Multiple interface support

• US 8,776,092 B2
• Filed: 09/29/2010
• Issued: 07/08/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies Incorporated (Allen-Bradley Co., Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies Incorporated (Allen-Bradley Co., Inc.)
• Inventors: Plache, Kenneth, Seger, Daniel B. III, Staron, Raymond, Kretschmann, Robert J., Jasper, Taryl, Jarrett, James Harry, Brandes, Russell, Bliss, Ronald, Kalan, Michael, Govindaraj, Subbian, Hall, Kenwood, Reichard, Douglas J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu, Qing
• Application Number:
  US12/893,550
• Publication Number:
  US 20110022827A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,378 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 719/328
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/0426 Programming the control sequence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/056 Programming the PLC
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/41845 characterised by system universality, reconfigurability, modularity
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/13063 Synchronization between modules
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23389 Modular program, each process has corresponding program module
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23467 Code and program on two objects to be assembled, compared for compatibility
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31124 Interface between communication network and process control, store, exchange data
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/541 via adapters, e.g. between incompatible applications
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/02 Total factory control, e.g. smart factories, flexible manufacturing systems [FMS] or integrated manufacturing systems [IMS]

Abstract

Aspects describe multiple interface support that provides dynamic switching between new and old interface revisions. A first interface application is selected from a set of alternative interface applications for an industrial automation system. Support for each interface application included in the set of alternative interface applications is provided. A second interface application is downloaded and associated with the first interface application. The second interface application is enabled during runtime. If needed, the second interface application can be selectively disabled and an operation resumed with the first interface application.

Claims

1. A device, comprising:

a memory that stores instructions; and

a processor that facilitates execution of the instructions to at least;

obtain a set of alternative interface applications of an industrial automation system, wherein the set of alternative interface applications are associated with respective services that are decoupled from a platform configuration of the industrial automation system, and wherein the services comprise respective reusable definitions and a specification; and

enable a first interface application selected from the set of alternative interface applications based on information related to the first interface application.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the processor further facilitates the execution of the instructions to maintain concurrent support for each interface application included in the set of alternative interface applications, wherein each interface application is a different interface version.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the processor further facilitates the execution of the instructions to:

compare the interface applications in the set of alternative interface applications; and

enable a second interface application of the set of alternative interface applications based on a result of the comparison, wherein the second interface application replaces the first interface application.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the processor further facilitates the execution of the instructions to switch implementation from the first interface application to a second interface application included in the set of alternative interface applications, wherein the first interface application is an updated version of the second interface application.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the processor further facilitates the execution of the instructions to cross-reference a set of information between each interface application in the set of alternative interface applications, wherein each interface application represents a different revision level.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the processor further facilitates the execution of the instructions to:

perform a compatibility check of each interface application in the set of alternative interface applications; and

obtain at least one of the interface applications as an updated version based on a determination that the compatibility check is approved.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the processor further facilitates the execution of the instructions to enable a second interface application while maintaining concurrent support for the first interface application.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the processor further facilitates the execution of the instructions to enable a second interface application from the set of alternative interface applications for testing during runtime,

wherein the second interface application is enabled without powering down the associated component in the industrial automation system.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the processor further facilitates the execution of the instructions to display logic views that represent design and management of the industrial automation system.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the processor further facilitates the execution of the instructions to display host views as a function of a user access level.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein the processor further facilitates the execution of the instructions to provide metadata related to an access level of the first interface application or a second interface application, wherein the access level is read access, write access, or read-write access.

12. A method, comprising:

receiving, by a system comprising a processor, a first interface application of an industrial automation system;

deploying, by the system, the first interface application within the industrial automation system;

obtaining, by the system, a second interface application, wherein the second interface application is a revision of the first interface application;

mapping, by the system, the second interface application to the first interface application comprising identifying differences between the first interface application and the second interface application;

enabling, by the system, the second interface application within the industrial automation system comprising disabling the first interface application; and

selectively resuming, by the system, operation of the industrial automation system with the first interface application based on a detection of a defined event.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the enabling comprises retaining support for the first interface application and the second interface application concurrently.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the enabling comprises performing a test of the second interface application during runtime of the industrial automation system.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the mapping comprises storing information related to a first service of the first interface application and a second service of the second interface application, wherein the first service and the second service comprise respective reusable definitions and respective specifications comprising one or more resources.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the obtaining comprises downloading an update that comprises the second interface application based on a determination that the second interface application is compatible with the first interface application.

17. The method of claim 12, further comprises providing, by the system, multiple views based on a user access level, wherein the multiple views are logic views or host views.

18. A system, comprising:

a memory that stores instructions; and

a processor that facilitates execution of the instructions to at least;

retain concurrent support of a first interface application and a second interface application, wherein the second interface application is a revised version of the first interface application;

obtain a third interface application and associated data;

associate the third interface application with the second interface application based in part on the associated data; and

enable the third interface application during runtime, wherein support of the first interface application and the second interface application are maintained concurrent with the support of the third interface application.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the processor further facilitates the execution of the instructions to:

disable the third interface application; and

resume operation with the first interface application or the second interface application.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the processor further facilitates the execution of the instructions to obtain the third interface application based on the third interface application being determined to be compatible with the first interface application or the second interface application.