatus (a) to convert the communication protocols used in both the designated network and the common communication protocol from one to the other, and (b) to deliver to the host computer, a screen for displaying a control state of the programmable logic controller , the screen being executed when a preset delivery condition is satisfied, symbols as respective change elements, which are corresponded to addresses of the input and the output apparatus in the screen, and which are changed in accordance with data of the control instruction and output data from the programmable logic controller as a result of the control instruction data, and the control instruction data and the output data corresponding to the symbols;

accumulating the screen, the symbols and the control instruction data and the output data, which are thus delivered to computer, sequentially in time sequence and per the programmable display apparatus;

consecutively searching and displaying the screen, the symbols and the control instruction data and the output data accumulated in the accumulating means;

converting, into an execution program executable for a terminal apparatus, the screen searched out by the searching means as requested by the terminal apparatus; and

transmitting the execution program, the symbols, and the control instruction data and the output data to the terminal apparatus that executes the execution program, so as to change the symbols in the screen in accordance with the control instruction data and the output data.

3. A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium, comprising:

a program stored therein for accumulating data regarding a programmable logic controller to which an input apparatus and an output apparatus are connected, by communication, via a designated network in a communication protocol designated to the programmable logic controller, between the programmable logic controller and programmable display apparatuses, which display control states of the input and the output apparatus caused by the programmable logic controller , and which give a control instruction to the programmable logic controller, and by communication, via a common network in a common communication protocol, between a host computer provided ranking above the programmable display apparatuses, and at least one of the programmable display apparatuses, the recording medium storing therein the program for executing;

a process for causing the programmable display apparatuses (a) to convert the communication protocols used in the designated network and the common communication protocol from one to the other, and (b) to deliver to the host computer, (i) a screen for displaying a control state of the programmable logic controller , the screen being executed when a preset delivery condition is satisfied, (ii) symbols as respective change elements, which are corresponded to addresses of the input and the output apparatus, and which are changed in accordance with data of the control instruction and output data from the programmable logic controller as a result of the control instruction data, and (iii) the control instruction data (iv) the output data, the control instruction data and the output data corresponding to the symbols;

a process for accumulating the screen, the symbols, and the control instruction data and the output data, which are thus delivered, sequentially in time sequence and per the programmable display apparatus;

a process for consecutively searching and displaying the screen, the symbols and the control instruction data and the output data accumulated in the accumulating means;

a process for converting, into an execution program executable for a terminal apparatus, the screen searched out by the searching means as requested by the terminal apparatus; and

a process for transmitting the execution program, the symbols, and the control instruction data and the output data to the terminal apparatus that executes the execution program, so as to change the symbols in the screen in accordance with the control instruction data and the output data.

4. A control system comprising

a programmable logic controller to which an input apparatus and an output apparatus are connected,

programmable display apparatuses, each of which displays control states of the input apparatus and the output apparatus caused by the programmable logic controller, and each of which gives a control instruction to the programmable logic controller, and each of the programmable display apparatuses communicating with the programmable controller via a designated network in a communication protocol designated to the programmable logic controller,

a host computer provided ranking above the programmable display apparatus, the host computer accumulating data regarding the programmable logic controller by communicating with at least one of the programmable display apparatuses via a common network in a common communication protocol, wherein:

the programmable display apparatus includes;

a protocol converter (53) for converting the communication protocols used in the designated networks and the common communication protocol from one to the other; and

a data delivery section (5e) for delivering to the host computer, a ladder program for displaying control states of the programmable logic controller, the ladder program being displayed by the programmable display apparatus when a preset delivery condition is satisfied, ladder symbols as respective change elements, which are corresponded to addresses of the input and the output apparatus in the ladder program, and which are changed in accordance With data of the control instruction and output data from the programmable logic controller as a result of the control instruction data, and the control instruction data and the output data corresponding to the ladder symbols, and

the host computer includes;

a database (27) for accumulating the ladder program, the ladder symbols, and the control instruction data and the output data, which are thus delivered, sequentially in time sequence and per the programmable display apparatus;

a database administrator (21b) for consecutively searching and displaying the ladder program, the ladder symbols and the control instruction data and the output data accumulated in the database;

a compiler (29) for converting, into an execution program executable for a terminal apparatus, the ladder program searched out by the searching means as requested by the terminal apparatus; and

a public server section (30) for transmitting the execution program, the ladder symbols, and the control instruction data and the output data to the terminal apparatus that executes the execution program, so as to change the ladder symbols in the ladder program in accordance with the control instruction data and the output data.

5. A data accumulating method comprising:

accumulating data regarding a programmable logic controller to which an input apparatus and an output apparatus are connected, by communication, via a designated network in a communication protocol designated to the programmable logic controller, between the programmable logic controller and programmable display apparatuses, which display control states of the input and the output apparatus caused by the programmable logic controller, and which give a control instruction to the programmable logic controller, and by communication, via a common network in a common communication protocol, between a host computer provided ranking above the programmable display apparatus, and at least one of the programmable display apparatuses, the data accumulating method comprising the steps of;

causing the programmable display apparatus (a) to convert the communication protocols used in the designated network and the common communication protocol from one to the other, and (b) to deliver to the host computer, a ladder program for displaying a control state of the programmable logic controller , the ladder program being executed when a preset delivery condition is satisfied, symbols as respective ladder symbols, which are corresponded to addresses of the input and the output apparatus in the ladder program, and which are changed in accordance with data of the control instruction and output data from the programmable logic controller as a result of the control instruction data, and the control instruction data and the output data corresponding to the ladder symbols;

accumulating the ladder programs, the ladder symbols and the control instruction data and the output data, which are thus delivered to computer, sequentially in time sequence and per the programmable display apparatus;

consecutively searching and displaying the ladder program, the ladder symbols and the control instruction data and the output data accumulated in the accumulating means;

converting, into an execution program executable for a terminal apparatus, the ladder program searched out by the searching means as requested by the terminal apparatus; and

transmitting the execution program, the ladder symbols, and the control instruction data and the output data to the terminal apparatus that executes the execution program, so as to change the ladder symbols in the ladder program in accordance with the control instruction data and the output data.

6. A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium, comprising:

a program stored therein for accumulating data regarding a programmable logic controller to which an input apparatus and an output apparatus are connected, by communication, via a designated network in a communication protocol designated to the programmable logic controller, between the programmable logic controller and programmable display apparatuses, which display control states of the input and the output apparatus caused by the programmable logic controller, and which give a control instruction to the programmable logic controller, and by communication, via a common network in a common communication protocol, between a host computer provided ranking above the programmable display apparatuses, and at least one of the programmable display apparatuses, the recording medium storing therein the program for executing;

a process for causing the programmable display apparatuses (a) to convert the communication protocols used in the designated network and the common communication protocol from one to the other, and (b) to deliver to the host computer, (i) a ladder program for displaying a control state of the programmable logic controller, the ladder program being executed when a preset delivery condition is satisfied, (ii) symbols as respective ladder symbols, which are corresponded to addresses of the input and the output apparatus, and which are changed in accordance with data of the control instruction and output data from the programmable logic controller as a result of the control instruction data, and (iii) the control instruction data (iv) the output data, the control instruction data and the output data corresponding to the ladder symbols;

a process for accumulating the ladder program, the ladder symbols, and the control instruction data and the output data, which are thus delivered, sequentially in time sequence and per the programmable display apparatus;

a process for consecutively searching and displaying the ladder program, the ladder symbols and the control instruction data and the output data accumulated in the accumulating means;

a process for converting, into an execution program executable for a terminal apparatus, the ladder program searched out by the searching means as requested by the terminal apparatus; and

a process for transmitting the execution program, the ladder symbols, and the control instruction data and the output data to the terminal apparatus that executes the execution program, so as to change the ladder symbols in the ladder program in accordance with the control instruction data and the output data.