Method for consistent storage of data in an industrial controller

• US 9,495,368 B2
• Filed: 05/25/2011
• Issued: 11/15/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies Incorporated (Rockwell Automation, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies Incorporated (Rockwell Automation, Inc.)
• Inventors: Kay, James J., Johnston, David Allen, Urdaneta, Shelly Lynn, Siegel, Stuart Blair
• Primary Examiner(s): Ali, Mohammad
• Assistant Examiner(s): Karim, Ziaul
• Application Number:
  US13/115,891
• Publication Number:
  US 20110225216A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,001 Days
• Field of Search: 700/20, 700/23, 700/86, 700/87
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/042 using digital processors G05B19/05 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/056 Programming the PLC
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/13076 Interprete in pc a ladder diagram, use of sequence engine
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/15101 Personal computer pc and plc, slot plc, same kernel
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/15115 Pc serves as plc, programming panel, monitoring panel
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23301 Load program from file system of a controller
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31457 Factory remote control, monitoring through internet
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/34279 Pc, personal computer as controller
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/119 Details of migration of file systems migration mechanisms in storage systems G06F3/0647
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/182 Distributed file systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/01 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1097 for distributed storage of data in networks, e.g. transport arrangements for network file system [NFS], storage area networks [SAN] or network attached storage [NAS]

Abstract

A system and method for employing a file system and file system services on the industrial controller. The file system allows industrial control programs to implement many functions previously performed within the industrial control program and stored in the same memory as the industrial control program. An execution engine is provided that interprets instructions included in an industrial control program. The instructions utilize services in the file system for including user defined routine files loaded from local or remote locations, to load and unload recipe files from local and remote locations, to log and retrieve measured data and trend data to files at local or remote locations, to select different operating systems and to select a running program from a plurality of running programs utilizing the file system.

Claims

1. An industrial controller comprising:

a first memory adapted to store a first industrial control program;

a processor configured to execute the first industrial control program during a runtime mode of the industrial controller;

a file system storable in the memory and including file system services; and

an execution engine storable in the memory and adapted to process one or more ladder logic instructions of the first industrial control program as the first industrial control program is being executed during the runtime mode, wherein processing of the one or more ladder logic instructions by the execution engine during the runtime mode causes the industrial controller to utilize at least one of the file system services to;

access, via a web service, a remote file located on a second memory that is remote from the industrial controller,

retrieve an operating system from the remote file,

load the operating system on the industrial controller for execution of a second industrial control program on the industrial controller, and

from a recipe file defining two or more process parameters stored in the second memory or a third memory that is separate from the first memory, load the two or more process parameters defined by the recipe file to the first memory to facilitate implementation of a recipe by the second industrial control program.

2. The industrial controller of claim 1, wherein the file system is configured to receive selection input via the web service that identifies the second industrial control program for execution.

3. The industrial controller of claim 1, wherein the second industrial control program is stored on a separate memory device relative to the remote file.

4. The industrial controller of claim 1, wherein the second industrial control program is stored on the second memory in association with the remote file.

5. The industrial controller of claim 1, wherein processing of the one or more ladder logic instructions causes the industrial controller to utilize at least one of the file system services to send data stored on the first memory to a remote storage device via the web service.

6. A method of executing an industrial control program in an industrial controller, comprising:

storing a first industrial control program in a memory of the industrial controller, wherein the first industrial control program comprises at least one ladder logic instruction;

storing a file system in the memory, the file system including file system services;

executing the first industrial control program on the industrial controller during a runtime mode of the industrial controller; and

executing the at least one ladder logic instruction by an execution engine of the industrial controller as the first industrial control program is executing during the runtime mode, wherein the executing causes the industrial controller to use at least one of the file system services to;

access, via a web service, a remote file located on a remote memory that is remote relative to the industrial controller,

retrieve an operating system from the remote file,

load the operating system on the industrial controller for execution of a second industrial control program on the industrial controller, and

from a recipe file defining two or more process parameters stored in the remote memory or another memory that is separate from the memory of the industrial controller, load the two or more process parameters defined by the recipe file to the memory of the industrial controller.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising loading the second industrial control program from the memory, from the remote memory, or from another memory that is separate from the memory.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the executing the at least one ladder logic instruction causes the industrial controller to use the at least one of the file system services to access a server device across a network via the web service and retrieve the file from the server device.

9. An industrial controller comprising:

a processor configured to execute a first industrial control program, stored in a memory of the industrial controller, using a first operating system during a runtime mode of the industrial controller;

a file system including file system services; and

an execution engine adapted to process at least one ladder logic instruction of the first industrial control program as the first industrial control program is being executed by the processor during the runtime mode of the industrial controller, wherein processing of the at least one ladder logic instruction by the execution engine causes the industrial controller to;

invoke at least one of the file system services to access a remote server device via a web service,

invoke a file comprising a second operating system stored on the remote server device,

load the second operating system on the industrial controller from the file on the remote server device for execution of a second industrial control program, and

from a recipe file defining two or more process parameters stored on the remote server, load the two or more process parameters defined by the recipe file to the memory of the industrial controller.

10. The industrial controller of claim 9, where the second industrial control program is one of stored with the file or included in the file.

11. The industrial controller of claim 9, wherein processing of the at least one ladder logic instruction by the execution engine causes the industrial controller to invoke the at least one of the file system services to access the remote server device across a network via the web service.

12. The industrial controller of claim 9, wherein at least one of the second industrial control program and second operating system is stored in the file, and the remote server device is accessible by the industrial controller via a network.

13. The industrial controller of claim 9, wherein the second industrial control program and second operating system are associated with the file, and the file is accessed from the remote server device.

14. An industrial control device comprising:

a memory;

a file system stored in the memory and including at least one file system service; and

an execution engine stored in the memory and configured to execute one or more ladder logic instructions of a first industrial control program during execution of the first industrial control program during a runtime mode of the industrial controller, wherein execution of the one or more ladder logic instructions by the execution engine causes the industrial control device to use the at least one file system service to;

access, via a web service, a remote file located on a separate memory device relative to the memory,

retrieve an operating system stored on the remote file,

load the operating system on the industrial controller for execution of a second industrial control program using the operating system, and

from a recipe file defining two or more process parameters stored on the separate memory device or another memory device that is separate relative to the memory, load the two or more process parameters defined by the recipe file to the memory.

15. The industrial control device of claim 14, wherein the execution of the one or more ladder logic instructions by the execution engine causes the industrial control device to use the at least one file system service to retrieve the remote file from a remote server device accessible via the web service.

16. The industrial control device of claim 14, wherein the execution of the one or more ladder logic instructions by the execution engine causes the industrial controller to use the at least one file system service to send data stored on the memory to a remote storage device via the web service.

17. The industrial control device of claim 14, wherein the file system is configured to receive selection input via the web service that selects the second industrial control program for execution by the execution engine.